Name your best under the radar darkhorse team this season

[GoSooners]

It doesn't necessarily have to be a team that you think is going to win the NC...Just one that you think is going to surprise many with a way better than expected performance this season.

My pick is:

Auburn...A few things tell me this team is due for faliure. New offensive and defensive coordinators and a totally new offensive scheme. And a new unproven QB. But I think everybody can agree this has been one of the best and most consitently good defensive teams over the past few years..That's why that under Tuberville they have the best winning road record of any team in the SEC. Auburn has 16 starters returning, with 9 of those being on offense..Think of what this team did last season in racking up a 9-4 record with 3 freshman starters on the O-Line. All of these starters are back...And this team doesn't have the brutal schedule of having to go to Florida, LSU, Arkansas and Georgia like they did last season.

The Tigers racked up a 9-4 record with the 97th rated offense in the country..And with bringing in OC Franklin from Troy with a new spread offense, Tuberville thinks there is going to be a huge improvement on that side of the ball..New QB or not..It sounds like from everything I've read about both of these QB's competing for the job, that both are going to be well suited to the spread..Kodi Burns ran the spread in HS and threw for over 6000 yards and 65 TD's in it..And he also made a good showing in their bowl game vs Clemson when they rotated him with Cox. And Chris Todd is a Texas Tech transfer who played 5 games in a similar system. OC Franklin came in before that bowl game, and this team has worked exclusively on this offense for a good while since before their bowl game... So it's not like their coming into this season cold. Anyway, can you imagine how good this team is going to be with any improvement at all on offense and a more experienced team with an easier schedule?

The defense returns 7 starters..But this unit had a bunch of injuries on that side of the ball last season..And so their bringing back alot of these injured players on top of the designated starters..They should once again be a deep experienced team on defense. Their new DC is Paul Rhodes from Pitt. Auburn has had something like 4 or 5 DC in the last 5 years...But this defense has always stayed very solid..I think the reason for this is it's always been Tuberville's baby...But one thing Rhodes could bring to the table is his Big East expertise..Maybe the toughest road game that Auburn will have this season is their game vs West Virginia..And as we all found out, Rhodes had a pretty good gameplan for this team lasat season. So it should prepare Auburn well for the WV spread..On top of that, this Tiger defense is one of the fastest in the country.

One thing I've seen from these SEC teams over the years, a talented team mixed with the easiest possible conference schedule is a good recipe for success. I also like the fact that they don't have to go right in to stiff competetion..So with a few warmup games they should have their offense in gear by the time they get to LSU. And that game will be big since the winner has gone on to win their division 6 of the last 8 years.

And last but not least for this "darkhorse", they're only rated number 8 in the country, but have the combined talent and depth, especially across the O and D lines of any of the top 5 teams...And has anybody on this board had more than 2 words to say about Auburn? That's my definition of "flying under the radar". For the money, a very good national title contender.

 

[GoSooners]

Mods...Could you move this to the College Football forum...Thanks

 

[SkinsRaj28]

I'm pretty sure a lot of people are expecting big things from Auburn this season...not sure they're a darkhorse in the true sense of the word.

Not sure any team in the top 10 can be considered a darkhorse, for that matter...but for what it's worth, I think Auburn is gonna be damned good.

 

[raidermattk]

Oregon

 

[GoSooners]

I'm pretty sure a lot of people are expecting big things from Auburn this season...not sure they're a darkhorse in the true sense of the word.

Not sure any team in the top 10 can be considered a darkhorse, for that matter...but for what it's worth, I think Auburn is gonna be damned good.

As far as I know they aren't even in the top 3 of most talked about teams in the SEC...Florida and Georgia are getting all the pub..Along with defending national champs LSU, who many are picking to get to the SEC title game..In my neck of the woods, I've really heard nothing about Auburn. Especially when talking about national title contenders.

 

[Harvey Dent]

Ive seen auburn ranked in the top 10 by numberous experts


a true darkhorse ill go pitt

 

[GoSooners]

Oregon

Oregon was actually my second choice....I just don't see much if any dropoff in this team..If their QB comes through, they WILL surprise some people..

 

[SoonerBS]

Texas Longhorns

Usually Texas is seen in the top 5 of every preseason poll. This year, you don't even see them in most people's top 10 polls. I really think they are going to be better than people have been giving them credit for. McCoy will be running the offense behind a more experienced offensive line this season. Defensively, they couldn't be any worse than last year and I think Muschamp will make a big difference with the schemes and motivation of the players. Texas is loaded with way too much talent to be writing them off as non-contenders this season.

 

[SoonerBS]

Mods...Could you move this to the College Football forum...Thanks

You mean you actually look at other forums?

 

[GoSooners]

Texas Longhorns

Usually Texas is seen in the top 5 of every preseason poll. This year, you don't even see them in most people's top 10 polls. I really think they are going to be better than people have been giving them credit for. McCoy will be running the offense behind a more experienced offensive line this season. Defensively, they couldn't be any worse than last year and I think Muschamp will make a big difference with the schemes and motivation of the players. Texas is loaded with way too much talent to be writing them off as non-contenders this season.

