2016 SEC Season Football Preview
Looking for SEC Conference 2016 predictions? The nation’s premier college football conference remains so, thanks to a constant infusion of elite talent and religious-like zeal for the sport. The juggernaut Alabama Crimson Tide wrestled the National Championship back from Ohio State, the 2014-15 champ, in a shootout with the high-flying Clemson Tigers of the ACC.
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Despite some good programs from other conferences knocking on the door, the SEC remains the gold standard in NCAA football.
While LSU and Tennessee also look great – the Volunteers have been steadily building a winning program under head coach Butch Jones – expect Alabama to be the pace car this season.
The following is a look at a few of the top contenders to win the 2016 SEC Championship, along with their odds (via Bovada Sportsbook).
SEC Conference 2016 Odds: Alabama Crimson Tide (+175)
Under head coach (and state legend) Nick Saban, the Tide not only win a lot of National Titles, they always look like a threat to repeat as champs the following year.
Skeptics may reference ‘Bama’s lack of experience under center with junior Cooper Bateman or redshirt frosh Blake Barnett taking the job, but the Tide hit paydirt with inexperienced Jake Coker last year.
As usual, the rest of the Tide’s roster is stacked.
They feature two elite receiving weapons in WR Calvin Ridley and TE O.J. Howard. The sophomore RB duo of Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough offer oodles of power and speed.
The O-line is in good shape with junior OT Cam Robinson and center Ross Pierschbacher.
This is just on offense. Defensively, Alabama has future NFL first-round picks like Reuben Foster (LB), Jonathan Allen (DL), and Eddie Jackson at safety.
Clearly, this team is not simply looking for the SEC title. The Crimson Tide are going after the whole enchilada again.
SEC Conference 2016 Odds: LSU Tigers (+350)
Louisiana State football is hearkening back to its traditional strengths, the strengths of which won them a couple of national championships in the past decade. Given their personnel, it’s a smart idea.
The Tigers have RB Leonard Fournette, maybe the best player in the country not named Deshaun Watson (Clemson QB).
Football fans will get one final season admiring this beast in the college game. With strong backups as well, LSU has the best RB corps in the nation.
There are other studs like WR Malachi Dupre, C Ethan Pocic and the best defensive secondary in the country, led by CB Tre’Davious White.
If LSU gets improved quarterback play from junior Brandon Harris, they will be a tough customer and will give Alabama a run for its money.
SEC Conference 2016 Odds: Tennessee Volunteers (+350)
UT has a bogeyman in the form of the divisional rival Florida Gators, a program the Vols have lost to 11 straight times.
If they can finally get past the Gators, the Vols could go undefeated and should win the SEC East. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs is excellent, while RB Jalen Hurd is among the conference’s best (1,288 yards, 12 TDs last year).
The Vols return four starters on the offensive line and have leaders on defense like DE Derek Barnett, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin and DB Cameron Sutton.
The Vols also have an explosive special teams duo with Sutton and speedster Evan Berry.
Coach Jones has been patient in building this program; it may finally bear fruit in 2016.
SEC Conference 2016 Odds: Georgia Bulldogs (+900)
I already claimed that LSU has the best running backs in the country, but Georgia can rival the Tigers with juniors Nick Chubb and Sonny Michel.
They combined for over 1,800 rush yards and 15 majors a year ago.
Georgia also bagged America’s top QB recruit in Jacob Eason this offseason; he enrolled early for spring practice and should start on Sept. 3 against North Carolina.
Also keep an eye on TE Jeb Blazevich, he’s a breakout candidate as a safety valve for an inexperienced Eason.
These truths give Georgia tantalizing potential, although depth-wise, the Bulldogs seem to be a little behind the top three programs in the conference in 2016.
First-year head coach Kirby Smart hopes to take a team that has only three SEC home games to the promised land. He might just do it, too.
SEC Conference 2016 Odds
- Alabama +175
- LSU +350
- Tennessee +350
- Georgia +900
- Mississippi +1000
- Texas A&M +1600
- Auburn +1600
- Florida +1600
- Arkansas +2000
- Missouri +5000
- Mississippi State +5000
- Kentucky +5000
- South Carolina +6600
- Vanderbilt +10000
SEC Conference: 2016 Prediction
LSU (+350). Fournette is the best RB in the Nation.
What do you think about our SEC Conference 2016 Predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2016!
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