More like a coma pick.... and I happen to like Tenn (lots of really close family friends are Vols). That program is in shambles right now. 5 assistant coaches have left since the season ended. One of their best players, Hunter, might leave the team as well (word is he's going to start training for the Olympics in T&F). From multiple sources on the team, Bray's reaction to UT having to win out to make it to a bowl game was to say: "I'd rather stay home than go to some sh*t bowl game." There's loads of issues on Rocky Top. Far, FAR too many to over-come and be a "sleeper pick".
I'm going to take the opposite view and wonder who we are going to challenge. I don't mean to sound negative, but we have to go out there and win it. No one is going to give it to us, pre-season pollsters be damned.
Based on recruiting, I think Bama will again be the biggest challenge. Their guys coming up will still be better than what the other SEC schools have got.
As far as Florida is concerned, I'm not sold on Muschamp. Wildly overrated based on the little we've seen so far. Plus, they are switching O Coordinators which will hurt offensive continuity. Auburn is replacing both coordinators, so I'm not looking for a whole lot out of them unless they stumble onto Cam Jr
barring anything catastrophic, Auburn will win a minimum of 9 games in 2012, with a reasonable shot at 10. Schedule turns back in our favor with several of our tougher opponents at-home .... key leaders returning on both sides of the ball, including one of the best WR's in the conference. Last season, AU started the season with only 72 scholarship players, and that number steadily dwindled to 66 as the season progressed. We started 9 different freshmen on Defense throughout the year, and that just isn't going to turn out well in a conference like the SEC. I suspect that we'll have the full compliment of 80-85 to start the '12 season. Major difference. :thumb: That being said, I still see AU being 3rd in the west with an inside chance of improving.
dunno yet ... too early to tell for two of those teams. LSU is losing a lot of on-field leadership, and the road schedule toughens significantly in '12. Arkansas is going to be strong on offense, very strong, but it remains to be seen if they will have the defense or the depth to challenge in the west. Once the August rosters are set, we'll have a much better idea about each program's two-deep. I try to pay close attention to the special teams play for all of the SEC teams. Special Teams players (non K & P) are often made up of players that the staff is attempting to develop for transition into a starting role the following season. It represents one of several indicators that can predict trend. JMO, I thought bama and lsu both struggled with kick returns and coverage in 2011 ... not exactly the ringing endorsement one expects from a miles or saban coached team.
