With less than a week to go now before the college football season kicks off, it’s time for The Dirt to make some predictions. Beginning with conference standings and conference winners, I’ll take a look at all six BCS conferences (ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC). Last but not least, the SEC:
SEC
· Preseason Top 25 Teams
AP Poll Dirt Poll
2. Alabama 1. Alabama
4. LSU 3. LSU
12. South Carolina 7. South Carolina
15. Arkansas 12. Arkansas
19. Georgia 16. Mississippi State
20. Mississippi State 19. Georgia
22. Florida 22. Florida
23. Auburn 24. Auburn
· Predicted Finish
East West
1. South Carolina 10-2 (6-2) 1. Alabama 11-1 (7-1)
2. Georgia 9-3 (5-3) 2. LSU 8-4 (5-3)
3. Florida 8-4 (5-3) 3. Arkansas 8-4 (5-3)
4. Tennessee 6-6 (2-6) 4. Mississippi State 7-5 (3-5)
5. Vanderbilt 5-7 (1-7) 5. Auburn 6-6 (2-6)
6. Kentucky 5-7 (2-6) 6. Ole Miss 5-7 (1-7)
· Bowl Teams: (9)
o Alabama
o South Carolina
o LSU
o Georgia
o Arkansas
o Florida
o Mississippi State
o Auburn
o Tennessee
· SEC Championship Game:
§ Alabama over South Carolina
· SEC Champion: Alabama Crimson Tide
· Key Games:
o 9/3: #4 LSU Vs #3 Oregon
o 9/3: #19 Georgia Vs #5 Boise State
o 9/24: #2 Alabama Vs #15 Arkansas
o 9/10: #19 Georgia Vs #12 South Carolina
o 10/1: #22 Florida Vs #2 Alabama
o 11/5: #2 Alabama Vs #4 LSU
o 10/1: #15 Arkansas Vs #8 Texas A+M
o 10/29: #19 Georgia Vs #22 Florida
o 11/12: #12 South Carolina Vs #22 Florida
o 11/5: #15 Arkansas Vs #12 South Carolina
o 11/25: #4 LSU Vs #15 Arkansas
o 11/26: #23 Auburn Vs #2 Alabama
· SEC Summary:
Six straight BCS national championships, 3 out of the 4 last Heisman trophy winners, rabid fans, and 100,000+ seat stadiums; what else can be said about the SEC? Cam Newton and Auburn came out of nowhere last year to take the SEC crown; and eventually beat Oregon for the national title. However, the ‘War Eagle’? Tigers will struggle to defend their title. Their instate rival Alabama seems to be the preseason SEC favorite, but we all know how tough it is to run the table through the SEC conference slate.
With 8 teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll (Auburn, Mississippi State and Georgia are more than questionable picks though) the SEC has more ranked teams than any other conference; to start. After Alabama; LSU, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi State, Florida and Auburn are their other ranked teams. Wisdom seems to believe Alabama is the favorite in the West, with South Carolina the favorite in the East, and I agree.
Two teams have huge preseason games that could shape their season, both at ‘neutral’ sites. LSU squares off against Oregon in Dallas; while Georgia takes on Boise State in Atlanta – a win for either team could catapult them to a big year.
After Alabama and South Carolina; the SEC should send 7 other teams to bowl games. Though Tennessee and Auburn will be right on the cusp, but if Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Ole Miss can pull off some upsets they could easily reach 6 wins.
Auburn will be interesting to watch this season. Many believe they were a 7 game winner at best last year without superman Cam Newton running the offense; and they could struggle to get to 6 wins and make a bowl game this year. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
LSU will have to rebound after their quarterback Jordan Jefferson used his foot at a bar, not his arm on the field; to make headlines. And if he doesn’t make it back in time for their SEC slate – they could have down season.
I’m picking Alabama to win the West and South Carolina to repeat in the East; with Alabama winning the conference title game. If the Crimson Tide can manage their tough schedule with only one regular season loss, combined with a SEC title game victory – look out for them to return to the BCS National Championship Game.
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