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One of things that I have noticed from looking at the pick em's is everybody dismissing Auburn. I think Auburn could be the surprise team of the SEC depending on how well Nick Marshall plays. I think a lot of the supporting cast is there and coaching is there, but the season will ride on the Qb's shoulders. What am I missing on Auburn?

I went back and forth on my pick with the AU/Ole Miss game. I chose to pick my Rebels but I will admit I had my red and blue glasses on for it.

I think Auburn could be pretty good this year. They do have talent, I just think that alot of people (myself included) may be overlooking them due to the new head coach and alot of uncertanties. I guess we'll see how things shake out on the plains pretty quickly though.

......I was most interested in seeing how many Rebels picked themselves to beat LSU.......Really? Auburn has a chance to be really good.......or really bad......but I think they will be much improved

I agree... Auburn will be much improved. Good talent and coaches.
A win at A&M against Johnny boy?...u obviously haven't seen their
band toot them horns !!!!!!

I picked Allbarn in the pickem vs. the Rebs. This game has that We Are Ole Miss feel to it.

hottytoddy wrote:I picked Allbarn in the pickem vs. the Rebs. This game has that We Are Ole Miss feel to it.

hahaha yep

stitch wrote:......I was most interested in seeing how many Rebels picked themselves to beat LSU.......Really? Auburn has a chance to be really good.......or really bad......but I think they will be much improved

Whens the last Ole Miss/LSU game you watched? Ole Miss has as good a chance to win that game as any, regardless...

in my opinion, the only way to logically (not with any bias, but logically) make a preseason prediction is to use two factors...the climate surrounding a team last time they were on the field, and what returns in it same state for upcoming games being predicted. EVERYTHING else, rather sound or a reach is just assumption. Coaching, player development, new incoming players, scheme changes, etc. It's all assumption for what could happen, only facts you have are what was 8 months ago and what of those facts roll into what you are predicting.

SO...if I look at Auburn or MSU in that fashion, I can't predict a ton of wins. If I look at Ole Miss schedule based on the two things I pointed out it's hard not to have a very positive outlook...

however I'd like to say in same breath that i feel that prediction logical and logic I'd use in betting are also different and I wouldn't put money on any of it!

Biased, but also realistic here.
Rocky, you are spot on about Nick Marshall. Auburn’s success (or failure) this season will depend heavily on his performance.
He is a phenomenal athlete to put it mildly. We all know what CGM can do with the right dual threat QB @ the helm surrounded by talent at other positions. Granted, Nick is no Cam, but the similarities are there (in more ways than one)!

As always, they will be a run first offense with plenty of strength & speed in the backfield. I like what I see @ the O-Line position which can only enhance said backfield talent.

Defensively, there’s nowhere to go but up. I’m excited to see Ellis Johnson’s implementation of the 4-2-5 D! We have some experience in the secondary so should see an improvement there. I just hope this defense can TACKLE! If so, that alone will meet my expectations for this season…….baby steps!

There are question marks at many positions that I can’t speak to at this point.

This year’s schedule (odd # year) is one of the main reasons I’m not expecting any more than 3 wins in the conference. Anything above that will be reason for a downright happy dance from me.

We have both MS schools @ our house this year & I say we win one & lose one.
War Eagle y'all

eSJay wrote:

Granted, Nick is no Cam, but the similarities are there (in more ways than one)!

eSJay - please elaborate for our listeners. Want to make sure all of the similarities are properly documented.

I think everyone is overlooking LSU........I think they could run the table.....

Don't read too much into these picks. Because some seemed to give the benefit of the doubt to Ole Miss' opponent in every "toss up" game, I did just the reverse. I doubt that Ole Miss will win more than 7-8 games, despite my apparent 10-2 game by game prediction, which gave every "toss up" game to the Rebs.

No Rebel fan that I know is overlooking any team on our schedule, much less a game at Auburn and a game against LSU in Oxford. Right now, I think Ole Miss has a great chance to win each of those games. But, as the season progresses --- a couple of games in --- a more accurate outlook for each team should begin to get clearer.

There are a lot of wild cards in the SEC this season. Auburn is one of them. So is LSU. Should be an interesting season.

Po Monk got me to thinking by his Rebel prediction post and found this nugget. I thought before the year started that ol Guz and Auburn could be that surprise team this year.

mossyisland wrote:Po Monk got me to thinking by his Rebel prediction post and found this nugget. I thought before the year started that ol Guz and Auburn could be that surprise team this year.

Good call Rocky!
We've already doubled my conference win expectations. The happy dance took place @ TAMU & again Saturday night!

The Iron Bowl will be epic this year to put it mildly. The most meaningful one in 20 years.

War Eagle!

Heard the early line has Bama as 13.5 point favorites...kinda surprised me.