1) Alabama
OVERVIEW: Was a tough call before
Mathieu from LSU. Alabama, of course, has a ton of talent and probably the best
coach in the country, the only problem is the talent is young.
KEY MATCHUP: @LSU November 3rd.
The season opener with Michigan has grabbed a lot of headlines for obvious reasons, but this game reminds me a lot of last season’s big game in Arlington when the physical SEC team (LSU) brutalized the small and speedy offensive team (Oregon). Alabama also travels to Arkansas which could prove to be a tough game with a young Alabama secondary against Tyler Wilson and the Hogs. But neither game comes close to the showdown between LSU and Alabama.
HEISMAN THREAT: Junior QB A.J. McCarron
McCarron was the handler of last year’s team, played the role of Greg McElroy, Craig Krenzel and Matt Mauck in Alabama’s title run. This year, without a Heisman front runner behind him, he will be expected to play a role closer to Ken Dorsey and Matt Leinart. He showed in the title game last season that he has the potential.
PREDICTED FINISH: 11-1 (7-1)
Besides Michigan, Alabama plays WKU, FAU and Western Carolina in their non-conference slate. The loss will come at either Arkansas of LSU, I’m going LSU.
KEY MATCHUP: @LSU November 3rd.
The season opener with Michigan has grabbed a lot of headlines for obvious reasons, but this game reminds me a lot of last season’s big game in Arlington when the physical SEC team (LSU) brutalized the small and speedy offensive team (Oregon). Alabama also travels to Arkansas which could prove to be a tough game with a young Alabama secondary against Tyler Wilson and the Hogs. But neither game comes close to the showdown between LSU and Alabama.
HEISMAN THREAT: Junior QB A.J. McCarron
McCarron was the handler of last year’s team, played the role of Greg McElroy, Craig Krenzel and Matt Mauck in Alabama’s title run. This year, without a Heisman front runner behind him, he will be expected to play a role closer to Ken Dorsey and Matt Leinart. He showed in the title game last season that he has the potential.
PREDICTED FINISH: 11-1 (7-1)
Besides Michigan, Alabama plays WKU, FAU and Western Carolina in their non-conference slate. The loss will come at either Arkansas of LSU, I’m going LSU.
2) Louisiana State
OVERVIEW:
This team is used to the distraction of having a key player in trouble (Jordan Jefferson last season) plus they are arguably the deepest team in the country, especially in the secondary, so the loss of Mathieu may knock them down a bit, but not much.
KEY MATCHUP: Alabama November 3rd.
No need to outthink the room here, but I don’t expect LSU to make it to this game undefeated (@Auburn, @Florida, South Carolina @Texas A&M before Alabama), but knocking off the #1 team in the country and divisional rival can put LSU right back on top.
HEISMAN THREAT: Tyr… oops. Junior QB Zach Mettenberger
The Georgia transfer will provide the LSU offense with a real threat at QB and with playmakers like RBs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford and WRs like Russell Shepard, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry there are plenty of yards to gain and TDs to score.
PREDICTED FINISH: 10-2 (6-2)
Without Mathieu there to bail the Mad Hatter out of bad situations the Tigers will drop two, but still be able to knock off Alabama. I’m hanging my hat on the Gators in the swamp and Arkansas in Fayetteville.
OVERVIEW:
This team is used to the distraction of having a key player in trouble (Jordan Jefferson last season) plus they are arguably the deepest team in the country, especially in the secondary, so the loss of Mathieu may knock them down a bit, but not much.
KEY MATCHUP: Alabama November 3rd.
No need to outthink the room here, but I don’t expect LSU to make it to this game undefeated (@Auburn, @Florida, South Carolina @Texas A&M before Alabama), but knocking off the #1 team in the country and divisional rival can put LSU right back on top.
HEISMAN THREAT: Tyr… oops. Junior QB Zach Mettenberger
The Georgia transfer will provide the LSU offense with a real threat at QB and with playmakers like RBs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford and WRs like Russell Shepard, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry there are plenty of yards to gain and TDs to score.
PREDICTED FINISH: 10-2 (6-2)
Without Mathieu there to bail the Mad Hatter out of bad situations the Tigers will drop two, but still be able to knock off Alabama. I’m hanging my hat on the Gators in the swamp and Arkansas in Fayetteville.
