OT: MSU football

[patdog]

Should be losses: Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Georgia, Texas A&M, Arkansas

This is the part that doesn't hold up.

 

[Thebhamdawgfan]

I can get three games we'll definitely win and maybe six if we get a lot of breaks.

I can't remotely reach seven, much less eight or nine.

Luckily, we don't have to take much stock in info coming from a serious soccer fan.

 

[engie]

Ah yes "3rd and Grantham". Two of his 3 Louisville defenses were top 10 nationally on opponent 3rd down defense, while the 3rd was #35. They were #4, #16, and #18 nationally in fewest overall first downs allowed in those years, while knowing Lamar Jackson and Petrino were keeping them on the field a bunch.

His early struggles at Georgia are well-documented -- even by himself. 11 years in the pro game without practice time limitations will do that to someone in an immediate translation back to college, while also transitioning a defense to a 3-4. He simplified his system at Louisville and had a couple of very good defenses there. Last year being a bit of an anomaly toward the end because they were the walking dead injury wise on that side.

If we are a top 40 D this year, which is a pretty reasonable expectation, we should win 8.

 

[NCDawg.sixpack]

Charleston Southern
LA Tech
UMass
BYU
Kentucky
Mississippi

That's 6 right there. Not too hard to see 1 or 2 more out of LSU, A&M, UGA, Aubie, or Arkansas.

We lost to BYU and Kentucky last year. Auburn, Arkansas, and Alabama totally blew us out. I'm hopeful that Grantham will do wonders for our defense, but I'm not sure that will happen. In addition to the weak OL I'm expecting, I don't foresee any more than 6 wins.

 

[FQDawg]

How does that not hold up?

Alabama is Alabama - we're light years away from them.
Auburn, Georgia, A&M and Arkansas are all on the road where it will be difficult for us to win.
LSU is at home so we might have a chance but they've recruited better than us for years. We are 1-16 against them in the last 17 years and 2-23 against them in the last 25 years. I'm not sure I'd count that as a win.

 

[patdog]

Auburn, A&M, UGA and Arkansas are varying degrees of mediocre. We won't lose all 4 of those games.

 

[patdog]

This year is not last year.

 

[Reincarnated Goat]

Look at the depth chart in the trenches and basically all of the key positions...

Next year is the year. One senior on either two-deep up front this season. Grey and Rankin really being the only impact seniors on the squad IMO, considering that Dez Harris will be eligible for a 6th year if he wants it. And Erroll is going to be really good in that spot. Lose Durr and Cleveland but have Dantzler coming on strong and Peters as well. And likely have continuity on the defensive coaching staff for the first time in awhile. At least at the DC spot anyway.

Agree with the engine. This year will look a lot like 2013, with maybe a little better QB play. It's so similar, we even have an offensive lineman looking to be highly drafted, like Gabe Jackson. That schedule was tough too.

I do think we can get to 7-5, maybe 8-4 with some luck. 6-6 is my goal though.

 

[FQDawg]

I hope you're right.

I just don't think you will be.

 

[engie]

In addition to the weak OL I'm expecting

This is going to be one of Mullen's top 3 OLs in his time here. I expect it to look a lot like 2010. Highly drafted left tackle, probably at least two more draft picks, a couple more guys with experience that were decent-to-good by the end of last year, and one very good RS FR. The fact that Story has been bumped from either starting guard spot as of right now speaks volumes....

 

[Palos verdes]

Auburn, A&M, UGA and Arkansas are varying degrees of mediocre. We won't lose all 4 of those games.

Arkansas doesn't have the talent of the other three. Even though the game is on the road and will be a tough environment, Arkansas isn't scaring me this year.

 

[BertleTheTurtle]

Yeah I think the QB play will actually be significantly better than 2013. I mean Russell was banged up the entire year, and let's face it, he wasn't bringing any type of run, pass option to our offense. Dak was purely a runner with some very basic pass plays installed for him. Fitz has the entire playbook in his arsenal this year. This offense will be light years better than 2013. Everything hinges on our defense being improved, and I believe it will be improved. The question is by how much.

 

[ColoradoDawg]

2017 we are an 8 win team. 2018 will be one the best teams in school history.

 

[KingBarkus]

I see 3 important "swing games". At LaTech, BYU and UK at home. We must win all three. We have a shot at lsu. Their offense will still be new to their players, but we must load up and stop Guice. It comes down to all SEC games...LOS, both sides. I'm not giving away losses at A&M, Auburn, UGA, Arkansas, but if we could split those, great. Vegas has us at 5.5 wins. Not good.