Need to get that keyboard looked at. It seems to typing all caps for some reason.
There are three things that have me optimistic about Auburn's chances to have a good season.
First and foremost is Gus Malzahn. I have always liked this guy. I think he has a tremendous offensive mind, and with this being his second year to implement his offense, I think you can expect some big things from this team offensively. I believe the guy can make water into wine.
Second is Cam Newton. The guy has the potential to be a star, but right now it's only potential. SEC defenses have a way of humbling QBs. They did it to Greg McElroy and Jevan Snead last season.
Third, this is a senior-laden team. Experience definitely helps you win games in this league.
What I don't like about Auburn is that they are wafer thin pretty much across the board. Auburn had an outstanding recruiting class, but last year's recruiting class usually doesn't help much in winning championships this year. And right now Auburn is so thin that they are expecting to burn at least half of that class's redshirts.
In the SEC it usually takes more than your 22 starters to win a championship, and as I said, Auburn is largely hollow beyond their starters. They will be particularly vunerable if injuries mount as the season progresses. If they can avoid the injury bug, the sky is the limit for this team. Unfortunately, that's a very big "if."
I think Auburn's lack of depth will hold this team back this season. I also don't think the starters that Auburn does have can't match the starters that Bama has. If they get a few more recruiting classes like last year's under their belt, that could change in upcoming years. But for now I think you'd be had pressed to find a single Auburn starter that could crack the starting lineup at Bama. Maybe Lee Ziemba or Ryan Pugh and even that is a bit of a reach.
Being the degenerate gamblers that we are, I think Auburn could have some great value this season. They are certainly a team that bears watching. But in my view Auburn could be a 10 & 2 type of team, or they can just as easily be a 7 & 5 type team. Neither would shock me. I know the Auburn guys won't like hearing this, but it is true: the West is Bama's to lose until further notice.
to all!!!
Well, I think there is some wisdom in what you're saying. TV announcers are glorified salesmen. They are selling a product. And if Herbie say Bama, they audience yawns. If he says Auburn, he knows people like us will be talking about it, particularly those of us in Alabama. This is why I never put too much stock in what these guys say or predict. They all have tendentious considerations of self interest IMO.
I like Herbie as well. I think him and Mark May are the best college football guys ESPN has.
Herbie is one of the best, without bias (being from Ohio). While he actually played for the Bucks, he doesn't hesitate to tell it like it is and bash them when need be. Majority of OSU fans need this reality check and I'm glad to see Herbie give it once in a while.
Mark May pisses alot of people off, mostly for telling the truth. Sometimes people only want to hear the good things, while May says what NEEDS TO BE SAID.
Along with what Hawk mentioned, it's good he's there to put Lou in his place sometimes. Lou is good, but the whole ND for NC game every year is getting old. They lost their spark and who knows when they'll be back, until then, take a rest. His pep talk segments were intense though, I'll give him that, very entertaining.
Nice writeup.
I thought losing Michael McNeil was a critical blow to Auburn last season. Obviously Auburn needs to drastically improve on the defensive side of the ball if they are going to achieve their lofty goals. Getting McNeil, Etheridge and Savage back should definitely help.
I know many people are very high on Cam Newton, but making the transition from JUCO ball to the SEC is a monumental leap for a QB to make. In fact, if Newton has a big year his 1st year out of JUCO, he'd be the only QB that has ever done it that I can think of. All JUCO QBs that I'm aware of have all struggled their 1st season. Maybe Newton can be the exception, but I'll admit I'm a bit incredulous.
In addition to what I wrote above, I will add that Auburn has a pretty tough schedule, and because of that, I'd be mildly surprised if they only lost 2 games. As I see it, Auburn has 9 losable games on their schedule. Out of those 9 games I think they will absolutely lose to Alabama on the road. That's 1 loss with 8 losable game remaining. Out of those 8 games I would expect Auburn to go something like 5 & 3 or 6 & 2. Therefore I expect Auburn to finish with an 8 & 4 or 9 & 3 type of season.
I agree with everything you say. I said much the same thing above. Unquestionably the potential is there, the pieces are there, and Malzahn is there. The only question is can Newton do it week in and week out against SEC defenses . . . this season?
Freak, great writeup.
Double, I hate Lou. Biggest ND asskisser of all time. Lou, do you EVER remember coaching Carolina-could you say something nice about them ONCE?
Thank God Mark May is around to shove it up his shamrock when Pitt beat ND................
Every season Lou has ND winning it all, they need to tape his mouth shut most of the time.
I think Auburn finishes 3rd at best, behind Ark, Bama. They do have most tough games at home, except Bama.
Established in 1995,
Happy That I Agree 
with any that 
Talking 
Heads SAY on
ESPN 
Lou Holtz is the Best By Far 
we will see if they fade 
like auburn just not that much
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