Last year was probably the strangest college football season ever; though this could be the most exciting, especially if you are an SEC fan. As many as five teams could have a legitimate shot at the National Championship. Florida, Georgia, Auburn or Tennessee, possibly LSU as a dark horse, could be crowned National champion.
Let’s take a look at how the SEC western division may end up in 2008.
We begin with sixth place working our way down to number one and the divisional champion with the right to challenge for the SEC title against the Eastern division champion.
- *Surprising loss that possibly could happen, but may not.
- Each team’s record represents an overall season of wins and loses that do not include bowl game or the SEC title game.
- Next week I will predict the Eastern Division ranking and Champion, as well as the conclusion of the SEC title game.
________________________________________________________________________
6th Ole Miss: Even though Houston Nutt takes over the head coaching duties for the Rebels he’s not going to be a difference maker this year. A decent recruiting class and some play makers here and there won’t be enough. However; Houston has proven to be quite capable of coaching up less talent and he’ll win some games the Johnny Rebs shouldn’t. “ARE – YOU - READY?”
Projected Record: 5-7
Bowl: None
Biggest Conference Win: South Carolina
Surprising Loss: Vanderbilt
5th Arkansas: Not even new head coach of the Razor Backs Bobby Petrino can turn the ship around this quickly. With the loss of Heisman runner-up Darren McFannin among other notables to the NFL or graduation, the pantry of talent is seemingly bare for now. That won’t stop the Hogs from rutting up its opponents to some degree. This coming season with road games against Auburn, Kentucky, Miss. State, and home games against Alabama, Florida and LSU (Little Rock), it’s a tall task to ask for an SEC crown much less a divisional championship. Better hope for a .500 season.
Projected Record: 6-6
Bowl: Independence
Biggest Conference Win: Miss. State
*Surprising Loss:
4th Mississippi State: Sylvester Croome and the Dawgs of the Magnolia State produced a surprising season in 2007. Expectations are high with wins over Alabama and Auburn and a Liberty Bowl victory over Central Florida which culminated into a solid year for State in 2007. The 2008 season will prove to be tougher for the Dawgs as they have Auburn and Arkansas at home and must travel to LSU, Tennessee, Alabama and Ole Miss for the annual Egg Bowl. That won’t add up to a trip to Hot-lanta this year, just way too tough and not enough talent to compete each week with the top teams. The Sly Dawgs will steal some wins here and there to keep it interesting.
Projected Record: 8 - 4
Bowl: Music City
Biggest Conference Win: Auburn
*Surprising Loss: La Tech
3rd LSU: The defending National Champions have too many losses in personnel to write about. However, the biggest loss is that of projected starting QB Ryan Perrilloux, who was dismissed from the team earlier this year. That leaves a huge hole at the starting the QB position. Not a good way to begin the defense of your National Title. The Bayou Bangles open the season with three straight cupcakes before traveling to Auburn for the usual “anything can happen” showdown. Other away games include Florida, South Carolina, and Arkansas. With home games involving Miss. State, Georgia, Alabama, and then concluding the home stretch with Ole Miss. After this season LSU head coach Les Miles will wish he had taken the job at Michigan.
Projected Record: 8-4
Bowl: Outback
Biggest Conference Win: Alabama
*Surprising Loss: Troy
2nd Alabama: I know this prediction is a shocker for some. I can’t believe I’m making it but hey the stars fell on Alabama once it could happen again, “Hence the state slogan”. The Crimson Tide will look to build big on last year’s minor successes and near misses. The Tide, under first year head coach Nick Saban, proved to be a worthy opponent for most in the SEC during the ’07 campaign. Make no mistake oh-bama will have a few things to say about who gets to compete for it all concerning the SEC this time around. With an opening game against Clemson in Atlanta and a home game against Auburn, which never has lost in Bryant – Tuberville Stadium, and road games against Georgia, and LSU, the one thing the Tide nation won’t be able to do is, celebrate another division crown. Not this year anyway…
Projected Record: 9-3
Bowl: Cotton
Biggest Conference Win: Tennessee
*Surprising Loss: Kentucky
1St Auburn: The 2008 version of the Tigers are ready to unload their Tony Franklin version of the spread offense. With practically all their toughest games (LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia) at home, the schedule would seem to be more conducive for wins. The defense should actually be better than last year’s unit that was very solid most of the season, but did give up some big plays with the game on the line. Not since the Chick-fil-A bowl win against Clemson have the players been able to prove their prowess against anyone other than fellow team mates. The two quarterback system with returning star Kodi Burns and newcomer Chris Todd makes for an interesting one – two punch with RB’s Ben Tate, Mario Fannin and Brad Lester ready to be a no surprise upper cut needed to make a serious run at the SEC crown and a spot in the national title game.
