1. #1
    BigdaddyQH
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    Super Early Conf. Picks

    SEC East:

    1. Georgia. This is really a tough call, but it comes down to UGA's returning 7 starters on offense including their QB, and 10 on defense. They go to Tennessee and Auburn, but should have enough to win the SEC East.

    2. Florida. The Gators return their QB and 8 starters on offense, but only 5 on defense. The problem is that the offense simply is not very good. The schedule gives them an edge over Tennessee.

    Others. Tennessee returns 7 on both sides of the ball, but loses their QB and other key players. This team always falls short, and with games at Florida and Alabama, they will have a fight on their hands to win the East. Kentucky returns 8 on offense including their starting QB, and 9 on defense. Last season they won 7 out of their last 10 games after starting out 0-2. The schedule see them hosting Tennessee and Florida, and the two crossover games are against the Mississippi teams. A strong sleeper here.

    SEC West:

    1. Alabama. Who else? The Tide return their QB and 5 others on both sides of the ball, but they always just reload. The schedule is soft, with a game at Auburn being the only real conference challenge.

    2. Auburn. The War Eagles return 8 on offense including their QB, and 7 on defense. They must take the next step and defeat some solid teams. They go to LSU and ARkansas, and get Georgia and 'Bama at home.

    Others: Arkansas. They return 7 on offense including their QB and 6 on defense. This team has to learn how to hang on to leads. LSU. The Tigers return 6 on offense and 5 on defense. New HC O has his work cut out for him. Going to Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee is no help. A very tough schedule.

  2. #2
    Buffalo Nickle
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    Had not read the previews BigDaddy but very well done.

  3. #3
    BigdaddyQH
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    Thanks. I try to get these out before the mags come out. I do know that Athlon is picking Boise State and San Diego State in the MWC. If that is the case, my guess is that it will not take a rocket scientist to figure out who they will pick to win the Power 5 Conferences.

  4. #4
    daneblazer
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    Thanks for posting your write ups

    alabama looks to be an overwhelming favorite again

  5. #5
    Ralphie Halves
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    I buy the Athlon mag every year and really like it, but their predictions are wack. They don't factor in coaching enough IMO, which is something I lean heavily on.

    And that being said, there's nobody to challenge BSU and SDSU in the Mountain West, so that's not much of a reach. UNLV will put it together soon boys, I promise. Looking for a nice number for a win totals bet from them this year.

  6. #6
    ChiTownTeaBagger
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ralphie Halves View Post
    I buy the Athlon mag every year and really like it, but their predictions are wack. They don't factor in coaching enough IMO, which is something I lean heavily on.

    And that being said, there's nobody to challenge BSU and SDSU in the Mountain West, so that's not much of a reach. UNLV will put it together soon boys, I promise. Looking for a nice number for a win totals bet from them this year.
    Phil Steele released the South Point's win totals for all teams a couple days ago and shows UNLV at 5.5 (o+110/u-130), FWIW.

    http://philsteele.com/Blogs/2017/JUNE17/DBJune05.html

    Edit: added source

  7. #7
    Ralphie Halves
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    Quote Originally Posted by ChiTownTeaBagger View Post
    Phil Steele released the South Point's win totals for all teams a couple days ago and shows UNLV at 5.5 (o+110/u-130), FWIW.

    http://philsteele.com/Blogs/2017/JUNE17/DBJune05.html

    Edit: added source
    Eh, that's actually a really good number. May not play after all.

  8. #8
    gojetsgomoxies
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    i agree that continued major improvement at UNLV should occur... somewhat reminds me of schiano and rutgers which was a positive trend you could have played for years. probably won't make it where rutgers did but idea is exactly the same.

  9. #9
    Ralphie Halves
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    Quote Originally Posted by gojetsgomoxies View Post
    i agree that continued major improvement at UNLV should occur... somewhat reminds me of schiano and rutgers which was a positive trend you could have played for years. probably won't make it where rutgers did but idea is exactly the same.
    Coach Tony Sanchez already has this team over-achieving, he's already raised more money for the program than any football coach in its history, he's bringing in the caliber of recruits we've never had before, and if we didn't lose 6 WRs last year and a handful of defensive guys, last year would have been a different story.

    Lots of reason for optimism here going forward.

  10. #10
    BigdaddyQH
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    Here are last years rankings of the mags as far as their predictions go. Steele is terrible, finishing tied for 10th, behind Athlon (1) USA Today (3), ESPN (7) the Sporting News (8) and tied with Lindy's.


