-Southeastern Conference-
Predicted Finish
WEST
1)LSU
I think LSU will be just as good as last year's team and could be better if they get decent Quarterback play. The defense will be stacked and getting Alabama at home is why I have them at #1.
2)Alabama
Alabama will be good but when you read off the names that this team loses on defense it's hard not to think there will be some drop off. The Tide can win every game but I just don't see it happening.
3)Arkansas
I really want to put Arkansas ahead of Alabama but with a new coach I just cant do it. QB Tyler Wilson and RB Knile Davis will be at the helm of the league's best offense but I will keep them at #3 for now.
4)Auburn
Auburn returns 15 starters and should be good but finishing this high will depend on the offense clicking with QB Kiehl Frazier. I'll admit some of the reason I like Auburn is Frazier's resemblance, if only in appearance, to Cam Newton.
5)Texas A&M
I think they have talent to compete in the SEC but nothing tells me they will be better than last year when they won just 7 games.
6)Mississippi St
7)Ole Miss
EAST
1)Georgia
They return their QB, RB, top 2 receivers, 9 defensive starters and oh, don't have to play LSU, Alabama and Arkansas. That would sum up why they are my favorite to win the East division.
2)South Carolina
I'm not in love with the offense but I do think RB Marcus Lattimore has what it takes to carry the offense while the very good defense carries it through the season.
3)Tennessee
Probably a stretch but having them at #3 is based on me thinking Tyler Bray is going to be a really good QB and that the defense will be pretty good.
4)Florida
If Florida drops as low as I have them, people in Gainesville wont be happy. They return 17 starters and hope to actually be able to move the ball on offense this year. Many people have the Gators as a top 15 team but I dont see it.
5)Vanderbilt
I have Vandy in front of Missouri as I think coach James Franklin along with 15 returners will put this team in good position.
6)Missouri
7)Kentucky
-Player of the Year-
QB, Aaron Murray, Georgia
-Best Conference Games-
Florida vs. Georgia, Oct 27th
Tennessee @ South Carolina, Oct 27th
Alabama @ LSU, Nov 3rd
LSU @ Arkansas, Nov 23rd
Showing posts with label SEC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SEC. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
2011 NCAA Conference Previews Part 10
-Southeastern Conference-
Predicted Finish
-West-
1.Alabama
-Alabama, the #2 ranked team in the country, leads the pack in the tough West division of the SEC. Winning this conference means earning a spot in the national championship and I see the Crimson Tide doing just that. They will have to break in a new quarterback but this team isn't that different from the 2009 team that won the title. The defense returns 10 starters and the offense gets back Heisman hopeful running back Trent Richardson behind 4 O-line starters from last year. The schedule is not as bad as it could be as they get both Arkansas and LSU at home in Tuscaloosa.
2.LSU
-There is uncertainty around QB Jordan Jefferson and athlete Russell Shepherd but that is not enough to keep me from picking them to finish 2nd. While I don't think they have enough offense to beat Alabama, the defense should carry them in SEC play.
3.Arkansas
-If 2010 SEC rushing leader Knile Davis was around for this season, I would have this team in the #2 spot but his season ending inury in fall camp changes things. I don't think they can win this conference but they will be a very good team who can shake things up. QB Ryan Mallett is now in the NFL, but Tyler Wilson could be a rising star with receivers like Greg Childs, Jairus Wright, and Joe Adams to throw to. The return of 8 defenders is a positive sign for this years team as well.
4.Mississippi St.
-Mississippi St. is slotted in the 4th spot but that doesn't mean this team isnt about to be really good this year. The fact that the Bulldogs are the 2oth ranked team nationally,but still not ranked as high as Alabama, LSU or Arkansas, shows how tough the SEC west will be. The offense will be in good shape led by QB Chris Relf and RB Vic Ballard and 7 other returning starters on that side of the ball. The defense should be stout with 7 players back and the schedule brings LSU and Alabama to Mississippi St.
5.Auburn
-Auburn is ranked in the preseason Top 25 but do not expect them to stay there. The defending National Champions will have a hard time competing in the SEC without players like Heisman winning QB Cam Newton and D-End Nick Fairley. The running back corps has talent but replacing 4 starters on the offensive line doesn't help. The schedule doesn't do this team any favors either as the Tigers are sent on the road to play South Carolina, Arkansas, and LSU.
6.Ole Miss
-The offensive line and running backs will be the strength of this team but it won't matter much with a new QB and only 4 starters returning to a bad defense.