Projected Record: 11-1
Bowl: Orange Bowl
Biggest Conference Win: Georgia
*Surprising Loss: at Miss. State
comments (23) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
wow way to homer it up and try to disguise it as a legitimate article
from 3 months ago
LOL!!!!!!!!! Thats a Cal fan calling you a homer, Barner. Seriously, you aren't fooling anyone and are apparently trying to overcompensate for something with all these articles. Seriously, if Auburn loses one game this year, it won't be State. Its obvious that you can't give a single ounce of credit to Bama, which makes it blatently obvious that you will always and only write biased articles on here, and no one wants to read that. RTR.
3 months ago
Of course I'm going to be bias, Im an Auburn fan. But I did give you credit, I gave you second place.
Thanks for reading again.
War Eagle!!!
from 3 months ago
Bias is a noun. Biased is the adjective form you were looking for. Sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine.
Also, Tennessee is much more of a dark horse national championship contender than LSU is.
3 months ago
Thanks James, pet peeve's are good. I have one called Nic.
I do believe LSU could have a shot, but I think Florida and/or Georgia could tank against the Vol's.
Also, I think Alabama and Auburn are in a better situation with their returning starters. The QB situation is the biggest problem for LSU. Thats why I give the edge very slightly to Tennessee.
from 3 months ago
I can see your point there, but Tennessee's QB situation isn't remarkably better than LSU's. As for overall talent, LSU still probably would have the edge, but as with all SEC teams, there's not too much separation there. You're right that Tennessee could trip up anybody. Such are the perils of SEC play.
I'm guessing that the SEC West champ will be two- or three-loss Auburn.
3 months ago
Good food for thought James.
You never know how the west will end up. Thats why I utilized the word "MAY" in my heading. I'm glad you understand that and the conjecture that is utilized in this article.
Auburn could very well be a 3 loss team and limp into the SEC tilte game or be undefeated. So could LSU or Alabama, know one knows until the games are played on the field. But it sure is fun to write about it.
3 months ago
Troy??
Troy????????
Troy????????????????????????
Not App St or Miss St??????????
Troy??????????????????
you should put up a couple of bucks in vegas on this one. if we lose, i'll give you all the credit.
from 3 months ago
Not just any Troy, offensive coordinator-less Troy. The same Troy that Arkansas, UGA, and UF all could beat last season, but LSU apparently won't this season.
I find it quite funny that a 40-yr old is having such trouble with grammar, but of course, he went to and is a fan of West Opelika Trade School.
And to say "the biggest problem" for LSU is their QB situation??? Kettle, your black.
3 months ago
The same Troy that beat La Monroe, Nic.
from 3 months ago
Wow, way to hide behind a shallow comment and a blank profile. How bout you fill out your profile or write an article before taking shots at other teams. Or are you too scared to open yourself up to the rest of the network and hide behind that blank page?
And yes, that same ULM. But Im know you didn't watch either of those games, so you should more than likely reserve comment. Thank you, don't come again.
3 months ago
Auburn will be good and probably the favorite for the SEC West, but all this one-loss talk I'm hearing is blasphemy. I think AU loses three.
3 months ago
I appreciate the fact that you are a University Alabama student and most likely a pretty good one. As it reads from your profile it's sounds like you stay pretty busy with your daily activities, thats great!
Please allow this 40 year to give you some advice. I'm actually 39 by the way, and very glad to have reached the age I am. If you are fortunate you will make it this far, and I hope much farther.
