re: Predicting Auburn's 2013 Football Season

9-3

4 OOC
Sate, OM! Arky, TN, LSU.

quote:

---

9-3 4 OOC Sate, OM! Arky, TN, LSU

---

I'd like to believe we have a chance to upset LSU, but the fact it's in DV and will most likely be a night game leads me to believe this won't happen.

quote:

---

I'm curious to get an Auburn fans' perspective on the QB and defense situation

---

Nick Marshall is the likely starter at QB... tons of athleticism but mistake prone. Malzahn was able to cut down on (ark state qb) Ryan Aplin's turnovers last year, so there's hope he can do the same with NM.

Defensively, we'll be more fundamentally sound than in previous years... but there are no real difference makers (at least not yet). Johnson's defense needs disruptive DEs, and right now we don't have any. Tackle was a huge disappointment last year, but there's experience and depth there... Linebacker is probably the weakest position group on the team. Young guys will need to step up immediately -- Frost and McKinzy.

Justin Garrett has the star (hybrid LB/S) position on lock down... if he can stay healthy, he will make a ton of plays in this defense. The secondary is another big question mark... some young guys have talent, but they need to live up to the billing... we're real thin at safety.

these games are basically a toss up: 2-2 most likely, I don't think Au can win all 4 nor will they lose all 4

Ole Miss - this game is intriguing because Ole Miss should be the better team and win the game but it's at Au and OM will have just played Bama the week before and could be beat up / tired. right now I'll give this a 49%

Mississippi State - this is one of the bigger games on State's schedule and the teams are relatively equal talent wise State is more experienced at QB but Au should be better at most position groupings based on recruiting rankings the game is at Au- so I'm inclined to give Au the edge 70%

@Arkansas on the road in the SEC is tough for mediocre teams and Ark will really want to make a statement vs a Gus led Au team. ark lost a ton off the O side but for some reason I still leaning towards an Ark win. maybe due to the recent history of the series , location and experience difference in the head coaching 37.5%

@Tennessee the only thing UT has going for them is home field advantage. i cant think of any position group where UT is better than Au but I don't believe there is a huge talent gap in favor of Au. 59%

All wins.

quote:

---

ark lost a ton off the O side but for some reason I still leaning towards an Ark win

---

Makes plenty of sense.

quote:

---

maybe due to the recent history of the series , location and experience difference in the head coaching 37.5%

---

Location? Sure. Recent history? That means didly-squat at this point. Experience difference in head coaching? Meh, won't have much pull. How about the fact that Brett Behemoth has to completely change the culture of the Arkansas offense from a pass attack to a primarily power rush based offense? Meanwhile, Gus Malzahn only has to re-correct some flaws from the offense being changed 1 year ago. Most of the players on roster have already played for the Gus Bus.

Hello, nice to meet you. People call me Mr Peanut and you sir may just call me nuts just as my friends do.

If recent success and home field advantage are so important (and I'll acknowledge that home field advantage is), do you also believe that Texas A&M should beat Alabama this season?

Or does that only pertain to Auburn and Arkansas?

Auburn was worse than Arkansas last year, but UA also lost key offensive pieces... I don't think it's too far off base to think the two teams are on equal footing headed into 2013.

On paper, the deciding factor at this time is home field... but with the new staffs and a lot of football to be played between now and then, I could see Auburn winning that game.

Time will tell.