Auburn Football: Why the Tigers Won't Collapse After 5-0 Start To 2010

Last season the Auburn Tigers were at the 5-1 mark heading into a home game against the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky was not a powerhouse and typically is not ever in football when it entered the gates of Jordan-Hare Stadium last season.

Despite the lack of fan fair for the game, Auburn was 5-1 and in control of its destiny for the 2009 season. A win in the game against the Wildcats would make Auburn bowl eligible and ahead of the curve in the SEC West race. After a loss to Arkansas on the road this home win would have pulled the team back together as they pushed toward a game against LSU.

Unfortunately for Auburn the bleeding continued after the loss to the Wildcats and the season ended with a modest but somewhat above expectations 8-5 record. So what is so different about this year and this game? Auburn is heading into this game still undefeated and with a tough stretch to come at home.

Arkansas showed that it was a strong team against Alabama a few weeks ago and should bring their A game to Auburn next week. LSU is the game that follows but LSU has been anything but a model citizen in the SEC so far this season. With last week’s win or whatever you would call those shenanigans at the end of the game, LSU has looked suspect at best. The talent for the Bayou Bengals is there but as of late the coaching decisions have been very questionable.

This week is the season hump for Auburn. This team has utilized more depth this year thanks to two great recruiting classes. With the defensive side of the ball using subs throughout the process this season it enables this team to carry itself from week to week with a fresher look for this season. Fewer dead legs equals wins.

With Arkansas coming to town and LSU following even though those will be tough games it is nice to have them in front of your home crowd. Wins in the next three weeks could go a long way in putting Auburn in the driver seat to contend in the West against Alabama and the way this season is shaping up it is making the Iron Bowl in November all that more interesting.

With a No. 8 ranking in the major polls and a schedule that is tough but favorable this team could capture the wins and get to an 8-0 record. With Ole Miss and Georgia the only remaining SEC opponents left on the schedule before Alabama, this Auburn team really is putting itself in the driver’s seat to finish this season strong.

How easy would it be for Auburn to slip? I don’t see any breakdowns on the road against Ole Miss and I don’t see Georgia turning it around anytime soon. The losses should come if they do to Arkansas or LSU. Unless LSU finds a quarterback and a consistent road team it would be hard to see that game being a blowout in LSU’s favor like last season. The game should be close but Auburn should come out with a victory.

The Arkansas game is something that is hard to predict. Auburn needs that win terribly. It has been four years since Auburn has beaten the hogs but more importantly it would get Auburn to a 7-0 mark and set the tone for the second half of the season.

Auburn losing against Kentucky last season set the tone for the collapse last season. This week against Kentucky is very important for the Tigers to win but it is more important for Auburn to win strong. They need a double digit victory this week. This away game is one of three to come but I don’t see it being a huge tripping hazard.

The next three weeks will show what this Tiger team is made of and how strong the reserve of this team is. The depth seems to be coming along nicely for the Tigers each and every week but will it hold out against two top 15 teams in the coming weeks? Can Newton keep running the ball so much? Questions loom but answers do as well.