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There was a time when Auburn (3-1) and Tennessee (3-1) would face each other on the last Saturday in September or the first one in early October, but it’s been a while since these two played in a key rivalry showdown.
Now they get together at a key moment for both teams in the SEC race – neither one can afford a second loss.
Auburn lost a shootout against Florida, but came back to hand Vanderbilt its first loss of the season. Tennessee played Texas tough, but dropped the home game to the No. 1 team last week, 20-17.
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Auburn vs Tennessee: Quick Hits
- These two first met in 1929 – a 27-0 Tennessee win – but haven’t played since 2020, when Auburn won 30-17.
- Tennessee goes to Arkansas after this and then hosts Alabama.
- This starts a brutal run of three road games in four dates for Auburn, going to Georgia two weeks after this before hosting LSU, and then closing out October with a trip to Ole Miss.
How To Watch Auburn vs Tennessee
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ABC
Location: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
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– Predictions For Every Remaining Game
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 5
Why Auburn Will Win
The Tigers have been able to play up or down to the competition and game flow so far. The opener against Baylor was a low-scoring fight, and the defense stepped up last week against Vanderbilt. The running game opened it up against Southern Miss, and the offense did a nice job of fighting back against Florida.
In this, the speed and tempo of the offense need to keep the Tennessee defense on its heels. The Volunteer defense had its first test last week against Texas, but it hasn’t dealt with anything that goes as quickly as the Tigers will move.
Why Tennessee Will Win
Tennessee has the nation’s best pass rush, averaging close to five sacks per game, and the tempo of the Auburn offense, in theory, should be able to counteract that. Get things moving, get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands in a hurry, and …
Auburn is among the worst teams in the country in pass protection, allowing 3.5 sacks per game. The Vols will bring the pass rush right away.
How did Auburn lose to Florida? The defense couldn’t get off the field, especially with the Gator running game rolling. Tennessee’s rushing attack was held up by Texas, but it rolled at will in the first three games – it should get to at least 200 yards on the ground in this.
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Auburn vs Tennessee Prediction, Betting Lines
Tennessee likes to move with a good pace and tempo, but that’s nothing compared to what Auburn likes to do. The Tigers haven’t buckled late yet, but keeping the ball for just under 26 minutes per game will matter in this.
The Vols have only turned it over once since the opener against Furman, and it won’t force anything in this. If anything, they’ll be a bit more conservative than they probably should, but it’ll work.
Tennessee 31, Auburn 23
Latest Consensus Line: Tennessee -6.5, o/u: 54.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 3.5
Must See Rating (out of 5): 4
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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This story was originally published September 30, 2026 at 10:56 PM.