Our 2nd College Football Sleeper (After North Carolina): The Auburn Tigers
College Football, Video July 30th. 2010, 2:45pmAuburn won’t be Bo Jackson-1983-good, but due to a weak schedule (other than losing at Alabama, the road opponents are soft), a super-recruit at running back, an offensive line that returns four starters and a defense that brings back eight starters, we like the Tigers to easily top their 8-win projection by Las Vegas. It helps that everyone’s focusing on their in-state rival (defending champ Alabama), and the new-look Florida Gators. We think 10-2 is very likely (other loss: Clemson, Arkansas or LSU, pick one out of a hat, but remember, all are at Auburn). Speaking of UF, one of Tim Tebow’s former backsups – Cam Newton – will be QBing the Tigers. [Previously: UNC]
111 Responses to “Our 2nd College Football Sleeper (After North Carolina): The Auburn Tigers”
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July 30th, 2010 at 2:50 PM
Auburn hasn’t beaten UGA in 4 or 5 years. They aren’t winning this year, either. They are putting all of their chips in the Cam Newton basket, so he has a TON of pressure on him. They also lost a stud RB from last year. They will be better, but they aren’t beating Bama and they will most likely lose to Arkansas and Georgia. Add Clemson, South Carolina and LSU and I would be very suprised if they got to 9 wins, let alone 10.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:50 PM
They’ll lose at Mississippi State early.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:50 PM
I have feeling gods is about to unleash hell.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:51 PM
I think they finish with exactly 8 wins.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:51 PM
and he did.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Is UNC really a sleeper when so many people think they are a sleeper?
July 30th, 2010 at 2:52 PM
Is UNC really a sleeper when so many people think they are a sleeper?
Did you know a doughnut with no hole is a danish?
July 30th, 2010 at 2:53 PM
They’ll have to grab their totem to be sure.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:53 PM
A guy that was an Auburn grad was visiting the church I attend the other night, and we did a study where idols were destroyed. I told him that I hope he got the message and makes sure that Saban’s statue doesn’t stay up for long…
July 30th, 2010 at 2:54 PM
while I agree that Dyer is a stud (kind of disappointed Arkansas didn’t get him, but Petrino didn’t recruit him that hard since he wasn’t his style of back) you forgot a couple things. #1 they have a QB who hasn’t started a game in the SEC, and #2 Gene Chizic is still their coach.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:54 PM
You mean the national champion Auburn Tigers?
/thanks usc
July 30th, 2010 at 2:55 PM
This is what is stupid about college football. Auburn is supposed to be good because they schedule Arkansas State, Louisiana Monroe and Chattanooga and because their conference is so big, they don’t play one of the two teams that is worth a damn in that conference?
July 30th, 2010 at 2:55 PM
I could see this. I don’t have the stones to pick the upset, but Mullen is a good coach and Chizik isn’t. I also don’t think AUBs schedule is as easy as TBL thinks. And while Newton was certainly a touted prospect, he has done nothing at this level before, yet all of the sudden AUB fans assume he’ll be the next Vince Young.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:56 PM
it took Auburn half a season, then they realized Gene Chizik was the coach.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:57 PM
What is the definition of a sleeper, by the way? Is it a 10-game winner?
July 30th, 2010 at 2:57 PM
A trip to Lexington is on Auburn’s schedule as well. Normally, that’s not much to consider, but Kentucky did beat them last year.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:58 PM
Nothing will pump up a stadium this fall like Hulk Hogan.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:58 PM
Auburn can finish 2nd in the West, I’m not sold on Arkansas (besides Mallett) and I don’t know what to think of LSU. Hello, Cotton Bowl.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:58 PM
They lost to the worst UGA team in a decade. If they get to 10 wins it will be because Newton is a freak.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:58 PM
Cameron Newton could be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and his plaque would read “Ex-Tebow backup Cameron Newton”
July 30th, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Wow. He needs to be put down.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Not even certain how big of an upset it would be. I don’t see Auburn as much more than a 3pt fav for that one.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Is UNC really a sleeper when so many people think they are a sleeper?
