This offense is relentless with seven hitters in their lineup holding double-digit home runs, and five holding 40-plus RBI. Year after year, the offense for Auburn is their strength, and this year is no different. Tons of power with great bat-to-ball skills and a lot fewer strikeouts than you’d expect with a 21.2% strikeout rate.
The pitching for the Tigers is typically the bottleneck for this team and can definitely be their demise again this year. Ace Samuel Dutton holds a 3.84 ERA over 82 innings pitched with 92 strikeouts, and has turned into a true frontline starter, but note he has struggled mightily in his last three starts, allowing 17 runs in 13 ⅔ innings, allowing 21 hits, 10 of which went for extra bases.
Outside of a few key bullpen pieces in Caron Myers, Ryan Hetzler, and Parker Carlson, the up-and-down seasons many of the starters and relief pitchers have faced are definitely cause for concern.
We may be looking at a team that peaked too early, as their recent struggles in their key arms in Dutton, Cam Tilly, and Cade Fisher raise some red flags, especially when going against a program like Coastal.
Prediction
Again, I have to ride with the better pitching team. This Coastal club is so reminiscent of that 2016 team that won it all. While Auburn is known for being fantastic at home, I believe the pitching will travel and the offense will do enough against a weak Auburn pitching staff.
Bet: Coastal Carolina +115 (.5U)
