It is said that there are only three sports on the South: football, football recruiting, and spring football. Under that context, I suppose there is definitely room for my 2008 SEC predictions, even though it is March. So without further adieu, here is how I see the East playing out.
Florida
Florida is coming off of a subpar year by their lofty standards. They lost four games last year despite being led by Heisman winner Tim Tebow, the first sophomore to ever win the award. However they return him and most of their prolific offense plus more depth at running back with USC transfer Emmanuel Moody. Expect big things again from Urban Meyer's offense. The defense will be a year wiser, and even though Derrick Harvey left for the big bucks, they should be improved. The schedule plays in their favor as well. They get LSU at home, and the toughest road game is at Tennessee. Florida will be better than both these clubs. The most difficult fixture is against Georgia in Jacksonville, and the last time Georgia beat the Gators twice in a row was when Reagan was in the White House.
Prediction: 13-0 BCS Championship Game
Georgia
Georgia had probably the best ending to the 2007 season out of anyone in the country. The offense was really clicking with Knowshon Moreno ripping off big runs and Matthew Stafford coming in to his own. They showed extremely well on defense by holding high octane offenses Kentucky and Hawaii to just 23 points combined. However I don't see them getting through a tough September game at Arizona State nor the Cocktail Party match with the Gators. I do expect them to win the rest, which include road trips to LSU and Auburn.
Prediction: 10-2 Sugar Bowl
Tennessee
Tennessee won this division a year ago, and they return most of their key players on offense, including the entire offensive line. Defensively they return six starters from the back 7, but lose three from the line. The luxury of being Tennessee allows for them to have good replacements. Jonathon Crompton will be more than adequate at QB for the Vols. I do believe that Tennessee has slipped a notch or two in recent years due to the antiquated coaching tactics of Phillip Fulmer, but this is still a very good team nonetheless. The slate is tough this year, and I expect them to drop three of their first six to Florida, Auburn, and Georgia. These games will battle harden the Vols, who should breeze through the last half of the schedule to end the season on a high note.
Prediction: 9-3 Outback Bowl
Kentucky
A lot of people are writing off Kentucky, especially after they lost so much of their passing game to graduation. Curtis Pulley will add mobility at QB, allowing for the new recieving corps to make adjustments and also for their unusually deep running back unit to do its damage. They also return ten starters on defense. They will not be as good as last year, but their schedule is very favorable because LSU will not get a shot at revenge. I project them going into the Florida game on October 25 with 6-1 record, then dropping four of the last five giving them their third straight winning season.
Prediction: 7-5 Liberty Bowl
South Carolina
We are still waiting for Steve Spurrier to deliver for South Carolina, but they seem to lose a lot of big recruits to Clemson. The QB of the future, Stephen Garcia is suspended until the fall, which will extend his learning curve. They lost Corey Boyd and the top returning reciever Dion Lecorn only caught 27 balls last year. As a result, they won't be able to keep up with the rest of the league most Saturdays, no matter what ball plays Spurrier can draw up.
Prediction: 6-6
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt will be the same team they always are, which is a team that just lacks the athletes to win in this league. They will play close games, tough defense, and may end up beating one the middle of the road teams. Yet they just don't have the depth to get it done, and will once again fail to qualify for a bowl game.
Prediction: 3-9
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6 months ago
Your 13-0 Gator prediction tends to make me believe you are a Gator fan.
If so, you certainly aren't giving the Head Ball Coach enough credit. Spurrier didn't play Garcia last year, and another freshman, Chris Smelley, went 4-2 as a starter.
Also, Kenny McKinley is the Gamecocks leading returning receiver. He was first team all-SEC and led the SEC in receptions (77), receptions per game (6.42) and receiving yards per game (80.7).
Cory Boyd split the backfield with Mike Davis, who returns, along with redshirt freshman Brian Maddox.
The defense is healthy and will get a lift from new DC Ellis Johnson.
A 6-6 prediction does not do this team justice.
from 6 months ago
no it was the tebow photo that gave it away for me.
6 months ago
Okay Tim, I will give you 7-5 and the Independence Bowl then. You feel better now?
6 months ago
Only if you give me a high-five and/or hug, Mr. Anonymous Guy.
I'll also feel better if you sign in with your name and contribute some thoughts.
6 months ago
Nice articlie. Everything except the USC sections. A little early for predictions though...
First, Kenny McKinley is the leading returning receiver.
Mike Davis will be just fine at RB, as he was two years ago when Cory Boyd was suspended. Brian Maddox will be a solid backup. I look for true freshmen Kenneth Miles (I think that is his first name), to be the speedster the USC backfield has been missing. I've seen videos of this kid on Rivals and he can burst through the line and take it all the way.
The defense will be the best in the SEC, with the return of key injured players (Jasper Brinkley, Nathan Pepper). Also, the addition of new DC will prove to be an excellent hire.
I'm thinking 7-8 wins with a longshot at competing for the eastern title.
Don't underestimate the Gamecocks.
oh, and I do realize this is basically everything Tim already stated, but just thought I'd throw my own two cents in.
6 months ago
i was in athens saturday and the defense was shutting down the offense.
richt says they are faster than any one he saw in tallahassee in 10 years. that gives them an unlikely but possible chance.
6 months ago
I have Georgia pegged as my favorite in the SEC, but hey, that's just coming from a guy who lives in Big 12 country and is exceedingly impressed with Stafford and Moreno...
6 months ago
Last year it was Gators won "13 of 15" (or whatever) this year it's "the last time Georgia beat the Gators twice in a row was when Reagan was in the White House" - As if that matters one bit when they hit the field. That's what I call "eroding statistics". What will you say if the Dawgs win year? Haven't won three in row since....?
4 months ago
Nice prediction on UK. That is exactly my prediction. But I think we go into the UF game 5-2 with loses to Bama and USC. I can defiantly see us going 6-1 in that span of games though.
We return about all of our O-Line and all of our backfield with the exception of Rafeal Little. Our running game will be one of the best in the SEC and will be our main source of offense IMO.
Pulley originally beat Woodson out for the starting job in the Spring before he redshirted for personal reasons so we all know he can play. I think we go to our 3rd straight bowl game regardless though!
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