Preseason publication discussion thread

[AUwent 3,794]

Discuss your thoughts on preseason publications. I got Lindy's today, and they have us going 10-2 and playing Michigan State in the Peach.

Looking forward to Phil Steele's, as he always makes at least one off-the-wall prediction that no one else will.

[Weegle777 78]

Let me guess.....they have bammer winning it all. Am I correct?

[AUwent 3,794]

FSU is number one, but Turds are in the NC.

[bikeriderga 134]

ESPN just gave us a 3% change of making it to the playoffs.

And some actually believe there is not an anti-Auburn bias at ESPN?

[Tiger 8,841]

ESPN just gave us a 3% change of making it to the playoffs.

And some actually believe there is not an anti-Auburn bias at ESPN?

Is there a way I can put some sort of money on these odds?

[bikeriderga 134]

ESPN just gave us a 3% change of making it to the playoffs.

And some actually believe there is not an anti-Auburn bias at ESPN?

Is there a way I can put some sort of money on these odds?

Doubt they would put their money where their mouth is...

[Tiger 8,841]

ESPN just gave us a 3% change of making it to the playoffs.

And some actually believe there is not an anti-Auburn bias at ESPN?

Is there a way I can put some sort of money on these odds?

Doubt they would put their money where their mouth is...

Haha of course they won't.

[WDE_OxPx_2010 5,340]

I'd say we have a 25% chance to reach the playoffs, but that's just based on math and reason.

[AuburnNTexas 7,246]

Sometimes we need to take off out Orange and Blue glasses and try and look at it from an un-biased viewpoint. Has Bama played in or almost played in evry NC over last 5 years - Yes, Has bama repeatedly been in the top 3 recruiting classes in the last 5 years - Yes. Does bama have an easier schedule then Auburn tis year - Yes. I don't like bama but they have earned the right to be thought of as having a good chance to make the NC playoffs.

10-2 is a realistic projection not based on the talent on this team but based on how tough our schedule is. Part of the reason that Bama is predicted to make the playoff's is how much easier their schedule is then ours. Both Bama and Auburn play in SEC west so both have tough schedules but then add the top two SEC East teams to our schedule and K-State we just don't have much room to have any games where we are not playing near our best. In the last 5 years we have had good records, great records and an abysmal record just 2 years ago. Auburn has been very difficult to project because of the change in the way we play from year to year. Do I think a few writers are biased against us yes do I think all of them are- No way

Putting my Orange and Blue Glasses back on I do predict we make the playoffs - but that is assuming no serious injuries to key people we already have one key player Carl Lawson who has been injured to what extent we don't know. We are good and we have some depth but the reality is that going all the way takes Talent and some luck both in the injury area and the way the football bounces.

[AUbritt 611]

Sometimes we need to take off out Orange and Blue glasses and try and look at it from an un-biased viewpoint. Has Bama played in or almost played in evry NC over last 5 years - Yes, Has bama repeatedly been in the top 3 recruiting classes in the last 5 years - Yes. Does bama have an easier schedule then Auburn tis year - Yes. I don't like bama but they have earned the right to be thought of as having a good chance to make the NC playoffs.

10-2 is a realistic projection not based on the talent on this team but based on how tough our schedule is. Part of the reason that Bama is predicted to make the playoff's is how much easier their schedule is then ours. Both Bama and Auburn play in SEC west so both have tough schedules but then add the top two SEC East teams to our schedule and K-State we just don't have much room to have any games where we are not playing near our best. In the last 5 years we have had good records, great records and an abysmal record just 2 years ago. Auburn has been very difficult to project because of the change in the way we play from year to year. Do I think a few writers are biased against us yes do I think all of them are- No way

Putting my Orange and Blue Glasses back on I do predict we make the playoffs - but that is assuming no serious injuries to key people we already have one key player Carl Lawson who has been injured to what extent we don't know. We are good and we have some depth but the reality is that going all the way takes Talent and some luck both in the injury area and the way the football bounces.

I basically agree with this.

