The Baylor Bears and Auburn Tigers open their seasons Saturday in the 2026 Aflac Kickoff Game from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC). Let's analyze college football odds around the Baylor vs. Auburn odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
The two teams are opening the season against each other for the second consecutive year, but little remains the same.
Auburn cruised to a 38-24 victory in over Baylor in Waco, Texas, in their opener a season ago, but there's little continuity between those teams and the squads that will be taking the field Saturday afternoon.
Alex Golesh makes his debut as Auburn coach, replacing Hugh Freeze, who was fired after 3 consecutive
losing seasons. Golesh arrives at Auburn after 3 winning seasons at South Florida, which was his first head coaching job after nearly 2 decades in the assistant coaching ranks at various schools. With Golesh in charge, the Tigers are expected to feature a much more explosive offense.
QB Byrum Brown followed Golesh from South Florida to Auburn, as did 4 of the Bulls' top 5 wide receivers and No. 1 running back from an offense that ranked third nationally in total offense in 2025, averaging 488.7 yards per game (YPG) and fifth at 40.5 points per game (PPG). Brown threw for 3,158 yards, 28 TDs and 7 INTs last season and accounted for another 1,008 yards and 14 TDs on the ground.
Dave Aranda is entering his seventh season at Baylor and could be coaching for his job after finishing 5-7 a year ago, the team's third losing season in the past 4 years. In a media poll conducted among Big 12 writers, Baylor is predicted to finish middle of the pack.
Though the head coach remains, the team will look significantly different than a season ago with former Florida Gators QB DJ Lagway replacing Sawyer Robertson under center among many changes on offense. Joe Klanderman enters his first-year as defensive coordinator looking to revamp a unit that ranked 122nd in the nation and 15th in the Big 12 at 32.6 PPG allowed.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Baylor vs. Auburn odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:58 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Baylor +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Auburn -295 (bet $295 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Baylor +7.5 (-115) | Auburn -7.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 58.5 (O: -118 | U: -102)
Baylor vs. Auburn picks and predictions
Prediction
Auburn 44, Baylor 27
Moneyline
PASS.
I'm rolling with Auburn and there's no value on the moneyline.
Against the spread
BET AUBURN -7.5 (-105).
You may as well call them the Auburn Bulls, because 13 former South Florida players followed Golesh to Auburn, including 11 on the offensive side of the ball. That should eliminate any struggles with getting his offense up to speed at Auburn.
While last year's Baylor offense wasn't quite in the USF stratosphere, they were able to move the ball, averaging 451.1 YPG and may be even better this year. Aside from Lagway, the Bears also added TE Tony Livingston and WR DeBraun Hampton from Florida. While Hampton didn't get much playing time in 2 season in Gainesville, he was a favorite target of Lagway as teammates at Willis High School.
The bigger key will be defense, which was supposed to be Aranda's calling card. In an effort to shore up that side of the ball, Baylor added 21 defensive players through the portal. Until we see them in action though, the unit will remain a question mark. Auburn, meanwhile, retains a bit of continuity on defense, with coordinator D.J. Durkin sticking around as part of Golesh's staff. Last season under Durkin, the Tigers allowed 20.7 PPG (34th nationally) and 329.2 YPG (29th).
Over/Under
BET OVER 58.5 (-108).
It was a line that was easily cleared last season and I think both offenses are up for the task again this season. Playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a retactable roof, there will be no weather issues to slow things down. That'll be up to the defenses, which will have their hands full trying to stop these offensive attacks.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Baylor Bears vs. Auburn Tigers odds, picks and predictions
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