By Russell V.
SouthernPigskin.com

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Appalachian State and Georgia Southern are ineligible for postseason play, meaning it should be an entertaining regular season in the SoCon.

nKnow what makes college football so great? Its unpredictability. The fact that any team can beat any other on any given Saturday. Knowing going into every Saturday in the fall that we have no idea what exactly will happen.

nIn honor of that, and inspired by a similar article by co-worker and good friend Matt Osborne, I give you five bold predictions for the Southern Conference in the 2013 season. Do I think all of these things will happen? No, none of these are guarantees. Heck, these will be far from guarantees. But letxe2x80x99s just say I wonxe2x80x99t be shocked if any or all of these things happen.

n1. Georgia Southern will struggle this season

nWell, struggle when compared to its recent success at least. Offensively, the team is more than fine and set to continue its high scoring ways. Itxe2x80x99s the defense that should make fans a little bit nervous. They ranked fourth in the conference last season and lose a lot of talent, including Brent Russell, JJ Wilcox, Darius Eubanks, Dion DuBose and John Stevenson. Georgia Southern has had some great recruiting classes in recent years, but itxe2x80x99s very difficult to lose that much skill on defense and not suffer a setback. Ultimately, that will cost the Eagles a game or two in the season.

n2. Appalachian State receiver Sean Price will put up Aaron Mellette-type numbers

nAnd what exactly do I mean by Aaron Mellette-type numbers? Ixe2x80x99m expecting a season of triple-digit catches, 1,200+ receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns. Pricexe2x80x99s freshman campaign was quite impressive: 81 catches, just under 1,196 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The question becomes can Price avoid a sophomore slump in 2013? Have defenses figured out a way to slow him down? Ixe2x80x99m going to say no.

n3. The Citadel will at least match the success it had last season

nThe Bulldogs shocked everyone with their success last season, jumping from the bottom of the conference to a 7-4 record (including 5-3 in conference play) and just missing out on a playoff spot.xc2xa0 What is scary is that The Citadel returns most of its key players and stands to improve on last yearxe2x80x99s record. Just think about this: the team returns quarterbacks Ben Dupree and Aaron Miller, leading rusher Darien Robinson, leading tackler Carson Smith and played most of last season with injuries galore on defense.

n4. Wofford will not miss a beat without Eric Breitenstein

nOk, so maybe this isnxe2x80x99t going too far out on a limb. After all, no team in the conference reloads better than the Terriers. Though the record-setting Breitenstein is gone, Wofford does return quarterbacks Michael Weimer and James Lawson, who both saw playing time last season, as well as backs Donovan Johnson (who had the second-highest rushing total on the team in 2012), Cam Flowers and Ray Smith, among others. Oh, and did I mention that Alvin Scioneuax returns to lead the SoConxe2x80x99s top defense from a year ago? The Terriers will be fine.

n5. At least one of the following teams will make the playoffs: The Citadel, Chattanooga, Samford

nIt does help a lot that Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are ineligible for the postseason, thanks to their move to the Sun Belt next year, but at least one of the aforementioned teams will find themselves playing in the FCS playoffs. Ixe2x80x99ve already talked about how good The Citadel will be next season. The Mocs have been on the cusp of the postseason seemingly since Russ Huesman took over. With Jacob Huesman, Terrell Robinson and conference co-Defensive Player of the Year Davis Tull returning, Chattanooga remains a dangerous threat to whoever they line up against. And then there is Samford, led by do-everything receiver Kelsey Pope and defenders Jaquiski Tartt (who led the conference in interceptions and passed defended a year ago) and Justin Shade. With their lockdown defense, it is dumb to ever count out the Bulldogs.