I heard on the radio a coule weeks ago that Phil Steele has them in the title game against… someone. Booze really does kill brain cells.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:01 PM
And a pretty average LSU team beat the tar out of them last year. It wasn’t even competitive, and LSU is better than they were last year too.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:02 PM
The ARK offense will be sick nasty this year. The defense will still struggle, but that offense should be fun to watch. I think LSU could have a rough year. They have no clue how to play offense. LSU has just as much pure talent as does Bama or Florida, but they have a boob for a coach and a QB who makes Terrelle Pryor look like Dan Marino. I could see AUB and ARK battling it out for 2nd in the West.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:02 PM
Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!! College football before August!
/shits pants
July 30th, 2010 at 3:03 PM
Auburn beats UGA this year.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:04 PM
I mean it is a bad sign when there is a persuasive article about how a team is going to be good and one of two players mentioned graduated over 25 years ago?
July 30th, 2010 at 3:04 PM
looked it up for ya, gods…sleeper.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:04 PM
Ha, have a friend that is interning for TNA this summer. She says a bunch of schools are already on board with the clip. Gods will be happy to know UGA turned them down. Can’t blame Hogan, he’s gotta suppport his ex-wife and her 21 year old fiance.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:05 PM
I think UNC is awake at this point.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Sounds like Kirk Ferentz.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:06 PM
If you want a good sleeper, look at Texas A&M. Tons of talent back, new and improved DC, easy OOC schedule, toughest games are at home (other than UT) down year in the Big 12 (esp the South), etc.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:06 PM
Well, that is pretty much the kiss of death for Auburn…
July 30th, 2010 at 3:07 PM
so…9 wins?
July 30th, 2010 at 3:07 PM
I really don’t think Arkansas’s D is going to be as bad as advertised. They didn’t lose a whole lot from last year and the guys they are bringing back are supposedly acclimated to the system now. I’m not expecting them to shut every team out by any means, but with this offense all they need to do is keep teams below 20 points and they are winning.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:07 PM
Don’t forget their badass new WR coach.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:08 PM
looked it up for ya, gods…sleeper.
6 chiefly British : a small earring or stud worn to keep the hole of a pierced ear from closing
I did not know that. Thanks miz.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:08 PM
Care to bet on that?
July 30th, 2010 at 3:08 PM
They have a clue. Crowton’s system never changes. When he has a good QB (Tim Rattay, Matt Flynn), it works. But if you have a lousy QB who’s scared to get rid of the football (Jordan Jefferson, Jarrett Lee, the Bears), it’s awful.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:09 PM
/looks at ATM
//see’s Mike Sherman as head coach
///see’s everything I need to see
July 30th, 2010 at 3:09 PM
I prefer to define sleep using definition #5: “children’s pajamas usually with feet”
July 30th, 2010 at 3:11 PM
I think they will have issues doing this, though.
Their new DC is good, but can he turn them around in one year? Do they have the talent outside of their OLB? I don’t know. I think Texas and OU beats them. I do think they beat Nebraska though. Dammit.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:11 PM
Cousin Ron refers to that as a onesie.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:11 PM
////looks at Big 12 South
/////pencils in 4 losses
July 30th, 2010 at 3:12 PM
My sleeper team is the Florida.
that’s how this works, right?
July 30th, 2010 at 3:12 PM
Duly noted. And trust me, I know how west-coast offense NFL coaches do in college. But offense is not going to be a problem and (I believe) they brought the right guy in to coach the D. And again, they have a TON of talent.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:12 PM
I was just waiting your employee.
/kicks UGA XVILMXIVL
July 30th, 2010 at 3:12 PM
jeebus…been a long day.
/fixed
July 30th, 2010 at 3:12 PM
and there is your problem right there.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:13 PM
Not sure how good Auburn will end up being, but their circus tent offense (copyright: illformula) will be entertaining. The space-time continuum may suffer a rip when they play their ACC doppelganger, Climpson.
