Auburn Tigers Football: Are the Tigers SEC Contenders or Pretenders?

The Auburn Tigers started the summer workout period as a team that was not creating buzz and barely touching the top 25 in most pre-season magazines.

As the summer wore on and fall camp began around the country, the Tigers started to create a little buzz. Predictions have been placed by some, while most college football analysts have remained skeptical. Week 3 for the Tigers could change that.

Auburn is in the spotlight this week with the arrival of College Gameday on campus. Cameron Newton has produced a lot of exposure early for this Auburn team. Two wins later and the Tigers find themselves ranked 15^th in the USA Today Coaches poll.

One week at a time has to be the motto.

Early success has given these Tigers something to build on but what top 15 rankings and national exposure brings to the table is something most of these players aren’t quite used to, expectations.

Two years ago the Tigers fell apart at the hands of turmoil and bad judgment. Queue the arrival of Chizik and Co. and the Tigers go bowling and finish with a modest 8-5 record. Expectations begin to rise. The Tigers start with two wins and the jenga blocks fell on Florida State, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech early vaulting Auburn into the national spotlight even more.

The big question has been is Auburn a team that can compete this year for the SEC West championship.

Can Auburn make it to Atlanta?

Some say yes, some have said no. It is really a difficult task anyway that you slice it especially with the reigning national champion Alabama waiting at the end of the season. A lot can happen from now until then but look for that game to be the deciding game in the West.

This week against Clemson begins a schedule with some tough tests but those tests will lead Auburn into the championship game if the Tigers can play their cards right. Even though the Tigers from Clemson are not ranked in the latest polls they have some promise on the offensive side of the ball. Returning two of their defensive starters this week should help their efforts as well.

The South Carolina game lurks around the corner that should prove to be a top 15 battle on the national television. South Carolina has come on strong this season beating a Georgia team last week that many had big plans for this year.

There is some drop off with ULM coming to Auburn but the Tigers travel to Kentucky on Oct. 9. Last year the Wildcats came to Jordan-Hare and put on a show in the final half to take home a win from the Tigers. With this Kentucky team playing at home and Auburn second SEC road game of the season, this could easily be a trap game for the Tigers.

Auburn comes back home to face Arkansas and LSU back-to-back, which no doubt will be tough games but having them at home makes this schedule extremely favorable. Arkansas was the preseason favorite as a team on the rise but mediocre games against not very good teams so far has opened the questions up about the Arkansas defense. No doubt Ryan Mallett is a talent but he can’t play and win every game.

LSU is another story as well.

Traditionally a West power, the first few weeks the quarterback position has looked suspect as predicted but against North Carolina the defense gave up big plays late and did not look the part of the traditional LSU power defense that we have known from the recent past.

The away game at Ole Miss looks less questionable at this point after the early season loss to Jacksonville State but Ole Miss still plays football in the SEC. Houston Nutt still knows how to coach. By Oct. 30 the ship should be righted, at least somewhat, and that game is not going to be a cake walk road game for the Tigers.

Back home against UT-Chattanooga is a great place for a slow down before the Georgia Bulldogs come to town. Georgia is a team that Auburn has not beaten in four years. They get the Bulldogs at home this year. Auburn is due a win in this game but the road team in this series plays very well traditionally.

After all these games fall, the Friday after Thanksgiving the Tigers go on the road to the newly renovated Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama has a home crowd of 102,000 on Saturday's now and expect every one of those seats to be filled. The one thing that looks good for the Tigers in this matchup is history on the road in that stadium and the holes that were huge in the secondary against Penn State.

By the Iron Bowl Alabama should have those issues ironed out. This could be a very interesting game not only for the SEC  but expect the nation to tune in for this year’s Iron Bowl.

All of these things being said, the point was to figure out if Auburn has a genuine shot at the SEC West this season. Looking at the schedule and the way that this team has played in the first two weeks, there is no doubt they have a chance. In 2008 and 2009 there was no question they were not quite to contention level yet.

Barring major injuries this season to starters and assuming Auburn can combine the offensive efforts from Week 1 and the defensive efforts from Week 2, this team has a great chance at the SEC West. The schedule is extremely favorable and the Tigers have talent.

A big test comes next week with a very good South Carolina team. After this week and next who knows? A lot can and will happen this season and over the next 10 to 11 weeks.

But whatever you do, keep your eyes on these Auburn Tigers.