Auburn football enters its first bye week with a 3-2 record. Still, they are well-positioned to earn a bowl bid for the first time since 2023.
Last week’s national bowl predictions mostly forecasted a postseason spent in Tennessee, whether it be in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis or the Music City Bowl in Nashville. This week, predictions are varied as most experts feel the Tigers will earn enough wins to qualify for a Florida bowl game. Others expect Auburn to win just enough games to qualify for a local bowl game against one of the top Group of Five programs in the nation. As expected, bowl predictions are wild as we near the halfway point of the season, and will continue to be scattered until the regular season comes to an end in late November.
Here is a look at Auburn’s latest bowl predictions from national experts ahead of week six’s action across college football.
USA TODAY Sports
After three straight weeks of picking Auburn to spend bowl season up Highway 280 in Birmingham, Erick Smith of USA TODAY Sports has changed his tune and now foresees Auburn facing TCU in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Tigers and Horned Frogs have met three times in history, with Auburn victorious in each of their meetings.
ESPN
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura agrees with Erick Smith of USA TODAY Sports that the likely destination for Auburn is Memphis. However, Bonagura expects Cincinnati to be the Tigers’ bowl opponent. Auburn and Cincinnati last met in 1986, with the Tigers winning 52-7 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. However, Mark Schlach expects Auburn to stay closer to home by facing NC State in the Birmingham Bowl. Like Auburn, NC State began the season with a 3-0 record and has since lost two consecutive games to conference opponents.
Athlon Sports
Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports doubles down on his prediction of Auburn facing Minnesota in the Music City Bowl in Nashville at season’s end. The Tigers and Golden Gophers have met just once before on the gridiron, with Minnesota winning, 31-24, in the 2020 Outback Bowl.
On3
After predicting Auburn to end the season in Tennessee last week, On3’s Brett McMurphy is now shifting gears and forecasting Auburn to meet Louisville in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 27 in Jacksonville, Florida. Auburn has appeared in the Gator Bowl six times in its history, tying the Peach Bowl and Sugar Bowl for the most appearances.
Pro Football Network
Pro Football Network watered down Auburn’s bowl outlook this week by projecting them to meet North Texas in the Birmingham Bowl. North Texas is one of the top Group of Five programs so far in 2025 with a 5-0 record, with a key win over Washington State on its resume. The Mean Green will be tested next Friday when it hosts fellow Group of Five Cinderella, USF.
College Football News
College Football News echoes Pro Football Network’s sentiments by projecting an Auburn vs. North Texas matchup in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 29. Auburn and North Texas have played just once in history, with Auburn winning the matchup, 20-0, in 1981.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football bowl predictions ahead of week six
