I would take TN over Auburn any day. TN is in the East. All TN needs is a good coach and they'll be back on the national scene. They're a sleeping giant too.
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TN plays (in order of toughness) Bama, UGA, UF, Kentucky. Auburn plays Bama, UGA, LSU, A&M. Yeah that 4th team is slghtly harder for Auburn, but it's extremely comparable SOS.
The advantage TN has is fan expectations. Auburn will fire you if you go 9-3 and never beat Bama or UGA. TN will wish you'd do more, but overall like you if you go 9-3 with loses to Bama, UGA, and UF every year. Auburn has a natty 10 years ago and an appearance 7 years ago, and were an SECCG win away from making a playoff. TN fans (I know cause i live in east TN) have been beaten down and just want to be a top 20 program again