Actually, Texas isn't a bad choice this year more than any other year...People sometimes forget that this is the only team in the Big 12 that is on the same level of talent as OU every year..That's why you have to give the Horns respect..Plus, McCoy scares the hell out of me..Did you notice this Big 12 media week how much bigger the kid looked? He's no longer that fragile scrawny young QB..I'm betting he's put on at least 15-20 pounds of muscle this offseason. And he's got a good O-Line protecting him. They'll be a very dangerous team if their defense comes together. I think they showed us last season what they can do when that offense is healthy. Like the 52 points they put up against a decent ASU defense in their bowl game. The way OU and Texas have played against each other the last couple years, this is really starting to become a close rivalry once again. I expect no different this year..Plus McCoy has gotten over his sophomore jinx..Let's just hope Bradford don't have one...But he should be alright (knock on wood) behind a good O-Line. Something's got to give this season...OU, Texas and Texas Tech can't all have 10 or 11 win seasons....Can they?

 

[OTK]

UCLA

They'll open up the season with a win against Tennessee.

 

[Gator627]

I like Texas' D. I'm a huge Muschamp fan. Well, not fan, but I have a lot of respect for his D.

But, who replaces Sweed and Charles? I think Charles leaves big shoes to fill.

I like North Carolina to upset some people.

 

[Harvey Dent]

I personally dont see Texas in the top 3 of the big 12... will be an interesting year

 

[groundhog11]

SFla.....

 

[GoSooners]

I personally dont see Texas in the top 3 of the big 12... will be an interesting year

Much of the media agrees with you...The top 3 teams in the Big are considered to be OU, Mizzou, Texas Tech...But I believe overlooking Texas is a big mistake..People can think what they want of Mack Brown, but everytime his teams start going downhill a little, he always finds a good defensive coordinator to shake things up..Texas improved in leaps and bounds under Chizik..And I have a feeling they're going to do the same thing under Muschamp. As far as their offense goes, I actually think Texas is going to be better on that side of the ball this year..The youth of their O-Line was their main problem last season..But they got better and better as the season moved along. They're probably initially going to miss RB Charles. But I don't think their going to miss Sweed since he was hurt for much of the year last season anyway..They've already got a good set of WR's..And the accuracy of McCoy's arm and the extra time he gets in the pocket will make his receivers look good..

The main thing I'm looking at here is shakeups within the coaching dynamic of these teams..The teams who have won the national championships in the last few years have had some dramatic shakeups in their personnel..Les Miles won in his third year as HC of LSU..And coaches in their second and third years prove to be the most successful..Miles also had a shakeup on offense with a new OC last season. And he added the spark that offense needed..The year before that Florida won under second year coach Urban Meyer after treading water under Zook for years. The year before that Mack Brown won. True he had a special player in Vince Young...But the main thing was they had a great defense under second year DC Chizik..This is why I like Auburn this year.. Tuberville knew his offense wasn't going anywhere after beiong ranked 97th last season, so he decided to shake things up with a new offensive coordinator..In my opinion he's already got the players to win it all...He's got a much more experienced O-Line..And Tuberville has always drafted some of the best talent in the country on the D-Line..That's one reason why they've been so competetive within their conference in the last few years..And that's why the SEC is the best conference year in and year out..Their able to draft the best defensive talent in the country.

 

[Insiders]

Missouri Tigers

 

[trentmoney]

Penn State

it probably won't happen bc they have to go to oh st, but who knows, maybe a few key injuries to the buckeyes and they pull it out

it never hurts to start out with arguably the best D-line in the country and 5 returning starters on the O-line

 

[AcesandFaces]

Cincinnati....Last year was no fluke and that is just the beginning. I see a shift in power taking place in the Big East. I realize the Bearcats travel to Norman on 9/6 but I see no reason why they can't keep pace with the Sooners..they're certainly athletic enough and one of the best coached teams in the country. Preseason #17 ranking puts them in "prime sleeper mode". Whether it's Mauk, Grutza or D. Jones under center, this team will be able to win out at home and play with a ton of poise and confidence on the road.

 

[trentmoney]

Cincinnati....Last year was no fluke and that is just the beginning. I see a shift in power taking place in the Big East. I realize the Bearcats travel to Norman on 9/6 but I see no reason why they can't keep pace with the Sooners..they're certainly athletic enough and one of the best coached teams in the country. Preseason #17 ranking puts them in "prime sleeper mode". Whether it's Mauk, Grutza or D. Jones under center, this team will be able to win out at home and play with a ton of poise and confidence on the road.

if you think they're winning w/ grutza then you've never seen him play

if you have seen him play...then i'm just speechless :missingte

good luck

 

[MrCleo]

i read the title and clicked the thread with the intention of writing auburn as well. tubbs doesnt get enough credit