Auburn 2009 Success Or Bust

 Seldom will you find fans that are willing to assess their beloved teams without bias.

 Perhaps it’s not even possible. Ask a Texas fan who will win the NT this year and I doubt you’ll hear the word Oklahoma. Same goes for Florida or USC and even Alabama. So for me to try and assess Auburn truly requires effort on my part.

 I have no doubt that I know this team better than I know any other team and that could certainly be a detriment when trying to be fair and balanced.

 I read just about every article printed about my beloved team as I'm sure that most of you do. But it is within this light that I will try and give an unbiased assessment of how I believe AU will do this year. Auburn returns 15 starters. Will they be more like the 2008 Ole Miss. or Michigan?

Week 1 Sept 5 season opener will see AU host La Tech. Tech will be no push-over and, with plenty of senior talent, should prove to be a tough match for AU. Chizik has them ready to compete and the AU defense will dominate. AU24 LA Tech10.

 Week 2 AU hosts Miss. State. Last years' barnburner 3-2 should be topped this year. However, I still see this game as a low scoring affair. If you question whether AU has the pieces in place to run there offense take a look at Miss. State. AU D will prove too strong again. Auburn 14-MS 3.

Week 3 sees AU hosting a tough West Virginia team. West Virginia will prove to be a formidable opponent. Last year AU took the early lead before Pat White and Noel Devine proved too much to handle. This year Jarret Brown will lead his team into Jordan Hare.

 Jordan Hare, prime time on a Saturday night, will prove too much for the inexperienced Brown and AU will win this one 24-21.

 Week 4 Ball State is the opponent. Ball state was a formidable opponent last year even breaking into the top 20 in national ranking. But with the loss of QB Nate Davis to the NFL Ball State, they will be no match for AU. AU 30 Ball ST. 10.

Week 5 Finds AU traveling to Tennessee. Despite his early ability to talk himself into trouble Lane Kiffin has put together a formidable staff. He has plenty of talent in place and with Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron coaching the defense they will keep AU out of the end zone enough to secure the win. Tenn. 17 AU 14.

 Week 6 Has AU traveling to Arkansas. Many predict Arkansas to be a sleeper this year. But in order to win big in the SEC you must have defense. Arkansas' hiring of DC Willy Robinson will certainly help, but not this year. AU will dominate the line of scrimmage in this one and come away with the win. AU 21-Ark.17.

 Week 7 has AU returning home to host Kentucky. UK returns only 4 starters on the defense, AU offense starts to click and AU wins this one 24-14.

Week 8 Surprisingly this one will decide who takes early lead for SEC west. LSU proves too deep for AU and wins another nail biter. LSU 21 AU 17.

 Week 9 AU host Ole Miss. AU has dominated Ole Miss at home. Auburn gave Jevan Snead fits last year but the lack of any offense was to much to overcome. Not this time. AU pulls off the stunning upset AU 21 OM 17.

Week 10 AU homecoming game. Championship subdivision Furman comes to town. AU takes the opportunity to rest some starters and Freshman QB Tyrik Rollison shines. AU wins big 40-3.

Week 11 Start of Amen corner. The oldest rivalry in the south has AU visiting Georgia. Always a close game, last year AU battled to a 17-14 loss. The loss of starters Knoshown Moreno and Matthew Stafford will be too much to overcome. This year finds AU back on track AU17-Ga14.

 Week 12 Iron Bowl. Arguably college football's most heated rivalry. After last year AU will be looking to exact revenge. Not this time, Bama makes it two in a row but this time its much closer Bama 21-AU14.

 AU's  final standing, 9-3, will be good enough for a major bowl and good enough to get Chizik coach of the year.

 SEC final standing 3rd in the west at 5-3.  I'd say Success.