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247Sports predicts Hugh Freeze to be in SEC Coach of the Year contention

Could Hugh Freeze make his way into the SEC Coach of the Year conversation in year one?
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The hype around Auburn and Hugh Freeze is starting to build a little as we get closer to spring practice.

It's time for some way-too-early predictions for Freeze and his new staff on the Plains.

247Sports' Brad Crawford released his 10 way-too-early bold predictions for college football this upcoming season, and Hugh Freeze garnering SEC Coach of the Year is on the list.

"You're not supposed to hold the job for a couple of weeks and still land a top-20 signing class on 247Sports, but Freeze managed to do so with the Tigers this cycle and that's going to payoff in a big way during the 2023 season," Crawford said. 

"Auburn remade its offensive line through the transfer portal with one of the best hauls in the country and signed immediate help along the defensive front as well. The Tigers lacked an identity last season under Bryan Harsin and were spinning out of control prior to Cadillac Williams' stint as interim. Peeking at the 2023 slate, there's a good chance Auburn pushes to 3-0 entering its SEC opener at Texas A&M and if this team gets through the start of that three-game gauntlet against the Aggies, LSU and Georgia, the rest of the campaign could be smooth sailing for a program on the rise. The bold prediction here is Freeze gets to eight wins in Year 1."

On paper, this sounds like somewhat of a bold prediction, but based on Auburn's track record with first-year head coaches not named Bryan Harsin, exceeding expectations has been the Tigers' thing. On top of this, eight wins may not seem as far fetched as one may think - Auburn was two implosions away from being 7-5 last year after blowing a 17-0 lead vs LSU and losing on the road in overtime to Mississippi State.

Auburn's 2023 schedule:

Sep. 2 Vs UMass

Sep. 9 @ California

Sept. 16 Vs Samford

Sep. 23 @ Texas A&M

Sep. 30 Vs Georgia

BYE WEEK

Oct. 14 @ LSU

Oct. 21 Vs Ole Miss

Oct. 28th Vs Mississippi State

Nov. 4 @ Vanderbilt

Nov. 11 @ Arkansas

Nov. 18 Vs New Mexico State

Nov. 25 Vs Alabama

With Freeze at the helm and a more competent staff surrounding him, Auburn could hit that eight win mark... but it may boil down to quarterback play.


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