3) Arkansas
OVERVIEW:
The Razorbacks have had their share of off-season turmoil, which has kept them from jumping LSU or Alabama (that and their defense). But they still have a lot of talent and with both LSU and Alabama having to travel to Fayetteville the Razorbacks have a chance to break through.
KEY GAME: Alabama September 15th.
John L. Smith will find out early where his team sits. The problem is Tyler Wilson and the offense won’t see a defense better than their scout team in their first two games (Jacksonville St and UL-Monroe). So they better not let Alabama jump on them early.
HEISMAN THREAT: Senior QB Tyler Wilson
Another boring Quarterback pick, but this one is legit. While Mettenberger and McCarron might have to rely on their teams high ranking for help in the Heisman race, Wilson is capable of compiling stats that speak for themselves.
PREDICTED FINISH: 10-2 (6-2)
The Razorbacks will split their home games with Alabama and LSU, but I think they will find another loss on the road, they could lose any of the four at Texas A&M, Auburn, South Carolina or Mississippi State. I’ll say South Carolina gets them.
OVERVIEW:
The Razorbacks have had their share of off-season turmoil, which has kept them from jumping LSU or Alabama (that and their defense). But they still have a lot of talent and with both LSU and Alabama having to travel to Fayetteville the Razorbacks have a chance to break through.
KEY GAME: Alabama September 15th.
John L. Smith will find out early where his team sits. The problem is Tyler Wilson and the offense won’t see a defense better than their scout team in their first two games (Jacksonville St and UL-Monroe). So they better not let Alabama jump on them early.
HEISMAN THREAT: Senior QB Tyler Wilson
Another boring Quarterback pick, but this one is legit. While Mettenberger and McCarron might have to rely on their teams high ranking for help in the Heisman race, Wilson is capable of compiling stats that speak for themselves.
PREDICTED FINISH: 10-2 (6-2)
The Razorbacks will split their home games with Alabama and LSU, but I think they will find another loss on the road, they could lose any of the four at Texas A&M, Auburn, South Carolina or Mississippi State. I’ll say South Carolina gets them.
4) Auburn
OVERVIEW:
Two years removed from a 14-0 National Title and one year removed from 8-5 and the Chick-fil-A Bowl it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Gene Chizik. 2012 is shaping up to be a lot more reminiscent of 2011 than 2010. Although with Sophomore Kiehl Frazier and 9 returners on defense who knows?
KEY GAME: CLEMSON in Atlanta September 1st.
Sure beating Alabama, Arkansas or LSU would be huge to get Auburn back, but the season opener against Clemson will set the tone for the season. Clemson got Auburn last year and partied like crazy; getting revenge could propel Auburn to a 9 or 10 win season, while a loss could cause a spiral that forces them to fight for a bowl berth.
HEISMAN THREAT: Sophomore QB Kiehl Frazier
Yawn… another Quarterback. If it’s any consolation had Michael Dyer not been kicked of off the team he would have been the pick. Frazier is a good runner, but hasn’t shown he can throw; he will likely split time with Clint Mosley. But best case scenario for Auburn is he goes all Cam Newton on the SEC and blows up in his Sophomore season, but in reality he’s at least a year away from reaching his potential.
PREDICTED FINISH: 8-4 (4-4)
Auburn is in the second tier in the West right now and should lose to the top three teams, the other loss will likely come at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs. However, I see Auburn getting big wins against Clemson, Texas A&M and @Mississippi State to let them stay atop that second tier.
OVERVIEW:
Two years removed from a 14-0 National Title and one year removed from 8-5 and the Chick-fil-A Bowl it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Gene Chizik. 2012 is shaping up to be a lot more reminiscent of 2011 than 2010. Although with Sophomore Kiehl Frazier and 9 returners on defense who knows?
KEY GAME: CLEMSON in Atlanta September 1st.
Sure beating Alabama, Arkansas or LSU would be huge to get Auburn back, but the season opener against Clemson will set the tone for the season. Clemson got Auburn last year and partied like crazy; getting revenge could propel Auburn to a 9 or 10 win season, while a loss could cause a spiral that forces them to fight for a bowl berth.