Speaking of sleeper, if the defending ACC champs are picked to finish third in the Coastal, does that make them a sleeper?
July 30th, 2010 at 3:14 PM
My sleeper is Michigan State.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:14 PM
You guys are seriously underestimating Troy Walters’ impact.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:14 PM
And some people disagree with me on this, but:
1. Gimmick offenses can’t get critical smash-mouth first downs and run out the clock late in the game.
2. Gimmick offenses wear out their defenses because their offenses keep them on the field too much.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:15 PM
TAMU will have the best offense in the B12, but Sherman does very little for me as a coach. And while they got a good DC, I don’t know how quickly you can turn around a D that was as bad as their’s was. It took Pelini two years to turn NEB’s around and he may be the best defensive coach in college football outsideof Monte Kiffin.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:15 PM
They don’t have a new one yet. They’re still using a stand-in named Rufus or something.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:15 PM
I hate you.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:16 PM
Honestly, it’s the game that concerns me the most.
I will always believe, especially in college, that coaching/scheme/play-calling affects defensive performance much more than talent. DeRuyter can coach D and I’m interested to see how well he’ll do at this level.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:16 PM
It almost worked last year!
July 30th, 2010 at 3:17 PM
My Sleeper, Boise State
/ducks
July 30th, 2010 at 3:17 PM
Gods, we need a good wager on the Arkansas-Georgia game. Maybe some local food or something. Pretty sure I am going to go to it.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:17 PM
I would say yes, but Tech is losing 3 games this year so I don’t think they can qualify anyway/
Breesus: ARK is not a gimmick offense in my view. They run a power set and some spread stuff. Petrino is a great offensive coach…he’s just a dickweed.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:17 PM
Agree. See examples: Swinney, Dabo and Daily, Shan.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:18 PM
Russ, asshole.
/8-1
//NERDS!!
I’m trying to get some tickets to that game, but I don’t have them yet. I’ll get back to you on that.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:18 PM
all they gotta do is be va tech, then show up for the rest of the season.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:19 PM
What happens when the stand in dies of yet another heart defect?
July 30th, 2010 at 3:19 PM
You have them losing to UNC or Miami? I figure your other two are UGA and VPISU.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:19 PM
I think a sleeper is a team that starts outside of the top-15 and gets to 10 wins in the regular season.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Miami. Since UNC is about to lose half of their defense to suspension, I think they are about to go by the wayside.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Link? Tech may finish behind VT, but that is the only scenario I can see with Miami beating one of the two during the year.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Oh, oh jeez. Larry Fishburne needs to nip this thing in the bud.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Sorry. I thought you were talking about Gus at Auburn.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:20 PM
how is a pro-style offense a gimmick offense? the main reason they didn’t run as much last year is that they didn’t have a O-Line or RB’s built for Petrino for his style offense, which they do now. They will run more this year.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:20 PM
An angel gets its wings.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Wonder what would happen if the Ramblin’ Wreck ever ran over UGA…
July 30th, 2010 at 3:21 PM
ignore comment #73.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:22 PM
Wow dad, we must have jumped that rail by like 50 yards.
Nothing to be proud of Russ…
[pauses as Rusty walks away]
50 yards!
July 30th, 2010 at 3:22 PM
They have plenty in reserves. They have some that will be ready this year, but not at the start. I guess they’ll be too young.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:22 PM
1. Gimmick offenses can’t get critical smash-mouth first downs and run out the clock late in the game.
2. Gimmick offenses wear out their defenses because their offenses keep them on the field too much.
The phrase ‘Gimmick Offense’ is more tired than using W-L to measure a pitcher’s value in baseball.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:22 PM
Heh, reminds me of something Lewis Grizzard once said, “Clemson? That’s just Auburn with a lake.”
July 30th, 2010 at 3:22 PM
ACC media. Barnhart had it in today’s post (number 5).
July 30th, 2010 at 3:23 PM
“Boy, UGA VIII really is a sleeper this year.”
