How will the SEC play out (now that we have seen 2 weeks of football)

[WylieTexasTider]

Having seen SEC teams in action for two weeks how do you see the season playing out?

SEC WEST:

Team Overall SEC (loss(es))
Alabama 12-0 (8-0) (No longer worried about MSU)**Beat LSU 24-20, Beat AU 20-17**
LSU 11-1 (7-1) (UA)
Auburn 10-2 (6-2) (UA, LSU)
Arkansas 8-4 (5-3) (UA, AU, LSU) lose to aTm out of conference
Miss St 7-5 (3-5) (AU, LSU, UA, UGA, Arky)
Ole Miss 4-8 (1-7) (only beat KY) lose @ Fresno St out of conference

SEC EAST:


Team Overall SEC (loss(es))
USC 9-3 (5-3) (AU, MSU, Arky)
UGA 8-4 (5-3) (SC, AU, UF)
UF 7-5 (4-4) (UA, AU, SC, LSU)lose to FSU non conference
UT 6-6 (2-6) (only beat Vandy & KY)
Vandy 6-6 (2-6) (Only beat Ole Miss & KY)
UK 3-9 (0-8) (everyone beats UK)lose to Louisville non conference

SEC Title Game UA 34 USC 21

Bowls: (Victor in bold)

BCS NC: UA-Oklahoma (24-13)
BCS Sugar:LSU-Boise St
Cap 1 AU-Wisconsin
Outback:SC-Nebraska
Cotton: Arky-Okie State
Peach (CFA): UGA-Va Tech
Music City: Miss St-Ga Tech
Gator: UF-Michigan
Liberty: UT-SMU
Compass: Vandy-Cincy

3 SEC teams in Final AP top 10

UA -1
LSU -3
AU -8

 

[BamaFossil]

Agree MSU doesn't appear as tough as I expected. OTOH, Auburn looks better than expected. Before the season started, many folks (me included) figured Auburn was looking at a 6-6 season. Now I think Auburn wins at least 8. Don't see 'em winning 10 though.

Nor do I think UGA can deliver an 8-win season. Yeah, prior to the season starting, UGA was my darkhorse candidate to win the SEC! But at this point the distraction of a possible HC change will derail whatever potentially-middling season the Dawgs might otherwise expect. I think TN beats UGA this year and goes 7-5.:frown:

 

[uafan4life]

You're giving the barn too much credit, methinks. Mississippi State just didn't show up in that game. I'll say this for the barn, they use luck and momentum very well. However, their luck is going to run out and they don't have a Cam and Fairley on this team. Here's how I think it will turn out:

SEC WEST:

Team Overall SEC (loss(es))
Alabama 12-0 (8-0)
LSU 11-1 (7-1) (UA)
Arkansas 10-2 (6-2) (UA, LSU)
Miss St 8-4 (4-4) (AU, LSU, UA, ARK)
Auburn 6-6 (2-6) (UA, LSU, ARK, USC, UF, UGA)
Ole Miss 3-9 (1-7) (only beat KY) lose @ Fresno St out of conference (lost already to BYU)

SEC EAST:

Team Overall SEC (loss(es))
USC 10-2 (6-2) (MSU, ARK)
UF 8-4 (5-3) (UA, LSU, SC) & lose to FSU non conference
UGA 7-5 (4-4) (SC, MSU, UT, UF)
UT 7-5 (3-5) (UA, SC, UF, LSU, ARK)
Vandy 6-6 (2-6) (Only beat Ole Miss & KY)
UK 3-9 (0-8) (everyone beats UK)lose to Louisville non conference

Bowls: (Victor in bold)

BCS NC: UA-Oklahoma
BCS Sugar:[B[LSU[/B]-Boise St
Cap 1 ARK-Wisconsin
Outback:SC-Penn State
Cotton: MSU-Okie State
Peach (CFA): UF-Va Tech
Music City: UT-Ga Tech
Gator: UGA-Michigan
Liberty: Barn-SMU
Compass: Vandy-Cincy

3 SEC teams in Final AP top 10

UA -1
LSU -2
ARK -8


Sent from my Asus Transformer using Tapatalk.

