Two months from today...
Alabama Football is back! I don't go a moment without thinking about something related to The University of Alabama! With that said, I also think about college football a lot. I have decided to analyze some schedules and see who I think will win what games. And who will win the Big One!
I am going to go conference by conference and division where applicable and predict record and Champion. In the end I will predict major bowl outcomes and the BCS national champion! But who to start with...
That was a no brainer! The last 5 BCS champions have come from the Southeastern Conference, and 6 of the last 7! With that said, they have to be the favorites to bring it home again.
I'm going to start in the east, and also from sixth place:
6: The Vanderbilt Commodores 3-9 (0-8)
I don't see this Vanderbilt team competing in the SEC this season. They have had a spectacular recruiting class, so look for them to shake up the east in the coming seasons. Just not this one. In the non-confrence they have chances against Elon, UConn, Army, and Wake Forest. I think they pull off the Elon and Army games for sure. I also think they will beat either Uconn or Wake. I am going to call UConn.
5: The Kentucky Wildcats 6-6 (2-6)
Kentucky always has a favorable schedule to reach a bowl game, and I think they do it again. They are very likely to start out 3-0, but then they will start the SEC gauntlet. The first two weekends of November will tell the tale on Kentucky fate. I have them beating Ole Miss at home, and then traveling to Vandy to become Bowl eligible.
4: The Georgia Bulldogs 7-5 (3-5)
Georgia. 7-5 will disappoint their fans, and probably Mark Richt's bosses. After starting off with a big win over Boise State, things will look good for Georgia. But week two South Carolina comes to town for a huge show down, and thats where I see the story fall apart. I see a 4-0 non-confrence with a big win at Georgia Tech, but 5 loses in conference is to much to handle. Especially when coming to three of your top rivals: Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee.
3: The Florida Gators 7-5 (4-4)
This team is not the Florida of the recent past! There will be some growing pains this season as Florida tries to recreate themselves in the AT era. (After Tebow) After having an easy 2-0 start, Florida will welcome rival Tennessee to Gainesville. I see the Volunteers pulling off what will be seen as an upset. When Florida travels to Kentucky with following week they will be mad! 3-1 doesn't look that bad at this point for the gators who should expect a tough season. Then it happens. Bama comes to town, and then the very next week they must travel to Baton Rouge. Hardest two weeks in college football. Florida will take care of rivals Auburn and Georgia. Vanderbilt and Furman will cause no trouble in late season match ups either. I see Florida dropping the South Carolina Game as well as, sorry gators, the FSU game.
2: The Tennessee Volunteers 8-4 (4-4)
In my opinion Tennessee will start out the season 5-0. Call me crazy, but I see it. After those first 5 games though, things get tricky. The next five weeks include LSU, Alabama, South Carolina, and Arkansas. LSU and Alabama should easily out play, out man, and out skill Tennessee in every way. Setting up a big game in Knoxville possibly for an SEC East championship with South Carolina. Tennessee will be mentally and physically drained after playing the two top teams in the SEC in the past two weeks, and I think that will be the main difference in a big South Carolina win. Tennessee can bounce back against Middle Tennessee State, but will then travel to Arkansas for what I see as there last lose of the season.
1: The South Carolina Game Cocks 10-2 (6-2)
The South Carolina schedule sets up perfectly for a run at the SEC Eastern division crown. 5 of their first 6 games are in Columbus, and I predict they will win all 6 of their first games. In game 7 they travel to Starkville, Mississippi to face the up and coming Mississippi State Bulldogs. MSU will pull the upset that shakes up the rankings, and solidifies the West's domination of the East. After the MSU game, USC has a bye week to prepare for Tennessee. That will be a major factor. After the game with UT, they will travel to Arkansas for a game against a strong Arkansas team. I see this as their last lost of the regular season. They follow that up with a big home game against Florida, and close out with a game against in state rival Clemson. After winning their first SEC East title last season, South Carolina will repeat and have the chance to travel to Atlanta to face the West Champion.
With all of this being said, the SEC is a crazy conference to play in. Any game can go any way. South Carolina could very well go 12-0 and be playing for a chance to go to New Orleans for the BCS Championship, or go 6-6 and struggle to make it to a bowl game. That is the beauty of the SEC! You never really know! But in closing, I will stick to my prediction.
SEC Eastern Division Champion: The South Carolina Gamecocks
No comments:
Post a Comment