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

[BrunswickDawg]

Can't argue with too much in that post. I would have added - "this is what OM should be able to do, but with everything going on off field, they could easily go 2-10. They don't have the mental toughness. Add to it a thin skinned coach tossing players under the bus after a bad loss, and this team could give up."

[shoeless joe]

I'll be surprised if auburn only loses 1 and bama loses zero. But can't argue with where you've got em ranked. Would really enjoy the year if we're #4 outta the west

[Bothrops]

Wouldn't change anything. I hate it, but Auburn gonna be good.

[Coldsleeve Jr.]

Hard to argue with that. Just for the sake of it tho, I'd bump SC up in the east. I think they'll be much improved. And I'd swap state w LSU in west

[PassInterference]

I think OM hired Longo to take over when Freeze ascends to unemployment.

[Turfdawg67]

I agree with everything except UGA... they'll find away to lose an unexpected game, give UF the East and then UF will get drilled in Championship game again.

[Drugs Delaney]

With a kicker and a little stouter D we'd won 7 or 8 last year.

[lamont]

With a kicker and a little stouter D we'd won 7 or 8 last year.

We still don't have a kicker and this year's SEC has a higher floor with better QB play

[biggun]

With a kicker and a little stouter D we'd won 7 or 8 last year.

The jury is still out on both for this year too.

We have a HS All American punter as our starting FG kicker. How can that go wrong?****

The secondary scares me the most. And T Cleveland already being penciled in as a starting cb does little to ease those fears as he struggled at corner pre ACL. Last year our safeties struggled in space, maybe the Juco's are ready. They best be

[ShotgunDawg]

I'd feel much about beating Auburn if Gus hadn't shown last year that his offense can work without a dual threat QB.

[IMissJack]

A&M is my last place team in West. Start at UCLA, and no proven QB.

ETA: if A&M gets beaten badly by UCLA the first game, the fans are going to bail on him. They are already on edge.

[bulldawg28]

8 wins minimum. I didn't know where that will land us

[ShotgunDawg]

I'm getting cautiously optimistic about us the closer we get to the season, & that could rise if we get Hodges, the transfer from Texas.

If we get Hodges, then we are talking about an OL that can hang with top teams. Throw in Fitz's breakaway speed & Aeris' ability to fall forward & run between the tackles, & I think you have an offense that can run the ball on everyone but Bama.

I think there are the ingredients to be a better running team than the 2014 team.

IMO Fitz is a better runner than Dak, Robinson & Aeris are similar with Aeris being smarter & less selfish, &, while the OL in 2014 had experience, I think this one is more talented.

That leaves us needing to find someone to take Bear's spot & Malcolm Johnson's.

IDK, I'm getting optimistic. Some of that is based on getting Hodges & him being better than what we currently have.

The 2014 defense had pro-bowlers on it, & our defense last season was in the 100s. So, having the 2014 defense is a pipe dream. Anything in the top 50 or so, should give us a quality team.

[Bothrops]

Getting Hodges definitely makes us fans more confident. Hopefully the OL chemistry would benefit too.

[WSOPdawg]

I'm getting cautiously optimistic about us the closer we get to the season, & that could rise if we get Hodges, the transfer from Texas.

If we get Hodges, then we are talking about an OL that can hang with top teams. Throw in Fitz's breakaway speed & Aeris' ability to fall forward & run between the tackles, & I think you have an offense that can run the ball on everyone but Bama.

I think there are the ingredients to be a better running team than the 2014 team.



Any idea when Hodges will announce his transfer plans? Is he or has he visited us yet? that would be awesome if he comes our way.

[Dawg61]

Florida
Tennessee
Georgia
Kentucky
Vandy
USCe
Mizzou

Bama
Auburn
MSU
LSU
aTm
Arkansas
OM

[ShotgunDawg]

Any idea when Hodges will announce his transfer plans? Is he or has he visited us yet? that would be awesome if he comes our way.

He's visiting us this week. Maybe he decides when he visits.

The caution I have in getting excited about him though is that academic issues sometimes come into to play with these types of situations. Perhaps others know more than me, but it's my understanding that our graduate school is somewhat difficult to get into, & thus getting graduate transfers isn't the easiest thing for us to do.

[DownwardDawg]

Who is auburns QB?

[Dawg61]

Who is auburns QB?

Sean White and his 15 yard max throwing distance

[DownwardDawg]

Sean White and his 15 yard max throwing distance

Lol. He's the reason they need to be moved down the list a little then. I was thinking they must have another Cam Newton for all the love they're getting.

[DancingRabbit]

Sean White and his 15 yard max throwing distance

Much of the media is blowing the Baylor transfer like he was the second coming of Jeremy Johnson (Heisman candidate).

