First-year head coach Gene Chizik had a pretty successful season in his first year at Auburn, as the Tigers put together an 8-5 record that included a 38-35 overtime win over Northwestern in the Outback Bowl.

This year the Tigers return 15 starters, but must replace their starting quarterback, leading rusher, and top defensive lineman from last year. Here is a look at what the Tigers will send onto the field on both sides of the ball in 2010, plus my prediction on where they will finish in the SEC West.

 

Offense

Former Florida quarterback Cameron Newton is expected to become the Tigers' new starting quarterback after leading his junior college to a National Championship last year. Newton figures to get some competition from senior Neil Caudle.

The Tigers are hoping that senior running back Mario Fannin can produce similar numbers to those that Ben Tate put up last season (1,362 yards, 10 touchdowns). I believe he will do just that. Fannin is also a great threat in the passing game, as he grabbed 42 passes for 413 yards and three scores last season.

At wide receiver the Tigers welcome back one of the top SEC receivers in junior Darvin Adams, who hauled in 60 passes for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2009.

The offensive line figures to be very good this season as four of five starters return. The line will also add two very good junior college players in Roszell Gayden and Brandon Mosley, one of which is expected to start at right tackle.

Look for big improvements for the entire offense in 2010, as they have now had a full year to learn the new schemes installed by the new coaching staff.

 

Defense

The Tigers were not very good on the defensive side of the ball in 2009, as the only team they kept under 20 points all season was Louisiana Tech in the opener. Auburn gave up 156 yards per game on the ground, and the Tigers have to get better against the run in order to win the SEC.

Auburn also needs to replace Antonio Coleman, who led the team with 10 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in 2009. Senior Michael Goggans will take over at the open defensive end spot, while junior Nick Fairley is expected to start at the open defensive tackle slot.

The Tigers' strength will come at linebacker, as all three starters return, and seniors Craig Stevens and Josh Bynes are two of the better linebackers in the SEC.

The secondary figures to be solid with three of the four starters back. Senior Demond Washington has experience and should be a good fit opposite the very talented Neiko Thorpe at cornerback.

 

Prediction: 3rd SEC West

Even though the Tigers have a very favorable schedule this season—with home games against South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia—they still have to travel to Alabama at the end of the season. I

feel like the defense will let them down at least once against the top teams in the SEC.

Find out where the rest of the teams in the SEC stack up in Jason Lowry’s 2010 SEC football predictions . If you are planning on betting college football this season, be sure to check back each week for our live college football odds .