2005 SEC Preview

Once again, the SEC is one of the strongest conferences in the nation this season. Up to six teams could win the conference this year: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee.We’ll start with the SEC West Division.

#1 LSU

Anyone who knows the SEC knows that the Tigers are the most talented team in the conference. They only lose five starters from last year and have three running backs that would start for most teams in the country. Their main questions come at head coach and quarterback. Those are two very important areas to have questions about so we’ll examine them carefully. Les Miles comes from Oklahoma St. and replaces Nick Saban at LSU. This is the first “big time” college that he has been the head coach of and everyone wants to know how he’ll adjust. The good news is that he’ll have excellent help with Jimbo Fisher returning at offensive coordinator and Bo Pellini from Oklahoma coming to coordinate the defense. On to the quarterbacks. There are three quarterbacks gunning for the top spot this season: Jamarcus Russell, Matt Flynn, and highly touted Ryan Perrilloux. JaMarcus Russell has to be the favorite going into the season because of all his playing experience from last year. But Perrilloux, the #1 rated quarterback coming out of high school, came to LSU for one reason over Texas: immediate playing time. Miles will have to massage many egos to make this situation work. Their schedule is a HUGE plus this season; Arizona St., Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn all come to Death Valley this year. Their only difficult away game is at Alabama. This should help them smooth out the bumps.

SEC Prediction: 7-1

#2 Alabama

Alabama only finished 6-6 last year, so many people may not be thinking about them this season. They lost their entire starting backfield last season to injury (QB- Croyle, RB- Darby, FB- Castille), and their all back this season. They return nine starters from last year’s top 5 defense. I would have them winning the division but they have almost no depth because of probation and I still think LSU is better. Their schedule is favorable because Florida, Tennessee, and LSU all come to town. They travel to Auburn but I think they will win that game.

SEC Prediction: 6-2

#3 Auburn

This may seem a little low for some people but this is not the only 12 starters from last year’s champion team. They will start a new quarterback, new running backs, three defensive lineman, and two defensive backs. Some bright spots include Marcus McNeill, who some consider to be the best tackle in the country, returning for his senior season. Auburn’s offensive line should be strong. They also return all three starting linebackers. Auburn’s SEC schedule isn’t that hard this year as they don’t draw Tennessee or Florida. However, they have to travel to LSU and Georgia. They finish up with a tough game against Alabama at home.

SEC Prediction: 5-3

#4 Arkansas

Arkansas had a rough season last year only finishing 5-6. They only returned four starters but did have Matt Jones. This year they return sixteen starters and should fare better, but not enough to win the division. Houston Nutt is one of the best and should make a strong showing this year. Like Auburn, they don’t play Tennessee or Florida this year but do travel to Georgia, Alabama, and LSU.

SEC Prediction: 4-4

#5 Mississippi State

Sylvester Croom was a feel good story last year. They helped fire Ron Zook by beating Florida. They return sixteen starters from last year and should be a little better. However, they were awful last year so that doesn’t mean much. They do have one of the best running backs in the conference in Jerious Norwood. I could tell you about their schedule but what’s the point? Two games to keep your eyes on: Oct. 8 at Florida, in which the Gators will try to exact some revenge, and the annual Egg Bowl at home against Ole Miss, which will decide who sleeps in the basement of the SEC West this year.

SEC Prediction: 2-6

#6 Ole Miss

I’m going to go ahead and say that I was disappointed by the firing of David Cutcliffe. He had one bad season after five good ones and got canned. Classless. Now that that’s out of the way, Ed Orgeron comes highly recommended out of National Champion USC. My only question about him is the fact that he was only a defensive line coach at USC. He will also be the defensive coordinator. I don’t know if that qualifies someone to be a head coach, but maybe I’m wrong. Anyway they return thirteen starters from an awful team and should do no better this year. They travel to Tennessee and Auburn but draw both Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Never the less, Ole Miss fans don’t have much to look forward to this season.

SEC Prediction: 2-6

SEC East

#1 Florida

The Gators should win one of the toughest divisions in college football. Chris Leak, their star quarterback, returns for his junior season. They lose outstanding running back Ciatrik Fason but do retain Deshawn Wynn. I thing Wynn is okay and running back should be a question heading into the season. The defensive line should be the best they’ve had in years. Other than that they are ordinary on defense. Another coaching change brings in Urban Meyer of Utah to replace Ron Zook. Urban is one of those coaches who win everywhere they go. I think he will reinvigorate Florida and make the offense outperform last year’s edition. The reason I have them winning the division is that Tennessee comes to the Swamp this year, and I expect Florida to win. However, they travel to Alabama and LSU, not to mention their annual match against Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. I think this makes an undefeated run through the SEC unlikely.

SEC Prediction: 7-1

#2 Tennessee

On paper Tennessee appears to have everything together for a strong SEC Championship run. They have seventeen returning starters, including two experienced quarterbacks in Erik Ainge and Rick Clausen. They have dark horse Heisman candidate Gerald Riggs Jr. for running back, and two All-Americans on defense in DT Jesse Mahelona and CB Jason Allen. I agree they will be a sensational team this year, but if it’s one thing I have learned following the SEC East for so long, it’s that if they don’t beat Florida, they don’t win the division. And I don’t think they will beat Florida. I do see them defeating LSU on Sept. 24, as Tennessee usually bounces back after a loss, Another game to watch is Steve Spurrier’s return to Neyland Stadium on Oct. 29.

SEC Prediction: 7-1

#3 Georgia

Georgia is a team that some people are very excited about. They have a new quarterback in D.J. Shockley (trust me, I’ve seen him play in person, he’s the real deal), return super freshmen Thomas Brown, and have an above average defense. However, they lose their playmakers on defense (DE David Pollack, MLB Odell Thurman, and FS Thomas Davis), and nobody knows how it will turn out. The biggest thing they have in their favor is their schedule. Other than their trip to Tennessee, their difficult games are at home. They also do not play LSU or Alabama. It is for those reasons I have them losing only 2 SEC games.

SEC Prediction: 6-2

#4 South Carolina

Steve Spurrier is back! The most exciting part of this SEC season should be a sight to behold. Every “good” team is going to have so much fun whupping up on the ole’ ball coach this year. I bet he goes through five visors this season. South Carolina only returns nine starters (some due to graduation, some due to Spurrier) and should perform poorly this year. However, I see a great future for South Carolina as Spurrier does not tolerate losing for long. The one bright spot in the offense is the return of super running back Demetrius Summers. The loss of Troy Williamson really hurts the wide receivers though. The defense should be better this year. The Gamecocks play a brutal schedule drawing Alabama and Auburn from the west and playing at Georgia and Tennessee. Not good.

SEC Prediction: 2-6

#5 Vanderbilt

There is not much to say about Vanderbilt. They will never be any good and should be kicked out of the SEC. Anyway, some good news for the Commies include quarterback Jay Cutler being named 1st Team All-SEC by the SEC coaches. Some tragic news include the murder of Kwame Doster, (very sad, especially if you know his situation), and head coach Bobby Johnson breaking his collarbone doing his Lance Armstrong impersonation. The annual basement game against Kentucky is key.

SEC Prediction: 1-7

#6 Kentucky

How this team is not better is beyond me. Vanderbilt has an excuse to suck. They’re academic. I don’t think anyone will mistake Kentucky for Harvard. The only thing I can wonder about Kentucky is, do they still have their 300 lb. quarterback?

SEC Prediction: 0-8