Auburn....Contender or Pretender?

[DR STRANGELOVE]

Is Auburn going to be the latest National Champion out of the SEC?

They could be and here's why:

Auburn might have the deepest contingent of tailbacks in the country.

Led by Carnell "Cadillac" Williams and Ronnie Brown, the Tigers have added the massive Brandon Jacobs and the fleet footed Tre Smith to the mix.

Any team with this depth at running back is going to be a threat....defensive line coaches must be crying when trying to gameplan for the Auburn ground attack.

An underrated aspect of the Auburn offense is Jason Campbell, a 63% passer who had better than a 2-1 TD/INT ratio. The only question Auburn has at Qb is who will back up Campbell.

Defensively, the Tigers have Karlos Dansby, Dontarrio Thomas, and are solid all around.

Will they win it?

No. I'm very leery about the USC game and they always seem to hiccup versus Arkansas. Auburn has the talent to run the table, but it will be very challenging to do in the SEC.




:nono:

 

[Bluemound Freak]

Contender!


Just like the old guys always tell me.........WE'LL SEE!


WEGL WEGL WAR DAMN EAGLE!

 

[Scott4USC]

Lets see what Auburn does against USC in their own backyard.

 

[ND2002HORNS]

No doubt that first game of the season means so much to Auburn. Crazy that so much emphasis has to be placed on the first game of the season but a loss by the Tigers and it could really hurt their National Championship hopes.

HORNS

 

[Bluemound Freak]

WE"LL SEE Scotty Boy! That is all that I have to say about that! (In the best Forrest Bump impression voice that I have!)

Good luck to you and your Trojans anyways!

 

[taoist]

Definite contender, but they have a killer schedule!!!

They draw Tennessee and Georgia (the top 2 teams) out of the east and then have to travel to Arkansas and LSU. Throw in the annual game with Alabama and the opener with USC.... WOW!!! Although they only lose 17 lettermen (fewest in the SEC) and have 16 returning starters (2nd most in SEC), they're playing one of the toughest schedules in the NCAA.

If they can get by USC, then the next test will be Oct 4 (Tenn) and then travelling to Arkansas the very next week (Oct 11).... Then Miss St at home on Oct 18 (not a gimmie) and the trip to Death Valley (LSU) on October 25.... That's a high hurdle for most any CFB team....

If some breaks go their way, (like Ohio St. last year and Tenn in 98) then yeah, I could foresee them making a run, but as has already been mentioned, they'll get to test the waters early and set their own pace and determine their momentum right out of the gate.

...just my 2 cents.

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

You can't count on the running game alone to carry you through an SEC schedule. Don't think that Tuberville has the talent to see this team through. LSU wins the west, Arkansas second. Auburn won't see a New Year's game/

 

[BuckWheat]

CONTENDER

CONTENDER

The biggest problem Auburn has, is that they are in the SEC.
SEC Teams, eat their own The greatest rivalries in football,
are within this Conference.

USC 14 Auburn 17

 

[Scott4USC]

I agree that the score will be low and close. Should be a classic game, so 17-14 sounds right and could go either way.

However, if a QB emerges for USC and can play average/good and not turn ball over, USC will win double digits easy. Only thing i have a question mark against Auburn is our QB. Nothing about AUburn really scares me even though your a great team. I pray a QB emerges and will be efficient.

Auburn needs to score early and get up by 10-14pts. Put pressure on our QB and then force turnovers and Auburn will win the game. Otherwise USC should pull it out. AU strength is running and USC strength is DL. There is "NO QUESTION" in my mind that AUBURN cannot stop our recievers. The only question will be can USC find a QB to effectively throw them the ball?

FIGHT ON!!!!!

and i will throw in a WAR EAGLE because i like your fans!!!!

 

[dawgball]

I think it will be prove to be unfortunate for one of these two teams that this is their first game of the season. ONe of these teams will sow serious signs of being ill-prepared. Knowing Mr. Tuberville's past, I have a feeling that it will be my fellow SEC boys that will be on the losing end of the stick. If both teams come in properly prepared, we will see a classic battle between a AWESOME running game versus a very good run defense.

Hot damn I'm ready for some football!

I do think Auburn will still have a shot at a national title even if they lose this game. Of course they will have to run the table on a VERY tough schedule, but that's what a national title is all about.

 

[wareagle]

Unfortunately were are pretenders. We are the most overrated team going into 03'. there is no where for us to go but down. Tubs will gamble at least two games away. However, BOBBY, i guarantee you that we make it to NYD bowl game. Care to put a wager where your mouth is?

 

[Bluemound Freak]

I said contender.......not a definite champion! There is a difference! I think that the Tigers should be ready for the season opener and will probably do well enough this season to see a NYD game! AS FAR AS THE REST OF THE CRAP..........Only time will tell! I for one am a very big Auburn fan and think with my heart when I speak of the outcome of the season........I think we should be national champs every year......But we all know that is not possible, Right?

 

[dawgball]

Bluemound--you may be a big Auburn fan, but I have a friend that takes the cake. He is not actually a friend of mine, but I am friends with his daughter. His two daughters' middle names are War Eagle and Tiger!! No, they are not native american. Tiger was a Tigerette (I believe this is what they are called--dance team). She is HOT! War Eagle actually wised up and went to Georgia.

That, my friend, can not be topped!

 

[Bluemound Freak]

With that my friend I will bow out!