[ShotgunDawg]

Much of the media is blowing the Baylor transfer like he was the second coming of Jeremy Johnson (Heisman candidate).

Jarrett Stidham is really good.

I realize he hasn't played in the SEC yet & that may lead to some growing pains, but, if Auburn's offense was adequate with White at QB, then I'm not sure how it isn't better with Stidham.

The thing that no one is really talking about when it comes to Auburn is about how their offense really struggled down the stretch last year. Almost like DCs figured them out.

Here are their last 5 games:

Vanderbilt - 23 points
Georgia - 7 points
Alabama A&M - 55 points
Bama - 12 points
Oklahoma - 19 points.

Now 4 of those last 5 teams are extremely talented, but, other than Bama, it's not like those defenses were known as juggernauts last season. Throw in the fact that they lost behemoths on the DL & may struggle a little more on defense this year, & you have some question marks.

Not sure if it matters, but bears watching.

[lamont]

Sean White and his 15 yard max throwing distance

Uhhhh no. Stidham is Auburn's QB

[lamont]

Much of the media is blowing the Baylor transfer like he was the second coming of Jeremy Johnson (Heisman candidate).

Stidham will be a good college QB

[Coldsleeve Jr.]

Yeah Stidham will make that offense vastly improved from last year. Sean White won't see the field if Stidham is healthy

[Dawg61]

Uhhhh no. Stidham is Auburn's QB

Ok then I eagerly await what the QB whisperer Gus can do with his latest project

https://media.giphy.com/media/MrptWgpDxWaWI/giphy.gif

[ShotgunDawg]

Ok then I eagerly await what the QB whisperer Gus can do with his latest project

https://media.giphy.com/media/MrptWgpDxWaWI/giphy.gif

That's the problem, I'm not sure he's a project.

This is Art Briles' guy, not Malzahn's. This is closer to Cam Newton working with Mullen & Meyer for a year at Florida.

[Dawg61]

That's the problem, I'm not sure he's a project.

This is Art Briles' guy, not Malzahn's. This is closer to Cam Newton working with Mullen & Meyer for a year at Florida.

The 5th string QB at Baylor would average 400 passing yards vs Big 12 defenses. It's the system not the player for Baylor.

[Todd4State]

Jarrett Stidham is really good.

I realize he hasn't played in the SEC yet & that may lead to some growing pains, but, if Auburn's offense was adequate with White at QB, then I'm not sure how it isn't better with Stidham.

The thing that no one is really talking about when it comes to Auburn is about how their offense really struggled down the stretch last year. Almost like DCs figured them out.

Here are their last 5 games:

Vanderbilt - 23 points
Georgia - 7 points
Alabama A&M - 55 points
Bama - 12 points
Oklahoma - 19 points.

Now 4 of those last 5 teams are extremely talented, but, other than Bama, it's not like those defenses were known as juggernauts last season. Throw in the fact that they lost behemoths on the DL & may struggle a little more on defense this year, & you have some question marks.

Not sure if it matters, but bears watching.

I think college defensive coordinators are adjusting to the HUNH offenses some too. I think at least part of the advantage they had was teams weren't accustomed to going that speed and it was an advantage for the HUNH teams.

[ShotgunDawg]

The 5th string QB at Baylor would average 400 passing yards vs Big 12 defenses. It's the system not the player for Baylor.

I don't disagree with that one bit, but the kid was a 98 rated, #2 QB in the country out of high school.

Here he is at Baylor. I'm not saying he'll be ALL-SEC or win the Heisman, but he's a shit ton better than White


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwrRAoW0qKw

[Dawg61]

Agreed he is better than White

[QuadrupleOption]

I don't disagree with that one bit, but the kid was a 98 rated, #2 QB in the country out of high school.

Here he is at Baylor. I'm not saying he'll be ALL-SEC or win the Heisman, but he's a shit ton better than White


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwrRAoW0qKw

Sean White was highly rated coming out of high school too. And again, Stidham's production came against shitty Big 12 defenses. I'm not sold. I may be wrong but until an Auburn QB shows it on the field I'm not believing the hype. Auburn will be beatable this year.

[ShotgunDawg]

Sean White was highly rated coming out of high school too. And again, Stidham's production came against shitty Big 12 defenses. I'm not sold. I may be wrong but until an Auburn QB shows it on the field I'm not believing the hype. Auburn will be beatable this year.

White & Stidham as high school prospects weren't close.

White was a WAAAY overrated 4 star that was bumped because his high school team was good & the Auburn hype. Realistically, he should've been an 88 rated guy.

That being said, Stidham was a 98 rated #2 QB in the country. Your comparing apples & oranges.

I feel ridiculous here because I think the media has blown Stidham out of proportion as well, but here I am defending him because some people think he's Jeremy Johnson. He ain't Jeremy Johnson.

