2009 SEC Predictions

OK, here it is, the long-awaited, highly anticipated 2009 SEC predictions. You may not like, but you gotta love, 'cuz it the best thing going....today.

And big props to Tom Watson...if he could have only hit that putt that I know the rest of us would have all made.

SEC Title Game (I can't believe I am going to say Ole Miss is going to win the west, but its true)
FU over Ole Miss

SEC Offensive Player of the Year - Tim Tebow, QB, FU (I know, big stretch)
SEC Defensive Player of the Year - Eric Berry, S, UT (I do like Norwood at LB for USC also)

EAST
1 - FU (11-1, 7-1)
What can I say that the rest of the world hasn't already anointed on Tim Tebow and the rest of the gator nation. I just can't pick a team to go undefeated, but the SEC East is just so weak, that I had to struggle to find a loss, which of course I did. The weak spot is the O-Line and RB's, but with Tebow, I don't think you need those positions anyway. He's not the best passer in the world, and a physical defense will give him some problems, but FU is just too good all around. The have 37 starters back on defense, which doesn't always equate to a dominating defense, but with lack of experienced QB's in the East, it should be a pretty easy road for Florida.

2 - USC (10-2, 6-2)
So this might be real stretch, but who else in the East is worthy? Of course, this entire pick hinges on knucklehead Stephen Garcia at QB. Uncharacteristically for the Ol' Ball Coach, the defense will again be very good. Led by Eric Norwood at MLB and coached by Ellis Johnson, if Garcia can play well enough to get a lead and not throw a pick six, the defense will be able to hold it. The RB's and WR's are inexperienced, but talented, so if Garcia can be the next great Spurrier QB, USC will get the season the expected when thy hired Spurrier 5 years ago.

3 - UGA (7-5, 5-3)
As much as I love Joe Cox at QB for UGA, I don't see any real playmakers on offense. Yes, I know AJ Green is there at WR, and yes, he is good, but he has no help. The O-line might be good, but Cox is game manager, not a gamemaker. There are no proven RB's, as the best runner, Caleb King, is scared to run between the tackles. The defense needs to improve and hasn't really been the same since Brian Van Gorder left for Ga Southern. I think this is a rebuilding year for UGA, but if Cox plays better than expected and USC stumbles, spots 2 and 3 could easily be reversed.

4 - Kentucky (7-5, 3-5)
I know, Kendall, what are you thinking? Richie, Keeter and all the rest of you UT people just hold your water. UK isn’t' great, but they aren't that bad either. I like them in this spot mainly because of Rich Brooks. He has instilled a sense of confidence in this team, not really seen since the days of the old drunk guy coaching before he made his escape to uat because momma was calling. Anyway, they have speed everywhere and a good SEC QB in Mike Hartline. They might even throw in some of the "wildcat" formation with Randall "don't call me Tex" Cobb. With 8 starters back on offense, and a bowl game is definitely possible. The only reason the UK Faithfull will be clamoring for b-ball is because of the new coach and probable #1 ranking.

5 - UT (5-7, 2-6)
Does new coach Lane Kiffin know how to stir things up or what? Lucky for him, he has a hot wife to go home to every night, though after his comments (I guess he thought he was still an assistant at Southern Cal) he should be spending more time trying to figure out who is going to be the QB instead of going home anyway. UT fans had high hopes for Jonathan Crompton, but it seems he has gotten worse every year. Is that really possible? His back-up Nick Stevens really isn't any better, though he does give them a little more mobile QB. Maybe Kiffin should go the Ga Tech route and run the triple option with all the RB's they have...which is the strength of the team. Though not a totally experienced group yet, loads of talent. Other positions are average, plus breaking in a coach who has never really coached will make for a year of growing pains in Knoxvegas.

6 - Vandy (4-8, 1-7)
I am terribly vexed by picking Vandy this low. They have had a good run over the past few years, and Bobby Johnson has done more with less than any other coach in D1, but I just don't see the talent or experience this year. All world DJ Moore is gone to play on Sundays, and no skill positions return on offense. The defense has 9 starters back, but this looks to me to be a typical Vandy team...play tough defense for 3 quarters, then tire out, because the offense can't do anything. They will sneak up and win a game they shouldn't, but in typical Vandy fashion, they will lose one they shouldn't either. I am betting on UK for the surprise win and Rice as the surprise loss.


West
1 - Ole Miss (10-2, 6-2)
I know, this one shocked me too. I think Ole Miss just had all the pieces just fall into place last year, and that usually doesn’t happen twice...especially with Houston Nutt at the helm. He is the poster boy for overachiever and underachiever all in the same man. I did go through the schedule game by game, they have the tough ones at home, a superstar in the making with QB Jevon Snead, and an All-American in Greg Hardy rushing passer. The offense should be good, and the defense should be good, neither great, but both good enough to make it to Atlanta.

2 - uat (9-3, 6-2)
I don't want to talk about the 'necks much. New QB, so-so RB, new OL, Julio on O, and a typical Nick Satan defense. They will struggle on offense, and win with the D.

3 - LSU (9-3, 5-3)
I am not all that confident in Les Miles, just like all the LSU fans, and the Satan recruits are now gone...or close to it. The defense actually has alot of holes, but the offense should actually be decent with Jefferson at QB and Charles Scott at RB. Throw in a bunch of drunk cajuns and you have a shot at a 9 win season. For Les is more, is it possible for a coach with a national title and averaging 10 wins a year for 4 years actually be on the hot seat....I think so. After last years collapse(ok, so they won 8 games), Les needs to produce this year or he may start to wish he was back at Oklahoma State. LSU should still win 7 games on pure talent alone, with the other two coming just because they are LSU and this is the SEC.

4 - Auburn (9-3, 5-3)
I know, I am looking at Auburn threw rose-colored glasses, but after going through the schedule, Auburn could be as high as 10-2 or as low as 6-6. The typical strong defense will be back again, led by potential All-American DE Antonio Coleman. Last year Auburn struggled because on NO offense, and had problems with that for two reasons, the coaching staff didn't buy into the spread and Tony Franklin's version is a pass-oriented system. Enter a new coaching staff, with a spread guru in Gus Malzahn, who runs the Rich Rodriguez-run-oriented spread. So with just a bad offense, Auburn should be better, and when the starting QB job is given to Neil Caudle, good things should happen. The RB's are solid, if not typical Auburn RB's, but the WR position has to step up for the 10 win season, hence just nine wins. The season schedule rests on UT, LSU and uat games, with a probable loss in Athens.

5 - Arkansas (6-6, 2-6)
Bobby Petrino ~ THIS IS NOT THE BIG EAST! I really like Ryan Mallett, the transfer from Michigan, but there just isn’t alot of talent around him. Michael Smith is a good RB, but Petrino will forge about him as the season wears on. There are 9 returning starters on defense, but as I said earlier, just because you have a bunch of returning starters, it doesn't mean they will be good. The West doesn't have the best team in the SEC, but it has 2, 3, and 4...and 5 may be debatable. Petrino is recruiting some good offensive players, but we all know, you have to have a little bit of D to win. He will have time, but I think Arkansas is a year a way form being able to really compete.

6 - Miss St (3-9, 0-8)
A 3-2 loss to Auburn last year is all I really need to say here. Urban Meyer's former assistant takes over, but the next Tim Tebow ain't going to Starkville any time soon. Sly Croom could coach the boys up and instill confidence, he just couldn't get much talent there. They have along way to go.

That's all I got this year, let the commenting begin.
War Eagle!