College Football Preview: SEC Conference

By Andrew Musur on September 30, 2015

We are on to our second to last conference review. The big, bad Southeastern Conference is up to bat, and I think we may hit this one out of the park.

The SEC was most notorious for their seven straight national title runs. This run came to an end when Jameis Winston and his Seminoles took down the Auburn Tigers. The SEC had a lot of hype coming into this season, so let’s take a look.

East Division

No. 1 Georgia

2014 Record: 10-3 (6-2)

2015 Prediction: 10-3 (6-2)

Here’s the thing about Georgia, we won’t have any idea what the Bulldogs are made of until their week five meeting against Alabama. Up until that point the Bulldogs will have played UL Monroe, Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Southern, not quite powerhouses.

Besides the Alabama game Georgia only has two meetings with ranked opponents remaining, and they have a realistic shot of making a deep run this year. However, the Bulldogs can only go as far as their running game takes them.

The world met halfback Nick Chubb last season when the freshman busted onto the scene in replace of Todd Gurley. Chubb was a monster last season running for more than 1,500 yards on 219 carries, scoring 14 touchdowns. As a freshman, Chubb, averaged more than seven yards a carry.

And the best news for Georgia fans is that Chubb hasn’t slowed his production this season. The Georgia native is averaging 8.4 yards a carry running for nearly 500 yards in three games.

The Bulldogs’ meeting with the Crimson Tide will be crucial in telling how far this Georgia team can go, because win that and the sky is the limit.

No. 2 Tennessee

2014 Record: 7-6 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

Tennessee is a team that got a lot of love from preseason polls. The hype train was real for the Volunteers, but the conductor quickly hit the brakes when Oklahoma came to town. The Volunteers had the game in hand, until the unthinkable happened. The Sooners hung around and knocked off Tennessee in double overtime.

Although the early upset was heartbreaking for Tennessee fans, there are still plenty of reasons to have faith in this team. There is no doubt that Josh Dobbs is the leader of this team. Dobbs is a junior from Georgia. The 6-foot-3 gunslinger has thrown for 474 yards and five touchdowns this season.

Dobbs has to stay healthy if the Volunteers want even the slightest chance to compete for a SEC championship. On the other side of the ball Tennessee is dripping with talent on their defensive line. The Volunteer line combined for 21 sacks last season, and guess what? They are even better this season. Although I think the Volunteers are still a couple of years away from competing at the national level, they are heading in the right direction.

No. 3 Florida

2014 Record: 7-5 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (5-3)

It feels like forever since the Florida Gators were at the top of the college football world. This year may not be the year Florida returns to that level, but it will still be a good one for Gator fans.

Besides a stretch of games against four ranked opponents, Florida controls their own destiny. Florida’s strongest part of their team is on the defensive side of the ball. The Gators have one of the best secondaries in the country. Two-time all-SEC cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is the leader of the defense.

The junior already has two interceptions and eight tackles on the year. If Florida can keep their opponents from putting up points, they should be able to pull off some unexpected wins.

No. 4 Missouri

2014 Record: 11-3 (7-1)

2015 Prediction: 7-5 (3-4)

Missouri has been the biggest surprise in the SEC East division over the past couple of years. However, the Tigers have struggled to get off to that start they expected. Missouri beat Arkansas State on the road by seven and then beat a lowly UConn team 9-6.

The good news for Tiger fans is their next three games are not the worst thing in the world. Missouri travels to Kentucky this week then hosts South Carolina and Florida. Missouri will have to figure out how to score if they hope to take down the better SEC teams.

No. 5 South Carolina

2014 Record: 7-6 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 6-6 (2-6)

Many say this may be the last season that coach Steve Spurrier has a job at South Carolina. Spurrier hasn’t been terrible during his tenure with the Gamecocks, but he has been sub-par.

South Carolina started this season 1-2 losing their first two SEC games against Kentucky and Georgia. The offense is led by All-SEC first-teamer, Pharoh Cooper. Cooper is a junior wide receiver drowning in potential. The North Carolina native caught more than 1,000 yards last season and nine touchdowns.

Through the first three games of this season Cooper has snagged 13 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. If Spurrier can incorporate Cooper in the offense more, South Carolina might be able to avoid a losing season.

No. 6 Kentucky

2014 Record: 5-7 (2-6)

2015 Prediction: 6-6 (2-5)

Former four-star quarterback Patrick Towles has been extremely underwhelming during the start of this season. Towles has only completed 51.7 percent of his passes. And his touchdown to interception ratio is a measly 3:4.

In Kentucky’s biggest game thus far, Towles completed a lowly 33.3 percent of his passes and threw two interceptions against Florida. The Kentucky native is going have to get his act together if the Wildcats hope to surprise anyone. If Towles can’t get it done, I’m sure coach Mark Stoops will have no problem turning to second string quarterback, Drew Barker.

No. 7 Vanderbilt

2014 Record: 3-9 (0-8)

2015 Prediction: 2-10 (0-8)

Vanderbilt has been one of the worst teams in all of college football over the past couple of years. Commodore fans shouldn’t get too excited for this upcoming season, because it looks like it will be yet another winless campaign in the SEC.

The only positive for the Vanderbilt team is their quarterback, Johnny McCrary. McCrary has thrown for 880 yards and four touchdowns this season. The Georgia native has struggled with accuracy at times completing under 60 percent of his passes along with five interceptions.

