Our season rides on 3 games

[gravedigger]

Auburn
A&M
Arkansas

Win one of those 3 and you have a bowlbetter than last year
Win 2 of those three with one being Auburn and you are poised for a 9 win season
Win all 3 and you have a 9 win season in the bag and 10 is probable.

What this means is Auburn is more key than it has ever been.

I'm not saying that UK, UT, OM are givens. What I'm saying is that the Auburn game jumpstarts the teams attitude toward what is unexpected of us in the national media which will make the team pay attention.

I think we mightlose one we shouldnt like UT or UK. But the Auburn game, even more than last year is our chance at changing the media's longing for acting as if we've done it on a weak schedule.

I do believe Dan circled this game last year (auburn). But I dont think he felt it more important than he does now. Let those bitches at UM accuse us of not beating a top 10 team for 3 years. I dont think he really cares about that aspect. I think he cares about his teams menatlity going into the the final 5 games of the season and their aspirations of something unattained.

 

[mstatefan88]

We have to win 2 of those games every year. We should win 3 or 4 nonconference every year, we should expect to beat UK every year because we have better talent and better depth, and at this moment, we should expect to beat OM every year. I know it's a rivalry game, but weare superior to them, and we should be for at leastthe next 2-3 years depending on how they rebuild.That gives us 5-6 wins minimum per year. That doesn't cut it anymore.

We have to exclude beating LSU and Alabama. We shouldn't expect wins there. Automatic two losses in my book.

So that means we have 4 swing games every year to determine our fatein the SEC andnational pecking order. Auburn, Arkansas, A&M, and whoever our other East opponent is. In a year like this year when you get Tennessee in a down year, you absolutely have to win 2 of those 4 games and get to 8 wins.

It starts at consistently winning 8 regular season games a year. If we can do that for 2 or 3 years in a row, we will be inbetter bowl games with good draws, more prime time tv spots, more exposure, etc. That snowballs into recruiting andmore offseason exposure which can only benefit us. For me, that 8 game mark is critical for us to maintain long term success. If we are going to start it, we have to do it this year. The draw doesn't get any better than this. 4 easy nonconference, a bad UK and OM and a down UT, then Auburn, A&M, and Arkansas at home.

 

[chriswilliams2]

Agree with you on the Auburn and A&M games; I'd substitute Tennessee for Arkansas. Yes, we have a shot against Arkansas this year; but their talent level is still above ours and that game only becomes a significant "hinge" game if we have taken care of business against Auburn, A&M and Tennessee.

 

[MaroonedNdaRock]

I think you guys are exactly right. I would say it comes down to winning 3 of 4 games; AU, UT, AM & Ark. Assuming we handle business with the OOC, UK & OM....if we win three of those, we had a good year and should garner some respect from around the conference. Because I don't care if UT is supposedly down, they have some talent and will bring plenty of fans for support.

Also looking at how these games fall on the schedule, obviously anything can happen as the season progresses, but AU and UT are looking like must wins to get this done. First Arkansas is the best team of those four. Then you have the A&M game after, what will be a physical, Bama game. So a win vs A&M will take lots of effort. We shall see....it is going to be fun.

 

[maroonmania]

Auburn, Tennessee and A&M are the true toss up games that will determine the difference between 6-6 and 9-3. Arkansas, at home, is winnable but a game we will likely be a an underdog in unless the Hogs fall apart without Petrino. In fact, Arkansas may end up being a potential unexpected make up win needed in case we stub our toe on these other 3 that, in theory, should be more winnable.

 

[Dubs.sixpack]

but I don't think we can downplay the UT game. I expect that to be a tougher game than A&M. However, we are positioned well on their schedule being between @ UGA and Bama at home.

 

[Kim Jong Il]

For the last few years everyone says the Auburn game is key to the season yet we usually always get beat.
I don't see Auburn having a poor season in 2012- I see us having a difficult time beating Troy not to say Tennessee or Arky.

 

[Coach34]

and may have to fill his spot with a true freshman. They are changing offenses and neither QB can separate from the other. Frazier is the leader, and he threw for a robust 34 yards last season. They lost their TB, and will have new guys in the rotation with MCCalleb. They lost Malzahn, and say what you will- they performed well under him.

Defensively their Secondary has been awful. They havent finished higher than 9th in the SEC on defense since Chiz took over- finishing 11th last season.


We have to make the plays and get over the hump vs them- and at home this year- we should do that

 

[KurtRambis4]

are our three real rivals?

/lion

 

[JackShephard]

"robust 34 yards". nice.

 

[Shmuley]

nm

 

[EAVdog]

I don't freaking get it. 3-9 last year in the Sunbelt and somehow they are world beaters we'll be lucky to scrape out a win against?

 

[patdog]

That's the best explanation I can come up with.