I posted this on reddit a few hours ago; it fits the conversation here too.
I think for the first time since Fulmer, we're reloading and not rebuilding. We have two talented QB's, with the more polished passer in the lead. OL is a slight concern, but at least we have a stocked WR corps and a couple good backs. Our defense is too individually talented to suck on a historic level like we did last year again; hence, the S&C, DL, and Secondary coaching changes. And no matter what, Special Teams has always been a hallmark of Butch's.
Games that are non-negotiable must wins or else it's Butch's job:
Indiana State, UMass, Carolina, @Kentucky, Southern Miss, Vanderbilt.
That's six. Carolina might seem a little harsh because they're getting better, but that's exactly why it wouldn't bode well for Butch's long-term outlook. Gotta keep them down while they're down. Same story with Kentucky (who we really should have a 32-game streak against if Dooley and Bray weren't such ****heads).
Of the remaining six (GT, @UF, UGA, @Alabama, @Mizzou, LSU), I refuse to believe we don't have the talent to get at least two wins from. GT and Mizzou are the easier answers to get us to eight wins, and Florida and Georgia seem to me to be skin-of-the-teeth close. Who knows with LSU late in the season, and lolol not 'til Saban retires for Bama.
Granted, each year, Butch has dropped a game that he shouldn't have. And up until last year, he's typically won a game each season that he shouldn't have.
I think it will be a fun year, but my floor is 7-5 with the only "acceptable" loss being to Carolina from that first group, as long as we get at least one win from the latter group. Contingencies, contingencies.
