SEC East Preview
One of the toughest conferences to predict every year and this year is no different. Especially with Vanderbilt and South Carolina playing their best football, well, ever.
Here goes nothing.
1. Georgia - The offense struggled all year last year, especially in the 1st half of the season. This year, Stafford should get all the starts and be much improved. They have 7 back on offense, including lots of talent and experience at the skill positions. The defense has just 4 starters back, but the D is always strong. Prediction: 9-3 (6-2)
2. Tennessee – I’m having a hard time with predicting the Vols this year. Sometimes, I look over the schedule and I see 9 or 10 wins, other times, 6-7. They have just 11 returning starters, 6 on offense, and 5 on defense. They have a great quarterback, but Ainge loses his top 3 targets and his entire receiving corps is largely unproven. The defense gave up a lot of yards last year, and with only 5 back, in a division and conference that requires great defense to be good will be tough. I like the front 7 better this year than last though, especially at linebacker where I think Rico McCoy has a breakout year. The schedule though includes road games at Florida, California, and Alabama though. Prediction: 9-3 (5-3)
T-3. Florida – The defending champs lose a lot of talent to the NFL and graduation. Still, this is a talented team and its Urban Meyer’s 3rd year there, normally an indication of success. They also had 5 net close wins last year, an indication of a decline in record. The offense returns 6 starters and will be dependant on Tim Tebow to carry the team. If his passing game struggles, teams can load up on him and it could be a long season. The offense will probably be ok, but the defense only returns 2 starters!! Luckily the schedule starts easy and at home for the first 3 games and then has a winnable game @ Ole Miss before the schedule toughens drastically. With games @ LSU, Georgia, and South Carolina and plenty of question marks on defense, it will be very tough to repeat as national champs. But next year, look out for this team. Prediction: 8-4 (4-4)
T-3. South Carolina – I hate to admit it, but this is probably Spurriers best team yet, and its that magical 3rd year for him. The defense will be much improved this year (10 returning starters), over a unit that gave up just 18.7 points per game last year. They’ve had a couple good recruiting classes now but must prove it on the field. Blake Mitchell isn’t a great QB but is capable enough in Spurriers system and if Stephen Garcia can avoid the law the whole season, could see playing time as a true freshman. Time will tell if Kenny McKinley can produce at WR with Rice gone and Kenny getting more attention from defenses. Cory Boyd is among the best ball carriers in the conference. If everything goes right and the team can win a couple of the close games that have gotten away from them the last 30 years, they have the talent and coaching to win 10 games and possibly win the East this year for the 1st time in school history. Prediction: 8-4 (4-4)
5. Vanderbilt – I am going to make a bold statement. This is Bobby Johnson’s last year at Vanderbilt. Why? Because I’m predicting them to go to their 1st bowl game since 1982 and he’ll be hired away by a bigger school and it’ll be back to the basement for the Commodores. 10 starters are back on offense including Chris Nickson, who lead the team in rushing last year as well. The defense has 8 back, including 7 of their top 8 tacklers from last year. It’s Johnson’s most talented team so far. Plus, they have 8 home games. Their road games are tough (S Carolina, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee) and play Wake Forest out of conference. Still, save your pennies Commodore fans, you could be going bowling this season.
6. Kentucky – Somehow, Kentucky also wound up with 8 home games this year. Yet, despite returning quite a bit of talent, especially on offense, it will be difficult for this team to match last years 7 regular season wins. They have 7 back on offense (including QB Woodson 2nd team SEC, RB Little 1st team SEC ’05, WR Burton 1st team SEC) and 8 back on defense. But the defense game up over 450 ypg last year and overall, they were outscored by 1.7 ppg. It will take another year of luck to match last years 8 win total, even though the team is equally talented. Prediction: 4-8 (1-7).