Fearless Forecasters: Our picks for Auburn at Oklahoma

Jason Caldwell: "This game has a whole lot of storylines as the Tigers get ready to face the Sooners for the first time in Norman. Jackson Arnold returns to Oklahoma for the first time. Auburn is looking to win a road game against a ranked opponent for the first time since 2021. The list goes on and on.

"I have talked about this being the first season since at least 2019 where it felt like Auburn didn't have to play perfect to go on the road and compete against top teams on the schedule. This is the weekend for that to come true. If the Tigers can avoid the costly turnovers and remain patient on offense, this offense can score enough points to win."

Auburn 27, Oklahoma 23

Phillip Marshall: "This is a tough one. Each team has played one competitive game and won. The biggest storyline will be Jackson Arnold's return to the place he called home last season. It looks like an even matchup, but Norman is a tough place to play.

"If this game was in Auburn, I would pick the Tigers. But it's not."

Oklahoma 28, Auburn 24

Christian Clemente: "There's a world where Auburn wins this game and right now I have the Tigers going 1-2 in the next three games (at Oklahoma, at Texas A&M, vs. Georgia). I don't know where that one win comes from just yet. I expect Auburn's defense to be aggressive up front against Oklahoma and try to get Mateer uncomfortable early, which could help lead to a turnover — something he is susceptible to.

"But I don't have enough confidence in Auburn's secondary right now to slow down the Sooners enough, and if there's one guy who knows how to rattle Jackson Arnold it'd be Brent Venables. Oklahoma wins a close one with a late score to go ahead."

Oklahoma 27, Auburn 24

Nathan King: "I just don't like this matchup at all for Auburn to begin SEC competition. For starters, Mateer has all the qualities that have given Auburn's defense issues early this season. Safety Champ Anthony's return could make a big difference for the secondary, but Mateer's dual-threat ability should still have the Tigers off balance. On the other side, Brent Venables knows exactly what makes Jackson Arnold tick, and should have a lot of complex blitz packages in store.

"Auburn's ability to run the football, win the turnover battle and get key defensive stops will give the Tigers a chance to win. They've accomplished all those things in every game so far, so there's no reason to believe they can't continue to do so. And Oklahoma's injury situation on the offensive line could be a problem for the Sooners. I don't think Oklahoma is a lot better than Auburn, but in this particular matchup, and in Norman, I've got the Sooners taking the win."

Oklahoma 28, Auburn 21

Ronnie Sanders: "This could be a statement win for Auburn—a chance to announce they're back and ready to make real noise in the race to Atlanta. Winning in Norman wouldn't just add another tally in the win column; it would send a message to the rest of the SEC that Auburn intends to be a serious contender.

"For that to happen, Jackson Arnold has to play within himself. Returning to his former school brings plenty of emotion, but he'll need to stay poised, trust the offense, and keep the game from getting away from him. Auburn, meanwhile, can't afford defensive lapses or giveaways—they've protected the football well this season, and that has to continue.

"Oklahoma is a 6.5-point favorite for a reason. The Sooners look sharper than they did a year ago, and Brent Venables will have his defense ready to fly around and create problems. They've been impressive early, and this game should be another chance to showcase that improvement.

"Still, in what should be a high-energy, back-and-forth contest, I'm taking Auburn to pull the upset. The Tigers grind it out and walk away from Norman with a win that will turn heads across the country."

Auburn 38, Oklahoma 33

Patrick Bingham: "It's a line of scrimmage game, and I think whoever wins that battle will win the game, unless there is some wild issue with turnovers.

"It's going to be a tough matchup but if the Tigers' offensive line can do enough to allow Auburn to run the football, then I think Freeze and friends can pull off the biggest win of his tenure to date."

Auburn 18, Oklahoma 16

Nathan King: "Texas Tech has a lot of NFL-caliber names on that defense, but I still think Devon Dampier is going to end up being one of the best transfer quarterbacks in the country this season. He joined a Utah offense that was already top 20 nationally in returning production, adding a dynamic element to a team that's accustomed to physical, beat-you-over-the-head football. The Utes still have plenty of that in their DNA, and that will be the difference at home against the Red Raiders."

Utah 31, Texas Tech 24

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