The Sporting News has us #5, as well. (Bama, at #4, is their top-ranked SEC team.)

[aubobo 7]

Just a blind pick gives every team a 3.2% chance. This means ESPN believes Auburn is right at or below average.

[AURex 2,129]

ESPN picks Auburn at 8-4, which includes a loss to Kansas State -- says Auburn's "luck" will run out this year.

Frankly, I kind of like the idea that the media think Auburn's record last year was due to luck and that Auburn will lose a batch of games this year.

Our players will see that. They will hear the ESPN talking heads dissing them. Auburn will be motivated and driven to prove them wrong.

At least I hope so, because the schedule is so tough this year that, if every player is not totally motivated, totally committed to excellence, ready to play 4 quarters of all those big games, it's going to be just about impossible to make the playoff. Only an exceptional effort will get Auburn into the mix for the NC.

[AUloggerhead 2,356]

ESPN just gave us a 3% change of making it to the playoffs.

And some actually believe there is not an anti-Auburn bias at ESPN?

Is there a way I can put some sort of money on these odds?

Yes. Get to a casino and find their sports book. I still have my 2004 betting slip from Caesars in Lake Tahoe (no longer there) where I put $20 on AU to win the BCS ... at 100:1 odds. I made the bet in the spring time.

[Charleston Tiger 134]

Sometimes we need to take off out Orange and Blue glasses and try and look at it from an un-biased viewpoint. Has Bama played in or almost played in evry NC over last 5 years - Yes, Has bama repeatedly been in the top 3 recruiting classes in the last 5 years - Yes. Does bama have an easier schedule then Auburn tis year - Yes. I don't like bama but they have earned the right to be thought of as having a good chance to make the NC playoffs.

10-2 is a realistic projection not based on the talent on this team but based on how tough our schedule is. Part of the reason that Bama is predicted to make the playoff's is how much easier their schedule is then ours. Both Bama and Auburn play in SEC west so both have tough schedules but then add the top two SEC East teams to our schedule and K-State we just don't have much room to have any games where we are not playing near our best. In the last 5 years we have had good records, great records and an abysmal record just 2 years ago. Auburn has been very difficult to project because of the change in the way we play from year to year. Do I think a few writers are biased against us yes do I think all of them are- No way

Putting my Orange and Blue Glasses back on I do predict we make the playoffs - but that is assuming no serious injuries to key people we already have one key player Carl Lawson who has been injured to what extent we don't know. We are good and we have some depth but the reality is that going all the way takes Talent and some luck both in the injury area and the way the football bounces.

I basically agree with this.

The Sporting News has us #5, as well. (Bama, at #4, is their top-ranked SEC team.)

Maybe I'm being devil's advocate, but let's review the same criteria, but for us:

Has Bama played in or almost played in every NC over last 5 years - Yes. (Auburn's played in 2, more than any team OTHER than Bama) Has Bama repeatedly been in the top 3 recruiting classes in the last 5 years - AU has been the following: (2010-4, 2011-7, 2012-10, 2013-8, 2014-9 per Rivals) This makes us a perennial top 10, arguably a top 5. Does bama have an easier schedule then Auburn this year - You are absolutely correct here when it comes to conference and home-away schedules.

However, based off this - historically, you'd say we'd end up better than 10-2. I'd go 11-1 off #s you're referencing in this, and with the playoff committee, our SOS would pop us in. So with or without orange and blue glasses, I think the ENTIRE state of Alabama, not just the Northwestern side, is at this point able to be looked at as an every-year threat. Are we as much so as Bama? No. But I think you can reasonably argue, especially looking at evidence of the last 5 years, that we're more so than the teams they post above us. It's strictly that every win we had this year is viewed as "lucky". I've said it before: I'll give them Georgia as lucky. But the Iron Bowl was nothing less than one team being better coached than another. That was even more evident when looking at both teams bowl performances, where Saban was out-coached again.

Long story short, does Bama deserve a nod at the preseason NC appearance? Absolutely. But does the Sports Network consistently underrate us, ignore us, and seemingly go out of their way to vilify us? Yes, personally I believe so.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

The truth of the matter is that bama is the only team in the country that gets that level of respect from the media with HUGE ? at quarterback.