He & Pay Shea are actually fairly similar talents. Take that for what it's worth

[WPS]

but nobody lost more playmakers than UPig from 2016

I would say A&M lost just as much, but I can see why we'd be picked low given the losses on offense. I actually have more confidence in the offense than the defense though.

Jared Cornelius is back (one of the most efficient slot WRs in 2016 per PFF)
4 OL starters back including the best C in the country
RB depth is an issue, but Devwah Whaley should replace Rawleigh Williams like Williams replaced Alex Collins from 2015
#2 JUCO WR and #1 JUCO TE coming in with plenty of 4* TEs already on the roster

On defense the secondary should be decent but the run defense was so bad last year I'm just hesitant to trust them even with the move to the 3-4 and a new DC. I think you could put 4-7 in the west in any order and have a good argument though overall.

[HSVDawg]

If Freeze holds his squad together for anything better than 4-8, I'll have a hell of a lot more respect for him than I do now. I see no way they finish anywhere other than dead last, regardless of how good their offense is. And I think even that is up for debate with them losing Engram. Nobody's talking about that much, but he was a huge loss for them and was one of the biggest mismatches in the SEC for the past 4 years. They couldn't even put up but 20 on our historically pathetic D last year without him on the field.

[NCDawg]

Agreed he is better than White

If he's better than White, we're probably going to be in a bunch of trouble. White looked like Tom Brady against us last year.

[ShotgunDawg]

If he's better than White, we're probably going to be in a bunch of trouble. White looked like Tom Brady against us last year.

Well, we are in a bunch of trouble vs Auburn unless our defense gets significantly better under Grantham.

The other factor is that our offense will be better and their defense should be a little worse due to losing much of their pass rush. That alone should shorten the game.

Remember, when we played them last year, we were pre Aeris.

[lamont]

Well, we are in a bunch of trouble vs Auburn unless our defense gets significantly better under Grantham.

The other factor is that our offense will be better and their defense should be a little worse due to losing much of their pass rush. That alone should shorten the game.

Remember, when we played them last year, we were pre Aeris.

Auburn returns their back 7 and has some more talent stepping in on the DL. I expect their D to be better than last year because they were so young at LB.

[ShotgunDawg]

Auburn returns their back 7 and has some more talent stepping in on the DL. I expect their D to be better than last year because they were so young at LB.

Maybe.....

Montravious Adams & Carl Lawson were a hellacious pair combining for 13.5 sacks last season & 22 tackles for losses. Lawson had 9 & Adams 4.5. Replacing those two won't be easy.

For perspective, the next two highest sack leaders were Marlon Davidson & Andrew Williams with 2.5 each.

They may do it, but that's a ton of production to replace. My feel is that they will probably replace Adams' production fine, but Lawson was an absolute difference maker that may have made others around him better.

We'll see

[lamont]

I know that the 5-star Brown kid we so desperately tried to sign couldn't make the starting line-up this Spring. And he is going to be good

[bulldawg28]

White & Stidham as high school prospects weren't close.

White was a WAAAY overrated 4 star that was bumped because his high school team was good & the Auburn hype. Realistically, he should've been an 88 rated guy.

That being said, Stidham was a 98 rated #2 QB in the country. Your comparing apples & oranges.

I feel ridiculous here because I think the media has blown Stidham out of proportion as well, but here I am defending him because some people think he's Jeremy Johnson. He ain't Jeremy Johnson.

He & Pay Shea are actually fairly similar talents. Take that for what it's worth

After watching that world beater of 2 minute clip I realized quickly his arm is just add weak as White. I hope have more to show because that was not impressive. This guy looks like LSU's transfer. The kid is average. You guys said the same about LSU's guy last year. And they're right on the same level. The difference is LSU has more talent.

[ShotgunDawg]

After watching that world beater of 2 minute clip I realized quickly his arm is just add weak as White. I hope have more to show because that was not impressive. This guy looks like LSU's transfer. The kid is average. You guys said the same about LSU's guy last year. And they're right on the same level. The difference is LSU has more talent.

:confused: interesting opinion

[biggun]

I'm getting cautiously optimistic about us the closer we get to the season, & that could rise if we get Hodges, the transfer from Texas.

If we get Hodges, then we are talking about an OL that can hang with top teams. Throw in Fitz's breakaway speed & Aeris' ability to fall forward & run between the tackles, & I think you have an offense that can run the ball on everyone but Bama.

I think there are the ingredients to be a better running team than the 2014 team.

IMO Fitz is a better runner than Dak, Robinson & Aeris are similar with Aeris being smarter & less selfish, &, while the OL in 2014 had experience, I think this one is more talented.

That leaves us needing to find someone to take Bear's spot & Malcolm Johnson's.

IDK, I'm getting optimistic. Some of that is based on getting Hodges & him being better than what we currently have.