 

[metal_frk_334]

I did not see why Miss St was getting so much hype leading into this season. After the first two games of the season, nothing has changed. They won their bowl game in a route against a terrible team. After that the media anointed them the dark horse of the SEC. With that there was a tremendous amount of over hyping from the SEC fan bases. All the while I just sat back a smdh.

 

[WMack4Bama]

I can't call it yet. But here are some thoughts that I have.

The only way I'll have a shred of respect for MSU this season is if they beat LSU Thursday night. Otherwise, it's same old same old. I can't really tell you how much disdain I have for MSU at this point. Just disgusting

I don't hate Auburn. I just love Alabama. But it does indeed rub me the wrong way that they act like they've won the national title again after they beat Utah St. and then turn around and luck out against a MSU team that isn't ready for the big time. I usually always cheer for the SEC when they play out of conference, but Dabo Sweeney is one of us, a former Bama player no less! So I'm pulling for Clemson the STRONG way next Saturday.

Arkansas looks good against inferior competition, but they're doing what they're supposed to do.

Ole Miss...well...they're Ole Miss.

LSU is about to run into meat of a schedule and I'm not so sure they come out unscathed.



In terms of us, the part of our team that 95% of our fan base isn't worried about at all is the part that I'm interested in learning more about. I'm a realist. And thus far, our defense looks as great as they do because the offenses we've played have been incompetent. Not saying that our guys haven't had anything to do with that, but when you have QBs short hopping passes, receivers dropping passes when they're open by 5 yards, it sort of skews the numbers. What I'm interested to see is what we'll do when the opposing team makes the plays they're SUPPOSED to make, which will definitely be when we play Arkansas in 2 weeks. The question I had about whether or not we'd be able to pressure the QB without bringing a blitz was answered resoundingly with a No on yesterday. For whatever reason, we don't do so well with pressuring the QB without having to bring a blitz. So when Arkansas comes with their 4 receivers who could all be a #1 receiver for any team in the country, I'll be interested to see how our defense responds to being challenged.

 

[skrayper77]

You realize that Mississippi State racked up over 500 yards against Auburn, right? They won by sheer dumb luck and a pick 6.

USC, UGA, LSU, Florida, Arkansas and Alabama all should beat Auburn.

 

[Florida Tom]

The biggest thing I see this year is:
1. Bama is playing like a Team see us going All the way #14 NC
2. Florida & Tennessee are better than expected
3. Miss State was way over rated
4. I don't see SC winning the East
5. LSU is going to be tough especially there we win by small margin

The predictions are very thoughtful but remember on any given Saturday

 

[kyallie]

I can't call it yet. But here are some thoughts that I have.

The only way I'll have a shred of respect for MSU this season is if they beat LSU Thursday night. Otherwise, it's same old same old. I can't really tell you how much disdain I have for MSU at this point. Just disgusting

I don't hate Auburn. I just love Alabama. But it does indeed rub me the wrong way that they act like they've won the national title again after they beat Utah St. and then turn around and luck out against a MSU team that isn't ready for the big time. I usually always cheer for the SEC when they play out of conference, but Dabo Sweeney is one of us, a former Bama player no less! So I'm pulling for Clemson the STRONG way next Saturday.

Arkansas looks good against inferior competition, but they're doing what they're supposed to do.

Ole Miss...well...they're Ole Miss.

LSU is about to run into meat of a schedule and I'm not so sure they come out unscathed.



