Upcoming Match-ups

Kentucky vs Auburn Picks and Odds

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in College Football

Updated Sep 25, 2020 · 11:31 AM PDT

Bo Nix throwing
Bo Nix begins his second season as Auburn's starting QB this Saturday. Photo from @AuburnEinstein
  • The SEC season starts Saturday (Sept. 26) with No. 8 Auburn hosting No. 23 Kentucky in a matchup of ranked teams
  • Auburn Soph. QB Bo Nix has a new offensive coordinator in Chad Morris while Terry Wilson returns after missing the final 11 games of last season with a knee injury to quarterback for Kentucky
  • See game odds, spread and betting advice for the 12:00 EST kickoff below

SEC play gets underway Saturday (Sept. 26) and the marquee matchup features No. 23 Kentucky visiting No. 8 Auburn at 12:00 p.m. ET from Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

Kentucky is ranked at the beginning of a season for the first time since 1978. The Wildcats were 8-5 last year, including a victory over Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl.

Auburn had a 9-4 record in 2019 and lost to Minnesota in the Outback Bowl after upsetting arch-rival Alabama in the regular-season finale.

The schools last played in 2015 before any of their current players reached campus. Auburn eked out a 30-27 road win, barely covering as a two-point favorite.

Here’s a look at the current Kentucky vs Auburn odds.

Kentucky Wildcats vs Auburn Tigers Week 4 Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Over/Under
Kentucky +245 +7.5 (-120) Over 49.5 (-112)
Auburn -320 -7.5 (-1-0) Under 49.5 (-108)

Odds taken Sept. 25 at FanDuel

Nix Has New OC

Quarterback Bo Nix led Auburn to nine wins as a true freshman last year.

The expectations are even higher this season after head coach Gus Malzahn decided to cede play-calling duties and hired Chad Morris as offensive coordinator. Morris is the former head coach at Arkansas and SMU.

Nix completed 57.6 percent of his passes last season for 2,542 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was intercepted just six times in 377 attempts.

Nix has thrown 191 straight passes without being picked. That is the second-longest current streak in the FBS behind the 276 of Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.

Morris was noted for his high-octane offenses at SMU, but his act did not play well in the SEC at Arkansas. He was fired with two games remaining last season, and the Razorbacks were 4-18 during his two-year tenure.

Wilson Back for Kentucky

Terry Wilson is back at quarterback for Kentucky. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game in 2019.

Lynn Bowden Jr. moved from wide receiver to quarterback and spearheaded a potent running game last fall. However, the Wildcats should have a more balance offense with Wilson at the controls.

In 15 career games, Wilson has amassed a 66.6 completion percentage while throwing for 2,249 yards. He has 13 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

Kentucky is also 12-3 in games Wilson has started.

Mark Stoops’ team has one of the best offensive lines in college football. Drake Jackson and Landon Young were preseason all-SEC picks by the media and Darian Kinnard was a second-team choice.

Wildcats’ Defense Experienced

Kentucky’s strength, at least early in the season, should be its defense. The Wildcats return each of their seven starters on the first two levels. Kentucky allowed just 19.3 points a game last season.

Two players to watch are run-stopping nose guard Quinton Bohanna and pass-rushing linebacker Jamar Watson.

Meanwhile, Auburn’s defense will have a different look following the departures of standout linemen Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson to the NFL.

The Carolina Panthers selected Brown with the seventh overall pick in the draft. Davidson went to the Atlanta Falcons in the second round.

Auburn gave up just 19.5 points a game a year ago.

Statement Game?

The opener gives Kentucky the opportunity to show it can be one of the better teams in the SEC this season. Their defense gives them a chance to stay in the game, especially with Nix in his first game with Morris as the OC.

However, Kentucky has not beaten a SEC team in the top 10 on the road since upending No. 1 Mississippi all the way back in 1964. The Wildcats’ last win over any top 10 team came in 2010 when they beat South Carolina.

Coach Mark Stoops has made Kentucky’s program better. However, the Wildcats have not reached the point where they can beat a team of Auburn’s caliber on the road.

Pick: Auburn -7.5 (+100)

Author Image