Good day, here are some Tito's infused musings from the shores of Lake Martin.....
9/3-Mercer- "W" keep everyone healthy, show as little as possible.
9/10- San Jose State- "W" two years ago this game would have had trap game potential, but they've lost key personnel that they haven't replaced. This coaching staff is very familiar with the Boise regime so they'll be well prepared. This is a game where AU should win in the trenches on both sides and be too athletic to let SJSU hit any big plays in the passing game.
9/17-Penn State- "Push" I actually think the 2:30 kick off bodes well for AU, as PSU will have the challenge of playing in the southern heat for the first time in this team's tenure. PSU lost the majority of its offensive production, six of the defensive front 7, and their best defensive back. If I had any true confidence in Calzada at this point, I'd call for the W.
9/24-Mizzou- "W"- Second worst defense in the SEC last year, and lost the player that led them in rushing and receiving.
10/1 LSU- "Push"- I'm not sold on Kelly, LSU was more talented last season IMO, and doesn't have the death valley home field. Whichever team is getting the best QB play at this point in the season will be the team that wins this game.
10/8-Georgia- (L)-This Georgia team won't be nearly as good on defense, but will be more explosive on offense. AU isn't there. AU would have to play over its head and uga have a down game for this to be close.
10/15-Ole Moss "W"-Kiffin lost a ton, and has had ton of coaching and roster turnover. New QB, New OC, even lesser defense. AU beat a better team last season.
10/29-Arkansas "Push" - Arkansas brings back most of a solid squad in very key positions, and kept Pittman's positive vibes going with an off season extension, and some solid portal additions. I think AU's defensive roster is substantially better, but not sure the OL can win the necessary slugfest.
11/5- Miss St.- "Push" - No team returns more offensive production or defensive snaps played than MSU. That said, Auburn should have boat raced them last season before an inexplicable collapse. I expect a much better defensive approach to the air raid concepts, but again the OL's ability win the point of attack in critical SEC games is uncertain.
11/12-TAMU - "Push"- A&M did not upgrade the QB pos IMO. They lost a substantial amount of NFL talent on both sides, and their NIL super class won't be super impactful in year 1. This game is far more winnable than I would have perceived a few months ago. The "but" at this point is rhetorical.....OL.
11/19-WKU-"W"- AU will give up more points than they should here, bc WKU can score, and the focus will be a week ahead, but this is a TCB game.
11/26-bama- "L" -bama lost a ton, but brings back a Heisman winner, still has Saban, and the home field advantage. Two score game. Of course injuries and momentum could change a lot for either team before this point.
Things could be tough and AU could limp out as a 5 win team. I don't see that happening. I think they win two to three of the "push" games and finish with 7ish wins. If Calzada turns out to be legit, and the OL improves marginally, this could be a 9 win team. If he's bad, and the OL is bad, we will have "hold the line threads" again in December.
9/3-Mercer- "W" keep everyone healthy, show as little as possible.
9/10- San Jose State- "W" two years ago this game would have had trap game potential, but they've lost key personnel that they haven't replaced. This coaching staff is very familiar with the Boise regime so they'll be well prepared. This is a game where AU should win in the trenches on both sides and be too athletic to let SJSU hit any big plays in the passing game.
9/17-Penn State- "Push" I actually think the 2:30 kick off bodes well for AU, as PSU will have the challenge of playing in the southern heat for the first time in this team's tenure. PSU lost the majority of its offensive production, six of the defensive front 7, and their best defensive back. If I had any true confidence in Calzada at this point, I'd call for the W.
9/24-Mizzou- "W"- Second worst defense in the SEC last year, and lost the player that led them in rushing and receiving.
10/1 LSU- "Push"- I'm not sold on Kelly, LSU was more talented last season IMO, and doesn't have the death valley home field. Whichever team is getting the best QB play at this point in the season will be the team that wins this game.
10/8-Georgia- (L)-This Georgia team won't be nearly as good on defense, but will be more explosive on offense. AU isn't there. AU would have to play over its head and uga have a down game for this to be close.
10/15-Ole Moss "W"-Kiffin lost a ton, and has had ton of coaching and roster turnover. New QB, New OC, even lesser defense. AU beat a better team last season.
10/29-Arkansas "Push" - Arkansas brings back most of a solid squad in very key positions, and kept Pittman's positive vibes going with an off season extension, and some solid portal additions. I think AU's defensive roster is substantially better, but not sure the OL can win the necessary slugfest.
11/5- Miss St.- "Push" - No team returns more offensive production or defensive snaps played than MSU. That said, Auburn should have boat raced them last season before an inexplicable collapse. I expect a much better defensive approach to the air raid concepts, but again the OL's ability win the point of attack in critical SEC games is uncertain.
11/12-TAMU - "Push"- A&M did not upgrade the QB pos IMO. They lost a substantial amount of NFL talent on both sides, and their NIL super class won't be super impactful in year 1. This game is far more winnable than I would have perceived a few months ago. The "but" at this point is rhetorical.....OL.
11/19-WKU-"W"- AU will give up more points than they should here, bc WKU can score, and the focus will be a week ahead, but this is a TCB game.
11/26-bama- "L" -bama lost a ton, but brings back a Heisman winner, still has Saban, and the home field advantage. Two score game. Of course injuries and momentum could change a lot for either team before this point.
Things could be tough and AU could limp out as a 5 win team. I don't see that happening. I think they win two to three of the "push" games and finish with 7ish wins. If Calzada turns out to be legit, and the OL improves marginally, this could be a 9 win team. If he's bad, and the OL is bad, we will have "hold the line threads" again in December.