Auburn is, hands down, the most complete returning team in the SEC, and to not make the play-offs would be under performing.

[WarEagle84 0]

The truth of the matter is that bama is the only team in the country that gets that level of respect from the media with HUGE ? at quarterback.

Auburn is, hands down, the most complete returning team in the SEC, and to not make the play-offs would be under performing.

I think Nick Marshall and Jameis Winston are at least partially to thank for that. This time last year they were talented recruits, but HUGE ?s. The fact that both of those guys ended up playing in the NC game, plus the fact that Bama's offense only requires a "game manager" are why Bama gets the pass for having an unknown at QB.

[Eagle Eye 7 2,535]

The only part of the equation you left out is the head to head game with the turds. No way lil nick is ever going to beat an unbridled Gus. In 2009 we had them beat until CGC pulled the stop button on Gus. In 2010 we would have spanked them bad if CGC had not stopped Gus. Last year everyone wants to claim luck but it was bama's luck that kept them in the game, like a 99 yard pass play on broken coverage. We finish ahead of the turds just fact. WDE

[hutchids 227]

ESPN picks Auburn at 8-4, which includes a loss to Kansas State -- says Auburn's "luck" will run out this year.

Frankly, I kind of like the idea that the media think Auburn's record last year was due to luck and that Auburn will lose a batch of games this year.

Our players will see that. They will hear the ESPN talking heads dissing them. Auburn will be motivated and driven to prove them wrong.

At least I hope so, because the schedule is so tough this year that, if every player is not totally motivated, totally committed to excellence, ready to play 4 quarters of all those big games, it's going to be just about impossible to make the playoff. Only an exceptional effort will get Auburn into the mix for the NC.

4 losses? And how will k-state beat us. I know they have a chance, but they have weaker offense and special teams and about even d. At best, they are a toss up to beat us. What 4 other teams will beat us? USCe, they are something like 3-11 all time against us. A&M, they have to rebuild the offense and their d is worse than a ted roof d. LSU, they've lost 14 players to the draft the last years, most of them early. I'm not saying we will be the best ever but 4 regular season loses is crazy

[WarEagle84 0]

ESPN just gave us a 3% change of making it to the playoffs.

And some actually believe there is not an anti-Auburn bias at ESPN?

This is not ESPN. This is one guy's opinion on espn.com. Don't forget that their collective "experts" on College Football Today picked us to be in the playoffs.

The 3% number shows this guy has no clue what he's talking about. If you chose the playoff teams by pulling the teams out of a hat, with each of the 125 FBS teams represented, each team has a 3.2% chance of making the playoff. If you want to argue he's biased against Auburn or just plain stupid, have at it.

[AU Is Gold 410]

ESPN just gave us a 3% change of making it to the playoffs.

And some actually believe there is not an anti-Auburn bias at ESPN?

This is not ESPN. This is one guy's opinion on espn.com. Don't forget that their collective "experts" on College Football Today picked us to be in the playoffs.

The 3% number shows this guy has no clue what he's talking about. If you chose the playoff teams by pulling the teams out of a hat, with each of the 125 FBS teams represented, each team has a 3.2% chance of making the playoff. If you want to argue he's biased against Auburn or just plain stupid, have at it.

Wow, I never thought about it like that. I mean, I knew the guy didn't know what he was talking about, but now I just see him as an idiot.

[jcm81 2]

My unbiased opinion is that we have a 50% chance to make the playoffs. I base this on 1 of 2 scenarios occurring. Either we do or we don't.

[AUwent 3,794]

CFN has us playing Cousin Clem in Orange. Pretty much all the talking heads have us going to either Atlanta or Miami for the holidays.

[AUbritt 611]

My unbiased opinion is that we have a 50% chance to make the playoffs. I base this on 1 of 2 scenarios occurring. Either we do or we don't.

:-\

50/50.

