The official opening weekend of college football features a power conference battle on Friday night between the SEC’s Auburn Tigers and the Big 12’s Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas.
Hugh Freeze finds himself on the hot seat at Auburn after a second consecutive losing season, while the Bears are running back several key players from a strong finish to last season, where they won six straight to close the regular season.
Find out who I like in my Auburn vs. Baylor predictions and college football picks for Friday, August 29.
Auburn vs Baylor prediction
Auburn vs Baylor Best bet: Cam Coleman anytime touchdown (+105)
In his true freshman season, Auburn wideout Cam Coleman caught 37 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns. He was the second leading target on the team behind Keandre Lambert-Smith, who went to the NFL. He was also receiving passes from Payton Thorne, who was solid but nothing special.
Now Coleman will be the top target, but not a guy that will constantly be double-teamed, since the Tigers added two transfer wideouts from ACC schools. He will also now be receiving passes from transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold, who had a very successful first year in the SEC at Oklahoma last season.
The Baylor Bears are expected to be a sleeper team to possibly make the playoffs this year, but they have a major weakness in their pass defense. They ranked 94th nationally last year in passing yards allowed and allowed 22 passing touchdowns.
Coleman is a large target at 6’3” and was a touchdown machine last year, scoring one touchdown per 4.6 catches. After starting a little slow in his freshman year, he finished his last three games with 8-100-3, 7-128-2, and 7-78-1. I expect him to pick up right where he left off.
Auburn vs Baylor same-game parlay
To add to the anytime touchdown for Coleman, I will throw him in to hit his receiving yard total of 70.5. He cleared this in his final three games of 2024 and should only see more and more targets this season.
Finally, I will take Baylor moneyline at home, as I expect them to be able to score enough to make up for the poor pass defense.
Our deep-ball SGP: Expect fireworks in Waco
Just as Auburn has Coleman as a touchdown machine, Baylor has Josh Cameron, who had 10 touchdowns last season and can also be a deadly punt returner.
Auburn vs Baylor odds
- Auburn vs. Baylor spread: Baylor +2.5
- Auburn vs. Baylor moneyline: Auburn -140, Baylor +115
- Auburn vs. Baylor Over/Under: 58.5
Auburn vs Baylor betting trend to know
Baylor has hit the Game Total Over in eight of their last 10 games. Find more college football betting trends for Auburn vs Baylor.
How to watch Auburn vs Baylor
| Location | McLane Stadium, Waco, TX |
| Date | Friday, August 29, 2025 |
| Kickoff | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FOX, FOX One |
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