But McCrary is just a sophomore, so hopefully a little consistency under center will help out the Commodores.

West Division 

No. 1 Alabama

2014 Record: 12-1 (7-1)

2015 Prediction: 12-1 (7-1)

Boy, did the world explode when Ole Miss took down Alabama in week three. The Crimson Tide lost by six on their home turf to the Rebels for the second consecutive year. Although the Tide was beaten, I still have them coming out of the West Division–a division that is so loaded with talent, that at one point this season all seven teams were ranked.

Lucky for Bama they only have three more ranked teams on their schedule, and none of those games happen in consecutive weeks. The best player on this Alabama team is hands down running back Derrick Henry. Henry has carried the ball 54 times this season logging 370 yards and a whopping seven touchdowns.

The Florida native will be on plenty of Heisman ballots by the end of this year. If Henry can provide the Tide with a solid running game, there will be a lot less pressure on quarterback Jake Coker. The Tide did show their weaknesses against Ole Miss, but I think Saban will learn from those and lead his team to another impressive season.

No. 2 Ole Miss

2014 Record: 9-4 (5-3)

2015 Record: 10-2 (6-2)

Ole Miss may have one of the easiest remaining SEC schedules. The Rebels don’t play another ranked team until they host #14 Texas A&M on October 24. Chad Kelly has been a key piece of this Ole Miss offense. Kelly has thrown for nearly 900 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

The New York native has been shredding defenses all season; just take a look at his numbers against Alabama: 341 yards, three touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Chad Kelly is the real deal. Lucky for Kelly he has stud receiver Laquon Treadwell healthy for this season.

Treadwell has caught a team high 14 passes for a buck ninety-seven and a touchdown. If Kelly can continue to pick apart defense, the Rebels should have no problem competing for a conference championship.

No. 3 LSU

2014 Record: 8-5 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 9-3 (5-3)

Death Valley is where the Hesiman trophy will end up when this season is all wrapped up. The Tigers are led by sophomore tailback, Leonard Fournette. Fournette has been an animal in the two games LSU has played this season. The Louisiana native put up 159 yards on 28 carries and scored a touchdown in the Tigers’ first game of the season on the road at Mississippi State.

Fournette followed up that big performance with an even bigger performance. The 6-foot-1 halfback put up 228 yards and scored three touchdowns in a blowout of Auburn. Fournette is the key to the Tigers’ success; he has to have huge game after huge game if LSU hopes to be in the SEC title race.

No. 4 Texas A&M

2014 Record: 8-5 (3-5)

2015 Prediction: 8-4 (4-4)

Texas A&M started off this year with a statement win over then-top 15 ranked, Arizona State. The Aggies are 3-0 thus far, and have really shown A&M fans they could be for real this season.

Sophomore quarterback Kyle Allen followed up his 1,000 yard passing campaign last season, with some strong numbers. Through three games Allen has completed 43 passes for 594 yards and nine touchdowns. Allen has also shown some promise on the ground running for a pair of touchdowns and 66 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball watch out for defensive end Myles Garrett. Garrett racked up 11.5 sacks during his freshman year. This year the Texas native has already recorded 5.5 sacks and 16 tackles. Garrett is scary good and can be a huge game changer for the Aggies.

No. 5 Auburn 

2014 Record: 8-5 (4-4)

2015 Prediction: 7-5 (3-5)

Auburn was one of the most hyped up teams coming into this season, but I am glad I never bought into the Tiger hype. The Tigers fended off Louisville in week one by seven points and barely survived an overtime scare from FCS Jacksonville State. This all happened before LSU thumped Auburn by 24 in Death Valley.

Quarterback Jeremy Johnson has been extremely disappointing especially to a fan base that expected so much out of him. Johnson completed under 60 percent of his passes and has a touchdown to interception ratio of 5:6.

The Alabama native was benched in favor for quarterback Sean White for the Tigers’ upcoming battle against Mississippi State. I don’t see Auburn finishing in the top half of the West, but hey, crazier things have happened.

No. 6 Arkansas 

2014 Record: 7-6 (2-6)

2015 Prediction: 7-5 (3-5)

Bret Bielema is a coach that talks a ton of trash, but as of late he has yet to back up that talk. Bielema’s Razorbacks went down to Toledo in week two as they lost 16-12. Arkansas put up a whole 12 points against Toledo! And people thought the Razorbacks could compete for a SEC title.

In week two, Arkansas lost by 11 to Texas Tech. Although Arkansas is already 1-2, they have seen some promise from their senior quarterback, Brandon Allen. Allen has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns.

The Arkansas native may have to put up even better numbers if the Razorbacks want to win some games. With another five ranked teams left on Arkansas’ schedule, it will be a real rough year for Razorback fans.

No. 7 Mississippi State

2014 Record: 10-4 (6-3)

2015 Prediction: 7-5 (3-5)

Senior quarterback Dak Prescott is back for another year. Prescott has been huge this season throwing for 800 yards and five touchdowns. Bulldog fans have been expecting a ton out of Prescott after he exploded on the scene during his junior season.

Mississippi State has a chance to make some noise, but in their first ranked match-up of the season they fell to LSU. The good thing for the Bulldogs is they still have four more ranked opponents on their schedule, so there is plenty of time to make some noise.

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