Pick’em: Week 10

AUBURN | Each week the AuburnSports.com staff and friends make their predictions on Auburn and top college football games from around the country.

GAMES	J LEE	CALEB	BILL	JAY G
MIA at SMU	MIA	MIA	MIA	MIA
ARMY at AF	AF	ARMY	AF	AF
ASU at ISU	ISU	ISU	ISU	ISU
UVA at CAL	UVA	UVA	UVA	UVA
WSU at ORST	WSU	WSU	WSU	WSU
VU at TEX	TEX	TEX	TEX	TEX
UGA vs. UF	UGA	UGA	UGA	UGA
MSU at ARK	ARK	MSU	MSU	MSU
OKL at TEN	TEN	TEN	TEN	TEN
UK at AUB	AUB	AUB	AUB	AUB

JEFFREY LEE (6-4, 55-25)

Auburn 27-17: Kentucky’s defense is bottom three in the SEC. Auburn should score points. But, hell, Arkansas has the SEC’s worst defense and Auburn managed a whopping one touchdown against them. Auburn’s offense needs to look competent. It needs to score touchdowns. Otherwise, it will be another ho-hum home win. And odds are it is what AU fans will get.

CALEB JONES (7-3, 49-31)

Auburn 31-20: Auburn is the only team in the SEC to not give up more than 24 points in a game this season. More often than not, Auburn’s defense holds teams significantly under what they average per game. Kentucky averages just over 24 points per game, so give me the under. Ashton Daniels provides a steady game — Auburn gets the win at home.

BILL CAMERON (5-5, 49-31)

Auburn 27-16: It’s survive and advance for Hugh Freeze after last week’s win at Arkansas ended the Tigers’ 4-game skid, while Mark Stoops’ situation is also tenuous at best.  This should be an excellent opportunity for Auburn to work on its passing game with Kentucky struggling defensively and should give Ashton Daniels a chance to build some confidence before the Tigers head to Vandy next week,

JAY G. TATE (4-6, 46-34)

Auburn 35-24: Hugh Freeze needs another win to solidify himself. I’m still skeptical for obvious reasons, but a win against UK has some value. I still think Auburn is a good football team hamstrung by a terrible offensive play-caller. If that play-caller just gets out of his own way, the Tigers would have more wins. Here’s another one.

GAMES	DAN	JUSTIN	COLE	BMATT
MIA at SMU	MIA	MIA	MIA	SMU
ARMY at AF	AF	ARMY	ARMY	AF
ASU at ISU	ISU	ISU	ISU	ASU
UVA at CAL	UVA	CAL	UVA	CAL
WSU at ORST	WSU	ORST	WSU	WSU
VU at TEX	VU	TEX	VU	TEX
UGA vs. UF	UGA	UGA	UGA	UGA
MSU at ARK	MSU	MSU	MSU	MSU
OKL at TEN	TEN	TEN	TEN	TEN
UK at AUB	AUB	AUB	AUB	AUB

DAN PECK (4-6, 44-36)

Auburn 30-10: A conservative offensive approach and a sound defensive effort should be more than enough to continue UK’s miserable season. 

JUSTIN HOKANSON (5-5, 43-37)

Auburn 31-17: This game plan should feel similar to last week. Kentucky’s offense is capable, but their defense has struggled some. The Wildcats’ rush defense isn’t terrible though, certainly not as bad as Arkansas’, so Auburn will have to play well in the run game. The colder weather might subdue the fans some, so a good start would be nice to energize things. The QB situation worries me some, but again, a good start by either one will be critical after the back-and-forth of the last week. Kentucky has a decent running back, so another good challenge for Auburn’s stout rush defense. Is Auburn going to play yet another tight one? Or will they finally control a game from start to finish?

COLE PINKSTON (5-5, 42-38)

Auburn 31-21: I think Auburn wins this one. Kentucky is slightly better than Arkansas, but Auburn will be aided by another night game in Jordan-Hare. I think Ashton Daniels will play and will manage the game well enough to win. 

BRYAN MATTHEWS (3-7, 40-40)

Auburn 18-17: I’m tempted to take Kentucky because Auburn’s offense is bad regardless of who is playing quarterback and Hugh Freeze has been known to lay some eggs at home. However, Kentucky’s run defense is a little overrated, Auburn’s defense is legit and Alex McPherson is probably good for six more field goals when the offense flops in the red zone.