Football: It’s Time to Talk about the Tigers’ Schedule
The Tigers are ranked Number 16 in USA Today’s preseason ranking, but have to face off against SIX of the preseason top twelve teams.
The sky is the limit for this team…
In the off-season the defense loaded up on new talent with the addition of 5 star OLB Owen Pappoe and nearly all starters from last year are returning, several of them turning down the opportunity to be first and second round draft picks. The Tigers’ defense will be lethal under the leadership of effective veterans Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson and can square up against any team on Auburn’s schedule.
Last year’s biggest stress came from the reliability of the offensive line, but this year the line comes in with experience and will return all five of its starters. The biggest question mark remaining on the offense lies in the hands of our future starting quarterback. We don’t know who that is, but after watching Gatewood and Nix on A-Day we know they’re both capable of leading this offense.
Now let’s look at Auburn’s biggest problems:
- Sat, Aug 31 vs Oregon (9)
Why we’re worried: QB Justin Herbert threw for 3,151 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2018 and is supported by one of the best offensive lines in CFB.
Why we shouldn’t be worried: Last year’s defense (who was ranked ahead of Oregon in total defense) returns for Auburn bigger and stronger than they were last year and the Ducks will have a difficult time preparing for a fast paced offense captained by a quarterback they have little to no film on.
- Sat, Sep 7 vs Tulane
- Sat, Sep 14 vs Kent State
- Sat, Sep 21 @ Texas A&M (8)
Why we’re worried: QB Kellen Mond threw for 3,107 yards and 24 touchdowns and had 7 rushing touchdowns last season and head coach Jimbo Fisher has zero problem developing and replacing talent.
Why we shouldn’t be worried: Auburn receivers Seth Williams and Anthony Schwartz can create a nightmare situation against Texas A&M’s pass defense. TAMU’S pass defense ranked second to last in the SEC last year and the defense will have to replace 5 starters this year.
https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1117267428482977792
- Sat, Sep 28 vs Mississippi State
Why we’re worried: Textbook trap game.
Why we shouldn’t be worried: Cowbells aren’t allowed in Jordan Hare and Mississippi State’s NFL caliber defense has now moved on. They also have a brand new quarterback!
- Sat, Oct 5 @ Florida (13)
Why we’re worried: Grown men in denim cargo shorts and wife beaters imitating the bite of an alligator with their hands. Also, Feleipe Franks threw for 2,457 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 350 yards. There’s a lot of developing talent down in the swamp for quarterback whisperer Dan Mullen and I don’t trust it.
Why we shouldn’t be worried: Florida’s offensive line only returns one starter and the team has been transfer portal galore this off-season.
Florida player: “I’m entering the Transfer Portal”
— UGA Spike Squad (@UGASPIKESQUAD) June 8, 2019
The rest of the team: pic.twitter.com/c7s5m4ETVa
- Sat, Oct 19 @ Arkansas
If anyone finds shades of the old Arkansas before Bobby Petrino wrecked his motorcycle and Bret Bielema destroyed the program please let us know.
- Sat, Oct 26 @ LSU (7)
Why we’re worried: Screaming, drunk Cajuns waving corndogs around is terrifying for everybody but it doesn’t help when your team hasn’t been able to stop the Bayou Bengals for the last 2 years in a row. QB Joe Burrow threw for 2,894 yards and 16 touchdowns last year and has a great corps of receivers returning.
Why we shouldn’t be worried: I’m not going to lie, this match up could be the hardest of the season.
- Sat, Nov 2 vs Ole Miss
Why we’re worried: Auburn will be worn out after playing LSU.
Why we shouldn’t be worried: Landsharks can’t live out of water and neither can an Ole Miss team struggling to find it’s identity.
I mean, this stadium routinely causes suspicious seismic activity but y’all aren’t here for that noise pic.twitter.com/1bDnrB26vb
— boosky 🏴☠️ (@sheabooskyy) April 23, 2019
- Sat, Nov 16 vs Georgia (3)
Why we’re worried: Grown men and women will invade the loveliest village only to bark at innocent civilians, truly a traumatic experience for all. Jake Fromm comes into town with the nation’s best offensive line and D’Andre Swift. Their defense is championship caliber, again.
Why we shouldn’t be worried: With a bye week prior to this game the Tigers will have plenty of time to recuperate and prepare before Georgia comes into town. Jordan Hare stands tall with the voices of 87,500 hostile and passionate screaming voices and our experienced defense can compete in the trenches with the best of them. This is a day where the nation sees extreme levels of barning from the Auburn faithful.
- Sat, Nov 23 vs Samford
- Sat, Nov 30 vs Alabama (2)
Why we’re worried: Tua Tagovailoa could be Hawaiian for “touchdown maker” as he threw for 3,966 yards and 43 touchdowns this past year. Tua has the best receiving corps in the country and a 5 star backfield at his disposal. And not surprising to anyone, their defense is also championship caliber, again. They’re so lucky to have one of the easiest schedules in college football! They’ll be primed and ready for this.
Why we shouldn’t be worried: They do have to come to OUR house and nothing gets Auburn fans hyped up more than the Iron Bowl. There’s no telling how Alabama will be at this point of the upcoming season. Their biggest concern will be keeping Tua healthy as he continues to battle leg injuries and they no longer have experienced quarterback Jalen Hurts sitting at the backup role. This year’s Alabama team replaces a lot of NFL talent with younger, less experienced players that will be facing off against a more seasoned Auburn squad.
As I mentioned before, the sky is the limit with this year’s talented Auburn team but their achievements will be dependent upon how they manage this crazy schedule. I’m extremely excited yet cautiously optimistic.
USA Today’s Preseason Top 25: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2019/04/30/college-football-post-spring-top-25-2019-season-clemson-alabama/3561747002/