My advice is; and hopefully you'll realize as you grow more mature over the years. Personal attacks or criticism's are never a sign of being a grown man, witty; however, not intelligent. Just to let you know where I am coming from, let me give you a bit of background. I was envolved in a motorcycle accident some years back. I hit the rear of a motionless car around 50 MPH. I almost died, I had to learn how to read and write all over again. What you learned once in school, I had to learn twice with memory loss issues. Not to mention the toll it took on my body to recover. I now hold an excecutive position with an Archetetrial and Engineering firm, not bad for a good ol' boy from east Alabama with head trauma. Please pardon me if I have a few typo's, misspelling's or failure's to remember proper grammer techniques. You can attack Auburn or my articles; however, I would appriciate the personal attacks to be left out of the equation.
Regards
from 3 months ago
My bad, bro. Not cool on the whole situation. I understand the whole recovery process and how it can effect people. Once again, my bad.
3 months ago
the rebels will not go 5-7 a good 6-6 or 7-5 record sounds more like wats gonna happen and nutt does have talent this year to work with one being 1st team all american micheal oher and a veteren defense and also one of the best recieving corps in the sec and country and a very confident quarterback jeaven snead will also help the rebs
3 months ago
Gosh, Nic. I was just pulling your leg -- no harm intended. Why so sensitive? I mean it wasn't Pearl Harbor or anything, right? I should probably stop.
3 months ago
I appreciate that NIC, Now lets all have some fun writing crap about our teams. How do any of us know what the heck any of our teams will do against eachother? One thing for sure, the rest of college football will wish they have never played any of the SEC's teams this year. Thats one thing all of SEC fan's can agree upon.
from 3 months ago
Too many holes on every team, thats why Im not really saying anything as far as predicting the final outcome. However, I am standing by my comment that the SEC West will come down to the Iron Bowl. LSU will have too many losses to be considered a threat by Nov. 29th.
3 months ago
You're not alone in your pick of Auburn to win the West...seems like a lot of so called experts are picking us too. But you knew that you'd get called a homer because you're an AU fan. At least you're honest...some folks try to hide their bias.
This is why I'm not writing an SEC West prediction on here. I think picking us the favorite is the logical thing, but because I'm an AU fan it won't be taken seriously. But, I plan to post an SEC East prediction in the coming days.
I do think people are going to be surprised with LSU this year. They are a great program...they've lost some players, but great programs are bigger than players. Trust me, they have just as much talent as they had last year and they it will come down to AU and LSU in the West yet again...Arkansas is going to finish third. Petrino really is a good college coach and will prove it at UA...
3 months ago
I think you HIGHLY OVER estimate both Auburn and Mississippi State. I believe Auburn will be favored to win the West and very well may, but come on... 11-1? Get real. As for Miss. State, their luck streak won't cross over into 2008. Auburn, Alabama and Ole Miss were all handed to them last year. Those 3 games aren't F-ed up by those teams and their 8-5 season quickly turns into a 4-8 season. They are not a 8-4 team.
Also highly doubt Ole Miss will finish 6th or that Arkansas will be above 6th.
We'll know a lot more in a few months though. All just speculation now.
3 months ago
Yeah exactly my point as well, its all speculation. That's why the word "may" is utilized in the heading. Again, the surprising loss is exactly what it states "surprising!!" Do I believe any of those will happen some of them could. With that said; this article is geared toward building excitement around the Auburn fan base and of the possibilities of what could happen. I expect Auburn to compete for championships every year. If Tommy Tuberville did not have the same beliefs, then I would say he did not belong at Auburn. I would guess that at least 95% of college players, fans and coaches hold this belief, unless you are at Vanderbilt or some other school such as that. Sorry Vandy...
You make some good observations; and believe me I wish all the SEC teams could go to bowls and have winning seasons unfortunately we beat eachother up and that's just the way it is.
2 months ago
either way the REBELS r runnin away with the west this year haha i really wish though but we definitely will not finish 6th a good 4th or possibly 3rd with 1-auburn 2-alabama 3-lsu 4-ole miss 5-msu 6-arkansas
2 months ago
Hey at this point no one has a loss, it will be a fun season. I like the Rebels, I hope they do have a great year. It will be tough for Houston to get things rolling quickly, however. No doubt the Rebels will grow into a tough team that will compete every week. Saturday's in the Grove, well lets just, AWSOME!!
write a new comment