ESPN doesn’t like Auburn’s chances of contending for the SEC West title in 2020.
The sports network released its SEC predictions for the 2020 football season recently and has Gus Malzahn’s Tigers coming fourth in the division behind Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M and just ahead of Mississippi State.
What is the likelihood either of these squads is in division title contention coming down the stretch? One roster isn’t built like the other. Mike Leach’s Air Raid in Starkville will likely endure growing pains in Year 1, given the unprecedented offseason and lack of full-on installation and fine tuning. Auburn is better-equipped to handle the week to week grind that is the SEC West and believe it has the talent offensively to make noise this fall. Chad Morris takes over play-calling duties and the coaching staff is anxious to see what Bo Nix has to offer as a sophomore.
While predicting the Crimson Tide to win the division is not really a hot take, putting LSU and Texas A&M ahead of Auburn might be seen as one. The reigning national champions must replace all but six starters from last year’s team while the Aggies have yet to prove that they are a serious contender under Jimbo Fisher for a spot in Atlanta.
Here are the complete predictions by ESPN:
SEC West
1. Alabama
2. Texas A&M
3. LSU
4. Auburn
5. Mississippi State
6. Ole Miss
7. Arkansas
SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Tennessee
4. Kentucky
5. South Carolina
6. Missouri
7. Vanderbilt