Athlon early SEC predictions

[Redwood Forrest]

The SEC’s West Division is loaded once again. Alabama gets a slight nod as the pre-spring favorite, but the gap between the Crimson Tide and Auburn is slim. Talent isn’t an issue in Tuscaloosa, as Alabama has owned the top spot in the recruiting rankings from 2010-14 and is expected to ink the No. 1 class in 2015. However, there are a few glaring personnel concerns for this team going into next season.

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/early-sec-football-predictions-2015

Athlon early SEC 2015

1 Alabama 2 Auburn 3 LSU 4 Ole Miss 5 Arky 6 Tex A&M 7 Miss St

1. Georgia 2 Mizzou 3. Tenn 4 Florida 5 S Carolina 6 Kentucky 7 Vandy

The surprise team to me is Tennessee ahead of Florida and S Carolina. In the west they have Arkansas below Ole Miss. I would flip them.

 

[RTR91]

Tennessee has a fairly easy schedule.

Arkansas doesn't, so I understand the projection of them finishing fifth. However, I like them to finish ahead of Ole Miss. The questions with Ole Miss, Arkansas, TAMU, and MSU make me want to say just assume they finish tied for fourth. I can see any combination of those teams finishing fourth through seventh. LSU could easily be thrown in that group as well.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I suspect Georgia, Tenn and Mizzoo will probably be the front runners for the EAST. I'd like to say the Gators but I simply have no starting point with them.

 

[mrusso]

I'm not so sure I would have LSU that high.

 

[ALA2262]

The SEC’s West Division is loaded once again. Alabama gets a slight nod as the pre-spring favorite, but the gap between the Crimson Tide and Auburn is slim. Talent isn’t an issue in Tuscaloosa, as Alabama has owned the top spot in the recruiting rankings from 2010-14 and is expected to ink the No. 1 class in 2015. However, there are a few glaring personnel concerns for this team going into next season.

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/early-sec-football-predictions-2015

Athlon early SEC 2015

1 Alabama 2 Auburn 3 LSU 4 Ole Miss 5 Arky 6 Tex A&M 7 Miss St

1. Georgia 2 Mizzou 3. Tenn 4 Florida 5 S Carolina 6 Kentucky 7 Vandy

The surprise team to me is Tennessee ahead of Florida and S Carolina. In the west they have Arkansas below Ole Miss. I would flip them.

Tennessee returns 10 starters on offense. Florida returns 10 starters. On offense and defense. South Carolina returns 12 starters but 8 of them are on defense. Probably would be better off if those 8 were gone also. Tennessee also returns 8 starters on defense to go with the 10 on offense. Don't expect Florida nor South Carolina to finish ahead of Tennessee.

 

[capnfrog]

The SEC’s West Division is loaded once again. Alabama gets a slight nod as the pre-spring favorite, but the gap between the Crimson Tide and Auburn is slim. Talent isn’t an issue in Tuscaloosa, as Alabama has owned the top spot in the recruiting rankings from 2010-14 and is expected to ink the No. 1 class in 2015. However, there are a few glaring personnel concerns for this team going into next season.

http://athlonsports.com/college-football/early-sec-football-predictions-2015

Athlon early SEC 2015

1 Alabama 2 Auburn 3 LSU 4 Ole Miss 5 Arky 6 Tex A&M 7 Miss St

1. Georgia 2 Mizzou 3. Tenn 4 Florida 5 S Carolina 6 Kentucky 7 Vandy

The surprise team to me is Tennessee ahead of Florida and S Carolina. In the west they have Arkansas below Ole Miss. I would flip them.

What are these glaring personnel concerns you speak of? Players leaving for the NFL draft or coaching changes or a combo?

 

[Redwood Forrest]

What are these glaring personnel concerns you speak of? Players leaving for the NFL draft or coaching changes or a combo?

I'm not sure, that was quote from the article. I guess they mean players and coaches.

 

[russtang]

What are these glaring personnel concerns you speak of? Players leaving for the NFL draft or coaching changes or a combo?

The article mentioned replacing Sims and Cooper and the DB's needing to step up.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

It wouldn't surprise me too much if Florida has a better-than-expected season. Their problems the last few years have been a combination of injuries and poor coaching...the talent is there to make a run.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

So in 13 weeks we went from "Blake Sims is not an SEC calibre QB" to "he's gonna be difficult to replace."

I mean, it isn't that hard to replace a low-level QB

 

[Redwood Forrest]

So in 13 weeks we went from "Blake Sims is not an SEC calibre QB" to "he's gonna be difficult to replace."

I mean, it isn't that hard to replace a low-level QB

There you go remembering stuff again :smile:

 

[jps1983]

I'd probably put Ole Miss ahead of LSU. But that is only because Lsu probably would be near the bottom of the conference in QB play next year. The East is uga's to lose, but they have tougher teams from the west to deal with, so it can turn into a crapshoot between 2-3 teams if they drop an unexpected one somewhere.

 

[bamacon]

I'd probably put Ole Miss ahead of LSU. But that is only because Lsu probably would be near the bottom of the conference in QB play next year. The East is uga's to lose, but they have tougher teams from the west to deal with, so it can turn into a crapshoot between 2-3 teams if they drop an unexpected one somewhere.

And they usually lose it

 

[bamacon]

Lots of questions to be answered for Bama. Schedule is really not favorable at all. If we have an experienced QB, returned a full OL, and weren't replacing the middle of our defense I'd be more optimistic. I'm thinking more 10-3 this year.