re: Auburn is the preseason favorite . . . why?

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How old are you buddy? Your whole argument is based off of things that you perceive to "usually" happen. It's an argument based off of emotions and one usually only made by casual fans, or young folks who haven't been following CFB for long. 

You say that Auburn isn't consistent and only randomly has elite teams. Are you familiar with LSU's history pre 2002? Because that describes it. 

Things change. Otherwise the Mississippi schools would still be doormats and penciled in already as W's. The East would still be the best and Tennesse and Florida would still be annual NC contenders. 

Auburn is the preseason favorite because on paper we have the best and most complete team. We also have a favorable schedule. 

-QB has a lot to do with why AU is the favorite. Jeremy Johnson has shown off an NFL arm every chance he's had. Always look elite, never bad, never even looked mediocre. As for the other top teams: LSU's QBs looked downright awful last season. Bama and UGA don't know who will start for them and neither of their options look like anything to write home about. 

As for the rest of Auburn's team: 

-RB. Auburn has produced the leading rusher in the SEC two straight years and a 1000 yard rusher at QB 7 straight years. With two elite 5* RBs and a bruising 4* this may be our most talented group in that time.
-WR. Duke Williams is elite. Considered by many the top WR for the 2016 draft. And he's not alone, AU is deep and this is overall the most talented group of WR I can recall at AU. 
-OL. Yes we lose starting C and Rimington award winner Dismukes. But we replace him with a guy that started as a true freshman for Ole Miss and was all-SEC freshman team. We return the other 4 starters and get back top OG Alex Kozan who missed 2014 but was all-American freshman team in 2013 and in the BCSNCG graded out as the top player on either team by NFL scouts. OL is deep and all 5 starters are NFL talents, both guards have 1st round potential. 
-DL. Last year the DL didn't produce much pass rush. That will change this year. Carl Lawson is back and is one of the most talented pass rushers in CFB. NFL scouts are only waiting to see if he's 100% to project him to the 1st round. We also bring in the top HS player in the country, Byron Cowart to rush the passer. That added threat and Muschamps scheme frees up guys like Montravius Adams to rush the passer from the inside. The DL is deep and stout. 
-LB. Two 3 year starters. Cass McKinzy is the #2 ILB prospect for the 2016 draft. Kris Frost will also play on Sunday's. The other starter is Tre Williams, 5* and top LB prospect from 2014 and looked damn good as a true frosh last season. Noticing a trend of talented depth so far? Because that's the case with our LBs too. 
Auburn's entire starting front 7 is likely to be drafted into the NFL. 
-CB. Jonathan Jones, 6 INTs last season and always making the big play at the perfect moment. Josh Holsey is damn good as well. Depth is an issue here. One good solid backup, but some highly ranked freshman coming in. 
-Safety. Trey Matthews is the best safety that Auburn has had in a decade and he hasn't even stepped on the field yet. Rudy Ford, also very good and I think the top returning tackler? Again, depth is an issue here. 


There it is. If you really want to know why AU is the favorite and don't mind a little reading I laid it all out for you.

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Lord, some of you either read slow or have the shortest attention spans. That took a solid two minutes to go through.

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Since this this thread is about being the favorite in the SEC, the fact that LSU has only won the west once since 2008 and has finished behind Auburn in SEC standings the last two years and 3 of the last 5 years is a lot more relevant than the information you keep throwing around

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I realize there is no getting through to trolls like you on here. The fact that LSU lost 18 underclassmen over the last couple years completely crippled LSU. This past year, they didn't lose all those players for a change. I believe they return 17 starters, and most of those are highly talented but were lacking in experience. They got much better as the season went on last year. To put it simply, every unit for LSU should be significantly improved since Auburn saw LSU last. WR should be deadly, and I don't even need to mention RB. The OL got a huge boost when two Juniors decided to return....they should be better than last year as well...which they were already good. Most laugh at QB play and dismiss LSU quickly. I wouldn't laugh much......Harris was a TF that wasn't ready....he should be much improved this year (according to all reports) and Jennings certainly can't be any worse with a season under his belt...so QB will be improved as well. The interior DL was young, had a TF starting...they got much better last year and now have significant depth and experience. The DE's were just not good last year, and sacks were pitiful....should be much improved there after losing Rasco and Hunter plus bringing in a different Line Coach....huge step up on DL imo. AT LB, you missed out on the emergence of Beckwith at MLB last year....you won't miss him this year.....huge improvement there. The secondary will be sick, maybe even more than usual. Special teams, for a change, is the most concern on the team.

Combine all of that and the fact that you can't beat LSU in BR.....and you can believe what you want. I honestly believe this LSU team is setting up to be a 2011 type team with a better qb in BH. I've been following LSU a long time and am a very rational poster. Could they end up losing 4 games.??? sure......but I honestly would be shocked....LSU is seriously stacked everywhere and with slightly improved qb play, they will be in the SEC hunt....with decent to good qb play...they will win the SEC...jmo.