Probably just the extra-thick wool talking here, but

[Griffdawg]

I see no reason why we can't make a serious run at the West title this year. With the exception of the Auburn/LSU back to back games (5 days rest), our schedule actually sets up very nicely for us.We get Tenn.-Martin the weekend before Bama while they have to playLSU before traveling to our place. We get La Tech before traveling to Athens to face Georgia. We get UAB the weekend before a very important home game against South Carolina. We seem to havevery winnable games before our SEC contests until we hit the stretch run with Bama, Arky, and OM.

There is not a single game on our schedule that I look at and say, "we have no chance" or "our talent level is way below this team".To take it a step further, I'm not buying all of the love for Bamaand the preconceived notion that the West is theirs to lose. Just remember this. They lost 3 SEC games last year with Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Greg McElroy, and Marcell Dareus on their roster.Yes, they still have T. Richardson in the backfield but who else? If he gets nicked up, then who do they have to fill his shoes?Every SEC team had matchup problems with J. Jones last year (except LSU). He's gone. Who's going to strech the field for them? Nobody like Jones did. Who's going to replace Dareus on the D-line and command a double team? Even Saban is concerned about it. And for what it's worth, tattooed boy McCarron just doesn't scare me that much. He's basically a rookie at the QB position. Yes, they have great linebackers & their secondary is very good, butI still think we'll be able to run on them this year.

LSU- still have J. Jefferson at QB and we're due to take them down. Miles is still an idiot.
Arkansas- their loss of Davis certainly gives us a better chance. This game will go back & forth. Last team with the ball probably wins.
Auburn- I have a feeling we're going to lead this game from start to finish.We might win by double digits.
OM- Brunetti will be running for his life. Mullen shows no mercy this year. No knees taken.

 

[SyonaraStanz]

They could have easily beaten us last year on our home field, so if they're returning alot of the same guys, I'm a little worried that we could slip up and be looking ahead to UGA the next week. Our defense looked like **** for a lot of that game.

 

[drt7891]

From a defensive standpoint, that was by far our worst game simply because we blitzed the hell out of them while leaving their hot route mostly uncovered. We never lined up anyone on their slot guy and let the DBs "take care of him" and that was their "go-to" guy. Their strengths played directly into the blitzing scheme we were running for most of the game. Not only that, we were on a high from UF the week before, so we played poor angles and didn't hustle to the ball like we had been. I'm not that worried about UAB, honestly.

 

[thunderclap]

that's our best shot, tiebreakers and ****.

 

[trumaroon]

Everyone realizes Ballard missed the UAB game right? We never could establish the run with Perkins. He hit big plays but we were held to one and two yard runs the rest of the time.

 

[fishwater99]

Now if we are 2-0 and beat LSU or lose another close one to them, then you can keep your wool... I am worried about the game on the Plains on week 2, that one is a must win for you to keep your wool........

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

We are better than them at almost every position with RB and TE being a push. Yes, it is at Auburn, but it is an early game which is also good for us I think. We did get stomped the last time we went there, but this is a completely different team. I think Malzahn will get some points on the board, but I think their defense is going to really have their hands full. We hadn't even come close to developing our offensive identity when we faced them last year...simply put, our offense will be better and their defense should be much worse. <div>
</div><div>
</div><div>I think it is going to be around 28-14 and the score will be closer than the game. </div>

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

game. That is a definete trap game for us. I only see one FOR SURE win on our schedule and that is UT Martin. Memphis would be a very close 2nd but after that,.... its game on every week. Now if we get by Mem and AU, look out! At worst we need to go 2-2 against AU, LSU, UGA, SCarolina.

 

[RonnyAtmosphere]

..my wool is thick too, because this is going to be a pretty stud-laden squad.


But if you are going to talk about winning the SECW, then you need to start talking about the ignored topic of special teams; specifically, field goal kickers.


Because there is no way MSU is going to win the SECW without hitting some very critical FG's during the season (think '98 vs. UPig).


To win the SECW will take 3 things:


1) No serious injuries to key players.


2) A pro-MSU lucky streak.


3) Critical field goals made at critical times during critical games.

 

[EAVdog]

If we can start 3-0 then we have a chance to be 9-0 with Bama coming to town. That's pretty far fetched but if we can beat Auburn and five days later beat LSU we can handle the rest of our schedule up until November.

I'm thinking 7-2 by November is more realistic but with some big breaks here and there 9-0 is possible. I'mcounting the OOS is 4-0 (UAB doesn't scare me), Kentucky a win, and splitting 2-2 Aub/LSU/SoCar/UGA. I think for even an outside shot at Atlanta we'll need to be 8-1 going into November.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

nm