WILL WIN: Charlotte, Wofford
SHOULD WIN: Vanderbilt, Auburn, MS State, Louisville
TOSS UP: Missouri, Florida, LSU
SHOULD LOSE: Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma
WILL LOSE:
Record: 8-4
NOTES:
(1) Yes, we made it to the semi-finals last year, but I think the team was more lucky than good. Kentucky, Arkansas, LSU, Washington State, were won by one score and neither team those teams were any good. I don't mind a close game here or there but if you are barely beating bad teams, you are not a great team. Not to mention South Carolina and Florida was close too.
(2) Biggest loss will be Charlie Weis JR, Lane was just a figure head. Charlie Weis is what made Ole Miss great. He's a bit young, but we wanted to make him a head coach here but Lane would not go to LSU unless Charlie joined him. If Charlie does as good at LSU, I think he will easily get the top coaching job any where (Bama, Dallas Cowboys, etc.)
(3) Biggest question mark is the O-line. Chambliss and Lacy are great, but the two losses were because of the o-line. They couldn't get the running game going in the in-season game against Georgia and couldn't block the Miami D-line.
(4) Game by Game:
(a) Louisville: Beat Miami in Miami, but had four losses, although 3 of them by one score. I think Louisville is a good team just like Tulane was last year, but Tulane couldn't complete with the size, strength or speed of us. Easily a 2+ score win.
(b) Auburn/MS State: Both should be bottom dwellers in the SEC, but for some reason both will be a close game.
(c) Missouri / Florida: Missouri has always been a good team but doesn't get any recognizance. Florida is a SEC team and we never do good in the state of Florida for whatever reason.
(d) LSU: I was tempted to put this into should lose after last night. I think the biggest problem is LSU knows our entire team. I put it in a toss up because I am biased but it's more appropriate into should lose.
(e) Texas / Georgia / Oklahoma : All top 10 teams. Only Georgia is at home.
Most likely 8-4 reason, small chance 9-3 and everyone will consider that to be a great season. Unless something surprisingly happens or LSU, Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma end up being trash, I see 9-3 as the ceiling and being ranked top 20 but missing the playoffs.