Athlon has released its predictions

[starkvegasdawg]

I shall not post a link since they gave us no respect. They predict us last in the west finishing 6-6 (2-6). They say the SECCG will be bama vs Tenn.

[Coach34]

Would not be surprising in the least if we finish 6-6. We have tons of questions

[BeardoMSU]

I guess that means beating out only Kentucky and SC? I'd be surprised if that happened. I like our odds against Arky and A&M at home, not to mention Aub.

[mic]

When have we ever been picked to finish higher than 5th , 6th, or 7th. The last few years?.?.
Nothing new ..

[BeardoMSU]

When have we ever been picked to finish higher than 5th , 6th, or 7th. The last few years?.?.
Nothing new ..

Precisely.

[starkvegasdawg]

Would not be surprising in the least if we finish 6-6. We have tons of questions
We have questions but I think we do better than that. Only losses I'm willing to concede now are Bama and LSU. Not saying I'm predicting 10-2 because I'm not, but 8-4 or 7-5 I think is obtainable. I think we sweep our non conference slate, win our two eastern conference games, and should be able to pull two out of auburn, Aggies, upig, and tsun.

[Reason2succeed]

I hope we do better than 6-6 but when we are breaking in a new QB, new defensive system and staff, and trying to find running game this is the first time that I can say that don't blame them for their prediction.

My prediction is 8-4 with losses to Bama, LSU, OM, and someone else.

[Engine]

Throw out the record books in the Egg Bowl

[Coach34]

We have questions but I think we do better than that. Only losses I'm willing to concede now are Bama and LSU. Not saying I'm predicting 10-2 because I'm not, but 8-4 or 7-5 I think is obtainable. I think we sweep our non conference slate, win our two eastern conference games, and should be able to pull two out of auburn, Aggies, upig, and tsun.

I'll add more on this in a couple weeks, but I think we are last in the SEC West on the OL, DL, and Secondary- and that leads to a tough season

[mparkerfd20]

Historically I'd bet we win 2-3 more games every single year over what Athlon predicts. And yes I'm too lazy to look it up to verify. I just know they seem to always underestimate us.

[Leroy Jenkins]

I give zero fvcks, prior to us being #1 in the country they picked us to be 33rd.

ETA: Althon's 2015 preseason player of the year.... Jeremy Johnson. So, yeah.

http://m.quickmeme.com/img/1f/1fb47205f4b7a48bc2e4a0c3b05c11359838128c31ac598005 a21713c96e5f35.jpg

[SDDawg]

I'll add more on this in a couple weeks, but I think we are last in the SEC West on the OL, DL, and Secondary- and that leads to a tough season

Your strategy is correct here: downplay MSU and pump up OM. Worst thing you may be right, doubtful though. :cool:

[BossDawg]

In other news, water is wet.

**yawn**

[Dawgfan77]

I'll add more on this in a couple weeks, but I think we are last in the SEC West on the OL, DL, and Secondary- and that leads to a tough season

I think we should be pretty good on DL lots of young depth

[NCDawg]

Would not be surprising in the least if we finish 6-6. We have tons of questions

Not the least of which is the perennial inadequate play of our offensive line, which our HC does nothing to fix.

[FISHDAWG]

I hope we do better than 6-6 but when we are breaking in a new QB, new defensive system and staff, and trying to find running game this is the first time that I can say that don't blame them for their prediction.

My prediction is 8-4 with losses to Bama, LSU, OM, and someone else.

exactly this - we still haven't seen this team yet ... the spring game was more of a skit than a serious scrimmage. I think 8-4 is very optimistic ... if we get to 8 it will take a bowl win to get there

[Jack Lambert]

When have we ever been picked to finish higher than 5th , 6th, or 7th. The last few years?.?.
Nothing new ..

in 2001 we were picked to win the West and we saw how that went.

[TrapGame]

Nothing to see here move on. Same ol' shit as usual.

We go 8-4. Screw Athlon.

[BulldogBacker]

The early season rags are very, very inaccurate. I feel they are next to worthless. I never buy them anymore. That includes Athlon, Lindy's, Sporting News, and virtually any others. I have bought Phil Steele's, because it is the last off the press with the most accurate roster information, but they also have been historically wrong, usually underestimating us and overestimating the school northwest of us. Kelly is a violence incident waiting to happen, think Johnny Football. It will, of course, be covered up, but that affects them. Multiple trips to Haiti are likely required.

As for us, I think our offensive line will be better. Runningback will be better. Both QB and WR will need experience. TE will be better. The defensive line will be better, despite losing Chris Jones. Linebacker will be better and safety will be better. Questions remain at CB. I think we will be better than most forecasts. We will not be contenders, but will be spoilers to several contenders. I think 7-5 is the bottom of expectations and 9-3 is the top. I'll be happy with 8-4, 4-4. Anything better is icing.

[Johnson85]

I shall not post a link since they gave us no respect. They predict us last in the west finishing 6-6 (2-6). They say the SECCG will be bama vs Tenn.

This will probably be the proof of adage about the broken clock being right twice a day. I think 6-6 or 7-5 are the two most likely finishes. I think everything from 5-7 to 9-3 is in play, but feel like there's a 90% chance we go between 6-6 and 8-4, and I think 6-6 and 7-5 are each more likely than 8-4.

