SEC East Preview
1. Georgia (10-2, 6-2)
They finally did it. They finally got over the Alabama hump and got their National Championship. They traded the SEC championship for the National Championship and Bulldog fans couldn’t be happier. The question now is, Can they repeat? First step will be winning the SEC East and I think they do exactly that. Let’s go bad news first with the Champs. Only 3 starters return from the best defense in the FBS. For most teams that would mean a huge drop off. Not the Bulldogs. They still have plenty of experience and should only take a small step back. They’ll slip out of the top 10 but they’ll still be a top 20 defense in the country. And thats the bad news. The good news is they have 7 starters coming back on an offense that scored 38.6 points a game last year. Leading that squad is QB Stetson Bennett. Bennett threw for 29 TDS and 7 INTs last year and should improve on both of those numbers without JT Daniels on his heels. While they lose their top 2 backs they return 3 of their top 4 pass catchers including their top wideout Brock Bowers. Bowers put up 13 TDs last year. Between this powerful offense and a pretty good defense this team will be right back in the same position they were last year. It also helps their first 7 games are about as easy as it gets in the SEC. Oregon, Samford, South Carolina, Kent State, Missouri, Auburn, Vanderbilt then a bye before a big meeting against Florida. I’d be shocked if they aren’t 7-0 going into that Florida meeting.
2. Florida (9-3, 5-3)
Florida may be a little bit of a surprise here. After-all, they were only 6-7 last year. I’m looking at last year as an outlier. The previous 3 years they won 10,11, and 8 games. Winning 9 this year is right on par with that. The first hurdle for Florida is breaking in a new head coach. As someone who watches the Sun Belt just as much as any other conference, I witnessed first hand how good Napier is. He was 40-12 at Louisiana and finished 1st in the Sun Belt West 4 years straight. So finishing second is actually a step back. But the SEC is a huge step up and he’s facing some of the best competition hes ever faced. The good news is Louisiana did go to Iowa State and take them down. The bad news is this is the SEC. With 13 starters coming back I think he has a good chance to deliver in year 1. To be completely upfront, A lot of this based on schedule. They get Utah, Kentucky, USF, Eastern Washington, Missouri, and a Brennanless LSU all at home in the first 8 weeks of the season. Evens if they lose at Tennessee they could easily be 7-1 with that home schedule. Then they still get Vanderbilt on the road and South Carolina at home. It’s easy to see how I got to 9 wins. This offense scored 30 a game last year and Napiers rushing scheme should keep that number high while controlling the clock. I doubt we’ll see another 70-52 shootout this year. Defense is where problems might arise. 7 starters are back but this unit gave up 26.8 a game. That won’t cut it in the ACC. They” improve but they” still struggle on this side of the ball. If their schedule was tought they’d probably take a step back. Instead, Napier has a solid 9 win season with a Bowl opportunity to get to double digits.
3. Tennessee (8-4, 4-4)
It’s ironic that Peyton went to Tennessee and Arch is going to Texas. Tennessee reminds me of Texas. Everytime you think they are back they disappoint. 4-8, 5-7, 8-5, 3-7, and 7-6 the last 5 years. That would make this year tied for their best year in 5 years. I think this is a team on the rise. First off the have a dynamic dual threat QB in Hendon Hooker. Hooker accounted for nearly 3000 passing yards and 600+n rushing yards. They also get back their top rusher Small and top receiver Tillman. Tillman went for 1081 and 12 touchdowns in 2021. This offense accounted for 39 points a game and cracked 45 six times. Problem is, they gave up 30+ in 5 of the games they didn’t. 15 total starters return and Heupel is entering his sophomore season as the head coach. I expect the offense and defense to be better. They have a tought stretch in the middle of the season facing LSU, Bama, Kentucky, and Georgia in 4 out of 5 weeks but besides that the schedule looks good they’ll have to beat South Carolina and Vandy on the road but they should improve on their 7 wins in 2021.
4. Kentucky (8-4, 4-4)
Kentucky is officially a football school now. After their second 10 win season in 4 years theyve earned that right. Not only did they win 10 games last year, they did it in the SEC. Kentucky has entered the football portal. Obviously that starts with Stoops whos been coaching there for 10 years now. It’s. testament to how long it takes to turns a progam into a championship competitor. Kentucky is offically there. All that being said, they will take a step back this year. Even with Will Levis who some. ay think will be a Heisman candidate, Kentucky will just lose some crucial games this year. First off they travel to Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi. That could easily be 0-3 and they have to play Geogira at home. It’s great its at home but its still the National Champs. Louisville, Miami (oh), and Nothern Illinois are all sneaky good out of conference games as well. This team is going to getput through the gauntlet. With only 11 starters back I have a feeling they struggle. They should still get to 8 wins with the talent they have but it won;t be easy.
5. South Carolina (6-6, 3-5)
Mirroring Heupel, Shane Beamer took over South Carolina last year and went 7-6.
6. Missouri (6-6, 3-5)
7. Vanderbilt (4-8, 1-7)
SEC West Preview
1. Alabama (11-1, 7-1)
2. Arkansas (10-2, 6-2)
3. Ole Miss (9-2, 5-3)
4. Texas A&M (8-4, 4-4)
5. Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4)
6. Auburn (6-6, 2-6)
7. LSU (6-6, 2-6)