well this guy says we win 10, maybe 11...

[RC3]

not sure if serious..pretty funny read though
http://www.outkickthecoverage.com/10-predictions-for-college-football-2012.php


3. Mississippi State will win ten games this season.
And State could win 11 games. Look at that schedule. I'm not kidding about this at all. State on the over at 7.5 is the best SEC bet this side of Kentucky on the under at 4.5.
Dan Mullen will celebrate by interviewing for every head coaching job in America.
When he doesn't get any of these jobs he will return to Starkville and say, "I'm happy here. I don't know why you guys won't believe that."

 

[FISHDAWG]

he lost me at pick # 1 .... no way USC takes LSU in the SEC title game

 

[patdog]

LSU has a completely unproven QB with NO experience at all and they just lost a Heisman Trophy candidate in the defensive backfield and return game. I don't think USC even makes it to the title game, but everyone who's just assuming LSU is going to challenge for another national title isn't really looking very closely. They could, but there's some pretty big question marks there. Same for Bama. They lost a lot on defense. They'll be good offensively, and should be on defense too, but it's a question mark at this point.

 

[AssEndDawg]

Same for Bama. They'll be good offensively....

Alabama? Good on offense? Since when? Passable on offense is amazing for Bama.

 

[dawg21]

While I agree on Bama

LSU has a completely unproven QB with NO experience at all and they just lost a Heisman Trophy candidate in the defensive backfield and return game. I don't think USC even makes it to the title game, but everyone who's just assuming LSU is going to challenge for another national title isn't really looking very closely. They could, but there's some pretty big question marks there. Same for Bama. They lost a lot on defense. They'll be good offensively, and should be on defense too, but it's a question mark at this point.

LSU still has a experienced and deep team. Their defense won't drop off too much and their offense (QB play) could actually improve. The physical players both Bama and LSU have upfront are still unmatched in the nation. However, everyone putting Bama so higher than LSU is surprising to me because they lost so much on D and Lacy is good but not near what they've had the last 3 years. I still pick LSU to win the NC even with the loss of #7.

 

[patdog]

LSU's QB play will not improve. It will be worse. The starter this year didn't even take a snap in a I-A game in his 3rd year of college football last year (except for a couple of kneel-downs against Mississippi).

 

[MSDawg34]

Which is why I have the Georgia Bulldogs winning the SEC Championship and playing in the BCS Title Game

 

[patdog]

Bama had the 3rd best offense in the SEC last year and return 7 starters, including the QB and 4 of the 5 OL starters. Their new starting RB, Eddie Lacy, has run for 1,080 yards on only 151 carries in 2 years. That's over 7 yards per carry. So yeah, they're going to be damn good on offense.

 

[MetEdDawg]

All Mettenberger has to do

is throw 20 TDs, throw for 2100 yards, and have around a 62% completion percentage and he equals what Jefferson and Lee did last year. You are telling me you think he will do worse than that? There is no way Mettenberger does worse than that.

Hell Relf threw for 1800 and 13 TDs in 2010 on an MSU team that won 9 games and had one WR having more than 400 yards receiving. There is no way Mettenberger on an LSU team expected to compete for a national title will do that and I don't care how many snaps he's taken at the D1 level. I expect him to throw for approximately 2,500 yards, which is less than 200 yards a game and around 20 to 25 TDs.

 

[TUSK.sixpack]

the Bama O may not be flashy, but it's balanced and NASTY... they should approach 40ppg this year...

 

[patdog]

Wow. I really thought you were being sarcastic with that first paragraph. Then I read on and saw you're serious. Yes. I expect him to do worse than 20 TDs, 2,100 yards, and 62% completion rating.

 

[MetEdDawg]

I'm dead serious.

5 of their opponents are Ole Miss, Towson, Idaho, Washington, and North Texas. LSU is going to torch all 5 of those teams and Mettenberger will most likely rack up stats. At minimum I see him throwing 2 TDs and 200 yards in each of those game. Then for 8 more games, all he has to do is average 137.5 yards per game and 1 TD to have 2,100 yards 18 TDs, which is 2 TDs short of what Lee and Jefferson did last year.

I'm curious to know what you think Mettenberger will do this year statistically. It seems like you think he will be inconsistent and overmatched for most of the season, and I just don't see that. From a purely statistical standpoint, I think he at minimum equals what Lee and Jefferson did.

 

[patdog]

I guess we just disagree then. You could be right and looking at your breakdown of their schedule I can't really argue about it too much. But I just don't see what all the hype about Metzenberger is all about. I think he's going to struggle.

 

[Dawg Jurist]

Their defense keeps the opposing offense off the field, the opposing defense gets worn out, and Bama scores big late. You may be right on the ppg, but it will be interesting to see a breakdown of their scoring quarter by quarter.

