Auburn will be favored at home for the second week in a row as it closes out its 2022 slate at Jordan-Hare Stadium next weekend.
Auburn opened as a six-point favorite against Western Kentucky, according to Circa Sports, in what will be the Tigers’ home finale. The Tigers and Hilltoppers are set for a 3 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with the game airing on SEC Network.
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After being an underdog in five straight games from Sept. 24-Nov. 5, the matchup with WKU is the second in a row in which Auburn is a betting favorite. Auburn was favored by 1.5 points against Texas A&M in Week 11, and the Tigers beat the Aggies, 13-10, in interim coach Cadillac Williams’ first home game thanks to a stalwart defensive performance and a resurgent run game. The win helped Auburn avoid its first six-game losing streak since 1950, as the Tigers improved to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in SEC play.
Western Kentucky (7-4, 5-2 CUSA) has won two in a row heading into its trip to the Plains. The Hilltoppers beat Charlotte and Rice in consecutive weeks, and they have now won four of their last five under coach Tyson Helton.
Saturday’s matchup at Jordan-Hare Stadium will be the third meeting all-time between Auburn and Western Kentucky. The Tigers have won each of the previous two games in the series, both of them coming at home: a 48-3 victory in 2003 and then a 37-14 win in 2005.
Auburn needs to beat WKU to keep its outside chance of bowl eligibility alive, as the Tigers must win out -- first against Western Kentucky and then on the road at Alabama -- to earn a bowl berth for the 10th consecutive season.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.