The “trap game” for Auburn football might be an SEC opener.
Auburn football has added many talented players to its roster and will have many experienced coaches on staff heading into 2024 to build a respectable win total.
One game can affect the Tigers’ season for better or worse, so it will be important for Auburn to play at a high level in every game. Which game could cause Auburn to enter a downward spiral? 247Sports’ Carter Bahns has revealed his pick.
In his list of “SEC football trap games”, Bahns says that Auburn must be on high alert in its SEC opener at home against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sept. 21. Bahns explains that the Tigers should win its first four games before the schedule turns brutal. A loss to the Razorbacks, who finished 4-8 last season, could take away all momentum heading into a pivotal piece of the SEC schedule.
Auburn has a chance to get the ball rolling in the early portion of its schedule, as it may be favored in each of its first four games — the contest against Arkansas included. What follows, though, are two of its toughest matchups of the year. The Oklahoma and Georgia games on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 are the ones the Tigers will have been waiting all season for when they arrive, and if they get too ansty and lose focus against Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks, they might lose all of their momentum.
Auburn has seen its share of success over Arkansas recently. The Tigers have beaten Arkansas in seven of its last eight matchups including last season’s 48-10 win in Fayetteville.
This season, the Razorbacks will look to improve upon its 4-8 record from 2023, but it will be viewed as a challenge as both quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Rocket Sanders each departed the program via the transfer portal. Head coach Sam Pittman is also on the hot seat, as another unsuccessful season at the helm could lead to his dismissal.
The Tigers and Hogs will square off on Saturday, Sept. 21 inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