The 2014 defense had pro-bowlers on it, & our defense last season was in the 100s. So, having the 2014 defense is a pipe dream. Anything in the top 50 or so, should give us a quality team.

A Williams may be smarter & less selfish but judging him from what he has done on the field thus far, JRob is still the better RB and it's not even remotely close. JRob was All SEC and a beast that required several defenders to bring him down.

[Dawg61]

Only player on Auburn that scares me is Pettway. Gus ran him up the A gap literally 30 times vs us last year. Almost in a row. That was the most frustrated I have ever been watching a Mullen coached game. He and Sirmon could not stop Pettway straight up their ass 30 times. That's how you stop Auburn. Don't let them quick snap and run straight up the middle 30 times in a game. They have zero offense if you stop the most simple running play ever.

[ShotgunDawg]

A Williams may be smarter & less selfish but judging him from what he has done on the field thus far, JRob is still the better RB and it's not even remotely close. JRob was All SEC and a beast that required several defenders to bring him down.

Why would I judge them by what they've done?

That's not talent evaluation, that's just looking at stats.

From a talent perspective, although they do it differently, I believe Aeris and Robinson will provide similar production and are similar in talent.

I don't understand people who talk about "what have they done"

That's not scouting or evaluating. Scouting and evaluating is about telling you what's going to happen before it happens.

[lamont]

After watching that world beater of 2 minute clip I realized quickly his arm is just add weak as White. I hope have more to show because that was not impressive. This guy looks like LSU's transfer. The kid is average. You guys said the same about LSU's guy last year. And they're right on the same level. The difference is LSU has more talent.

Hahahaha. I'm saving this post for Auburn week

[ShotgunDawg]

Hahahaha. I'm saving this post for Auburn week

Agree. Should be interesting to look back. Lol

[Dawg61]

Hahahaha. I'm saving this post for Auburn week

https://media.giphy.com/media/srTYyZ1BjBtGU/giphy.gif

[ShotgunDawg]

After watching that world beater of 2 minute clip I realized quickly his arm is just add weak as White. I hope have more to show because that was not impressive. This guy looks like LSU's transfer. The kid is average. You guys said the same about LSU's guy last year. And they're right on the same level. The difference is LSU has more talent.

BTW, Stidham has a 36" verticle & rushed for 1,700+ yards his last two years of high school

[lamont]

BTW, Stidham has a 36" verticle & rushed for 1,700+ yards his last two years of high school

nawwwww mane- he is Danny Etling

[NCDawg]

Only player on Auburn that scares me is Pettway. Gus ran him up the A gap literally 30 times vs us last year. Almost in a row. That was the most frustrated I have ever been watching a Mullen coached game. He and Sirmon could not stop Pettway straight up their ass 30 times. That's how you stop Auburn. Don't let them quick snap and run straight up the middle 30 times in a game. They have zero offense if you stop the most simple running play ever.

Agreed, but White also dissected our DB's all game against us, so I'm not sure they would have "zero offense" even if we stopped Pettway. We have to put more pressure on White if we are going to have a chance of winning- can't just give him all day like we did last year. Auburn has another back named Johnson who is very good also.

[lamont]

Auburn was also playing true freshmen WR's last year. Those guys will be better this year

[BuckyIsAB****]

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

You lost me at UK at home is a toss up game

[BuckyIsAB****]

I'm getting cautiously optimistic about us the closer we get to the season, & that could rise if we get Hodges, the transfer from Texas.

If we get Hodges, then we are talking about an OL that can hang with top teams. Throw in Fitz's breakaway speed & Aeris' ability to fall forward & run between the tackles, & I think you have an offense that can run the ball on everyone but Bama.

I think there are the ingredients to be a better running team than the 2014 team.

IMO Fitz is a better runner than Dak, Robinson & Aeris are similar with Aeris being smarter & less selfish, &, while the OL in 2014 had experience, I think this one is more talented.

That leaves us needing to find someone to take Bear's spot & Malcolm Johnson's.

IDK, I'm getting optimistic. Some of that is based on getting Hodges & him being better than what we currently have.

The 2014 defense had pro-bowlers on it, & our defense last season was in the 100s. So, having the 2014 defense is a pipe dream. Anything in the top 50 or so, should give us a quality team.

The 2014 defense couldve been better had it not been handicapped by the Meddler. Not Cohen. The real Meddler. I think Mullen is done meddling though, Grantham wouldnt come here without knowing that

[lamont]

You lost me at UK at home is a toss up game

Based on what? They beat us last year and have more starters returning than us. Only a fool doesn't consider that a toss-up. Don't look at the logo on the helmet- look at the players and results

[PassInterference]

I agree.

But hopefully our RBs go Boobie Dixon ok them.