JD PicKell reveals whether Auburn or Colorado is more likely to 'lay an egg' in 2023

On3’s J.D. PicKell was recently given a scenario for the upcoming season. Someone wondered who had the better chance of earning a 9-3 record, Auburn or Colorado? Both have first-year head coaches in Hugh Freeze and Deion Sanders but PicKell believes nine wins would be lofty for the two programs.

“To be real with you, I don’t know if I would take either team to go 9-3,” PicKell said. “Because they’re both in such a rebuild phase.”

Unfortunately, he still had to pick one. PicKell decided to roll with Auburn, citing a more developed roster Freeze is inheriting. Colorado has hit the NCAA transfer portal hard this offseason, all part of Sanders master plan. But it will take some time to develop and most likely does not translate to a 9-3 Year One.

“I think Auburn with having a little bit more of an established roster,” PicKell said. “I think the rebuild nearly isn’t as drastic as what Coach Prime is doing at Colorado. I’ll lean Auburn but Colorado is going to be fun to watch over the next couple of years.”

Over the past three seasons, Colorado has had a total of nine wins. Their last nine win season came back in 2016, making the Pac-12 Championship game. Many believe Sanders will get there at one point in Boulder but not in 2023.

Colorado more likely to ‘lay an egg’ than Auburn

At the same time, PicKell was asked which program was more likely to “lay an egg” in their head coach’s inaugural season. He admitted that was a “harsh word” to use but went with Colorado. There are just too many question after making the jump to the Power Five level.

“There’s no data on Coach Prime at Colorado,” PicKell said. “I have stood here at told you I think it’s going to work. I think it’s going to take some time. But for 2023, he’s putting together a roster of like, 70 new guys. There’s no data point for me to really go off of. We haven’t seen (Shedeur Sanders) play FBS football yet. Same thing with Travis Hunter. I have no doubts about them, I’m just saying — seeing it in a game is my only reservation.”

Four wins for Auburn would be a disaster for Freeze this season. But for Colorado, it would be a massive improvement and something the program could be happy with.

“I think if you can win four games at Colorado this year, that would be phenomenal,” PicKell said. “That’s a three-win improvement from last year. Party for the good people in Boulder.”