Auburn Football 2012: One Good Reason Why the Tigers Can Beat Every Opponent

Auburn is looking ahead to the new season with high expectations as talent returns, and the schedule is much more accommodating that it was a year ago.

The Tigers have a chance to make 2012 a special season so finding a good reason for the Tigers to win every game is not an outlandish pursuit.

Auburn walks into the 2012 season with questions surrounding the looks of the new defense and offense, but that is virtually where the guessing game ends for the Tigers.

Auburn will field 18 returning starters and virtually every backup from a year ago. While last season was not the best in Auburn history, it did not lack success because of talent.

Looking ahead to the opponents for 2012, here's why the Tigers can beat every team this season.

vs. Clemson Tigers (in Atlanta)

Clemson and Auburn have faced off 48 times on the gridiron, most recently last season when the Tigers of Clemson hosed then No. 21 Auburn in Death Valley, 38-24. At the time, Auburn had defeated Clemson 14 straight times since 1952.

The two sets of Tigers are longtime on-again, off-again rivals that started playing each other in 1899. The two schools have shared coaches, nicknames and colors throughout history.

Auburn will win this game with defense. It seems laughable to think that a defense that was decimated by this Clemson offense a year ago could stand to force a win in 2012, but the Tigers were burned by players being out of position and an inability to pressure the quarterback.

Auburn has never lost to Clemson in Atlanta; don’t expect that to change in 2012.

Key to Victory: Force Turnovers

@ Mississippi State Bulldogs

Auburn and Mississippi State have played some of the most physical football games in recent memory. Defense has been the key to this contest regardless of the score.

From a 3-2 victory for the Tigers in 2008, to last season’s 41-34 goal-line stand victory, defense has been a resounding theme. But looking ahead to 2012, will defense be the reason for another Tigers victory?

I call offense for this game. Auburn has produced offense in past seasons with showings in 2009 and 2011 producing 49 and 41 points respectively. But then, there was 2008 and 2010, when the Tigers only put up three and 17 points in those two years.

The consistent theme in those games is home contests for the Bulldogs contributing to lower scores for opponents. While Davis Wade Stadium is a tough place to be successful, Loeffler will have the answers for the cowbells this season. It will be a wide-open passing attack.

The Bulldogs return talented corners in Corey Broomfield and Johnthan Banks, but they graduate both starting safeties to return little to no experience. Auburn will take advantage of their big-bodied receivers on the outside, and the Tigers will get vertical.

Philip Lutzenkirchen should be a factor in this game.

Key to Victory: Vertical Passing Game

vs. ULM Warhawks

Auburn has consistently seen the ULM Warhawks land on the schedule in the past two decades with the Tigers holding an overall 8-0 lead over the Warhawks.

Most recently, Auburn hosted ULM during the 2010 season where the Tigers throttled the Warhawks 52-3. The Tigers have never lost to a Sun Belt Conference team, boasting a 17-0 record against its teams.

With history and overall talent on its side, the Tigers will look to put the Warhawks away early and get quality reps in by the end of the game.

Nothing against ULM, but the facts are the facts. The Tigers are just too talented to allow this to be too much of a game.

Key to Victory: Don’t Lay an Egg

vs. LSU Tigers

Auburn and LSU have become fierce Western Division rivals that have played some earth-moving games in the past, literally.

The 1988 contest registered on the LSU campus seismograph from crowd noise following the LSU winning-touchdown toss.

The past few years have produced good football until the 2011 shutdown that occurred in Baton Rouge. The Bayou Bengals destroyed Auburn in the largest victory margin in the history of the series, winning 45-10.

LSU returns the majority of their SEC championship winning team this coming fall so this contest will be another tough game for the Auburn Tigers to win. This year, Auburn does get LSU in Jordan-Hare, and by Week 4, both squads could be looking to tip the favor of the SEC West in their direction with a victory.

Auburn will have to play physical upfront and control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball as both Tigers will need to run the ball for success in this game. Both defensive backfields should be some of the best in the country.

Auburn will win this game by attacking LSU with wheel routes from the backfield and counter runs with their speed backs to overcome the LSU defensive pursuit.

Key to Victory: Utilize Backfield Speed

vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

The Arkansas game has become a thorn in the side of Auburn in its most recent past. The Tigers have gone into this game on more than one occasion in pursuit of success inside the conference only to have their dreams shattered by the high-flying passing attack of the Hogs.

Bobby Petrino returns a host of playmakers for his offense this season with veteran quarterback Tyler Wilson returning for his senior season as well as running backs Dennis Johnson, Ronnie Wingo Jr. and Kniles Davis.

Auburn will be faced with a tough task trying to slow down the Arkansas offense, but with the Hogs replacing a few offensive lineman and receivers, the Tigers could stand the chance to suffocate the Hogs in the backfield.

Auburn will need to bring a lot of pressure to control the pace of the Arkansas offense, and DC Brian VanGorder is the man to make that plan work.

VanGorder is known as an active blitz caller with numerous forms of approach. His schemes will be the difference in this game.

Key to Victory: Strong Blitz Presence 

@ Ole Miss Rebels

The Ole Miss Rebels have had quite a roller-coaster ride in the past few seasons.

The Rebels underachieved consistently during the Houston Nutt era, leaving the Rebels looking elsewhere following 2011, landing Hugh Freeze as their head coach.

Under the first-year guidance of Freeze, the Rebels will run his signature spread-option offense most likely, allowing for Ole Miss to focus its offense around speed and playmakers.