In terms of us, the part of our team that 95% of our fan base isn't worried about at all is the part that I'm interested in learning more about. I'm a realist. And thus far, our defense looks as great as they do because the offenses we've played have been incompetent. Not saying that our guys haven't had anything to do with that, but when you have QBs short hopping passes, receivers dropping passes when they're open by 5 yards, it sort of skews the numbers. What I'm interested to see is what we'll do when the opposing team makes the plays they're SUPPOSED to make, which will definitely be when we play Arkansas in 2 weeks. The question I had about whether or not we'd be able to pressure the QB without bringing a blitz was answered resoundingly with a No on yesterday. For whatever reason, we don't do so well with pressuring the QB without having to bring a blitz. So when Arkansas comes with their 4 receivers who could all be a #1 receiver for any team in the country, I'll be interested to see how our defense responds to being challenged.

I pretty much agree with you, that said, I think our secondary is getting better as the whole team. It was a good learning experience....if we keep building on that we'll be a whole lot better than alright.

 

[metal_frk_334]

There is a serious lack of defense throughout the SEC this year. I see Auburn losing at least four this year, if not more. Miss St should have been able to handle Auburn, I admit that much, but they are not a serious threat to any team in the conference that can play defense. LSU and Alabama are petty much it in that regard since they don't play Florida. So they will have a three loss season in all likelihood and people will point to them as one of the SEC front runners leading up to those games. However it will be a mirage, most like a lot of the teams in the SEC will be this year. I do not look forward to the bowls this year. The SEC will finally actually be over hyped this year at the end. They will come up against teams in other conferences that are a tier above them again. That isn't news since it happens every year. Except this year it will finally prove to be enough to make the SEC look terrible. Arkansas and Florida are the only teams outside of Bama and LSU that are still twinklings of hope for me in conference. Hopefully with these teams we can win four bowl games this year. Is that the most pessimistic post to ever come from a SEC fan? Yeah, it could be. It is surely the most pessimistic post I have ever written towards my conference. There is a reason for that. The SEC is a conference that has long been seen as the premier conference. That rep has been earned through defense and there are far to many teams in high regard that simply do not have a defensive unit to field. At least not one that I would ever talk about in the same sentence with SEC Defense. To make it simple, these teams disgust me right now.

 

[BamaJeff]

I'm still calling for a 7-5 record for *U. Like everyone else they will have to deal with dinged up players as the season goes...and they have poor depth. They have beaten Utah State and Miss State and both went down to the wire. In a few weeks they will run into the teeth of their SEC schedule. They will continue to give up 30+ points and they won't keep scoring 40+.

 

[WMack4Bama]

You realize that Mississippi State racked up over 500 yards against Auburn, right? They won by sheer dumb luck and a pick 6.

USC, UGA, LSU, Florida, Arkansas and Alabama all should beat Auburn.

MSU losing had everything to do with MSU. Fumbling, Pick 6s, stupid playcalling, and what good is gaining over 500 yds if you're gonna give up almost 400? And on that last play, all Relf had to do was stretch the ball over the plane. That's it. His arms are long enough that the ball would've clearly been over the goalline. MSU is still MSU.

 

[metal_frk_334]

You realize that Mississippi State racked up over 500 yards against Auburn, right? They won by sheer dumb luck and a pick 6. USC, UGA, LSU, Florida, Arkansas and Alabama all should beat Auburn.

That is the biggest problem. Even with how terrible Auburn is this year there is still a question in my mind. Can South Carolina and Georgia even beat Auburn this year? I seriously have doubts. The SEC East better shape up. They are really putting a downer on the conference right now. They have been getting progressively worse. They are starting to look like their ACC neighbors.

 

[kyallie]

I'm still calling for a 7-5 record for *U. Like everyone else they will have to deal with dinged up players as the season goes...and they have poor depth. They have beaten Utah State and Miss State and both went down to the wire. In a few weeks they will run into the teeth of their SEC schedule. They will continue to give up 30+ points and they won't keep scoring 40+.

I see them with L's against Clemson, SCe, Arky, Fla., LSU definitely...and of course Bama. No better than 6-6...and lucky to get that.

