CFB teams with the toughest schedules and least returning starters in 2017

Were #9 ?? That's generous.. I was thinking top 15-16 at best right now

Well on offense LSU has 4 OL that I would consider starters from last year plus Etling, Chark, Moore at HB ,Moreau at TE, and Guice. Somehow, technical bs is keeping 3 of them from counting as returning starters, but in my book that is nine.

On defense, Thompson and Loc would have been starters except for injury and Loc has been a two year starter. White, Alexander, and Divinity all played quite a bit as did Heron,Lawrence, and big ED did as well. Gilmore, Key, Jackson, Tolliver, and Battle. So I see a team that has many quality snaps under it's belt not to mention guys like Davis, Anderson, Brumfield, Williams, Mouton, Smith, Fulton, I. Washington, Sci and others that have played.

I have always thought the returning starter stat is way overblown especially in position groups with natural rotations, RBs, WRs, TEs, and all the defensive groups.

They also don't count addition by subtraction. Where the "new" player is better than guy that started the year before.

This doesn't affect LSU this year but in computing the strength of a team for next year across all of college football, this has to affect 25% of teams at a minimum.

Looking at the schedule I really don't see us going any worse than 9-3. And I predict 10-2.

I think we beat UF cuz they lose a lot and they lucked into a win last year.

I am 50/50 with AU. They usually don't play well in BR plus they usually aren't very good when expectations are high BUT, they have a QB that fits their system and a pretty good Defense.

Ole miss has to much going against them with this NCAA stuff and the post season ban, they'll quit by the time we play them.

I guess I should put BYU as a toss up as well since they get a tune up game and it will be our first game with this new offense.

The only loss I think is certain is Bama and that's because we play in Tuscaloosa and Etling isn't the QB to beat them (I'm a HUGE Etling supporter btw, love his toughness)

A&M won't beat us until they get a new coach.

Arky isn't playing against Les Miles anymore which is all the info needed.

Tennessee loses a ton and hasn't recruited well in 2 years. Plus they have a coach that made Miles look like a sideline coaching guru.

MSU doesn't have Dak Prescott to will them to a win. Fitzgerald just isn't a game changer.

The rest are cupcakes.

Predictions

*BYU - W 24-17 (toss up?)
Chattanooga- W 56-0
@MSU - W 35-14
Syracuse - W 49-10
Troy - W 42-7
@Florida - Toss up- W 28-10
Auburn - Toss Up- L 24-28
@Ole Miss - W 35-21
@ Bama - L 21-24
Arkansas- W 35-14
@Tennessee- W 31-10
Texas A&M - W 42-10 (Aranda's Revenge!)

Edit: took this post to the SEC rant to rustle some Jimmies.

We won't lose to Auburn at home