College Football Predictions 2011: Power Ranking the SEC
Spring practice is just around the corner, and with all of the juniors and redshirt sophomores declared gone or in school, it's time to start looking at how things are going to shake up in the college football world in 2011.
The SEC might be the hardest conference to figure out. Auburn is expected to be a completely different team without Cam Newton, and the SEC East looks like a three-horse race once again.
How many steps will Auburn lose without its Heisman winner? Will Zach Mettenberger be the key to getting LSU to Atlanta?
And has South Carolina actually taken over in the East?
Here is a bold power rankings list for you to ponder as the earliest parts of football season roll around.
No. 12: Vanderbilt Commodores
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2010 Record: 2-10 (1-7)
Vanderbilt looked like a team on the rise a few seasons ago, but since then things have gone from bad to worse, mainly due to the loss of former head coach Bobby Johnson.
The Commodores schedule is as murky as it can get, and quarterback Larry Smith has failed to develop into a top quarterback during his tenure in Nashville.
Even the Dores' most valued player, running back Warren Norman, struggled to eclipse 400 yards rushing in 2010.
It's going to be a long year for James Franklin. Vanderbilt just doesn't come close to the other 11 SEC schools when it comes to football.
At least not at the moment.
No. 11: Kentucky Wildcats
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2010 Record: 6-7 (2-6)
No more Mike Hartline. No more Derrick Locke. No more Chris Matthews.
No more Randall Cobb.
Can the Kentucky Wildcats possibly improve considering they just lost their entire offense? The defense has been extremely susceptible in recent years, but a darn dangerous offense kept Kentucky in a lot of ball games against powerful teams.
That might not be the case next season. Morgan Newton is a talent at quarterback, but he's got a lot of growing to do and no time to do it, considering he's projected to not only be the starting quarterback, but also the face of the team next season.
No. 10: Ole Miss Rebels
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2010 Record: 4-8 (1-7)
The Ole Miss rebels return star running back Brandon Bolden, but he might not be enough to keep the Rebels out of the basement in the strong SEC West.
Jeremiah Masoli is gone, despite the fact most Rebel fans likely will not miss him, and Houston Nutt is running out of talent in Oxford.
Nathan Stanley will take over at quarterback for the Rebels. He might very well be a bright spot, and he and Bolden could give Ole Miss a decent offense.
But the Rebels have serious talent problems at every position. They won't be a factor in the SEC West next year.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 9: Tennessee Volunteers
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2010 Record: 6-7 (3-5)
The Volunteers return a stud at quarterback in 6'6" sophomore Tyler Bray, who had a streak of three straight 300-yard passing games in his freshman year.
Bray has a Ryan Mallett-like physique and has given many Vols fans hope for the coming fall.
But Tennessee doesn't have the SEC-caliber talent on defense to compete for an SEC title. They might climb a little bit in the SEC East, but they won't be a BCS-worthy team come December.
Derek Dooley still has tons to prove in Knoxville.
Also, Tennessee fans should expect an All-SEC-type season from running back Tauren Poole.
No. 8: Auburn Tigers
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2010 Record: 14-0 (8-0)
Before Cam Newton, the Tigers were average.
With Cam Newton, the Tigers were unstoppable.
Without him, they will be average once again.
Not only will losing the Heisman quarterback hurt the offense mightily, but Auburn is also losing just about every important player on defense, including All-American nose tackle Nick Fairley.
Michael Dyer is going to be a bulldozer at tailback, and Emory Blake could evolve into a darn good receiver. But can the Tigers possibly repeat as SEC West champions without Newton?
That seems unlikely.
It will be interesting to see if top recruit Kiehl Frazier can keep the wheels going on offense.
No. 7: Florida Gators
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2010 Record: 8-5 (4-4)
Florida definitely has the names in place when it comes to coaching with Will Muschamp as the head coach and Charlie Weis as the offensive coordinator.
But can a completely different regime duplicate the dynasty-type success Urban Meyer achieved in Gainesville?
Will the Gators be anywhere near the media darling they were with Tim Tebow?
It all depends on whether or not the talent on offense can come around. John Brantley was miserable last season and has gone from an apparent prodigy to a questionable starter in a matter of months.
The top quarterback recruit in the country, Jeff Driskel, awaits. Weis had tons of trouble at Notre Dame, and Muschamp has tons to prove when it comes to taking the bull by the horns.
