LSU Football Schedule 2010 - Auburn Footbal :
It's the toughest opener LSU has had since Virginia Tech in 2002. The Tar Heels have five potential NFL first-round picks on defense and 19 starters returning overall. But two of their stars -- defensive tackle Marvin Austin and leading receiver Greg Little -- are waiting on the status of an NCAA investigation dealing with improper contact with an agent. Pending the result, both might have to sit the game out. The quarterback job still is unsettled. T.J. Yates threw for 2,136 yards and 14 touchdowns, but he also threw 15 interceptions. Redshirt freshman Bryn Renner completed 15 of 21 passes for 184 yards in the spring game.
The Commodores could follow a 2-10 season with an 0-12 mark. A rash of injuries has depleted the starting lineup and Bobby Johnson's resignation in late July may have a negative effect. The Commodores have one of the SEC's best linebackers in Chris Marve, who led the conference with an average of 10.1 tackles per game. The quarterback spot is in flux with returnee Larry Smith getting pressure from Jordan Rodgers, younger brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Vandy was hit hard by injuries last year and again is struggling with depth.
Dan Mullen had the Bulldogs inches from defeating the Tigers last year and is coming off a season-ending 41-27 victory against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. It's yet another LSU opponent with a quarterback issue. Chris Relf and Tyler Russell are battling and again might wind up splitting time. The Bulldogs will miss underrated running back Anthony Dixon, who rushed for 1,391 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Chad Bumphis is the most reliable receiver but will have to improve on his 32 catches. The defense has eight starters returning, the best of which is end Pernell McPhee.
It's the first meeting between the schools in football. Eighteen starters return, but the Mountaineers' quarterback position is unstable with two sophomores and two freshmen in the mix. The Mountaineers have one of the nation's best running backs in Noel Devine, who rushed for 1,465 yards and 13 touchdowns on 241 carries last year. Nine starters are back on the defense, which runs an unusual 3-3-5 scheme. End Julian Miller had nine sacks and 6-foot-5 safety Robert Sands had five interceptions a year ago. The Mountaineers can be tough in a close game, too. Kicker Tyler Bitancurt made 13 of 15 field-goal attempts last year.
The Tigers catch the Vols in the second consecutive year of backsliding. Tennessee it trying to get by this season with a depleted roster of 70-something scholarship players instead of the full 85. All five starting offensive linemen are gone, as are the starting quarterback and top rusher. Two defensive linemen were lost for the season in spring practice. And to top it off, the Vols have rookie head coach Derek Dooley, a former Tigers assistant and Nick Saban protégé. Junior-college quarterback Matt Simms, son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, has won the job. The Vols have five offensive starters back and six on defense.
No one may be happier about the post-Tim Tebow era at Florida than LSU, which went 1-3 in that span. He was perhaps LSU's most frustrating opposing signal-caller since Ole Miss' Archie Manning. But Gator coaches are high on his replacement, John Brantley, and Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey are more than capable runners. Florida has not been taking the recruiting season off, as there are numerous five-star players waiting in the wings. Brantley will be looking for wide receiver Deonte Thompson to soften the blow of being without the team's top three pass catchers from a year ago. The defense has five starters back, including standout cornerback Janoris Jenkins. The Gators will still be the class of the East Division.
The Cowboys are playing the Tigers for the first time and it may not be pretty, but the visiting fans are eager. All 6,000 tickets allotted to McNeese State have been sold, a better performance than Louisiana-Lafayette's contingent, which is an hour closer. The Cowboys' best chance is to lock up the Tigers defensively and hold on. Ten starters are back from the Southland co-champs' 2009 team. Tackle Desmund Lighten anchors the front, and corners London Durham and George Russell are solid. The Cowboys lost most of their offensive firepower, including quarterback and Southland Conference Player of the Year Derrick Fourroux. Tulsa transfer Jacob Bower will replace Fourroux.
The "other" Tigers are a wild card in Gene Chizik's second season. He made progress last season and put a scare into Alabama in the Iron Bowl. The offense will have a strong line to build around, led by senior guard Lee Ziemba. Florida transfer Cameron Newton is a big and talented QB but has yet to take a meaningful snap in the SEC. The running game will be in the hands of senior Mario Fannin and super freshman Michael Dyer. Freshman Trovon Reed, a former Thibodaux High School standout, turned heads in camp and will get snaps at wide receiver. Eight starters return from a defense that was 11th in the league (374.1 yards allowed per game).
The Tide bears the burden of being No. 1 in the nation with a defense that needs total rebuilding. Alabama's offense scored 13 touchdowns against it in the first fall scrimmage. Donta' Hightower steps in for Rolando McClain at linebacker, but the status of end Marcel Dareus (alleged dealings with an agent) is unknown because of an NCAA investigation. The secondary may take some early lumps. The offense has returning Heisman Trophy-winner Mark Ingram and a backup, Trent Richardson, who looks just as good. There's also star wide receiver Julio Jones (101 catches, 1,520 yards, eight TDs in two seasons) and fifth-year senior quarterback Greg McElroy, who is 14-0 as a starter.
The Warhawks are rebuilding on defense under first-year coach Todd Berry and have three SEC schools on the docket, including Arkansas and Auburn. Yet another quarterback battle is being waged as redshirt freshman Kolton Browning unseated senior Trey Revell, at least for now. The Warhawks have strong running backs returning, including Frank Goodin, who had 1,126 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. The defense has to replace seven starters.
The Rebels may need more help than Jeremiah Masoli, the former Oregon quarterback who transferred to the Rebels after being dismissed by the Ducks. Ole Miss will miss running back Dexter McCluster, who carried the offense last season. The Rebs have nine starters back, but only three on offense. The defensive line is solid with tackle Jerrell Powe and end Kentrell Lockett.
This game could determine who finishes second to Alabama in the West Division. LSU and Arkansas consistently play close games, two of the past three going into overtime. The Hogs have the most prolific quarterback in the league in Ryan Mallett, who could be well above 3,000 yards by the regular-season finale. The top five receivers, including tight end D.J. Williams, are back, and four of the top five running backs. The sticking point for Arkansas is the defense. The Hogs were last in total defense in the SEC, allowing 401 yards per game.
LSU Football Schedule 2010 - Auburn Footbal
