I know we are only days removed from LSU's dismantling of the Buckeyes in the BCS Title game, trust me I havn't stopped celebrating yet. I want to take a look at some teams from the SEC that should have pretty good seasons in 2008 and possibly vie for the BCS Title. Will my Tigers have enough left over after April's NFL draft to be competetive? Will the loss of coach Pelini hurt this team? Georgia the hottest team going down the stretch and even in their bowl game was extremely impressive what's in store for them? Can Tenn. bounce back and win the SEC East again? What about Fla. and Tim tebow? Surely they'll be a better team this coming season. Let's take a look at each team (with the exception of bottom feeders like Vandy and Ol' Miss.) and were they may be ranked and finish come the beggining and end of next season.
LSU- We all know at this time LSU and it's fans are still enjoying being champions of the 2007-2008 season. But what about this coming season? LSU will have much to replace especialy on the defensive side. None bigger than coach Pelini who's defense mauled OSU's offense and QB in the BCS championship game. whom ever they replace him with has huge shoes to fill. LSU fans are used to winning these days and will not take it lightly if a new coach comes in and things look bad. With the exits of Glen Dorsey, Jacob Hester, Matt Flynn and Early Doucet one would think that the Tigers are in a bit of trouble but that just may not be the case. Qb Ryan Perrilloux will fill the shoes of Flynn and just may be better at the position. Once the most highly recruited player, he'll get his chance to maybe lead the Tigers back to the SEC Title game and another great season. At Rb LSU is still loaded so losing Hester isn't as bad as it looks. Keiland Williams will probably be the starter and he gives you a little bit of quickness and toughness. To offset that LSU still has Charles Scott and Trindon Holliday along with Richard Murphy who has shown some good talent as well. With a weak non- conference shedule LSU should be the top team in the SEC west once again. Helping their strength of shedule will be that Georgia rotates on to it this coming season. I like them to start the preseason just out the top 5 and finish within it. No BCS championship will be heading to Baton Rouge again this coming season but an SEC Title and Sugar Bowl birth is very much possible.
Georgia- Was this team on fire or not come the end of this season. I, being a huge college football fan and only wanting to see great games between good teams would have prefered the "Dawgs" over Tenn. in the SEC Title game. Maybe then if LSU had beaten them they would have gotton more respect, ah but I doubt it. Anyway this in my opinion will be the toughest team come next season. Forget about the USC's, LSU's and teams like that Georgia just may be playing the last game of the season come Jan.2009. With a sensational freshman season, RB Knowshon Mareno is also my fav. to be the top rusher by seasons end. Qb Matt Stafford is getting better each year and each game as was evidenced by the Bulldogs pounding of Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. Although they'll be losing Marcus Howard who was pivotal to their defense they should have no trouble replacing him. The Dawgs will be bringing back all but 5 players this season and Coach Mark Richt is a fine coach who'll have these boys ready to dismantle all competition. Some momentum and Animosity of being slighted out of the BCS championship may play a huge part in the success of the Bulldogs next season. I see them starting out top 3 and just may end up #1 overall come the end of the season.
Florida- Tim Tebow and a more mature defense should be all I have to say about this team. Rumors are that the Gators might go back to the 2 Qb rotation that was successful for them two years ago and has worked for LSU this year as well. Urban Myer is a good coach and I am sure he'll have this team back to form come seasons start. A young defense is mostly to blame for them not having as much success as in the past couple of years. The one thing that they do need to do this year is to find a running back to take some of the work off of QB Tim Tebow. RB tranfer from USC Emanuel Moody might just be the guy to do that for the Gators. Make no mistake about it other teams know that so goes Tebow, so goes the Gators and they'll do their best to limit Tebows running and force him to throw more. Surprisingly to me and some others he can throw the ball fairly well. With Jr. WR Percy Harvin returning they can be a combination that'll be hard to stop this season. Also helping the Gators is that 9 out of their 12 games will be in state. Including a showdown with Georgia in Jacksonville. That game just may determine who comes out the East side of the SEC to play for the Title. I see them ranked preseason within top 5 and finishing in the top ten. It all rest on what happens against Georgia.
Auburn-This is a team that baffles me every season. At times they look unbeatable and other times just downright horrific to say the least. They are returning 8 starters on both offense and defense but coaching changes can have this group playing without any identity. On the offensive side they'll be moving to a spread offense with the hiring of Tony Franklin from Troy. Qb is the hugest concern for them as they'll need to replace Brandon Cox, Soph. Kodie Burns is set to replace him. Auburn must go into WV this season but are benifited by hosting LSU, Tenn., Arkansas and Georgia at home. I don't see this team making much more noise than they did this past season. Don't take them for granted though Tommy Tubberville is a good coach and will always have them competing. I see them starting out in the top 20 but going no further than 15 and finishing the same if not worse.