-East-
1.South Carolina
-The Steve Spurrier led Gamecocks should be the favorite in the SEC East thanks to a cast of good players returning. Veteran QB Stephen Garcia returns as does star WR Alshon Jeffrey and RB Marcus Lattimore, who is coming off a stellar freshman season. If the defense can be decent, this team will finish ahead of Georgia and Florida.
2.Georgia
-This slot for Georgia has just as much to do with the team as it does the schedule. While the Bulldogs don't have a ton of talent, they benefit from avoiding games against Alabama, Arkansas and LSU and getting South Carolina at home. If returning QB Aaron Murray can play well, this team can realistically finish in the top 2 of the SEC East.
3.Florida
-The reason Florida is not higher is not only are they breaking a new coaching staff but only 10 starters total return from last years team that wasn't all that great. It will be interesting to see the impact coordinator Charlie Weiss has on QB John Brantley, RB Chris Rainey and the rest of the offense. This team does not avoid Alabama as Georgia does and they will have to play LSU and South Carolina on the road.
4.Tennessee
-The young players that went through their growing pains last season will now have the advantage of game experience on their side. QB Tyler Bray and RB Tauren Poole will be good and so will an O-line who returns 4 starters. The Vols won't yet be as good as they can be with this young talent but they will take a step in the right direction.
5.Kentucky
-2nd year Head Coach Joker Phillips loses a lot of offensive talent but he will hope the 11 defensive starters that return can carry the team early and help the Wildcats make the postseason.
6.Vanderbilt
-19 starters come back from the 2010 team but don't expect this team to move from the bottom of the SEC. The Commodores will just hope for improvement.
-Player of the Year-
RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
-Best Conference Games-
South Carolina @ Georgia, Sept 10th
LSU @ Mississippi St, Sept 15th
LSU @ Alabama, Nov 5th
Alabama @ Mississippi St, Nov 12th
Arkansas @ LSU, Nov 25th
Predicted Finish
-West-
1.Alabama
-Alabama, the #2 ranked team in the country, leads the pack in the tough West division of the SEC. Winning this conference means earning a spot in the national championship and I see the Crimson Tide doing just that. They will have to break in a new quarterback but this team isn't that different from the 2009 team that won the title. The defense returns 10 starters and the offense gets back Heisman hopeful running back Trent Richardson behind 4 O-line starters from last year. The schedule is not as bad as it could be as they get both Arkansas and LSU at home in Tuscaloosa.
2.LSU
-There is uncertainty around QB Jordan Jefferson and athlete Russell Shepherd but that is not enough to keep me from picking them to finish 2nd. While I don't think they have enough offense to beat Alabama, the defense should carry them in SEC play.
3.Arkansas
-If 2010 SEC rushing leader Knile Davis was around for this season, I would have this team in the #2 spot but his season ending inury in fall camp changes things. I don't think they can win this conference but they will be a very good team who can shake things up. QB Ryan Mallett is now in the NFL, but Tyler Wilson could be a rising star with receivers like Greg Childs, Jairus Wright, and Joe Adams to throw to. The return of 8 defenders is a positive sign for this years team as well.
4.Mississippi St.
-Mississippi St. is slotted in the 4th spot but that doesn't mean this team isnt about to be really good this year. The fact that the Bulldogs are the 2oth ranked team nationally,but still not ranked as high as Alabama, LSU or Arkansas, shows how tough the SEC west will be. The offense will be in good shape led by QB Chris Relf and RB Vic Ballard and 7 other returning starters on that side of the ball. The defense should be stout with 7 players back and the schedule brings LSU and Alabama to Mississippi St.
5.Auburn
-Auburn is ranked in the preseason Top 25 but do not expect them to stay there. The defending National Champions will have a hard time competing in the SEC without players like Heisman winning QB Cam Newton and D-End Nick Fairley. The running back corps has talent but replacing 4 starters on the offensive line doesn't help. The schedule doesn't do this team any favors either as the Tigers are sent on the road to play South Carolina, Arkansas, and LSU.
6.Ole Miss
-The offensive line and running backs will be the strength of this team but it won't matter much with a new QB and only 4 starters returning to a bad defense.
-East-
1.South Carolina
-The Steve Spurrier led Gamecocks should be the favorite in the SEC East thanks to a cast of good players returning. Veteran QB Stephen Garcia returns as does star WR Alshon Jeffrey and RB Marcus Lattimore, who is coming off a stellar freshman season. If the defense can be decent, this team will finish ahead of Georgia and Florida.
