Could Auburn Beat The Experts?

I've said it once, but I feel it needs to be said again. Auburn is so far under the radar most people don't realise that they're in the top 10. 

Yes I know they're predicted to win the SEC West, but everyone believes they will lose to Florida in the SEC championship.  So lets play a lil hypothetical situation:

Lets say Auburn plays through the season and wins the games they're supposed to win, and then lose to UGA and UF like they're "supposed" to. Well then Auburn will play in a New Year's day bowl game, right? However, when does college football ever do what the experts say it will. 

Okay now, same situation but lets throw in a couple of upsets over UGA and UF... now where does Auburn sit?  They sit at seasons end, 13-0 and SEC champs and possibly sitting in the driver seat for a National Title! If your new to SEC football coach Tommy Tuberville loves to be the party crasher. #1 UF in 2001, #3 LSU in 2004 and 2006(not as much of an upset), and #2 UF in 2006(the only team to beat the national champs), and #4 UF 2007.  

To me it looks like UF should be worried about Auburn.

History says it could happen, but is the timing right for Auburn? Yes it is. With Tony Flanklin as the new OC, and Paul Rhodes as the new DC, no one knows what Auburn's going to bring to their games. Plus all of the big games(Tennessee, UGA, LSU) are all at home. Besides Auburn has (under Tommy Tuberville) had a phenomanal road record, and record agains top 10 opponents, so even without the home games Auburn is still in good shape.

Well Auburn has a new QB, won't that hurt them?  True, Auburn is starting a new QB but QB's with experience.  

JuCo transfer Chris Todd has proven himself in Junior College, has worked with Tony Franklin long before Auburn, and went to JuCo after being at Texas Tech(you know that school that loves the spread).  Then there is Kodi Burns who got some playing time in the new system during the chik-fil-la bowl at the end of last season, and proved himself then.  

Are they new? Yes. Are they as inexperienced as people think? No way.

If they made it as far as 13-0 and in the NC game, could the QB's cope with such a big game? Well this one is funny to me. If a freshmen quarterback were to spend a year in the SEC, by the end of the season that QB has played in more big games than most Sr quarterbacks around the country...so yes i think they could handle a "big game."

If Auburn did make it that far they would have played UGA, UF(possibly), UT, Alabama, and West Virginia which translates a lot of "big game" experience for one season if you ask me.

Other than a new OC and DC, what does Auburn have on there side? 

Well they got a defense that is consistantly ranked in the top 10. Two great running backs in Ben Tate and Brad Lester, both of which are versitile,  and Mario Fanin who was moved from RB to WR. They also have Tristin Davis who(if he stays healthy) would add some nasty speed to Auburn's new spread attack.

The board is set, the pieces are in place, and the dream is alive, the only question remaining...Will Auburn crash the BCS Title game?

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?