ESPN’s latest FPI projections have Auburn football as a top-5 team in 2017

quote:

---

On Wednesday, ESPN updated its Football Power Index rankings to incorporate “returning starters and recruiting rankings for each team to project the best teams and units in 2017.” In the latest version, Auburn is ranked No. 5 in the nation.

“The Tigers return 15 starters and bring in former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham as part of the No. 9 recruiting class,” ESPN’s Stats & Information wrote. “With the No. 5 offense, No. 7 special teams and No. 10 defense, Auburn joins Ohio State and Alabama as the only schools projected to have three top-10 units.”

MORE: Inside the most talked-about play for Auburn football this spring

Here’s the top 10 in ESPN’s latest FPI rankings, with Auburn trailing just Alabama among SEC teams:

Ohio State
Alabama
Oklahoma
Florida State
Auburn
LSU
Clemson
Penn State
Washington
Wisconsin
The FPI also includes a projection of each game on the Tigers’ 2017 schedule. The Tigers have to play three different top-seven FPI teams — Alabama, LSU and Clemson.

---

quote:

---

ESPN’s FPI currently projects Auburn with 9.5 wins and 2.8 losses. According to the rankings, Auburn has 1.9 percent chance to go undefeated and a 19.8 percent chance to win the SEC.

The Tigers have the nation’s 19th-toughest schedule in 2017, per FPI’s standards. Here’s is a game-by-game look at Auburn’s 2017 schedule with win expectancy:

vs. Georgia Southern: 99.0
at Clemson: 47.5
vs. Mercer: 99.7
at Missouri: 82.7
vs. Mississippi State: 88.2
vs. Ole Miss: 89.3
at LSU: 47.0
at Arkansas: 80.1
at Texas A&M: 74.9
vs. Georgia: 73.8
vs. UL-Monroe: 98.9
vs. Alabama: 44.5

---