The SEC will not win a 5th consecutive BCS title in 2010. There I said it. I can not come up with a team to beat no. 1-ranked Alabama, mind you, but someone will do so either during the regular season, in the SEC title game or in a bowl game. And no other SEC squad looks good enough to win a championship outside of the defending national champs.
The conference has become too top heavy, with Alabama and Florida becoming too dominant. Yeah some folks are excited about Arkansas and Auburn as possible sleepers out West, and Georgia may give the Gators a run for their money this season, but to me we will see Alabama and Florida meet once again in the SEC title game this December. And hopefully this year the game will go down to the wire.
Florida's ride to the Eastern crown will be much tougher this year. While I think new QB John Brantley will be fine, the offense will not bounce back to the highs of 2008. The best player on that side of the ball may well be center Mike Pouncey, with back Jeff Demps out to prove he is more than a speedster. Despite losing six starters and coordinator Charlie Strong, the Gators defense will maintain its bite.
On September 11 Georgia will travel to South Carolina for what could be the battle to determine the biggest threat to Florida's dominance. I am not buying the love for the Gamecocks this season and like Georgia to win the game and bounce back with a solid season. While the QB position is up in the air, the rest of the offense should be outstanding. While wide receiver A.J. Green justifably gets a lot of attention, other members of that unit will be earning their own national acclaim. It is on defense where the bulldogs need to improve enough to challenge Florida and new coordinator Todd Grantham--fresh from a stint as d-line coach of the Dallas Cowboys--is the man on the spot.
South Carolina is the only other team in the East with a shot at a divisional title--thanks to their 16 returning starters. That number may fall to 15 if star TE Weslye Suanders get suspended for a host of infractions. Will this be coach Steve Spurrier's last shot at glory? I believe that SC will look good against light opponents but fade against anyone that hits them in the mouth.
The remaining three SEC East squads will be hard-pressed to win enough games to be bowl-worthy, including Tennessee. Of course, there are enough easy teams on SEC schedules to squeak into a bowl game--ala Kentucky last year--so there is hope. If the Vols fall one short they will rue the day Oregon was scheduled for this September 11--unless they pull the upset.
Out West, while I am not buying the fact that Alabama is one of the best teams of all time, they still should dominate play. Thye do have to play Arkansas and LSU on the road. The Tide have a ton of offense coming back, including Heisman winner Mark Ingram, but lost a great deal on defense. The replacements all fly around the field so Alabama should be fine there. All that said, it is just not easy to repeat.
The battle for second should be a fun one and the winner should finish the season with a great shot for a high ranking. While Auburn is a trendy pick, I want to see what they can do with expectations. I am going with Arkansas and LSU to tie for second with the Hogs riding a great second half run behind quarterback Ryan Mallett. Although the passing game, with Mallett and his top five receivers returning, get the lion's share of attention, the improvement of the Razorbacks defense is what will make this team a top ten finisher.
As for LSU, the defense will be as great as always, with linebacker Kelvin Shepherd and corner Patrick Peterson leading the way. It will be the offense, of course, that will make or break this team. Can QB Jordan Jefferson continue to improve? Can multi-purpose back Russell Shepard become the next SEC offensive superstar now that he is free from quarterback duties? We will find out soon enough as the Tigers play North Carolina in Atlanta on Saturday.
Auburn slots in at no. 4 out West, but the key for the Tigers is that the program as a whole continues to improve. I just do not know if coach Gene Chizik can win 10 games. The key for the team is the play of quarterback Cam Newton, a former Florida recruit who won a juco title last year. He is expected to thrive in coach Gus Malzahn's offense, but putting up big numbers and closing out big SEC games are two different beasts. Still with eight home games, the Tigers are defintely targeting a big season.
Mississippi has a favorable early schedule and could thus build the confidence lacking last season when they disappointed. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, late of Oregon, will play a lot for a Rebels team desperate for playmakers.