HEISMAN THREAT: Sophomore QB Kiehl Frazier
Yawn… another Quarterback. If it’s any consolation had Michael Dyer not been kicked of off the team he would have been the pick. Frazier is a good runner, but hasn’t shown he can throw; he will likely split time with Clint Mosley. But best case scenario for Auburn is he goes all Cam Newton on the SEC and blows up in his Sophomore season, but in reality he’s at least a year away from reaching his potential.
PREDICTED FINISH: 8-4 (4-4)
Auburn is in the second tier in the West right now and should lose to the top three teams, the other loss will likely come at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs. However, I see Auburn getting big wins against Clemson, Texas A&M and @Mississippi State to let them stay atop that second tier.
5) Mississippi State
OVERVIEW: Mississippi State has seemed to be on the cusp or being a real contender for years, a back loaded schedule gives the Bulldogs a chance for a hot start, but they better load up on W’s because wins in November will be hard to come by.
KEY GAME: Texas A&M November 3rd.
The Bulldogs will be capable of winning their first seven games (Auburn on Sept. 8 and Tennessee on Oct. 13 will be the main tests) but they finish with @Alabama, Texas A&M, @LSU, Arkansas and @Mississippi. They should be able to handle in state rival Mississippi even though it is a big rivalry, Texas A&M is the only other winnable game and a win at home would mean a late season 4-game losing streak wouldn’t happen.
HEISMAN THREAT: Senior MLB Cameron Lawrence
Defensive players rarely get Heisman mention, but Tyrann Mathieu and Ndamukong Suh have showed it not impossible to gain some hype. Lawrence is the conference’s leading returning tackler with 123 along with 2 sacks.
PREDICTED FINISH: 7-5 (3-5)
The Bulldogs will win their four games outside of the SEC, but lose to the four teams above them in the west as well as drop a game at home to an improved Tennessee team.
OVERVIEW: Mississippi State has seemed to be on the cusp or being a real contender for years, a back loaded schedule gives the Bulldogs a chance for a hot start, but they better load up on W’s because wins in November will be hard to come by.
KEY GAME: Texas A&M November 3rd.
The Bulldogs will be capable of winning their first seven games (Auburn on Sept. 8 and Tennessee on Oct. 13 will be the main tests) but they finish with @Alabama, Texas A&M, @LSU, Arkansas and @Mississippi. They should be able to handle in state rival Mississippi even though it is a big rivalry, Texas A&M is the only other winnable game and a win at home would mean a late season 4-game losing streak wouldn’t happen.
HEISMAN THREAT: Senior MLB Cameron Lawrence
Defensive players rarely get Heisman mention, but Tyrann Mathieu and Ndamukong Suh have showed it not impossible to gain some hype. Lawrence is the conference’s leading returning tackler with 123 along with 2 sacks.
PREDICTED FINISH: 7-5 (3-5)
The Bulldogs will win their four games outside of the SEC, but lose to the four teams above them in the west as well as drop a game at home to an improved Tennessee team.
6) Texas A&M
OVERVIEW:
The Aggies are new to the SEC and will be breaking a new Quarterback. That doesn’t sound like a very good recipe. But they may have harvested enough of that Texas talent to stay above .500 and reach a bowl game.
KEY GAME: Florida September 8th.
The Aggies welcome in Florida for their first ever SEC game, not only important because it should be a winnable game surrounded by surefire wins (Louisiana Tech and @SMU) but because if they don’t beat Florida at home finding 5 more wins to be bowl eligible could be tough. In a four week span the Aggies face LSU, @Auburn, @Mississippi State and @Alabama, all I can say to them is “good luck.”
HEISMAN THREAT: Senior RB Christine Michael
Michael split time with Cyrus Gray and was still able to produce 920 yards and 6 TDs. He now has the backfield to himself and a new QB, which should mean more a higher priority on running the ball. Also Texas A&M returns 4 starters on the o-line. But new coach Kevin Sumlin is used to airing it out, which could obviously hurt Michael’s chances.
PREDICTED FINISH: 5-7 (1-7)
An easy non-conference schedule sets the Aggies up for 4 easy wins and a good shot at bowl eligibility, but a rough welcome to the SEC will put them at 5-6 going into the end-of-the-season showdown with former and current conference rival Missouri, I’m taking Missouri on the road, which will allow the Aggies to stay home for the holidays.
