The Hook and Lateral

Well…predictions are back people! I apologize for the delay but my job made the research and thought that goes into this endeavor prohibitive. Because of my rather hectic schedule, I will not be able to go into the written detail that went into the previous two entries. Nevertheless, you can trust that I have researched each team and my predictions are still binding…that is you can heckle me endlessly next season if my predictions prove to be bunk.

So here we go with the new format!

Reasons they will be good: Tony Franklin sure looked good with his spread attack against Clemson. Kodi Burns looked more than capable of leading a spread offense through a tough SEC schedule. They have a lot of returning starters on both the offensive and defensive line…which is huge in the SEC. Quentin Groves…Pat Simms….who are they? Marks and Coleman are more than capable of filling those big shoes. The SEC West is going to be down and Auburn should be more than talented enough to win a lot of games this year.

Reasons they will choke: IF Kodi Burns can hold off Chris Todd, DeRon Furr and Neil Caudle (that’s a big if), can the guy navigate a full SEC season……remember……Clemson didn’t have game film of this new spread offense….other teams will be better prepared. Auburn has a history of choking when they have the personnel to have a good season.

The Season:

8/30 - La. Monroe (Auburn, AL) - Auburn 41-10

9/6 - Southern Miss (Auburn, AL) - Auburn 32 - 7

9/13 - Mississippi State (Starkville, MS) - Auburn 24 - 14

9/20 - LSU (Auburn, AL) - Auburn 31-10

9/27 - Tennessee (Auburn, AL) - Auburn 21-14

10/4 - Vanderbilt (Nashvegas, TN) - Auburn 31 - 17

10/11 - Arkansas (Auburn, AL) - Auburn 41 - 17

10/23 - West Virginia (Morgantown, WV) - Auburn 28 - 17

11/1 - Ole Miss (Oxford, MS) - Auburn 24 - 17

11/8 - Tennessee Martin (Auburn, AL) - Auburn 45 - 3

11 / 15 - Georgia (Auburn, AL) - Georgia 31 - 24

11/29 - Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) - Alabama 27 - 20

Record: 10-2

Wins: La. Monroe, Southern Miss, Miss. State, LSU, Tennessee, Vandy, Arkansas, West Virginia, Ole Miss, UT Martin

Losses: Georgia, Alabama

Conclusion: Auburn has a strong season which is a result of their returning talent and the relative weakness of the SEC West. They should coast through most of the season, but they will run into a juggernaut on November 15th in Georgia. As for Alabama, the Tide will be finishing strong by the end of the season and Auburn will still be reeling from a thrashing by the Bulldogs (the game will not really be as close as the score suggests) and even with a week off, Alabama will be shouting “fear the finger” after winning a thrilling SEC West championship game.

UPDATE! (3/29/08, 12:38pm) So the ever controversial sports journalist Paul Finebaum has decided to take a page from the Chosn Blogger and predict Auburn’s season. Here is how his prediction stacks up against mine.

Finebaum predicts an 8-4 season with Auburn losing to Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia and LSU. I obviously do not buy into the notion that LSU is going to be any good next year. Furthermore, I strongly believe that West Virginia’s streak is over. Auburn will have a formidable defense returning next year…and that will equate to more than 8 victories.