Random Poster's SEC Predictions- 2017

[lamont]

Its that time of year again where hope springs eternal and State fans talk about who is going to step up and surprise this season. The SEC is loaded with QB's and RB's but plenty of teams looking for WR's to step up. Lets see what the crystal ball has laid out this season.

SEC East

SEC East is a 2 horse race but the division is improving finally.

1. Georgia- really good D and an O that will improve as the season moves along
2. Florida- early season schedule is a killer for a team that is searching for a QB. They finally have depth there though.
3. Kentucky- take them here because of Tenn's SEC schedule being too much. Another improved season for the Cats
4. Tennessee- May be the end for Butch. Playing Bama and LSU from the West plus @Fla does him no favors
5. Vandy- solid D and maybe a little more O this year
6. SC- Boom still improving that roster but needs more playmakers
7. Mizzou- somebody has to finish last in an improved Eastern division

Now for the important division- THE SEC West

Probably the hardest year to judge the SEC West that I can remember from top to bottom. The top 2 are obvious but the rest could go all kinds of ways. Let's take a stab at it.

1. Alabama- (8-0)weapons on offense and a talented OL. Pretty easy schedule with LSU at home plus Tenn and Vandy from the East. Iron Bowl will be for the SEC Title and I'm simply going with the team with the most talent from top to bottom.

2. Auburn- (7-1)Very good at RB, OL, LB, and in the Secondary. QB should be a strength this year- especially with that running game to lean on. WR's are a year older now and will be better. Talent is there on the DL- but those guys have to be ready to step up immediately. Wont be surprised one bit if they beat Bama at home to win the West. Has to go on the road to beat LSU- but gets Georgia, State, OM, and Bama at home.

It's a crapshoot from here.

LSU has the most talent of the rest- but a ridiculous schedule, including 5 SEC road games and only 3 home games.
State will be improved but how much?
OM will be very good on offense but not very good on D. LB play will be atrocious and their DC will get exposed
UPig lost playmakers but should be improved on D. Very young at TB
A&M has some talent but will have a young QB and remains soft on D

So whats the verdict?

3. LSU- Got to go with LSU because of talent and Coaching- but too much schedule in 2017 to contend. @Bama, @Fla, @OM, @Tenn, @State. 9 wins for Orgeron this year would be a good season. QB is nothing special but solid. Back-ups are green true freshmen if he goes down. TB is really good with a good OL- they will lean on that and hope Etling can make enough throws to be a consistent offense. WR's are inexperienced but talented. Veteran D with some young talent sprinkled in as usual. Their Coordinators are very good. Aranda will have this bunch playing well.

4. State- Good QB and solid RB's. Tough early schedule will cause problems- but by October could be a pretty good football team. OL has to gel with a new Center that didnt get any live Spring reps at the position. Questionable playmakers at WR. Should be improved on D but ILB depth and CB are still concerns. Worst case scenario is this team goes 2-6 in the SEC and finishes 6-6- which still pays me that $500 I put on the over 5.5 Vegas set. 2 of the Toss-up games are on the road- UPig and A&M with a 3rd one- Kentucky- at home. Got to win at least 1 of those if not 2. This team should be 2-3 heading into an October off week and how it responds will decide the season. The next 4 are BYU, Kentucky, @A&M, and UMass. Win those 4 to get to 6-3 facing the stretch and 8 wins is possible. Can it take 9 seasons for Mullen to finally exceed my expectations? Team is a year away from being good- but having a playmaker at QB in a down SEC West could get this team to 8 wins in 2017. Prediction- 7-5 in 2017

5. OM- Good on offense- Bad on defense. Schedule is their friend in 2017 though. Vandy at home. A&M at home, LSU at home. UPig at home. Only team in the West playing 12 Bowl games. How this team handles the Bama and Auburn beatings on the road will decide their season. Vandy, LSU, UPig, and @Kentucky follows those 2 losses. It's a chance for the Rebs to right the ship with 3 straight home games. I just hope Freeze is still their coach for the Egg Bowl.

6. Texas A&M- 2017 is the Sumlin Death March. Lots of wasted OL talent the last few years because of a soft D and QB issues. Now they have less OL talent with QB issues and a soft D.

7. UPig- Bert just unable to recruit a balanced roster in the same season. When good on D? Offense struggles. When good on O? Defense struggles. Should be an improved D in 2017- but nobody lost more playmakers than UPig from 2016. Good QB but doesnt have the rest around him to get that 3rd spot in the West. Winner of the A&M game in Dallas stays out of the cellar. I go with A&M based on schedule