The Rebels will be hosting a talented and hungry Auburn team that will be in the heart of a fourth season with head coach Gene Chizik. The Tigers have not lost to Ole Miss under Chizik, and it doesn’t appear that the streak will end in 2012.

The Tigers will look to attack Ole Miss with ball control. If the Loeffler offense can keep the Rebels at bay by churning up the ground and clock with the rushing attack, the Tigers will win this game easily.

Keeping Freeze’s offense on the sideline for long periods of time will rest the Auburn defense and not allow for the Rebels to find a rhythm.

Key to Victory: Time of Possession

@ Vanderbilt Commodores

James Franklin has steadily pushed the Commodores to the middle of the pack in the SEC Eastern Division. The Commodores finished the 2012 signing season strong picking up some big signatures and keeping a wealth of instate talent home.

The Tigers will be visiting Vanderbilt Stadium for the first time since 2008—a game that the Tigers lost 14-13 marking the beginning of the end for the Tuberville era.

Auburn will have to battle a Vanderbilt team that emphasizes speed and space offensively and favors the blitz with their athletic and speedy linebackers.

Vanderbilt runs an offense very similar to what Malzahn ran at Auburn, probably why they so intently went after him in 2010, giving the Tigers an idea of how to defend the Commodores attack.

Auburn may have trouble against the Vanderbilt run defense as it was a strength a season ago, but with the departure of Chris Marve, the Tigers may have a chance to open up some outside rushing lanes. It will be a tighter game than most would expect, as Franklin has the Commodores steaming in the right direction.

Key to Victory: Win the Battle in the Trenches

vs. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M makes its debut in the SEC this season with a road game to Auburn being a part of the inaugural docket.

The Aggies will be under the direction of new head coach Kevin Sumlin looking to find success as fast as possible in the new conference.

Last season, the Aggies were able to rely on a very explosive offense that was in the top 25 of every major category. Kevin Sumlin knows offensive fireworks as he recently left Houston to take over the Aggies in College Station. So, explosive plays may run the contest.

The Aggies will be looking to replace a veteran quarterback now that Ryan Tannehill has graduated and will need to improve their defense this season. Auburn’s best kill shot will come offensively.

The Aggies will lose a large portion of the secondary heading into 2012 as well as two of their three starting defensive linemen. Auburn will need to create middle rushing lanes and push the football at the Aggies for success. The outside will be locked up by the Aggies 3-4 scheme.

Look for the Tigers to drive up the carries and have moderate yards per carry average in this contest.

Key to Victory: Run the Ball Down the Middle

vs. New Mexico State Aggies (HC)

For consecutive weeks, the Tigers will face off against Aggies on the gridiron. Auburn hosts the New Mexico State Aggies for homecoming this coming season.

The Tigers and Aggies last faced off in 2007 where the Tigers finished the game with a 55-20 victory.

The Aggies will look to produce offensively as fast as possible, but the likelihood is that the Tigers will end this game early. This is another game for the Tigers to claim as a victory as the overall talent will be the separator.

Auburn will not need to do anything special to win this game. The Tigers need to show up and go to work and play mistake-free football.

Key to Victory: Win the Takeaway Battle

vs. Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs are looking to 2012 as their season. After all of the consistent mediocre success that can be had, it is time for Mark Richt and Co. to produce championships. This could be their year, but Auburn will be a major roadblock on the way.

The Tigers will host the Bulldogs this season, something that obviously tips the favor of home-field advantage to the Tigers. That can’t be the only advantage the Tigers ride however.

Auburn will look to create pressure on defense and hit Murray consistently. The Tigers will also look to have active linebacker play fill run lanes and fill gaps to halt the Georgia rushing attack. Stopping just one or the other will likely keep Auburn in the loss column.

Georgia has a lot of youthful talent in the backfield that returns, but they also have had issues with consistent production and attitudes from the backfield. If Auburn can pressure Murray and force inconsistency in the rushing attack, they win this contest.

Keys to Victory: Pressure Murray, Halt Bulldogs Downhill Rushing Attack

vs. Alabama A&M Bulldogs

Auburn will host Alabama A&M between the two major rivalry contests of the year. What used to be reserved for a bye week has succumbed to a lower division opponent typically.

The Bulldogs have never faced off against a team from the SEC, and this will mark the first contest between the two schools.

As with the majority of Auburn’s non-conference schedule, this game is simply a maintain and manage type game. Auburn simply has to win the turnover battle and must push for an early lead. Getting rest to starters is a goal for this game.

Nothing against the Bulldogs, but this should be an easy win for Auburn. The key to success is simple, lead early and don’t jack it up.

Key to Victory: Lead Early 

@ Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama handed Auburn one of the worst losses in the history of the Iron Bowl this past season. The Tigers were extremely ineffective from the first snap.

This coming season, there should be a change in the way that the Tigers approach this game. They will be playing it in the unfriendly confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the Tigers have an impressive record in the Crimson Tide’s home stadium.

Heading into the 2012 season, the Crimson Tide will likely be considered to be one of the best teams in the country, so this will be another tough in-conference contest for the Tigers.

Auburn will have one recipe for success in this contest—be multiple. Auburn will serve itself best by bringing a multitude of looks to field against Alabama. The Tigers are likely to look multiple all season, but in this game, they should switch constantly during drives.

The Alabama defense relies on discipline to be so effective. The Tide is always in the right position as film study is an extreme focus. For Auburn, bringing different schemes and looks should help confuse the Tide enough to find open space for a few big plays.

Key to Victory: Multiple Offensive Looks

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