The blog is back just in time for the start of the football season! Check out the team-by-team preview below. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish per division. After this week, I will have a game-by-game preview leading up to the weekend, but for Week 1 I will just go with some picks:
Vandy over South Carolina tonight in the huge upset
NC State over Tennessee
Michigan State over Boise State
Auburn over Clemson
Alabama over Michigan (but closer than people think)
Virginia Tech over Georgia Tech
SEC WEST
LSU
Les Miles and the Tigers come off of a disappointing National
Championship game perhaps as an even better team. Georgia transfer Zach
Mettenberger is a far more skilled passer and overall quarterback than Jordan
Jefferson or Jarrett Lee and he will be surrounded by a pretty good group of
receivers despite the loss of Reuben Randle. The LSU backfield will again
likely be without a star but should have no shortage of depth and fresh legs to
wear down opposing defenses. Four starters return on the offensive line to go
along with former starter Josh Dworaczyk who missed last season with an injury.
Look for the offense to be greatly improved and help take some of the pressure
off a defense that lost several stars. In the secondary, gone are star corners
Tyrann Mathieu (kicked off) and Morris Claiborne (draft) along with safety
Branden Taylor. Eric Reid returns at free safety, but LSU will need guys to
step up to replace the talent and playmaking abilities that are now gone.
Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery anchor what has the potential to be the
league’s best defensive line, which should help cover mistakes in the
secondary. Expect LSU to again compete for an SEC West title and be a serious
contender to return to the national championship game.
Alabama
LSU’s main competitor in the SEC West will be the team they lost to in
the BCS National Championship. Alabama faces serious losses on both the
offensive and defensive side of the ball, but looks relatively well positioned
to replace talent with talent. Lack of experience will be the biggest challenge
for the Tide. Mark Barron, DeQuan Menzie, Dre Kirkpatick, Don’t’a Hightower,
Courtney Upshaw, and Josh Chapman all moved on, taking with them massive
amounts of talent and experience. Nick Saban’s phenomenal recruiting will be
tested this year as the Bama looks for playmakers. Defensive linemen Damion
Square and Jesse Williams will anchor a pretty good defensive line, and middle
linebacker Nico Johnson will command the field. Like LSU, losses in the secondary
may be the biggest challenge defensively for Alabama, where Robert Lester is
the only returning starter. Dee Millner must step up for the Tide to continue
their defensive dominance. On the offensive side of the ball, Alabama returns
AJ McCarron at quarterback and one of the nation’s best offensive lines.
McCarron will have to find new weapons, however, as Trent Richardson and
receivers Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks are no longer around. Eddie Lacy and TJ
Yeldon have enormous potential at running back, so if Kenny Bell or one of
several young receivers can step up to make plays, the offense should maintain
last year’s stats. I’m not as high on Alabama as most- the defensive losses
scare me- but the potential is definitely there to defend their title.
Arkansas
An offense of turmoil in Fayetteville has given way to a season of
hope. Quarterback Tyler Wilson, the SEC’s best, returns as does star running
back Knile Davis. Three of the Hogs top 4 receivers are gone, however, which
will make Wilson’s job much more difficult. Cobi Hamilton will lead an
otherwise inexperienced group who will surely see lots of targets in Paul
Patrino’s pass-happy offense. The defense returns 6 full-time starters and
several experienced backups. A deep defensive line will carry the unit, which
should be improved thanks to improved depth and experience. The losses at
receiver will certainly be a setback, but Wilson is talented enough to make the
Razorbacks a top 15 team, though I think Auburn and Mississippi State have a
chance to unseat them for 3rd place in the West.
