Auburn, AL—If vengeance is sweet, the Auburn Tigers are looking for a toothache instead of the heartache they felt in 2008. The first game of the season pits the Tigers against an opponent not anywhere close to the caliber of a UCLA, Ohio State, or even a Virginia Tech. However, it’s a chance for Auburn to relieve a year's worth of pent-up frustration.
Despite what a few bloggers have stated, Louisiana Tech will not make it two straight season-opening wins over an SEC school, especially at the expense of new head coach Gene Chizik and Auburn.
La. Tech returns 16 starters from last year’s 8-5 team. However, that will not be enough to beat Auburn and its much more talented 15 returning starters.
After last year's 5-7 debacle under former head coach Tommy Tuberville, Chizik will not have to say much to motivate his players. I have a hunch that the Tigers will come out roaring and hungry for blood to prove last season was an anomaly.
Are you catching on to the theme here?
Chizik and crew are just 16 days away from closing fall camp and preparing to kick off four straight home games against La. Tech, Mississippi State, West Virginia, and Ball State. The Auburn fans are hoping the early schedule will equate to four straight much-needed victories.
The road wins may be tougher to come by if the Tigers want to have a successful season and compete for a Western Division Championship. It will be vital to win all of their home games and take at least two on the road.
The Tigers must travel to Tennessee and Arkansas back-to-back, followed by LSU and Georgia. Other games shuffled in are at home against Kentucky, Ole Miss, Furman (HC), and of course the Iron Bowl against Alabama.
La. Tech has several playmakers on offense and a veteran quarterback in Ross Jenkins.
The Bulldogs will be led by a strong defensive line that features several SEC-caliber players and is coached by former Auburn and All-SEC defensive lineman Jimmy Brumbaugh. Brumbaugh served as a strength and conditioning assistant at LSU in 2006 and 2007 before leaving for the Bulldogs.
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