In its oddly specific predictions for Week 3 of the college football season, The Athletic is picking Auburn to upset Florida, 28-27, at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Staff writer Manny Navarro makes this prediction despite acknowledging that Aaron Philo has been the sharper of the two starting quarterbacks through two weeks. Florida enters the matchup as a 2.5-point road favorite.
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The biggest thing to watch, according to Navarro, will be Doak Walker Award watchlist honoree Jadan Baugh against Auburn’s run defense on Saturday night. Baugh has 296 yards and five touchdowns on only 28 carries so far this season. The matchup is especially intriguing because Auburn has yet to allow a rushing touchdown — they held Southern Mississippi to a combined 153 yards. Even more impressive, Auburn has not allowed a run longer than 12 yards.
Navarro’s argument is that Auburn’s ability to contain Baugh will force Philo to carry more weight in a pressure-packed situation. But that may not be bad news for Florida. The outlet points out that Philo has been “considerably sharper” than Tigers quarterback Byrum Brown through two weeks. Brown did, however, help USF engineer an 87-yard game-winning drive at the Swamp last season before transferring to Auburn.
“He works his Gainesville magic once again and finishes an 80-yard fourth-quarter drive with a quarterback keeper. Auburn wins 28-27,” Navarro wrote, projecting Brown to repeat history.
The Gators have looked dominant through the start of the season but The Athletic isn’t convinced Jon Sumrall’s program will translate that level of play to their first SEC road game.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: The Athletic predicts upset in Florida’s SEC opener against Auburn