[mic]

I give zero fvcks, prior to us being #1 in the country they picked us to be 33rd.

ETA: Althon's 2015 preseason player of the year.... Jeremy Johnson. So, yeah.

http://m.quickmeme.com/img/1f/1fb47205f4b7a48bc2e4a0c3b05c11359838128c31ac598005 a21713c96e5f35.jpg

Jeremy Johnson...
Enough said..

[#660000]

https://dadsrichpageant.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/jacks-surprise.jpg

[SaintDawg]

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/071/874/notasingle.jpg

[Ifyouonlyknew]

8-4

[Taog Redloh]

6 wins is my baseline threshold for satisfaction this year. The 3 OOC and 3 of SC, BYU, AU, Ark, aTm, UK and OM. 4 of those are at home. Doable but not guaranteed.

[KentuckyDawg13]

Maybe it is just a cost savings measure, they do zero research and always say we will finish last?! Thus, no need to waste any time/money on actually knowing MSU.

It would be interesting to compare their predictions with reality.

[BulldogBear]

Maybe it is just a cost savings measure, they do zero research and always say we will finish last?! Thus, no need to waste any time/money on actually knowing MSU.

It would be interesting to compare their predictions with reality.

We are picked last regardless of year it seems. When a returning Heisman Candidate meant nothing last year, we knew we would be picked last fo sho after he graduated. Nothing to see here. Just leave MSU last every year and save the time it takes to click and toggle!

[Bothrops]

Out of all the publications, Athlon is one of the worst. These guys no almost nothing about our football team year after year.

[Percho]

I pick us, MSU Dogs, to go, undefeated. If we lose a game, I will adjust.

[Percho]

Been doing that for 56 years and have done a lot of adjusting.

[DogsofAnarchy]

Not the least of which is the perennial inadequate play of our offensive line, which our HC does nothing to fix.

That's because his buddy is the OL coach. I have never seen a position coach who can't make up his mind or target the recruits he wants. Instead we throw out a blanket net offer sheet and hope we catch bait fish. Dumbest damn thing I have ever seen.

[JETDAWG]

It's nothing new, same old line from those with a crystal ball, I like when we play with a chip on our shoulder. We'll need a big chip to fill the loss of our greatest player in school history. Eight wins is still very much a possibility if we can gel and Fitz can be the man. Gonna be hard times in Oxford soon, can't wait for the hammer to fall for the bears.

[RougeDawg]

I'll only provide one example to prove my point.

Every year except 2015 was the best returning QB a factor in predicting where a team may finish. Last year a returning Heisman top 4 round pick QB was not expected to impact his teams performance and where they would finish, when every other time it has occurred in the past it had. Then in 2016, it's once again one of the leading influences on projections, despite one of the top QB's losing many key parts on offense. Two OL's (one 1st rounder) and a 1st round WR will have no impact, I presume.

F*ck all of these asshats. Don't buy their shit and don't visit their sites.

[Coach34]

OM actually loses all 5 guys on the OL that started the Sugar Bowl- although they do have some guys returning that have made starts. But let's remember- these guys returning couldn't block Memphis last year when they were pressed into action

[HSVDawg]

We finished 2nd to last in the West last year in the senior year of the most prolific QB in school history. Which was right about where we were predicted to finish last year by all the major publications in spite of everyone playing the "no respect" card. I see no reason why we would be picked any higher than last. If we want the respect, we have to start finishing in the top half of the division on a consistent basis.

[Coach34]

We finished 2nd to last in the West last year in the senior year of the most prolific QB in school history. Which was right about where we were predicted to finish last year by all the major publucations in spite of everyone playing the "no respect" card. I see no reason why we would be picked any higher than last. If we want the respect, we have to start finishing in the top half of the division on a consistent basis.

Was a crazy year- we were 1 win away from finishing 2nd in the West also. But I also agree- there is literally no reason out there why we wouldnt be picked last in the West. It's where I'm picking us

[Mutt the Hoople]

How well each team does relates to how many team's fans buy Athlon subscriptions.

[DawgPoundtheRock]

It's just gonna get worse. I expect every prognosticator to pick us last in the west, especially the early season ones. Why not? We lost #15 and have what appears to be glaring weaknesses on offense.

That said, 8-4.

[Houston Nutt]

From an outsiders perspective, I've got y'all at 6-6. Wins over:

South Alabama
South Carolina
UMass
Auburn
Samford
1 of 3 between A&M, Arkansas, UK

[Goldendawg]

Don't forget Kentucky. Mullen had always had their #. Home and away.

[Taog Redloh]

OM actually loses all 5 guys on the OL that started the Sugar Bowl- although they do have some guys returning that have made starts. But let's remember- these guys returning couldn't block Memphis last year when they were pressed into action

Agree, people picking Ole Miss to do any better than 8-4 are morons. I think they'll look a lot like we did this past year. A lot of skill but no beef.

[GTHOM]

I shall not post a link since they gave us no respect. They predict us last in the west finishing 6-6 (2-6). They say the SECCG will be bama vs Tenn.

Athlon and the other big magazine Sporting News or whatever its called, neither even have our stadium capacity updated and one of them I think Athlon has a picture of Damian Williams and lists him as Kivon Coman. That shows you how much of an expert those folks are. They do 0 research. Phil Steele is the best out of all of them