Auburn
Gene Chizik’s Tigers return 18 starters, which should give you a pretty
good idea about the youth on last year’s squad. Despite the number of
returners, this is still a relatively young team, which will be led by a young
quarterback. Kiehl Frazier won the starting job essentially by default, with
Clint Moseley struggling through a shoulder injury all summer and fall. Auburn
needs Frazier to be league average if they hope to improve on last year’s
season. Top playmakers Onterio McCalebb, Philip Lutzenkirchen, and Emory Blake
return, but Auburn will be without top rusher Michael Dyer. Tre Mason and
Florida transfer Mike Blakely should help to ease that loss. Along the
offensive line, Auburn will be very young, but much improved from a talent
standpoint. Tackles Greg Robinson and Avery Young and center Tunde Fariyike
will start their first collegiate games against Clemson on Saturday. If and
when center Reese Dismukes returns from suspension, he should help anchor the
young line. New offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler will replace Gus Malzahn’s
spread(ish) offense with a more pro-style attack, which will lead to more
consistency, but probably fewer big plays. The defensive side of the ball will
show the greatest improvement on The Plains, as former Falcons DC Brian
VanGorder brings an attacking style to what had become a largely vanilla
defense under Ted Roof. An increase in talent and experience at almost every
position should make this the SEC’s most improved unit. Auburn is probably a
year away from competing for an SEC championship, but won’t be an easy task for
anyone this season. Auburn fill find out a lot about where they stand after the
opener against Clemson and a Week 2 game in Starkville.
Mississippi State
The boys from Starkville have improved greatly since Dan Mullen took
over, but have struggled to take the next step into SEC contention. Consistency
at quarterback has been an issue, but junior Tyler Russell looks poised to take
charge of the position and give the Dogs some stability. He returns a veteran
receiving corps, which should help, but tailback Vic Ballard will be a big
loss. LaDariaus Perkins showed potential last year and will need to realize it
in order for MSU to be competitive on offense. The defense returns 7 starters
including stud corner Jonathan Banks. A playmaker or three will need to emerge
to help replace DT Fletcher Cox and safety Charles Mitchell. Mississippi State
will be improved across the board and should move fully into SEC relevance as
Mullen continues to bring in a higher level of talent and coach them up.
Texas A&M
Before Thursday’s game with Louisiana Tech was postponed due to
Hurricane Isaac, many pundits were calling for an upset. This tells about all
that we need to know about confidence in the Aggies during their first year in
the Southeastern Conference. Texas A&M has a new coaching staff, returns
only 10 starters, and will be starting a freshman quarterback all while
adjusting to a new conference. Sure, Kevin Sumlin and company will probably win
a couple SEC games, but if they finish ahead of anyone other than Ole Miss in
the West then Sumlin deserves to be the runner-up for SEC Coach of the Year
(behind James Franklin; read on).
Ole Miss
Gone is Houston Nutt, in is the goofy looking guy from Blind Side (not
quite as goofy in real life). Outside of that, not much has changed. The
quarterback battle dragged through all of fall camp, inspiring little
confidence in either Bo Wallace or Barry Brunetti. The receiving corps is
improving and Jeff Scott returns in the backfield, but the talent level is not
there yet to even compete with SEC defenses. Though lacking in experience, the
Rebel defense offers solid potential. Hugh Freeze will have Ole Miss moving in
the right direction, and the offense will be faster paced and more
entertaining, but the Rebs will struggle to win an SEC game.
SEC East
This is the year for UGA. The schedule is great, Aaron Murray returns
as one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks, and the defense should be stifling.
Consistency and fulfilling potential have been great struggles during the last
several years of Mark Richt’s tenure in Athens. The other theme has been off
the field trouble, and this year was no different. Top running back Isaiah
Crowell is no longer with the team, and the Dogs will be without several
members of the linebacking crew and secondary for various lengths of time due
to suspension. Despite all these things, anything less than an SEC title game
appearance would be a disappointment. When not suspended, 10 starters will be
back on the defense including star linebacker Jarvis Jones. If Georgia can
weather the suspensions through the Missouri game, that unit should be fine and
all eyes will turn to the offensive line. Aaron Murray, a stable of young
runners, and an experienced wide receiver corps give Georgia solid skill
players, but the trench battle will be essential. If the unit can live up to
fall reports, Georgia should challenge for an SEC and possibly a national
title. Beware, however, of the inconsistencies.
South Carolina
Stephen Garcia is gone and South Carolina fans couldn’t be any happier.
Opposing fans, however, will yearn for his return all season. Connor Shaw takes
over full time at quarterback and Marcus Lattimore returns from injury to carry
the rock. The Gamecocks will desperately need an outside weapon to step up and
replace Alshon Jeffery and make plays when defenses inevitably stack the box
against Lattimore. Ace Sanders has the potential to be that guy. On the
defensive side of the ball, Jadeveon Clowney will be the SEC’s most dominant
defensive end, but Melvin Ingram won’t be around to draw the attention away.
