Auburn Tigers running back Damari Alston (0) carries the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Domani Jackson (1) during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Auburn Tigers and Baylor Bears tangle Friday night in Waco, Texas. The opening kickoff from McLane Stadium is slated for 8 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NCAA football odds around the Auburn vs. Baylor odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.

Auburn has logged 2 straight losing seasons under coach Hugh Freeze and 4 straight losing seasons overall. The Tigers do have a lot of key players back from a squad that averaged 28.7 points per game (PPG) while allowing 21.3 PPG last fall, and they did end the 2024 season on a bit of a good note, going 3-1 with a victory over ranked Texas A&M in their last 4 regular-season games.

Baylor had an even better finish last autumn. The Bears, who got off to a 2-4 start in 2024, won 6 in a row before falling to LSU 44-31 in the Dec. 31 Texas Bowl. Coach Dave Arranda is back for a sixth season and hoping to build on that 2024 momentum. BU has not registered back-to-back winning seasons since 2018-19.

The Tigers and Bears have not played each other in 40 years and only have met 4 times. Baylor leads 2-1-1, including a 15-14 victory over Auburnn in 1976.

– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports

Auburn at Baylor odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 8:13 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Auburn -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Baylor +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Auburn -2 (-105) | Baylor +2 (-115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 58.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Auburn at Baylor picks and predictions

Prediction

Baylor 34, Auburn 28

Moneyline

No interest; PASS.

Against the spread

Baylor went 6-1 ATS after Oct. 19 last season, and that included the Bears going undefeated ATS across their last 3 home games. BU is 6-1 ATS over its last 7 games as a home underdog.

Both programs return a decent amount of talent this fall, but the AU defense figures to have some question marks. BU QB Sawyer Robertson returns for the Bears and should be able to leverage the McLane Stadium crowd, his arm, and his legs against the Tigers. Robertson threw for 28 touchdowns, while tossing 8 picks, in 2024. He especially turned in solid work in Baylor's late 6-1 run.

The Tigers should have an advantage with their receivers against the BU secondary. So, if the Bears can get a lead, the contest could well develop into a high-volume exchange. In what spells a high-leverage game for both sides, give the edge to BAYLOR +2 (-115).

Over/Under

The Over is 8-1-1 across BU's last 10 games.

The returning talent here is more tilted toward the offense. When it comes to pace of play, both teams picked up the pace in significant ways in the latter weeks of the 2024 season.

On a warm, dry-weather night with little wind expected, the OVER 58.5 (-110) is the value side.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Auburn Tigers at Baylor Bears odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Skip Snow, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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