While the coaching names look good, there are still tons of questions about this team. One thing is for sure, however.
The defense is going to be pretty fierce.
It's just a matter of how good the offense can be in a new system with a quarterback who struggled in 2010.
No. 6: Georgia Bulldogs
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2010 Record: 6-7 (3-5)
Georgia gets a seat above Florida in the SEC East for two reasons.
For one, Aaron Murray is returning as arguably the best quarterback in the SEC.
Two, both the offense and the defense will be in the same system they worked in a year ago.
Many Georgia fans blamed the Dawgs' terrible 2010 season on "growing pains."
They could very well be wrong, and this team might be in serious trouble. But if Georgia can simply just have a smooth offseason, a win in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game versus Boise State, as well as a favorable schedule, could catapult the Dawgs to the top of the SEC East.
Replacing A.J. Green will be impossible, but Isaiah Crowell could be the answer to Georgia's ball possession woes.
If Georgia can control the clock in 2011, it will be a much improved football team.
No. 5: Mississippi State Bulldogs
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2010 Record: 9-4 (4-4)
Mississippi State made huge strides in 2010, splitting a tough SEC schedule.
Dan Mullen's offense has given this team a lot of bark, highlighted by the stellar performances by quarterback Chris Relf.
The Bulldogs were possibly a dropped pass away from being a 10-3 team last year, and they absolutely destroyed Michigan in their bowl game.
There is no doubt this team will be a potential giant killer in 2011. The only red flag with them is the loss of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
No. 4: Arkansas Razorbacks
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2010 Record: 10-3 (6-2)
Arkansas loses Ryan Mallett, but we can all be pretty sure Tyler Wilson will transition well for the Razorbacks next year.
Wilson will have arguably the best receivers in football to throw to with Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Cobi Hamilton and Jarius Wright all returning.
The defense needs to improve in every area if the Razorbacks are going to be a BCS team again. However, they made it far in a jam-packed SEC West last year as well.
As long as the defense is the same, or better, the sky is the limit for Bobby Petrino's team.
No. 3: Alabama Crimson Tide
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2010 Record: 10-3 (5-3)
Alabama loses former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, all-world wide receiver Julio Jones and national champion quarterback Greg McElroy.
So how can they possibly be better? With Auburn seemingly out of the way, Alabama could very well take over the SEC once again.
Trent Richardson is that good and should be a Heisman dark horse, if not a prime candidate, now that the backfield is all his.
The defense should be solid, and we are getting another game-manager quarterback with A.J. McCarron.
There is no reason to think Nick Saban will lose control of the Tide that easily. As long as Trent Richardson is toting the rock, expect big things from Alabama.
No. 2: South Carolina Gamecocks
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2010 Record: 9-5 (5-3)
While the Gamecocks won a down SEC East division and eventually got trampled in the SEC Championship Game, there are actually plenty of bright spots for the 2011 team.
Head coach Steve Spurrier has proven that with big-time talent he can have big-time teams.
We're talking national title contenders.
South Carolina may not be that good, but it surely could finish atop the East again next year.
Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney give them a top recruit in consecutive seasons, and Alshon Jeffery will be the top receiver in the division now that A.J. Green is heading for the bank.
South Carolina's personnel on offense last season was daunting. They are flat-out going to be the most physically imposing team in the division, if not the conference.
If the Gamecocks can handle expectations, as inflated as they may be, they could run away from Florida and Georgia in a jiffy.
No. 1: LSU Tigers
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2010 Record: 11-2 (6-2)
Even with a questionable quarterback and equally questionable time management, LSU and head coach Les Miles had a darn good year last season.
Jordan Jefferson will be in a quarterback competition with former Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who transfers in as the top JUCO quarterback prospect.
Also, tailback Spencer Ware appears to be an emerging star, and receiver Rueben Randle is ready for his breakout season.
LSU lost some serious talent on defense, but a top recruiting class could very well make up for it. With Auburn and Alabama losing quarterbacks, LSU might be able to easily jump past them.
It might be a stretch to say the Tigers are the best when their quarterback threw just seven touchdowns in 2010.
But if Mettenberger is anywhere near as good as he looked in the 2010 spring game, the Tigers will be the most loaded and ready team in the conference.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
