It’s not even July yet and already the anticipation is for the upcoming college football season is just jumping off the charts for fans like me. There is no denying that we love all sports but there is something extra special about college football. Whether its team pride, state pride, alumni or just the sport in general our long wait is almost at an end.
Over the next few weeks I plan on doing part preview, part prediction for the major and perhaps a few minor conferences. Today I will start with the SEC West division.
#1 Alabama
The Tide come into the 2010 season as defending National Champions. It was their first National Title since 1992 and their 13th overall. The Tide will embark on yet another title run with 8 returning starters on offense but only 2 on one of the best defenses in college football last season. Even with so many new starters on the defensive side of the ball many of those “in the know” are predicting this defense to be every bit as good if not better. There is no doubt though, the absence of Arenas, McClain and Cody will surely be missed. On the offensive side of things many expect a more open and higher scoring style. Naturally time will tell and anything can happen but how can bet against a Nick Saban team and a Crimson Tide type legacy?
#2 Arkansas
I have The Razorbacks a notch above many experts out there. I don’t think I know more than they do and with reports of Bobby Petrino putting his house up for sale according to Arkansas News I may be backing a lame duck. If Petrino is just downsizing his living arrangements to better suit the economy then his returning of 9 offensive starters and 7 on defense bodes well for the Razorbacks to be a serious contender in the west.
#3 Auburn
Most have Auburn in the #2 spot on this list and for good reason. Auburn will be returning 7 starters on offense and another 8 on defense to a team that went 7-5 overall but only 3-5 in conference play last year. They played tough last season but just always seemed to make that critical error or suffered through scoring droughts but look for huge improvements this season.
#4 Mississippi State
Placing the Bulldogs in this spot won’t have many agreeing with me but I got a hunch. Mississippi played solid defense last season, in fact they played really good defense but they just couldn’t match the same intensity on offense for the most part. This will be Bill Mullen’s second year as head coach and expect to see great improvements out of the offense to compliment the defense and give them some rest time on the sidelines.
#5 LSU
How can I possibly wait until the #5 spot to finally get LSU on the board? Simple enough, I like the other team’s chances more. LSU should be solid as they will return 6 offensive players and with all due respect there is some serious talent in those players. They will also return 4 starters on defense. The Tigers and coach Les Miles can never be overlooked but I really expect a down season and a near bottom or bottom finish to the season. In all fairness though if their defense performs better than predicted they will definitely be much higher up on this list at seasons end and I will be exactly what I am, an amateur playing professional.
#6 Mississippi
The Rebels finished last season below .500 with a 5-7 overall record and a disappointing 3-5 conference record. They will be returning 4 starters to the offense and another 6 to the defense. I will tell you a player to watch for the Rebels, sophomore running back Rodney Scott is a serious stud. I haven’t seen their starting line-up but I’m banking he will be in it and if he is look for him to make the All SEC team. As for the Rebels though look for them to be basement dwellers this season.
I hate to be one of those that simply falls in line but Alabama is the odds on favorite to represent the west in the SEC Championship but depending on the value I would give serious consideration to Arkansas to unseat the Tide from the throne.
Season Prediction:
Alabama 11-1 (7-1)
Arkansas 9-3 (6-2)
Auburn 8-4 (5-3)
Mississippi St 8-4 (4-4)
LSU 7-5 (4-4)
Ole Miss 7-5 (3-5)
Over the next few weeks I plan on doing part preview, part prediction for the major and perhaps a few minor conferences. Today I will start with the SEC West division.
#1 Alabama
The Tide come into the 2010 season as defending National Champions. It was their first National Title since 1992 and their 13th overall. The Tide will embark on yet another title run with 8 returning starters on offense but only 2 on one of the best defenses in college football last season. Even with so many new starters on the defensive side of the ball many of those “in the know” are predicting this defense to be every bit as good if not better. There is no doubt though, the absence of Arenas, McClain and Cody will surely be missed. On the offensive side of things many expect a more open and higher scoring style. Naturally time will tell and anything can happen but how can bet against a Nick Saban team and a Crimson Tide type legacy?
#2 Arkansas
I have The Razorbacks a notch above many experts out there. I don’t think I know more than they do and with reports of Bobby Petrino putting his house up for sale according to Arkansas News I may be backing a lame duck. If Petrino is just downsizing his living arrangements to better suit the economy then his returning of 9 offensive starters and 7 on defense bodes well for the Razorbacks to be a serious contender in the west.
#3 Auburn
Most have Auburn in the #2 spot on this list and for good reason. Auburn will be returning 7 starters on offense and another 8 on defense to a team that went 7-5 overall but only 3-5 in conference play last year. They played tough last season but just always seemed to make that critical error or suffered through scoring droughts but look for huge improvements this season.
#4 Mississippi State
Placing the Bulldogs in this spot won’t have many agreeing with me but I got a hunch. Mississippi played solid defense last season, in fact they played really good defense but they just couldn’t match the same intensity on offense for the most part. This will be Bill Mullen’s second year as head coach and expect to see great improvements out of the offense to compliment the defense and give them some rest time on the sidelines.
#5 LSU
How can I possibly wait until the #5 spot to finally get LSU on the board? Simple enough, I like the other team’s chances more. LSU should be solid as they will return 6 offensive players and with all due respect there is some serious talent in those players. They will also return 4 starters on defense. The Tigers and coach Les Miles can never be overlooked but I really expect a down season and a near bottom or bottom finish to the season. In all fairness though if their defense performs better than predicted they will definitely be much higher up on this list at seasons end and I will be exactly what I am, an amateur playing professional.
#6 Mississippi
The Rebels finished last season below .500 with a 5-7 overall record and a disappointing 3-5 conference record. They will be returning 4 starters to the offense and another 6 to the defense. I will tell you a player to watch for the Rebels, sophomore running back Rodney Scott is a serious stud. I haven’t seen their starting line-up but I’m banking he will be in it and if he is look for him to make the All SEC team. As for the Rebels though look for them to be basement dwellers this season.
I hate to be one of those that simply falls in line but Alabama is the odds on favorite to represent the west in the SEC Championship but depending on the value I would give serious consideration to Arkansas to unseat the Tide from the throne.
Season Prediction:
Alabama 11-1 (7-1)
Arkansas 9-3 (6-2)
Auburn 8-4 (5-3)
Mississippi St 8-4 (4-4)
LSU 7-5 (4-4)
Ole Miss 7-5 (3-5)
