My 2009 Auburn Football Pigskin Prognostication

Game 1 v.s. LaTech - This game concerns me a little, simply because of all of the unknowns surrounding the 2009 Tigers. However, a team that lost to Nevada, Hawai'i, and Army should not give Auburn much of a problem. It will be close only because the Tigers are working out the kinks.
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 28 - LaTech 17
Actual score: AU 37 - LaTech 13

Game 2 v.s. Miss. State - I think our defense will be the difference again in this one, but we should score a lot more than last years 3-2 anomaly. Home field should be worth two touchdowns and an offense with everyone on the same page should be worth two more. The Bullpups just don't know how to win.
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 28 - MSU 6
9/5/09 Prediction: AU 44 - MSU 14
Actual score: AU 49 - MSU 24

Game 3 v.s. W. Virginia - You might struggle to remember that Auburn was up 17-10 at the half of last year's game. There must have been a fistfight in the Tigers locker room at the half as they came back out looking over matched. Home field advantage is the difference in this one, as the freaks come out at night in The Jungle!
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 24 - W. Virginia 21
9/12/09 Prediction: AU 31 - W. Virginia 27
Actual score: AU 41 - W. Virginia 30

Game 4 v.s. Ball State - Where is Ball? Anyway, Gus Malzahn knows how to solve this problem, as Tulsa dismantled the Cards in the Mobile Bowl.
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 42 - Ball State 17
9/20/09 Prediction: AU 56 - Ball State 3
Actual score: AU 54 - Ball State 30

Game 5 at UT - I think momentum is the key in this one, as Auburn comes into the game 4-0 while UT is 2-2 with losses to the hands of UCLA and Florida. Will Kiffin even be the coach at this point or will he be fired in mid-season a la Al Davis?
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 21 - UT 14
9/27/09 Prediction: AU 33 - UT 27
Actual score: AU 26 - UT 22

Game 6 v.s. Arkansas - I'm sad to say that the joyride ends here. Even with orange and blue colored glasses, I cannot see Auburn escaping Knoxville AND Fayetteville with wins. The only reason I am penciling it in here is Petrino seems to be turning things around and has familiarity with the Tiger's type of offense. It will still be close.
8/31/09 Prediction: Ark 21 - AU 20
10/3/09 Prediction: AU 36 - Ark 30
Actual score: AU 23 - Ark 44

Game 7 v.s. UK - The Wildkittens arrive in Auburn only to remember it's not a basketball game and run into a group of pissed off Tigers!
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 35 - UK 13
10/10/09 Prediction: AU 33 - UK 27
Actual score: AU 14 - UK 21

Game 8 at LSU - I really don't think the Bayou Bengals are much better than Auburn to start the year, but by now attrition has set in and c'mon Baton Rouge at night? SCARY!
8/31/09 Prediction: LSU 21 - AU 10
10/18/09 Prediction: LSU 24 - AU 23 in OT
Actual score: AU 10 - LSU 31

Game 9 v.s. Ole Miss - I'm sorry, but I just don't understand the Rebel's hype. Sure, they have great talent, but Nutt couldn't win the SEC with Darren McFadden AND Felix Jones in the backfield. The Tigers squeak by in this one.
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 14 - Ole Miss 13
10/26/09 Prediction: Ole Miss 29 - AU 23
Actual score: AU 33 - Ole Miss 20

Game 10 v.s. Furman - Why bother?
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 42 - Furman 3
11/4/09 Prediction: AU 41 - Furman 17
Actual score: AU 63 - Furman 31

Game 11 at UGA - Playing between the hedges again weaves it's magic as Auburn restores the "visiting team wins" madness to this series.
8/31/09 Prediction: AU 21 - UGA 17
11/8/09 Prediction: AU 31 - UGA 27
Actual score: UGA 31 - AU 24

Game 11 v.s. Bama - The Tigers play with pride and the home field in their corner, but it's just not enough to close the gap... THIS YEAR! See you in T-Town!
8/31/09 Prediction: Bama 24 - AU 17
Actual score: Bama 26 - AU 21

Bottom line - through my tinted glasses I see a 9-3 season. I would be disappointed with 5-7 and, after a period of mourning, satisfied with anything better. But I say 9-3 and a trip to the Cotton Bowl where Chizik gets to take on Texas. I can't see these young, inexperienced Tigers whipping the Longhorns.
8/31/09 Prediction: UT 35 - AU 21. But 9-4 and a full recruiting season under the belt should make things much better in 2010!

My thoughts on recent arrests

I think all of the mudslinging between supporters of Auburn and the "Dark Side" should end. Hundreds of college students get arrested on either campus each week. You cannot expect a football player to act differently than any other college student. You can hope, but that is about it.

Not being at either scene, the best I can give is my opinion. As I understand it, the girlfriend of the UA player saw him talking to a female student at a party on the UA campus. She then proceeded to key his car and once he saw what was going on, he simply tried to stop her from doing that. I can't imagine many of us would have reacted much differently.

The AU player got into some fisticuffs with a drunken AU student. I can't imagine how that started **sarcasm**, given that the AU player was sober at the time. Seems the only thing he was guilty of was being out past curfew.

Now, we know both coaches will handle this with a heavier hand than many of us as parents would, but they are expected to handle themselves with a little more decorum, given that they are representatives of each university.

Your thoughts?

Chris Todd named starting QB!

Can't say I saw this coming, but Chris Todd is now the starting QB at Auburn! After letting this sink in for a few minutes, I must say that he appeared accurate and confident last year before his arm went south.

What I am impressed with more than anything is how Kodi Burns has reacted. He was quoted as saying 1. He does not plan to transfer, 2. He is mature enough to handle this, and 3. He told the team to rally around Chris Todd and that he "has his back"!

War Eagle to you my friend, you are a true Auburn man and best of luck in whatever position you can best help the team!

Memo to Sidell Corley

I understand Mr. Corley wanted and was granted a release from his scholarship to LSU. It seems he has had some difficult situations away from school with the loss of two family members in the offseason. The statement given by his family was that he wanted to be closer to home. Ummm, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, and Troy are no closer by driving distance to Mobile than is Baton Rouge. A simple visit to Mapquest would have told them that. Maybe he'll play for the SOuth Alabama Jaguars?