 There really is only one part of the SEC that'll be easy to predict, so I'll start with that. In 2005 the SEC had 6 bowl eligable teams, in 2006 8, and last year, 2007, they had 10 bowl eligable teams (with only South Carolina being snubbed from actually going bowling). Remember, the SEC only has 12 teams. The only two teams not to qualify for a bowl these past three years is Mississippi and Vanderbilt.
Some are predicting a banner year out of Houston Nutt and the Rebels. Fie on them. I only see four wins for them this season, all at home (Memphis, Samford, Vanderbilt, ULM). Since I have them beating Vandy you'll imagine my confidence in them placing last in the SEC East (or any conference for that matter), is pretty high. In fact if Vanderbilt does win 1 game this season it'll be against Duke during homecoming....which they won't win because Duke is much improved this year, I say this light heartedly folks don't get your guns out.
Back to the west though, Auburn. That's it. Heck with 16 returning starters, 9 on the all important offense, and we know that Auburn, and the SEC as a whole, always has defensive talent up to their ears just waiting their turn, I'm willing to give Auburn an early national title nod (note I usually give at least 5 nods). We all know, though, that being good is never enough, especially in college football. No worries there, Auburn has drawn one hell of a schedule. Their only road test will be at Alabama (sorry Big East, still no respect I know), and their only tests of the season could end up being LSU and Georgia. That's right folks, no Florida, no SC, and LSU and Georgia at home, smells like an SEC title to me (more on that in a bit).The rest of the West is in rebuilding mode with no team returning more than 13 starters and Arkansas only bringing back 11. Standings fall with LSU finishing second, even in a rebuilding year they've built up a good enough program that we can almost call them in the reloading realm. After them bunched up will be Alabama, Mississippi St, and then Arkansas. I think only Arkansas and Mississippi will not be bowl elligeable in the West. The East. What to do, what to do? I'll go ahead and do it, Bulldogs for the win in the East. I'm picking them for an odd reason, and a semi biased reason, their schedule. I know a quick glance would say the Florida has the edge here but I really don't think so. For one, Florida faces the hungry, and far more talented teams. The Florida-FSU rivalry hasn't been such the past 4 years with Florida taking all of them, but it's always a tough emotional game, and one the Gator players circle on their calendar every year, and they usually schedule someone like the Citadel the game before cause they know their players are peaking ahead, but it's still emotional game. The Hurricanes provide an even bigger threat. For one, the Gators haven't beaten them since before I was born (1985), a stat I'm quite proud of (and all Hurricane fans should know). Two, the Hurricanes have more talent, a second year coach with his system building, and a hunger to be back on the national stage. If not a win the Canes could probably at least rattle the Gators before their road trip to Tennessee. I think, after all that, the Gators will finish neck and neck with the Bulldogs come November 1st (mark that date on your calendars right now) when they meet up in Jacksonville for what could be the game of the year...again...damn SEC. Georgia is the better team, and they'll win. Unfortunately they'll have gone through one hell of a season and trip up in the title game to a well rested and undaunted Auburn team. Some might think the Bulldogs would battle ready, having faced tougher opponents than Auburn and thus be better prepared for the game, unfortunately finishing the season against Georgia Tech isn't helping matters for the Bulldogs and their emotions should be spent at that point. Will their hunger be enough? No, but if it is they can beat Auburn, if it is. The rest of the East sort of drops off the map here. South Carolina is still not there yet, but i think 2 years from now the old ball coach will be gunning for another national title, but this year he'll have to settle for an Outback or Cotton Bowl invitation. Kentucky lost their entire offense, okay just their QB and RB, oh and 3 of their top 4 recievers, okay yeah, the whole damn offense. They'll still finish ahead of Tennessee, though just barely, and only because I think Tennessee has it coming. Oh, and Vanderbilt. So there you have it, Auburn over Georgia in an SEC title matchup for the ages. I'm gonna put my money on over 40 as Auburn wins 24-19 in the second most exciting game of the year, behind the Georgia-Florida matchup. |