South Carolina- Coach Spurrier hasn't lived up to the hype he gets every season. Sure this team is much better than befor he took over but still get thrashed by the bigger boys in the SEC. While not an elite team from this conference they are certainly no Vanderbilt. It'll all start with QB Chris smelly as he'll be taking over for departed Blake Mitchell. Which in my honest opinion is an upgrade from last year. This past season though they had trouble running the ball. which they'll have to improve to give Smelly a chance. The defense had trouble stopping the run al season as well. That does not bode well in the SEC if you want to be successful. I see much the same from them this season as well. They'll start off hot and finish off with a subpar season. question is if they finish 6-6 or worse again willthe Old ball coach be looking for a new job? Or maybe the fan base is just fine with being a middle of the road SEC team. I'll put them in the top 25 but they'll be out of it befor season ends.
As for the rest of the SEC I don't see to much going on. Bama has a tough Schedule having to open the season against Clemson which will be a top tier team this coming season. They also have to travel to Baton Rouge which will be the first time for coach Saban since he left for the NFL. No doubt that'll be a game to mark down on your calender if you love SEC football or just a college football fanatic. The rest will be bottom dwellers this season and that includes Tenn. I don't see to much happening with this team till they get rid of fat Phil. All in all I am already anxious for a new season to start. I love college football and love my Tigers even more. Geaux Tigers in 2008 and goodluck to all the other teams out there
edmonspk, thx for stopping in and commenting. I do expect some good things from Fla. this year. Mostly on defense, as maturity will bode well for this talented team.
As for Miss. St., the defense is good but I still think the offense is lacking something. I'm not sure what it is but it's something that just doesn't do it for me or get the job done in a tough SEC. But hey as you say they just may surprise me.
Vols are going to be tough. They have a LOT of talent. Their schedule is difficult, and wining the East again will be a big challenge. But, we return 16 starters, our punter and kicker. We get Florida at home, and that should be a much better game this season. Georgia on the road is going to be brutal.
We have Auburn on the road this season too - that's no fun either. Expect to see the Vols win at least nine games, maybe 10. That's no bottom feeder by the way.
Good post, other than your omission of the BIG ORANGE!!
Rev, Thx and good to see you around my friend. Those two teams tops for sure. It will be one hell o####ame.
Montana a.k.a. mtmarinerfan, what's up dude thx and also thx for stopping in. Pac-10 may be fine next year, I also think the Ducks may be better than some think they'll be without Stewert and Dixon.
Moon, thx for the comment and yes the Vols will have a bunch of returners but I think the Schedule will kill them and besides they'll be playing in the play in the tougher side of the SEC.
Rev, Yes it will be and I expect another SEC team to represent us in the BCS Title game again.
hoit, yeah we do have some serious depth down South. They'll be some other good teams though that'll challenge. Mark May is a ####' bag and will pick USC if the whole team were freshman.
Gambit- Hey, man, whta's up? I'm a Big Ten homer, but I can admit that the SEC kicks butt. Look for Georgia to be one of the favorites in the 2008 season. They are my pick to win it all.
BTW- I just looked at the Saints schedule for next year, and if you're a Saints fan, you have to love it. 13-3 is my prediction.
Mike,What's up my friend. Thx for the props on the SEC. Georgia will be a top team but the SEC has some other teams that'll be willing to change peoples minds about the Dawgs. The Fla. game will be crucial for both those teams.
BTW-Ofcourse I am a Saints fan though sometimes I wonder how I have lived through it all. The Schedule isn't as hard as this season but they need to make some good decisions during the off season. ones they should have addressed already coming into this season. Personaly with the #10 pick and also giving up a third round pick I think the Saints could lure Deangelo Hall from Atlanta. He's not very happy there and with more rebuilding needing to be done with that team he'll be ready to wash his hands with that team. They also need to pick up a good LB in the second round come April. we'll see how it all plays out. I'll be doing a blog on the Saints soon.
Hmm gambit....so what if LSU loses some dudes? OSU lost a ton and still made it to the big dance. Florida lost 23 players, 10 on D, and managed to get into a bowl game!
I like Florida's chances, if their secondary can get some valuable practice in Spring..it's their Achilles 'heel.
LSU will be fine, and should compete for the title again. Same with Georgia, who should come out smoking hot. Auburn? Don't know...seems like they losing some recruits to Saban. They are bi-polar. And I am just not sold on Spurrier's Gamers...they pulled an Arkansas and lost the last 3 or 4 games of the season, didn't they? Not a good way to enter the Spring. For some reason. I think Kentucky gets better this season.....if only they had some D. One or two biggies on the line and middle, and they could contend.
Lisa, I agree about LSU but the Pelini replacement remains to be seen how it will go. One thing is LSU is and will always be loaded with talent.
Fla. will be a beast no doubt.
Hey Auburn Bi-Polar that's just wrong, I'm Bi-Polar, ok maybe that explains it all. Not sold on Kentucky without knowing enough about them yet. especialy at QB
gambit, great post. I have to agree on just about everything. About the Pelini replacement at LSU, I sincerely hope that it works out. There is too much talent on that side of the ball there in Baton Rouge to go to waste.
The perfect breakfast as I see it.
You’re sitting at the table and your son is on the cover of Wheaties, your mistress is on the cover of Playboy, and your wife is on the back of the milk carton.
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