You beat me to it Mack...with a better post, I might add.

 

[MOAN]

Too early to tell much about Auburn and Miss. St. State beat Memphis 59-14 or something but Arkansas St. beat Memphis yesterday 47-3, the same Arkansas St that lost to Big 10 Illinois 33-15. Looked like two fairly even teams to me out there yesterday.

 

[GrayTide]

I predicted AU at either 8-4 or 9-3 and I am sticking with that. They should lose to USC, LSU and Alabama which is 9-3, IMO the unknown game is Arkansas. I thought the UGA game would be a toss up but now I believe AU will beat the dogs. It looks like Arkansas game determines 8-4 or 9-3. Also the AU USCe game is no gimme for the Shamecocks.

 

[CrimsonDonald]

I can't call it yet. But here are some thoughts that I have.

The only way I'll have a shred of respect for MSU this season is if they beat LSU Thursday night. Otherwise, it's same old same old. I can't really tell you how much disdain I have for MSU at this point. Just disgusting

I don't hate Auburn. I just love Alabama. But it does indeed rub me the wrong way that they act like they've won the national title again after they beat Utah St. and then turn around and luck out against a MSU team that isn't ready for the big time. I usually always cheer for the SEC when they play out of conference, but Dabo Sweeney is one of us, a former Bama player no less! So I'm pulling for Clemson the STRONG way next Saturday.

Arkansas looks good against inferior competition, but they're doing what they're supposed to do.

Ole Miss...well...they're Ole Miss.

LSU is about to run into meat of a schedule and I'm not so sure they come out unscathed.



In terms of us, the part of our team that 95% of our fan base isn't worried about at all is the part that I'm interested in learning more about. I'm a realist. And thus far, our defense looks as great as they do because the offenses we've played have been incompetent. Not saying that our guys haven't had anything to do with that, but when you have QBs short hopping passes, receivers dropping passes when they're open by 5 yards, it sort of skews the numbers. What I'm interested to see is what we'll do when the opposing team makes the plays they're SUPPOSED to make, which will definitely be when we play Arkansas in 2 weeks. The question I had about whether or not we'd be able to pressure the QB without bringing a blitz was answered resoundingly with a No on yesterday. For whatever reason, we don't do so well with pressuring the QB without having to bring a blitz. So when Arkansas comes with their 4 receivers who could all be a #1 receiver for any team in the country, I'll be interested to see how our defense responds to being challenged.

Mack that is probably the most level headed comment I have heard this year. We talk about how great our defense has played, but even Kent State missed wide open recievers, they also dropped passes when they could have made first downs. I do not have any answers to prevent a reciever from being wide open because I am not a coach.
We have also have missed at least 4 interceptions that we would have made last year in the two games we played this year. But also, I have seen this defense be relentless at times so I know what we can do. Whether or not our coaches call plays on offense or defense that many people on this site think is "vanilla", I hate that word as I think, and it maybe just me, that we should play the way we are capable or playing whether you score 60 points or not, or leave the other team scoreless in every game we play.
I am not bashing as a few on this site might think because we are 2 and 0, but I think we are a lot better than what we have shown. I believe in showing how much better we are than our opponents, that`s all.

 

[uafan4life]

Mack that is probably the most level headed comment I have heard this year. We talk about how great our defense has played, but even Kent State missed wide open recievers, they also dropped passes when they could have made first downs. I do not have any answers to prevent a reciever from being wide open because I am not a coach.
We have also have missed at least 4 interceptions that we would have made last year in the two games we played this year. But also, I have seen this defense be relentless at times so I know what we can do. Whether or not our coaches call plays on offense or defense that many people on this site think is "vanilla", I hate that word as I think, and it maybe just me, that we should play the way we are capable or playing whether you score 60 points or not, or leave the other team scoreless in every game we play.
I am not bashing as a few on this site might think because we are 2 and 0, but I think we are a lot better than what we have shown. I believe in showing how much better we are than our opponents, that`s all.