2.Georgia
-This slot for Georgia has just as much to do with the team as it does the schedule. While the Bulldogs don't have a ton of talent, they benefit from avoiding games against Alabama, Arkansas and LSU and getting South Carolina at home. If returning QB Aaron Murray can play well, this team can realistically finish in the top 2 of the SEC East.
3.Florida
-The reason Florida is not higher is not only are they breaking a new coaching staff but only 10 starters total return from last years team that wasn't all that great. It will be interesting to see the impact coordinator Charlie Weiss has on QB John Brantley, RB Chris Rainey and the rest of the offense. This team does not avoid Alabama as Georgia does and they will have to play LSU and South Carolina on the road.
4.Tennessee
-The young players that went through their growing pains last season will now have the advantage of game experience on their side. QB Tyler Bray and RB Tauren Poole will be good and so will an O-line who returns 4 starters. The Vols won't yet be as good as they can be with this young talent but they will take a step in the right direction.
5.Kentucky
-2nd year Head Coach Joker Phillips loses a lot of offensive talent but he will hope the 11 defensive starters that return can carry the team early and help the Wildcats make the postseason.
6.Vanderbilt
-19 starters come back from the 2010 team but don't expect this team to move from the bottom of the SEC. The Commodores will just hope for improvement.
-Player of the Year-
RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
-Best Conference Games-
South Carolina @ Georgia, Sept 10th
LSU @ Mississippi St, Sept 15th
LSU @ Alabama, Nov 5th
Alabama @ Mississippi St, Nov 12th
Arkansas @ LSU, Nov 25th
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
NCAA Football Conference Previews Part 8
-Southeast Conference-
Predicted Finish
-East-
1.Florida
The Gators lose great QB Tim Tebow and 5 starters from each offense and defense but don't be surprised to see this team win the East division. Coach Urban Meyer will have this team ready and there is always enough great talent at Florida to win. QB Jon Brantley won't be Tim Tebow but he will surely enjoy success.
2.Georgia
10 starters returning on offense looks good for this squad and a good year is possible if the defense fills its holes and the quarterback play isn't bad. I dont see this team, however, challenging Florida.
3.South Carolina
The quarterback carousel will probably continue as the Gamecock have another 7-9 win season. Nothing great, but a decent year and a bowl.
4.Tennessee
Not gonna be a great year for the Vols but has the talent to surprise a few teams.
5.Kentucky
Will be a decent team this season but all everything Randall Cobb should be exciting to watch.
6.Vanderbilt
Predicting a last place finish for this team is not a stretch at all.
-West-
1.Alabama
Call me crazy but i am not as comfortable with this pick as you might think. They return 8 offensive starters including QB Greg McElroy and Heisman winner Mark Ingram along with WR Julio Jones but only 2 defensive starters return. This team will not finish the regular season with more than two losses but will replacing 9 guys on defense and Mark Ingram's knee injury hold this team back? The last game against Auburn might decide this division.
2.Auburn
I really like this team, in part because of the 15 returning starters and a schedule that leaves off Florida and has only one daunting road game. Gene Chizik should have this team contending for the top spot in this division as i can't see the Tigers not finishing in the top 3. Look out out for juco transfer QB Cam Newton.
3.Arkansas
Ryan Mallet has been receiving a lot of hype and he has the huge arm to make things happen this year. With 16 other returning starters surrounding Mallet, this team should also not fall any further than 3rd in this division. With an explosive offense, the key to success will be the defense and its ability to improve from last year. The reason i have this team at 3rd instead of maybe 2nd: they play Auburn on the road October 16th.
4.LSU
With only 9 returning starters and , i don't think this team will live up to it's top 20 preseason ranking. I can see this team losing 3 or 4 conference games.
5.Ole Miss
Also returning only 9 starters, the Rebels won't be great and transfer QB Jeremiah Masoli not being able to play this year wont help. Winning seven games shouldn't be a problem and an eight win season isn't out of reach.
6.Mississippi State
Winning 6 games and making it to a bowl is probably out of reach for this team.
-Player of the Year-
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
This was a tough one and i decided to go with Mallett who should put up huge numbers on a team that challenges for the top spot.
-Must See Games-
Alabama @ Arkansas, Sept 25th
Florida @ Alabama, Oct 2nd
Arkansas @ Auburn, Oct 16th
Florida vs. Georgia, Oct 30th
Auburn @ Alabama, Nov 26th
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