    1 Athlon 137 4 5 3 3 8 3 13 16 11 5 4 10 6 7 9 5 10 15
    2 PickSixPreviews 141½ 5 5 5 5 8 3 13 14 11 7 6 10 6 7 10 8 7 11½
    3 USA Today 144 4 7 3 6 8 2 16 12 7 8 6 9 6 11 12 5 8 14
    4t Cap Heresy 145 4 7 2 5 6 5 11 14 11 7 8 10 8 7 10 7 12 11
    4t Sports Crunchers 145 4 7 6 7 8 3 15 11 9 6 4 10 6 7 9 9 13 11
    6 Arena Fanatic 145½ 4 4½ 0 2½ 9 9 16 16 13 2 8 9 8 6 10 5 6 17½
    7 ESPN 146 4 4 5 4 7 4 10 13 11 5 8 9 7 7 12 9 10 17
    8t McIllece Sports 147 4 7 6 9 10 5 9 16 9 5 8 9 3 7 11 5 8 16
    8t The Sporting News 147 4 7 4 5 8 2 13 13 11 6 6 8 8 9 9 8 11 15
    10t DRatings.com 148 4 7 4 3 8 3 11 14 11 8 6 10 6 11 9 8 11 14
    10t Gold Sheet 148 4 5 5 3 8 3 11 14 9 8 8 6 6 11 13 8 10 16
    10t Lindy's 148 4 7 5 7 10 6 11 11 11 7 6 6 6 9 9 9 7 17
    10t Phil Steele 148 6½ 7 5½ 3½ 8 3 16½ 15 13 8 3 9½ 5 7 9 7½ 8 13

    Steele was #1 in 2013 and 14, fell to #3 in 2015 and 10th last season. Not good.
    Last edited by BigdaddyQH; 06-10-17 at 08:26 PM.

  11. #11
    Ralphie Halves
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    Quote Originally Posted by BigdaddyQH View Post
    Here are last years rankings of the mags as far as their predictions go. Steele is terrible, finishing tied for 10th, behind Athlon (1) USA Today (3), ESPN (7) the Sporting News (8) and tied with Lindy's.


    1 Athlon 137 4 5 3 3 8 3 13 16 11 5 4 10 6 7 9 5 10 15
    2 PickSixPreviews 141½ 5 5 5 5 8 3 13 14 11 7 6 10 6 7 10 8 7 11½
    3 USA Today 144 4 7 3 6 8 2 16 12 7 8 6 9 6 11 12 5 8 14
    4t Cap Heresy 145 4 7 2 5 6 5 11 14 11 7 8 10 8 7 10 7 12 11
    4t Sports Crunchers 145 4 7 6 7 8 3 15 11 9 6 4 10 6 7 9 9 13 11
    6 Arena Fanatic 145½ 4 4½ 0 2½ 9 9 16 16 13 2 8 9 8 6 10 5 6 17½
    7 ESPN 146 4 4 5 4 7 4 10 13 11 5 8 9 7 7 12 9 10 17
    8t McIllece Sports 147 4 7 6 9 10 5 9 16 9 5 8 9 3 7 11 5 8 16
    8t The Sporting News 147 4 7 4 5 8 2 13 13 11 6 6 8 8 9 9 8 11 15
    10t DRatings.com 148 4 7 4 3 8 3 11 14 11 8 6 10 6 11 9 8 11 14
    10t Gold Sheet 148 4 5 5 3 8 3 11 14 9 8 8 6 6 11 13 8 10 16
    10t Lindy's 148 4 7 5 7 10 6 11 11 11 7 6 6 6 9 9 9 7 17
    10t Phil Steele 148 6½ 7 5½ 3½ 8 3 16½ 15 13 8 3 9½ 5 7 9 7½ 8 13

    Steele was #1 in 2013 and 14, fell to #3 in 2015 and 10th last season. Not good.
    Athlon got tops? I stopped paying attention to their rankings long ago, and got it more for the articles before the ranking and team pages, since those were always very well done.

    In the past, they would lean way too hard on returning players (even if those players were crap) and forget about coaching. Not the best formula.

  12. #12
    Capitols44
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    What no Oklahoma?

  13. #13
    BigdaddyQH
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    Quote Originally Posted by Capitols44 View Post
    What no Oklahoma?
    Oklahoma is in the Big 12 review. They are picked #1, and still are, even with the coaching change.

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