Washington vs. Auburn
This game has serious playoff implications for later this season.If Washington loses, it can honestly be expected that the PAC-12 could get left out of the playoff once again, even if the Huskies win out. For Auburn, a loss is not as detrimental, but could be damaging.
This will be the first ever meeting of the schools, as they meet up in Atlanta this week. This will mark the second ever neutral site non conference (and non bowl) game for Washington, while Auburn will be playing in their 2nd straight non con or bowl game in Atlanta. Auburn is on a current 2 game losing streak in Atlanta dating back to last season. Auburn was beaten by Georgia in the SEC title game, and by UCF in the Peach Bowl. No other team in history has played 3 straight neutral site games in the same venue.
Washington is 87-35-2 in season openers all-time, while they are 17-11 in season openers since 1989. They are 10-1 at home, just 7-9 on the road, and 0-1 in their only other neutral site opener. The Huskies have opened against ranked opponents 12 times since 1994, and are just 5-7 in that run.
This will be Auburn's 3rd appearance in the Chik-Fil-A Kickoff. Auburn is 8-3 all-time vs. the PAC-12, and have a losing record only against USC (1-2). This will be their first contest against a PAC-12 opponent since 2013, a win over Washington State at home. The Tigers are 4-3 in season openers against the PAC-12, but is a perfect 5-0 against the conference in neutral site games.
Auburn is 96-27-2 all-time in conference openers, and have won 10 of their last 12. They are 4-1 in season openers under Gus Malzahn, with the only loss coming to Clemson, who eventually won the national title.
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