The MSU Bulldogs will continue to improve under coach Dan Mullen. The goal this year is bowl eligibility and they may have to pull more than one upset to achieve it. Road games at LSU, Houston, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi will make a winning record an impressive accomplishment.
The conference has become too top heavy, with Alabama and Florida becoming too dominant. Yeah some folks are excited about Arkansas and Auburn as possible sleepers out West, and Georgia may give the Gators a run for their money this season, but to me we will see Alabama and Florida meet once again in the SEC title game this December. And hopefully this year the game will go down to the wire.
Florida's ride to the Eastern crown will be much tougher this year. While I think new QB John Brantley will be fine, the offense will not bounce back to the highs of 2008. The best player on that side of the ball may well be center Mike Pouncey, with back Jeff Demps out to prove he is more than a speedster. Despite losing six starters and coordinator Charlie Strong, the Gators defense will maintain its bite.
On September 11 Georgia will travel to South Carolina for what could be the battle to determine the biggest threat to Florida's dominance. I am not buying the love for the Gamecocks this season and like Georgia to win the game and bounce back with a solid season. While the QB position is up in the air, the rest of the offense should be outstanding. While wide receiver A.J. Green justifably gets a lot of attention, other members of that unit will be earning their own national acclaim. It is on defense where the bulldogs need to improve enough to challenge Florida and new coordinator Todd Grantham--fresh from a stint as d-line coach of the Dallas Cowboys--is the man on the spot.
South Carolina is the only other team in the East with a shot at a divisional title--thanks to their 16 returning starters. That number may fall to 15 if star TE Weslye Suanders get suspended for a host of infractions. Will this be coach Steve Spurrier's last shot at glory? I believe that SC will look good against light opponents but fade against anyone that hits them in the mouth.
The remaining three SEC East squads will be hard-pressed to win enough games to be bowl-worthy, including Tennessee. Of course, there are enough easy teams on SEC schedules to squeak into a bowl game--ala Kentucky last year--so there is hope. If the Vols fall one short they will rue the day Oregon was scheduled for this September 11--unless they pull the upset.
Out West, while I am not buying the fact that Alabama is one of the best teams of all time, they still should dominate play. Thye do have to play Arkansas and LSU on the road. The Tide have a ton of offense coming back, including Heisman winner Mark Ingram, but lost a great deal on defense. The replacements all fly around the field so Alabama should be fine there. All that said, it is just not easy to repeat.
The battle for second should be a fun one and the winner should finish the season with a great shot for a high ranking. While Auburn is a trendy pick, I want to see what they can do with expectations. I am going with Arkansas and LSU to tie for second with the Hogs riding a great second half run behind quarterback Ryan Mallett. Although the passing game, with Mallett and his top five receivers returning, get the lion's share of attention, the improvement of the Razorbacks defense is what will make this team a top ten finisher.
As for LSU, the defense will be as great as always, with linebacker Kelvin Shepherd and corner Patrick Peterson leading the way. It will be the offense, of course, that will make or break this team. Can QB Jordan Jefferson continue to improve? Can multi-purpose back Russell Shepard become the next SEC offensive superstar now that he is free from quarterback duties? We will find out soon enough as the Tigers play North Carolina in Atlanta on Saturday.
Auburn slots in at no. 4 out West, but the key for the Tigers is that the program as a whole continues to improve. I just do not know if coach Gene Chizik can win 10 games. The key for the team is the play of quarterback Cam Newton, a former Florida recruit who won a juco title last year. He is expected to thrive in coach Gus Malzahn's offense, but putting up big numbers and closing out big SEC games are two different beasts. Still with eight home games, the Tigers are defintely targeting a big season.
Mississippi has a favorable early schedule and could thus build the confidence lacking last season when they disappointed. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, late of Oregon, will play a lot for a Rebels team desperate for playmakers.
The MSU Bulldogs will continue to improve under coach Dan Mullen. The goal this year is bowl eligibility and they may have to pull more than one upset to achieve it. Road games at LSU, Houston, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi will make a winning record an impressive accomplishment.
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