[PCBAuburnaFan 1]

I think Bama loses 3 or more this year. Ole miss is a better team in my opinion.

[NCTiger82 0]

Sometimes we need to take off out Orange and Blue glasses and try and look at it from an un-biased viewpoint. Has Bama played in or almost played in evry NC over last 5 years - Yes, Has bama repeatedly been in the top 3 recruiting classes in the last 5 years - Yes. Does bama have an easier schedule then Auburn tis year - Yes. I don't like bama but they have earned the right to be thought of as having a good chance to make the NC playoffs.

10-2 is a realistic projection not based on the talent on this team but based on how tough our schedule is. Part of the reason that Bama is predicted to make the playoff's is how much easier their schedule is then ours. Both Bama and Auburn play in SEC west so both have tough schedules but then add the top two SEC East teams to our schedule and K-State we just don't have much room to have any games where we are not playing near our best. In the last 5 years we have had good records, great records and an abysmal record just 2 years ago. Auburn has been very difficult to project because of the change in the way we play from year to year. Do I think a few writers are biased against us yes do I think all of them are- No way

Putting my Orange and Blue Glasses back on I do predict we make the playoffs - but that is assuming no serious injuries to key people we already have one key player Carl Lawson who has been injured to what extent we don't know. We are good and we have some depth but the reality is that going all the way takes Talent and some luck both in the injury area and the way the football bounces.

I basically agree with this.

The Sporting News has us #5, as well. (Bama, at #4, is their top-ranked SEC team.)

Maybe I'm being devil's advocate, but let's review the same criteria, but for us:

Has Bama played in or almost played in every NC over last 5 years - Yes. (Auburn's played in 2, more than any team OTHER than Bama) Has Bama repeatedly been in the top 3 recruiting classes in the last 5 years - AU has been the following: (2010-4, 2011-7, 2012-10, 2013-8, 2014-9 per Rivals) This makes us a perennial top 10, arguably a top 5. Does bama have an easier schedule then Auburn this year - You are absolutely correct here when it comes to conference and home-away schedules.

However, based off this - historically, you'd say we'd end up better than 10-2. I'd go 11-1 off #s you're referencing in this, and with the playoff committee, our SOS would pop us in. So with or without orange and blue glasses, I think the ENTIRE state of Alabama, not just the Northwestern side, is at this point able to be looked at as an every-year threat. Are we as much so as Bama? No. But I think you can reasonably argue, especially looking at evidence of the last 5 years, that we're more so than the teams they post above us. It's strictly that every win we had this year is viewed as "lucky". I've said it before: I'll give them Georgia as lucky. But the Iron Bowl was nothing less than one team being better coached than another. That was even more evident when looking at both teams bowl performances, where Saban was out-coached again.

Long story short, does Bama deserve a nod at the preseason NC appearance? Absolutely. But does the Sports Network consistently underrate us, ignore us, and seemingly go out of their way to vilify us? Yes, personally I believe so.

Great post. Had we held up and won the NC I think we would be ranked #1 or #2. As noted earlier Auburn FB has been consistently inconsistent since the Dye days. Bowden & Chizik went from the Whitehouse to the outhouse. Tubs always lost a game or two to inferior opponents except for 2004. Fair or not Gus is saddled with the "inconsistent" Auburn rap until he proves otherwise. If Gus has us in the hunt (possibly in NC again) the conversation shifts from "luck" to brains behind 2010 run, 2013 SECC/NC game in year one as HC so he has 2010, 2013 and 2014 to prove Auburn can be counted on. Then we will not be a risk for the prognosticators putting their credibility on the line picking us to win it all or at least be in the mix for the SECC and beyond each year. In my mind anything less than a SECC this year is a bust.

On the luck some can't seem to let go of I say the first miracle in JH was Georgia being AWARDED a TD to set up miracle #2 to win it ! Selective memory is a wonderful thing for the haters. On the Kick 6 I appreciate Scarbo having the stones to put in black and white for the mouth breathers to read that Auburn had the momentum and minus the return Bama likely goes down anyway.

War Eagle !