Auburn/ UTC Expectations

[aupops2 7]

Just wanted to hear your thoughts on how the coaches and players approach this game.  Is it like a bye week to them?  Will they be flat and , therefore, be required to play starters longer?  Will UTC make it a game at all?

[tiger mark 0]

Coaching staff will not allow this team to be flat, nor will the seniors.  While I don't like to compare seasons this season does compare to 04 in one regard.  That is the 04 seniors had gone from being the media darlings at end of 02, only to fall short in 03 and we all know what happened that year.  The following Spring/Summer/Fall, the seniors stepped up with the leadership and refused to let the team sin into a state of relaxation or complacency.

I expect Auburn to come out, force its will on UTC, and reserves will play throughout the game.  I think Cam will get just enough stats that it will not hurt his heisman chances, but the main focus will be on building depth for the final "4" games.

Predicted Score   

Auburn  52

UTC        13

[JwgreDeux 1,219]

I hope we don't give up 13 points.  One score or less is what I expect from our defense (even with the back ups in there).  I'm not concerned with the offense, what I expect is to see the starters for the entire first half, and then rest as many as possible for the second half. 

[gravejd 3,101]

Just don't get hurt!!!

But i expect a game kinda like the ball st game last year. They may score thirty on us but we'll score sixty and have walkons and and thrid stringers playing defense the entire second half. We'll get bashed for allowing them to score that much on us. But the coaches know that is way more important to get rested for our eleventh straight game than to look good to the media

[AUSWEN 0]

I'm thinking:

No Cam runs

Get Dyer his 150 in the first half and sit him

In first half, steady stream of 1st and 2nd stringers

second half, all 2nd and 3rd string - regardless of score

I think the important thing is to rest people. Better to have them fresh for a win against a quality team than to get style points IMO.

[guerra aguila 0]

Play the entire football team in the second half.

Those are my expectations.

[Weegle777 63]

The only thing I am worried about is if we come out and score 63 and keep them to 0 in the first half, and then the reserves come in and we end up winning 63-35. Most voters will only see the score and the nationwide talk will be, "See, Auburn's defense is pathetic." I hope we guard against this happening.

[JwgreDeux 1,219]

I'm thinking:

No Cam runs

I agree, but with the Heisman race going on, does anyone think the coaches let him get some carries in the first half.  I think they will let him play his normal game in the first half, and sit him the entire second half.  I bet he gets about 200 passing 100 rushing and 4 touchdowns, 2 passing 2 rushing.  

Also, I expect the coaches to rest Omac and let Dyer and Fannin get most of the carries.

[JwgreDeux 1,219]

The only thing I am worried about is if we come out and score 63 and keep them to 0 in the first half, and then the reserves come in and we end up winning 63-35. Most voters will only see the score and the nationwide talk will be, "See, Auburn's defense is pathetic." I hope we guard against this happening.

I agree, and before anyone says "just win" we are at the point in the season that votes matter.  We need as many votes in the polls as we can get to keep in the top 2 of the bcs. 

[tokizy 0]

They should let Fanin run

[3rdgen 2]

Fannin and Caudle should get the majority of the work in the second half.  Let trotter throw the ball but tell him to hand off and not run anymore.  I understood when he had never scored a td but now he has and we need the back up healthy.  Throw the ball to goodwin and kitchens see what those young guys can do with the ball in their hands.

[bwillaub 0]

We should beat them by 50+ pts but we cannot take them lightly either.  It will be another case of their strength against our weakness.  They are a good passing team, 283 ypg.  They have over 2200 yds thru the air so far this season with Bradford leading the way with over 1000 yds receiving. 

[Connecticut Tiger 0]

I want to see the backup O-Line play to get a feeling for next year.

Let the starters start and put up 30+ then get the backups in.  It would be nice to see anyone get 100 yds rushing with the backup O-line in the game.

[Bunn1 0]

I suspect that the game could be more competitive than most are thinking. UT-Chatt averages 440yds per game on offense. This includes 283yds/game through the air. I think that this will be a good test for our secondary. They play an up temp offense much like Arkansas St. Defensively they should be no match for Auburn 1st or second teams and we should score quite a few points as they average giving up nearly 4 TD's per game. If our Secondary plays above their season average or front 4 gets good pressure (giving up 1.5 sacks a game), we should win big. However, if our secondary struggles, it could be much like the Furman game last year where we gave up 30 points to a completely inferior team. Their defense has been pretty opportunistic this year generating 26 turnovers (14 fumbles and 12 interception), but offensively, they have given the ball away 23 times (11 fumbles, 12 interceptions). In the end, I say that we win and our defense plays quite well Good guys 63-24. We give up a late TD with a lot of young guys in.

584 yds total Offense