Auburn’s National Championship Odds Improve to +2500 after Big Week 1 Win Over Oregon

• Auburn scored a game-winning TD with nine seconds left to beat Oregon 27-21 in Week 1
• The Tigers’ National Championship went from +5000 to +2500 after the win
• Oregon’s National Championship odds dropped from +3300 to +5000

The Bo Nix era in Auburn started with a bang on Saturday as his Tigers edged Justin Herbert and the Oregon Ducks, 27-21. Trailing the entire game, Nix threw up a prayer with less than 10 seconds left on the clock and wide receiver Seth Williams answered it by fending off the Ducks corner to make the game-winning play.

It was almost meant to be, as Nix’s father Patrick, threw an almost identical touchdown roughly 26 years ago as an Auburn Tiger.

Auburn gained some traction with the win, as their National Championship Odds improved significantly. Meanwhile, Oregon’s odds understandably dropped, as the Ducks will have to run the table in all likelihood just to make the College Football Playoff.

Odds to Win 2020 National Championship

*Odds as of Sep. 2, 2019.

Faith in Bo?

Nix was the hero on Saturday night, but his stat line looked ugly on Sunday morning. After throwing a 26-yard touchdown to win the game, Nix finished with 177 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, while completing just 13/31 passes.

Patrick Nix -> Frank Sanders (1993)
Bo Nix -> Seth Williams (2019)

Just remarkable stuff. #Auburn #AUBvsORE @AuburnFootball @AUFAMILY pic.twitter.com/V32B56vrxV

— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) September 1, 2019

The freshman quarterback now has two easier games to get his feet wet before taking on the tough conference play of the SEC. Starting mid-September, Auburn will be facing five top-15 schools, including two of their last three games being played against Georgia and Alabama.

Although Auburn looks like a nice choice to win it all right now, tread lightly because the Tigers could start to flounder once the likes of Texas A&M, LSU, and Florida start to come up on their schedule.

Fly Ducks, Fly

On the other side of the ball, Herbert had the better game out of the two quarterbacks. The Eugene, Oregon, native threw for 242 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. Herbert’s stats might not be eye-popping, but he made throws against Auburn that not too many college quarterbacks can make.

Throws like this are why Justin Herbert is a top 2020 NFL Draft prospect. The ball placement and velocity to hit tight windows is absurd. pic.twitter.com/hxvORUdEwm

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) September 1, 2019

With Oregon’s odds jumping up to +5000, there is no better time than to take them right now. Two of Oregon’s tougher competitors this year in the Pac-12 lost their starting quarterbacks in the first week of the season.

Stanford lost K.J. Costello to a head injury, and USC lost J.T. Daniels to a season-ending knee injury. Other than playing Washington and Washington State in the heat of October, the Ducks have a relatively easy schedule that could allow them to sneak into the College Football Playoff.

The Oregon Trail

This early into the college football season, Auburn’s new odds are not good enough to take a risk on, but Oregon’s are. Both teams have easier games in Week 2, as Auburn gets ready to take on Tulane as -18.5 favorites and Oregon will be up against Nevada as -24 favorites.

However, Auburn’s schedule will continue to get harder while Oregon’s schedule will get easier with a few tough games.

The last time Oregon and Nevada went head-to-head was in 2011 when the Ducks dismantled the Wolf Pack, 69-20. This game should not be any different as Oregon will be in full revenge mode after suffering a tough loss at the hands of Auburn.