South Carolina will need safety/linebacker DeVonte Holloman and defensive end
Devin Taylor to fill the playmaking void and keep pressure off an inexperienced
secondary that will be without corner Steph Gilmore for the first game in three
years. Steve Spurrier’s squad has SEC championship aspirations, but the road is
much tougher than Georgia’s. Watch out for tonight’s game in Nashville.
Vanderbilt
Here come the Commodores! James Franklin is doing amazing things with
the perennial SEC bottom feeder. Recruiting has improved and talent along with
it, and the Dores have what it takes to finish in the top 4 in the west and win
8 games. It starts tonight with a big opener with South Carolina. Vanderbilt’s
schedule is tough to start but finishes relatively easily. Zach Stacy, Warren
Norman, and Brian Kimbrow give Vandy a formidable three-headed monster at
running back, and quarterback Jordan Rodgers stabilized the position after
taking over the position full time during the middle of last season. The
defensive line should be a strength for James Franklin both in talent and
depth. At linebacker, the starters are solid enough, but depth is a concern.
Two veteran starters departed from the secondary, and replacing Casey Heyward
and Shaun Richardson will be one of the biggest obstacles to Cinderallahood for
Vanderbilt. Everyone who plays James Franklin’s squad this season should be on
upset watch.
Florida
Different year, same story for Will Muschamp’s starting quarterback-
there isn’t one. Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brisett will rotate during game one,
showing that neither has made enough of a move to really take control. Running
back is another concern for the Gators, who lack experience and high-end
talent. The defense is loaded with playmakers, but the same just cannot be said
for the O. Jon Bostic, Jelani Jenkins, Matt Elam, and Shariff Floyd can be
stars and will have to carry the team if Florida hopes to be serious
contenders. Matchups with top defenses LSU, Florida State, Georgia, and South
Carolina will prove difficult challenges the offense challenged Gators, and
road games at A&M and Vanderbilt could also be stumbling blocks.
Missouri
The SEC’s newest Tigers return only 10 starters from last year’s team,
but that number does include junior QB James Franklin who threw for over 2,800
yards last season. Senior Kendial Lawrence will join him in the backfield after
being injured most of last season. Missouri returns several experienced
receivers and will add 5 star freshman Dorial Green-Beckham to give Franklin
lots of options in the spread offense. Depth on the offensive line could be an
issue, but the starting five should be solid. The same can be said for the
linebacking corps. Overall, the defense is average at best and may be easily
worn down by the physicality of SEC play. The Tigers schedule looks difficult,
with Alabama in from the West and non-cupcake out of conference games against
Arizona State, UCF, and Syracuse. They should win all three, but amidst an SEC
schedule, that doesn’t leave much time for recovery.
Tennessee
Vols coach Derek Dooley has been on the hot seat since his arrival in
Knoxville and the pressure to win will really be on this season. Tennessee
returns its best offensive line of Dooley’s tenure and junior QB Tyler
Bray should be one of the league’s most
prolific passers if he can stay away from any further off-field trouble. Star
receiver Da’Rick Rogers was unable to do so and as a result will now be playing
his football at Tennessee Tech. Justin Hunter and JUCO transfer Cordarrelle
Patterson are left to pick up the slack and really should have no trouble doing
so. Last year UT had the worst rushing game in the league last season and that
may not change. The Volunteers will go with a running back committee, largely
due to a lack of a standout option. If Tennessee hopes to win more than 2 SEC
games, a viable rusher will need to emerge. Defense should be improved in
Knoxville, though unspectacular. A.J. Johnson is a star in the making and 8
other starters return. Off the field issues have kept the Tennessee from
developing a constant stream of talent, which will be all too evident this
fall.
Kentucky
Joker Phillips returns only 8 starters from a team that finished 8th
or worse in all relevant SEC categories last season. Heck, it might be a good
thing. Quarterback Max Smith infused some life into the offense at the end of
the year, but he will be behind an almost brand new offensive line and lined up
next to a stable of very average running backs. La’Rod King is the Wildcats’
one formidable receiver, but he won’t be able to save this offense from being unproductive.
The defense will be led by a strong defensive line but the linebackers talented
but young and inexperienced. Bud Dupree and Avery Williamson are names to watch
for as the year progresses. The secondary will be led by safety Martavius
Neloms, but will break in two new corners and is lacking in true playmakers.
Top to bottom, Kentucky simply is not in a position to be competitive with most
of the league.
