Handicapping SEC Conference Football
The SEC is loaded with very good teams. Though there are some favourites in each division in Alabama and Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Texas A&M and LSU should all be good this season and one upset could easily shake things up from the expected path.
Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide
Win Total Over/Under: Georgia 9.5 Alabama 11
BCS Champion Odds: Georgia +1400 Alabama +250
Conference Winning Odds: Georgia +400 Alabama -110
SEC Conference Overview
Speaking of upsets there are definitely some other teams not mentioned that could create just such a result. Ole Miss is on the rise and Vanderbilt never backs down plus I think Mizzou could easily rise up and bite somebody after getting acclimated last season. There is a reason this conference is considered the best in America.
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Why Georgia and Alabama will have the most wins in the SEC
Talent:
Georgia – The Bulldogs are blessed with the best backfield in America. QB Aaron Murray is beginning his 4th year as a starter and is coming off his best season yet. With him is Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, the best tandem of tailbacks in the nation. Oh and they are returning all 5 starters on the offensive line from last year too.
There is some concern that that only 3 starters are returning on defense but they still have lots of talent to work with and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has proven to be very good at putting together an aggressive group.
Alabama – The Crimson Tide also have a very experienced QB in A.J. McCarron and better wide receivers than Georgia, especially Amari Cooper who is special. At running back T.J. Yeldon was almost as good as Gurley as a freshman but the rest of the backs are not as tested in the SEC as Marshall is and they may have more challenges running behind a line that returns just two starters.
Alabama definitely has the edge on defense where 7 starters return from last year’s #1 overall defense in the nation. They lose a little star power every year but new guys step in and they barely miss a beat.
Schedule:
Georgia – Georgia begins the season with a honey of a game at Clemson, another top 10 team. The other non-conference games should be breezy though I wouldn’t completely dismiss Georgia Tech who they play the last week of the season. If they are perfect in the SEC play at that point they could certainly be looking ahead.
In crossover their schedule has LSU but it is at home and they should win. Their season will hinge on beating South Carolina and Florida, the first at home and the second in Jacksonville. Its not an easy schedule but it is manageable for this team.
Alabama – Bama’s toughest games will definitely be within the conference because Virginia Tech just isn’t what it used to be. Colorado State, who is coached by former offensive coordinator Jim McElwain might keep it close for a little while but in the end they are no match for them. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
In the SEC they get the weakest teams in the East and now there is a possibility that Johnny Manziel could be ineligible making their revenge match against Texas A&M potentially much easier (and more boring). With LSU at home their schedule couldn’t get much easier this year
Coaching:
Georgia – If Mark Richt gets fired after leading the Bulldogs to another 10+ win season I will personally create a school and let him coach its football team. I know familiarity breeds contempt but the heat on him is undeserved. He has led them to eight 10+ win seasons since he arrived in 2001 – a feat they had achieved only 11 times total in their history before he got there.
I guess until he starts winning the really big games people will continue to knock him but this guy is setting up for a Frank Beamer like career. Impressive.
Alabama – I suppose there isn’t much else to say about Nick Saban. I have to admit than when he took over at Alabama I didn’t think he would have this much success though. He kills it in recruiting and runs a “program” as well as anybody in the country.
The results speak for themselves and every year he is losing members of this staff with little or no effect. The future is looking good too.
Prediction:
Georgia: 12-0
Alabama: 12-0
These two teams are on a collision course to meet again in the SEC Championship Game, this time as undefeated opponents.
This will not only set up a great game but also all the speculation about a rematch in this last year of the BCS. If it all comes to be it will only more fully cement that a playoff system was necessary.
The ironic thing about both of these teams being undefeated this season and potentially meeting again is that with all of their personnel losses to the NFL they were both probably better last season. Here’s hoping we get what we want.
