With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalk's college football experts -- Phil Steele, "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each team's strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.
Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Aug. 24.
Auburn Tigers
National title odds: 25-1 (opened 25-1)
Season win total: 8.5
FPI win total projection: 9.7
Phil Steele
Strengths: Jarrett Stidham is an upgrade at quarterback, and Auburn has my No. 6 rated running backs and No. 8 rated offensive line. The defense allowed just 17.1 points per game last season and returns seven starters. They have my No. 12 rated defense overall. All eight units rank in my top units. This team is going to be good.
Weaknesses: If I had to pick a "weakness," I would go with the receiving corps. The top returnee of the group, Darius Slayton, had just 292 yards receiving last season.
Over/under (8.5): I have Auburn as the underdog in three games this season, as they travel to both Death Valleys in Clemson and LSU, and host Alabama. I'm high on the Tigers this season, but with them being an underdog in those three games, I have to go with the under.
National title odds (25-1): If a team in the West is going to knock off Alabama, it would be Auburn, and the Tigers host the Iron Bowl at the end of the season. They are strong in every unit, but since I went under in the category above, I will pass on the accurately priced title odds.
"Stanford Steve" Coughlin
Over/under (8.5): On the outside looking in, there is a lot to like about Auburn this year. The Tigers have a stud quarterback in Jarrett Stidham, and the potential of this offense with Gus Malzahn's brain and a consistent thrower is exorbitant. But that schedule is dangerous. Auburn will have to navigate road trips to the defending national champ in Week 2 and Mizzou (where they have never played) two weeks later, then they have a stretch of three straight road games at LSU, Arkansas and Texas A&M. Auburn's depth is supposed to be a strength, but I'm just not sure the Tigers can make it through that gauntlet of a schedule and come out with nine wins. I'd say the under here.
Chris Fallica
Over/under (8.5): Even with a 5-3 SEC mark last season, the Tigers are 7-12 in their past 19 SEC games. I anticipate that Auburn will be underdogs at Clemson, at LSU and vs. Alabama, and I think it's likely that the Tigers lose all three, leaving 9-3 as the ceiling. Remember, they would still have games at Texas A&M and against Georgia, and it's not like Mississippi State or road trips to Arkansas and Missouri are free wins. I was on the over with the Tigers last season, and that turned out to be the right side. Auburn has a history of being good when not expected to be good and disappointing when there are high expectations. This is one of those high expectation seasons. While Stidham should boost the quarterback play, losing studs like Jamal Adams and Shaq Lawson from that defense concerns me. I see 8-4 and like the under here, especially at plus money.
National title odds (25-1): If you're a believer, this is a good price. We know the SEC champ will be in the playoff, and I think the Tigers would be in the discussion if they get to 11-1 with a loss to Alabama in the final game. But who knows if the committee will ever put two teams from the same conference in the College Football Playoff.