Beat the Bozo: Predicting the Wins by SEC East Teams for 2010

In my predictions for 2009, this side of the SEC gave me fits. I must say many of the fans were spot-on in their assessments. I will attempt to do better this year.

Recruiting results will not be used in the evaluation of these teams. No one knows how a true freshman will perform. New coaching staff changes will be used for these predictions.

Please feel free to post your predictions for one or all of these teams. It will give us something to look back at and see how well our prognostication was when the season is over. 

SEC Eastern Division

Florida

Florida is having to replace too many important parts for anyone to be truly accurate in predicting their performance for 2010. They are rebuilding the core of both the offense and defense. The only part that is currently missing from the team is the offensive line. 

Urban Meyer is taking off for some health issues. We all wish him well and want him to get his procedure and fully recover and return to the field for 2010. He might not know this, but he has become a part of the entire SEC and belongs to all of us in the conference now.

Florida is the benefactor of many years of top recruiting. They have the finest talent available already on the team. They will have quality at every position. They will also have a lack of experience at every position.

I would expect this team to win no fewer than nine games in 2010. The new offensive set will come around and they will get stronger as the year progresses.

Georgia

They are one reason for the delay in this article. The filling of the defensive coordinator position was absolutely crucial for this team. I feel they did well here. 

The Georgia offense will return to its roots in 2010. With one of the most experienced offensive lines in the SEC and five deep at running back, they will run the ball early and often. Do not let this fool you. Their passing game will actually be better for 2010.

The Georgia defense should return to its normal self for 2010. Expect to see an aggressive, get with it, defense. They will be proactive not reactive. That never looked good on Georgia any way.

I expect this team to win no fewer than nine games in 2010.

Tennessee

They are the second reason this article was delayed. The hire of their new head coach was crucial. If this team had not changed head coaches, this prediction would have been much worse. Tennessee got lucky and picked well in my opinion.

Tennessee lost most of their impact players on both sides of the ball. On paper it does not even look like they can field a proper team for 2010. This simply isn't the case. Tennessee has all the right parts in place to put out a good team.

The offense will run the ball for 2010 to open up an opportunistic passing attack. While they will not win the SEC in 2010, they do have the ability to stun a few teams. They will field a good defense and a fair offense for 2010. They will be a much better coached team.

In a year that was supposed to be a step back, I predict this team to hold their own and win no fewer than seven games.

South Carolina

Many are predicting this team to be the dark horse in the SEC East. I am predicting more of the same. South Carolina runs an old, stale offense that depends on superior speed. They are also one of the slower teams in the conference. 

In fact, South Carolina is stale on offense and defense. The team has shown a total lack of "will to win" in the second half of the last several seasons. They simply look old on the field and need an infusion of life.

For this team to ever be successful, they must learn to run the ball. They have all the pieces to do so but have failed to develop and use them for years. They will do the same in 2010. When the quarterback or offensive line has an off day, they will lose again.

I predict this team to win no fewer than six games in 2010.

Kentucky

New head coach, solid team. In 2009, Kentucky did things they have not done for decades. They did not do them by being better though. They have been consistently at the same level. Their opponents had an off-year in 2009, so their consistency led to a memorable season.

I hope they enjoyed 2009. Those opponents are back in 2010. Kentucky will have their usual difficult schedule to contend with. The team will perform the same or a little better for 2010. The results will be different.

I expect this team to win no fewer than six games in 2010.

Vanderbilt

They were simply bad in 2009. They will be slightly less bad in 2010. There is nothing to write about here. Great coach who has his hands tied recruiting. Well, they have basketball, anyway. 

I expect this team to win no fewer than four games for 2010.

Usually I wrap this up with a projection of a divisional champion and possibly an SEC champion. I cannot do that this year. I simply do not have enough information.

The talent at the top of the SEC in 2010 is extremely high. There are multiple teams in the SEC for 2010 that are capable of winning the national championship. Only one will win the SEC.

Please feel free to post your predictions for wins in 2010 and beat the Bozo!