OVERVIEW:
The Aggies are new to the SEC and will be breaking a new Quarterback. That doesn’t sound like a very good recipe. But they may have harvested enough of that Texas talent to stay above .500 and reach a bowl game.
KEY GAME: Florida September 8th.
The Aggies welcome in Florida for their first ever SEC game, not only important because it should be a winnable game surrounded by surefire wins (Louisiana Tech and @SMU) but because if they don’t beat Florida at home finding 5 more wins to be bowl eligible could be tough. In a four week span the Aggies face LSU, @Auburn, @Mississippi State and @Alabama, all I can say to them is “good luck.”
HEISMAN THREAT: Senior RB Christine Michael
Michael split time with Cyrus Gray and was still able to produce 920 yards and 6 TDs. He now has the backfield to himself and a new QB, which should mean more a higher priority on running the ball. Also Texas A&M returns 4 starters on the o-line. But new coach Kevin Sumlin is used to airing it out, which could obviously hurt Michael’s chances.
PREDICTED FINISH: 5-7 (1-7)
An easy non-conference schedule sets the Aggies up for 4 easy wins and a good shot at bowl eligibility, but a rough welcome to the SEC will put them at 5-6 going into the end-of-the-season showdown with former and current conference rival Missouri, I’m taking Missouri on the road, which will allow the Aggies to stay home for the holidays.
7) Mississippi
OVERVIEW:
As the rich (LSU and Alabama) get richer the poor (Mississippi) get poorer. Mississippi might be the ultimate proof that the SEC is not the best conference top-to-bottom. Loses to BYU, Louisiana Tech and Jacksonville State in the last two seasons give credence to that.
KEY GAME: UTEP September 8th.
Mississippi will lose to Texas and should beat Central Arkansas and Tulane with relative ease, but UTEP is capable of handing Mississippi an embarrassing non-conference loss for the third straight season. A conference win looks unlikely the Rebels get Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, which provide the only real chances to win.
HEISMAN THREAT: Junior RB Jeff Scott
I had to pick someone. As a Sophomore Scott scored 7 TDs on 585 rushing yards, 99 receiving yards and 138 punt return yards. The moral of the story is he is going to get a lot of touches and will likely gain a decent amount of yards.
PREDICTED FINISH: 3-9 (0-8)
As mentioned earlier the game against UTEP will decide whether or not Mississippi is able to avoid a 10-loss season. They really have no chance of winning a conference game and 16 straight conference losses steak looks almost certain.
OVERVIEW:
As the rich (LSU and Alabama) get richer the poor (Mississippi) get poorer. Mississippi might be the ultimate proof that the SEC is not the best conference top-to-bottom. Loses to BYU, Louisiana Tech and Jacksonville State in the last two seasons give credence to that.
KEY GAME: UTEP September 8th.
Mississippi will lose to Texas and should beat Central Arkansas and Tulane with relative ease, but UTEP is capable of handing Mississippi an embarrassing non-conference loss for the third straight season. A conference win looks unlikely the Rebels get Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, which provide the only real chances to win.
HEISMAN THREAT: Junior RB Jeff Scott
I had to pick someone. As a Sophomore Scott scored 7 TDs on 585 rushing yards, 99 receiving yards and 138 punt return yards. The moral of the story is he is going to get a lot of touches and will likely gain a decent amount of yards.
PREDICTED FINISH: 3-9 (0-8)
As mentioned earlier the game against UTEP will decide whether or not Mississippi is able to avoid a 10-loss season. They really have no chance of winning a conference game and 16 straight conference losses steak looks almost certain.
Projected Standings (Bold= Bowl eligible)
Alabama.................11-1.....7-1
LSU.......................10-2.....6-2
Arkansas................10-2.....6-2
Auburn....................8-4......4-4
Mississippi State......7-5......3-5
Texas A&M............5-7......1-7
Mississippi...............3-9.....0-8
Alabama.................11-1.....7-1
LSU.......................10-2.....6-2
Arkansas................10-2.....6-2
Auburn....................8-4......4-4
Mississippi State......7-5......3-5
Texas A&M............5-7......1-7
Mississippi...............3-9.....0-8
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