re: Kirk Heirbstreit Picks Auburn as SEC West Sleeper pick

He picked LSU last year. How'd that work out?

its a sleeper pick. meaning it probably won't happen

He is alright, just going on the theme that when Auburn is consistently picked high they don't come close to expectations and when Auburn is consistently picked low, they don't come close to expectations either. If a gambler followed this strategy the last 6 years, he would be a rich man now.

Also as a previous post pointed out, how can picking 1,5,or 11 be a "sleeper" pick. Frankly, one day the"consensus of experts" will get Auburn's relative position correct based on the law of averages.

They are my pick as well between the four remaining west teams.

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Not flaming Auburn at all, but why do you think that?

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They just really didn't have true playmakers last year - plus they were rather a young'ish team

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You answered your own question. The best players on defense were young last year. Plus having Lawson back is a big jump. And the linebackers will be much improved. Tre Williams >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Kris Frost

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Not flaming Auburn at all, but why do you think that? They weren't even in the top 50 for total defense nor scoring defense. T/0 per game was 1.3. They just really didn't have true playmakers last year - plus they were rather a young'ish team.

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We started off slow but finished fairly strong on defense. We struggled early after losing Lawson with not having a real playmaker and trying to find a pass rush, but we really came along.

Also, on paper, this is by far the most talent and depth Auburn has had on defense since 2004, possibly even the Dye era. Things that we struggled with last year were addressed in full this offseason. The DC is the only thing that gives pause about the defense.

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The DC is the only thing that gives pause about the defense.

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After that head-scratching playcalling last season, that OC has to make you pause as well.

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After that head-scratching playcalling last season, that OC has to make you pause as well.

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Last year was the first year that Gus really handed over the reins to Lashlee...he has been very clear that he is taking them back this year. Gus is the OC this year...Lashlee is the assistant OC.

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Last year was the first year that Gus really handed over the reins to Lashlee

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SO why didnt' Gus take back the reins last year when they realized that things weren't going so well?

Not a dumb pick, IMO.

Due to their overall SOS, its hard to find more than 7 or 8 wins max. But we all know they've recruited well. And we also all know they always exceed expectations when no one is thinking they'll be good. So I can see why someone would pick them as a sleeper.

I believe Phil Steele also included them on his list of most improved teams too.

Unless Alabama, Clemson, and LSU fail miserably to meet expectations, that means Auburn would likely have a ceiling of 9-3. They'd have to beat Ole Miss and Georgia in addition to Arky, State, A&M, etc. to get to 9-3.

I think 7-5 or 8-4 is fairly realistic for them. Of course if they show no improvement at QB, it could quickly become 4-8. As per the norm with Auburn, we won't know until about October how they'll be.

Arky has 9 returning on D and a u can count on them having a good Oline. Talent at WR. I'd say they are a much better sleeper pick than auburn. But auburn has suprised before. And 2010 with cam newton was a good bet. Nobody was sleeping on them that year.