 

[patdog]

Score by quarters	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Total
Alabama	99	107	136	111	0	453
Opponents	37	20	28	18	3	106

<TBODY>
</TBODY>

Really the only quarter that stands out is the 3rd. And that's not because the other defense is worn down (they just rested for 20 minutes), it's because of halftime adjustment.

 

[TUSK.sixpack]

TOP is not as out of balance as I would have expected...

I would have guessed 34ish... Bama just grinds...Average TOP:1st - 7:532nd - 8:483rd - 8:034th - 8:01Total 32:47</pre>

 

[BulldogLegacy]

Alabama? Good on offense? Since when? Passable on offense is amazing for Bama.

I would rethink your statement. As tusk mentioned, they are not flashy but Bama's offense is potent. Saban is a defensive genius so that's why his team's defense stands out more than their offense but if Alabama wanted to, they could name their score in most all games except maybe LSU. Lacy is going to have a monster year. He might not look good as Richardson/Ingram, but he will have one of the, if not the best, oline blocking for him. That spells disaster for opposing teams. Lacy was very impressive against State last year. Also, look for K. Norwood to have an impact. He has looked good pre season.

 

[stinkfoot]

they could be really good on offense.

Bama had the 3rd best offense in the SEC last year and return 7 starters, including the QB and 4 of the 5 OL starters. Their new starting RB, Eddie Lacy, has run for 1,080 yards on only 151 carries in 2 years. That's over 7 yards per carry. So yeah, they're going to be damn good on offense.

I thought their qb started to really come into his own at the end of the season. My only questions would be new oc and lack of wr's but they should be very good on offense.

 

[patdog]

Yeah. I think McCarron is pretty underrated at QB. They basically just put him in positions to not lose games for most of the season, but late in the season you could just tell that Saban started to trust him and he came through. I expect to see him play a bigger role in their offense this season and to have a very good season.

 

[Coach 57]

If there waa EVER a year the SEC could be matched in talent across the board...it's this year Vs. that USC team. Barkley MIGHT be a little overrated but they (like us with RBs) have always had skill guys. They have alot of speed & they are going to play (in the words if my Coach Chuck Friend) "pissed off football" for being on a bowl hiatus the last few years. They have 9 returning starters on O & 7 on defense. I can see them in the NCG and if they play Bama (who I picked to win the SEC) it may be a better/bigger hyped game than last years. Everybody in the nstion from all the OTHER confetences will stand behind USC in that game. Hoping they can end the SECs national title streak.

 

[Seinfeld]

That was a backhanded compliment if I've ever seen one

I love how he states that we could win 11 games due to that ridiculously "easy" schedule. Nevermind the fact that 11 regular season wins would mean that we beat 2 out of 3 Top 10 teams among Bama, LSU, and Ark. No, it would all be because of the creampuff schedule...

 

[Incognegro]

Where did he say "ridiculously easy" in regards to our schedule? Everyone on this board aren't afraid to admit that our schedule really favors us this year. Where's the problem?

 

[Seinfeld]

He didn't, but to write "Look at that schedule" while going on to say that State could win 11 games in spite of the over/under being set at 7.5 certainly points towards that. He then goes on to write some snide comments about Mullen, so I think it's fair to speculate that he's not picking to State to win 11 games because he's so impressed with the team and coaches.

 

[Incognegro]

Well... one thing.. it's a satirical article so a lot of the snide marks are kind of to be expected. Secondly.. maybe it's just me... but I don't have any issue with the comment in regards to the schedule. I mean, for real... look at it. It is pretty realistic to say that state could make it to Alabama 7-0, and by that point... other than Tennessee and Auburn... it's really not the most unrealistic things to visualize. Hell, depending on who you ask, in our 4 swing games (Auburn, Tennessee, aTm and Arkansas) a lot (maybe not a majority) of people probably look at us as a favorite in 3 out of those 4 games.

Third... this is a website that looks to revolve around the SEC. I just don't see SEC sites overlook other SEC schedules unless it's obviously weaker (like Georgia's) when compared to the rest of the league. So I just don't see the write up (despite the satire) saying it's mainly because of the schedule and nothing to do with coaching and talent.

I don't know... maybe I'm just being naive.. but I just don't see anything wrong with what he wrote. Not saying that I see us winning 10 games as I believe the best we'll probably see is 9, but I'm expecting anywhere from 7 to 8 personally. However, I won't write 10 out as I do see it possibly happening, but I'm not holding my breath. And regardless of what others may say... I do think the schedule plays pretty well in that happening.

 

[mcdawg22]

USC will lose at least 2 games this year, and

When it happens I'll give you my synopsis why.