“No, I think it’s dead”
July 30th, 2010 at 3:23 PM
i don’t have them yet either. I’m going to be at the Auburn-Clemson game and strongly considering making the drive over since the game times work out.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:23 PM
Is having a famous daddy not enough in Hollywood, anymore?
To anyone else who visits that link, the plot recreation of Charlie St. Cloud through reviews is gold.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:25 PM
The car would explode because it was packed with c-4 by the terrorists that went to school at Tech.
/yeah, I said it.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:25 PM
I think the Auburn-UGA game may top 100 total points scored.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:25 PM
hilarity would ensue.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:26 PM
She’s not even hot. Who’s gonna watch that sex tape? I guess if people will watch a fat ass Kardashian on tape, they’ll watch anything.
/lights fuse
July 30th, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Good ol’ latent U(sic)GA racism.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Now they have a faggy offense.
I have no clue what to expect from UGA’s defense. They have talent, but after years of being in a passive system, I don’t know how they’ll respond to being super aggressive.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Heh, reminds me of something Lewis Grizzard once said, “Clemson? That’s just Auburn with a lake.”
July 30th, 2010 at 3:27 PM
Looking forward to the S&Fs tailgate at the Miss St vs Florida game.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:28 PM
sweet, it’s been a while since I pulled the old reverse quote.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:28 PM
Yeah, that town sucks. They don’t have much of anything, actually.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:30 PM
I actually like Auburn as a town much more than Climpson.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:31 PM
I’ve only been to Clemson once, and it was to race on their lake. It was ok, but really didn’t get the experience of it. Never been to Auburn, aren’t they supposed to have hot chicks there or something?
July 30th, 2010 at 3:32 PM
I was disappointed in Clemson as a town, though I was spoiled in Athens. I thought the Clemson fans were super nice though. That’s why it’s weird when I hear Tech fans rail against them.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:32 PM
It’s a SEC school, so you pretty much know what you’re getting. It’s no ole miss.
/throws up for complementing anything from ole piss
July 30th, 2010 at 3:33 PM
No. Go to UGA, Florida or Ole Miss if you want those. If you want any number of STD’s go to Tennessee or Auburn.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:35 PM
Pfft. College football.
The hockey post had over 100 comments by the 45 minute mark!
/drinks from Stanley Cup
July 30th, 2010 at 3:36 PM
I watched Gary Pinkel in the stands for 4 years. I saw in person that you could put up 42 points in the first half against Kansas State, but you couldn’t close it out in Norman because you literally don’t have a fullback and the defense has been on the field for 37 minutes.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:36 PM
Got a really good friend who went to UGA, she is pretty diehard. I applied for a job last year at Ole Miss, don’t know how that would have gone if I got it but it’s one of those never knows. I don’t care if hot girls exist at Florida, I’d rather shove hot nails up my urethra than spend any extended period of time in Gainsville.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:36 PM
que the fuck? makes no sense, hombre.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Toothless inbreds and overrated women?
/northern aggression’d
July 30th, 2010 at 3:40 PM
Ha! It was a senseless shot at Tennessee for accepting whores by the truckload.
July 30th, 2010 at 3:42 PM
full disclosure’d
July 30th, 2010 at 3:52 PM
/fixed
July 30th, 2010 at 3:57 PM
But where is Chris Petersen going to coach next year?
/sources confirm
July 30th, 2010 at 4:56 PM
I watched Gary Pinkel in the stands for 4 years. I saw in person that you could put up 42 points in the first half against Kansas State, but you couldn’t close it out in Norman because you literally don’t have a fullback and the defense has been on the field for 37 minutes.
My point is, what exactly is a gimmick about that? Points=gimmick?
July 30th, 2010 at 5:24 PM
a team that didn’t finish in the top 25.
July 30th, 2010 at 5:26 PM
if you want to take that further … a team that finished .500 or worse the year prior.
a team not in the AP preseason top 25 OR in the ‘others receiving votes’ category.
all of my ’sleeper’ picks – regardless of sport – will be a team that didn’t make the postseason the year prior (for college hoops – ncaa tournament).