Auburn coach Hugh Freeze has repeatedly stated that his team is better than their record suggests and just a few plays away from becoming a good team, but Paul Finebaum remains unconvinced.
The Tigers, with a 2-3 overall record (0-2 in SEC play), have lost three of their last four games as they prepare to face Georgia, who is a heavy favorite in the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.” Auburn has struggled with turnovers and squandered second-half leads in recent matchups against Arkansas and Oklahoma.
On Saturday’s SEC Nation broadcast, analyst Jordan Rodgers agreed with Freeze’s perspective.
“Hugh Freeze has been saying that his team is closer than it seems, even though many have dismissed that claim,” Rodgers said. “I agree. This is an offense that, for three quarters, moved the ball effectively against a strong Oklahoma team.”
Finebaum responded, acknowledging that the skeptics include him.
“You mentioned people rolling their eyes, and I am one of them,” Finebaum said. “While I hear you, the reality is that Auburn is heading for its fourth loss, with Missouri, Alabama, and other tough opponents still ahead. The challenge is keeping this Auburn team from falling apart.”
Rodgers, a former Vanderbilt quarterback, offered a straightforward solution to Auburn’s issues.
“The problem has been turnovers,” Rodgers said. “Giving Payton Thorne or any quarterback more decisions hasn’t led to better outcomes. These tempo-spread offenses are designed to just line up and run plays. Out of 80 or 85 plays, you’ll get 60 or 65 good ones.”
Rodgers emphasized the need for Freeze to simplify the offense: “Stop trying to find the perfect play and just run the offense. Auburn is better than their record and their turnover stats suggest, which allows them to play more aggressively.”
The Auburn-Georgia game is set for 2:30 p.m. with ABC providing television coverage.
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