re: Gimme the best argument you got that this year's football team will be

Reasons to think this is our year:
1) OOC schedule. Oregon and WVU are resume builders; Oregon has started slow a few years and game 1 is ideal to get them. WVU on the road = "premier win" if we get it, even if they are not ranked (major college team).
2) SEC schedule. Fla, Arky, Auburn at home. Bama on road with a new QB.
3) Experienced defense- especially considering Peterson had cramped up in crunch time a few times; this means our secondary will all have been on the field in tight situations already.
4) potentially potent offense- don't laugh. Ware and Ford had some quality PT last year. Ware made some outstanding plays before the bowl, too- go review the Vandy game and see his catch on the semi-deep pass up the left sidelines. Guy catches like a good tight end, not a tailback. Ford showed some serious breakaway moves at times. Randle showed he could be all-SEC despite JJ's struggles, and Shep, despite all the inconsistencies, made a number of big plays. Even QB- Mett is supposed to be good, and JJ and Lee both showed they are gritty and determined, if not great statistically. JJ will fight more than most people give him credit, and Lee came off the bench like a baseball closer a few times.
5) This year. This team knows they were not pretty, and yet went 11-2. Even with no changes to schemes, they would have to think they could at least equal last year's offensive performance and stay in games; and they've learned how to win games they stay in.
6) SEC mojo with polls- the SEC champ should be in the hunt for the BCS until further notice, regardless of what else may occur. No worrying about things you can't control; win the SEC and you're in
7) Les wins bowls. Big time. His lone loss at LSU was in a marsh against a slugger-team; on fast tracks he has his team at peak performance.
8) NOLA BCS game- LSU could beat a potentially better team in the Dome. In this case, the home field does matter.

That's my arguments on why we can win. And fwiw, I can see us losing a game and still making it (maybe Bama on the road).