2009 College Football Betting: SEC East Conference Preview

2009 College Football Betting - SEC East Conference Preview
SEC East preview courtesy of Alex Smart, A professional sports handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are interested in college football betting this season, be sure to check out all of Alex Smart’s expert betting predictions at Touthouse.com

Florida Gators (13-1, 11-2 ATS in 2008, -800 to win SEC East) There really isn’t a heck of a lot more to say about the college career of QB Tim Tebow. He’s done it all. He’s won the Heisman. He’s won a National Championship. It became newsworthy on a national level when he admitted that he was still a virgin. So what’s left? Anything less than the perfect season that ends with another Heisman and another title would almost be disappointing.

Georgia Bulldogs (10-3, 4-7-1 ATS in 2008, +500 to win SEC East) A rough schedule did Georgia in last season. Even though the SEC slates much more manageable this season, with QB Matthew Stafford and several other key components having graduated, this team just doesn’t have the horses to stick with the Gators in ‘09. The coaches voted on the Dawgs to finish second in the SEC East this season, but there really aren’t any legitimate title hopes in Athens this season.

South Carolina Gamecocks (7-6, 5-6-1 in 2008, +800 to win SEC East) The Ol’ Ball Coach was the only HC in the SEC not to vote Tebow as the first team preseason quarterback for the conference. How many points do you think that’s going to cost him when the Gators come to town on November 14th? Roadies at NC State, Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas could make it hard for this team to go bowling this season.

Tennessee Volunteers (5-7, 5-7 ATS in 2008, +1200 to win SEC East) Speaking of coaches that have ticked the Gators off… First year HC Lane Kiffin took over a team that went just 5-7 a year ago and immediately started talking smack about Tebow and the champs. Are the oddsmakers going to make the Vols four touchdown underdogs in the Swamp, or is the better question whether anyone doubts Florida covers the chalk?

Kentucky Wildcats (7-6, 6-6 ATS in 2008, +2500 to win SEC East) There are a whole mess load of road games on Kentucky’s schedule this season, and it’s hard to find more than maybe two victories on a slate that includes Miami (OH), South Carolina, Auburn, Vandy, and Georgia. Forget about home dates with Florida and Alabama. A bowl game would be a triumph for the Cats. QB Mike Hartline is going to be the only legitimate quarterback option for HC Rich Brooks this season, and he’ll have to improve on a year in which he completed just 55.3% of his passes and threw almost as many interceptions (eight) as touchdowns (nine).

Vanderbilt Commodores (7-6, 8-5 ATS in 2008) (+5000 to win SEC East) The Commodores earned a lot of respect last season by winning their first bowl game since 1955. However, that team had zilch for offense, and in a conference that’s becoming more and more offensive-minded each season, that’s bad news for the hopes of a repeat season in Nashville. However, there are definitely winnable games on this schedule (Western Carolina, Mississippi State, @ Rice, @ Army), so a couple upsets may send the ‘Dores bowling once again.