On the one hand, you've got a good point about playing "vanilla" and it can, on occasion, affect the team's performance.

On the other hand, there is something to be said about not showing all your cards to future opponents.

Sent from my Asus Transformer using Tapatalk.

 

[MOAN]

In terms of us, the part of our team that 95% of our fan base isn't worried about at all is the part that I'm interested in learning more about. I'm a realist. And thus far, our defense looks as great as they do because the offenses we've played have been incompetent. Not saying that our guys haven't had anything to do with that, but when you have QBs short hopping passes, receivers dropping passes when they're open by 5 yards, it sort of skews the numbers. What I'm interested to see is what we'll do when the opposing team makes the plays they're SUPPOSED to make, which will definitely be when we play Arkansas in 2 weeks. The question I had about whether or not we'd be able to pressure the QB without bringing a blitz was answered resoundingly with a No on yesterday. For whatever reason, we don't do so well with pressuring the QB without having to bring a blitz. So when Arkansas comes with their 4 receivers who could all be a #1 receiver for any team in the country, I'll be interested to see how our defense responds to being challenged.

I think the defensive line not getting more penetration into the backfield has more to do with stuffing the run inside forcing their runners wide so our speed can make the play but I am no expert here. Penn State is a run first pass second offense from what all I have gathered. There is always risk with blitzing though so better penetration would be good to see in the near future especially against Arkansas but even then I don't see Arky beating us if they can't establish a run game. They will make some plays but so will our secondary. I guess its just depends on a teams philosophy as to how they attack and success pressuring and getting sacks.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU are the best teams in the conference, and it's a mixed up hodge podge of mediocre after that, with Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt being just plain bad at the bottom of the standings.

I no longer think Auburn will go 6-6 or worse. Why? Teams like Clemson, South Carolina, and Georgia have done absolutely nothing to tell me that they could beat Auburn, even though the games are away from Jerdin Hair.

Florida is looking like they might make more noise than I thought they would, as well as Tennessee. Georgia is just dreadful, IMO. Not Kentucky-bad, but not nearly enough to win the East. South Carolina's defense is porous. I'm starting to lean towards Florida winning the East, but I'll have a better idea after next week. It won't matter though. The West champion is going to steamroll whoever they face in the SECCG.

And as for the West, I think we still look to be in the best shape. LSU and Arkansas are at a disadvantage with the schedule. We're very fortunate to face them at home. But our OL needs to continue to solidify, and if the starting QB is indeed McCarron (looks inevitable at this point) then hopefully he continues to improve his decision making. And he looks good on that front so far. The defense is going to carry us, but hopefully they can begin to generate more pressure on the QB. I'm not sure that LSU has the passing game, or that Arkansas has the running game, to be balanced enough to beat us. Auburn and Miss State will battle for 4th in the division, and Auburn got a serious leg up on that one yesterday. Ole Miss stinks. Nutt will be fired at the end of this season.

 

[GMacFan]

I think that Bama will lose to either Arkansas, Florida, LSU, or two or three of those. Our defense, while great and possibly the best in the nation, has a couple of weak points that will be exploited, and I'm not sure our offense and make up for that. Dre, Lester, Barron, and our linebackers are as good if not better than advertised. However, I saw Menzie and especially Milliner getting beat all over the place against Penn State. That combined with our DL not getting any pressure up front is gonna give some good QBs the chance to pick on DMil, which is a huge part of how Auburn won last year. I'd like to see Fulton and Phelon get some PT. On O, our inability to impose our will on other teams is going to hurt. I think we'll have an excellent passing game, with AJ, Maze, White, Williams, Carter, Bell, Norwood, really like those guys. And I hope to God we run to the outside more often than the inside cause that play ain't done nothing. I hope we use Fowler and Lacy just as much as Trent because teams are going to be loading the box for Trent and it will take them a while to realize how good those guys are. But our OL has got to get meaner.