2011 SEC Football Predictions


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The SEC is hands down the best conference in college football. In 2010 Auburn won the National Championship going a perfect 14-0. It was the fifth straight season that a team out of the SEC won it all. If that isn’t enough, just look at the number of players that this conference sends to the NFL each year. They led all conferences with 38 players selected in the 2011 NFL Draft, including five of the top six overall.

What really makes this conference special is the fact that they don’t just have a couple of teams that dominate each year. There are a number of teams out of both division who will come into the 2011 season with very high expectations. With the difficulty that comes with winning this conference, it should come as no surprise that the team that has won the Conference Championship Game has went on to play for the National Title the past five years.

With so many good teams in this conference it can be extremely difficult to predict just who will be the last team standing. I have taken a lot of time breaking down each team, and here is how I see the SEC playing out in 2011.

SEC WEST PREDICTIONS:

1. Alabama Crimson Tide – After their 2009 National Championship, many thought the Crimson Tide were going to not only repeat in the SEC but once again take home the BCS title. What many people overlooked was the fact that Alabama had just 10 starters back, including just two on the defensive side of the ball. While they still ended the year 10-3, the expectations were simply too high. That is not the case for the upcoming season. Alabama has 17 starts back and  with LSU at home they should have no trouble taking the West this season.

2. LSU Tigers - The Tigers capped off an 11-2 season with a 41-24 win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, and figure to be the one team that has a legit shot at taking down Alabama in the West this season. LSU should be solid on both sides of the ball with 15 starters back. It all comes down to whether or not they can upset Alabama on the road on Nov. 5.

3. Mississippi State Bulldogs – Head coach Dan Mullen has really got this team headed in the right direction, and I am calling for the Bulldogs to be one of the surprise teams again in 2011. They have 16 starters back from a 9-4 season in 2010. While they don’t appear to be on the same level as Alabama and LSU, they get both of those teams at home and could end up shocking everyone by winning the West.

4. Arkansas Razorbacks - The Razorbacks went an impressive 10-3 in 2010, but I am calling for a bit of a drop off with the loss of quarterback Ryan Mallet and just 13 starts back. The Razorbacks have to go on the road to face both Alabama and LSU, which gives them little hope of winning the West. They do get Mississippi State at home, which should keep alive a third place finish.

5. Mississippi Rebels - The Rebels were easily the worst teams in the West last year. They were the only team to finish below .500 at 4-8. While I don’t think they have any hope in the SEC, they should be a much more competitive team with 13 starters back. I have them winning on the road at Auburn to avoid finishing last for a second straight year.

6. Auburn Tigers - This might come as a complete shock to some, but when you look at the talent that Auburn lost on both sides of the ball you can see why I have them picked to go from first to last in the SEC West. The Tigers lost arguably the best offensive player (Cam Newton) and defensive player (Nick Fairley) in the conference, and have just three starters back on each side of the ball.

SEC EAST PREDICTIONS:

1. South Carolina Gamecocks - The Gamecocks won the SEC East with just a 5-3 conference record in 2010, but ended up being no match for Auburn in the SEC Championship Game (17-56).  There is some concern surrounding starting quarterback Stephen Garcia, who was suspended twice this spring.  Still this team has two of the top play makers in the conference in running back Marcus Lattimore and wide out Alshon Jeffery, which has me picking South Carolina to be even better than they were a year ago.

2. Georgia Bulldogs – The Bulldogs got off to a terrible start with star wide out A.J. Green suspended for the first four games, but managed to pull together a 6-7 finish. With quarterback Aaron Murray leading the offense and seven starters back on a defense they are in a prime spot to get back on top in the East. They avoid both Alabama and LSU in the regular season, and have just three road games in SEC play. If they can beat South Carolina at home on Sept. 10, they could cruise to the division title.

3. Florida Gators - I know some will argue with picking the Gators this low, but with Urban Meyer leaving I think we will continue to see Florida drop off. They have just 10 starters back from a team that went 8-5 in 2010. There is no question that the Gators have the talent to win the West, but they draw both Alabama and LSU out of West and have to go on the road to take on South Carolina.

4. Tennessee Volunteers – The Volunteers got off to a terrible 2-6 start in 2010, before rolling off four straight wins at the end of the regular season to finish 6-6. The strong finish landed them a spot in the Music City Bowl, where they lost to North Carolina 27-30. A big reason for the late turnaround was the play of quarterback Tyler Bray, and if he continues to get better the Volunteers could be the surprise team out of this divison.

5. Kentucky Wildcats – In 2010 the Wildcats went a respectable 6-7 overall. While they have 16 starters back from last year, they lose their two best offensive players in Randal Cobb and Derrick Locke, along with starting quarterback Mike Hartline.

6. Vanderbilt Commodores - It simply doesn’t look good for the Commodores in 2011. They are just 1-15 in SEC play the last two years. Even though they have a conference best 19 starters back for the upcoming year, they lack the talent needed to compete in this conference. The only game they even figure to have a shot in is a home game against Mississippi, who they beat on the road 28-14 last year.

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Alabama defeats South Carolina

Other Resources:

SEC Football Predictions by Team
SEC West SEC East
Alabama Football Predictions South Carolina Football Predictions
LSU Football Predictions Georgia Football Predictions
Mississippi State Football Predictions Florida Football Predictions
Arkansas Football Predictions Tennessee Football Predictions
Ole Miss Football Predictions Kentucky Football Predictions
Auburn Football Predictions Vanderbilt Football Predictions

 

College Football Predictions
ACC Football Predictions Big 12 Football Predictions
Conference USA Football Predictions Independents Football Predictions
PAC 12 Football Predictions SEC Football Predictions
Big East Football Predictions Big Ten Football Predictions
MAC Football Predictions Mountain West Football Predictions
Sun Belt Football Predictions WAC Football Predictions
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Comments

2 Responses to “2011 SEC Football Predictions”

  1. Tim H. on July 18th, 2011 10:25 PM

    Georgia did not end up with a 7-6 record in 2010. They ended up 6-7 which is a loosing season and a big difference from 7-6.

  2. Steve Janus on July 19th, 2011 12:19 PM

    Thanks for the catch on the Bulldogs. I agree that there is a big difference in finishing 6-7 compared to 7-6, but it was pretty impressive that this team got to a bowl game after a 1-4 start.

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