SEC Football Predictions 2011: Who'll Win the 25 Biggest SEC Games?
This season looks to be packed full of great games across the SEC. Many will determine the fate not only of the teams involved, but how the conference race pans out.
A number of teams have questions at key positions that will shape up the expectations as the season looms.
Looking forward, a lot has to happen out between now and opening kickoff. Predictions never come too early, however, and looking ahead to the SEC season this spring has brought a ton of them from numerous outlets.
Schedule has a lot to do with how teams perform and how far they will travel on the road to the championship.
Looking for the best 25 games of the season is not a difficult task in the SEC but how their impacts will differ is not so clear.
With injuries and attrition yet to be finished, the future can change on a dime for these squads. Here is where the teams will land if the games were played today.
Mississippi State at Auburn – 9/10/11
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The Tigers host the Bulldogs in the second game of the season at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Last season, this game springboarded Auburn into an undefeated season. Auburn has lost much of its depth and is returning only seven total starters from a year ago.
Mississippi State comes to town with a bit of a chip on its shoulder from a year ago. The game went back and forth, but State had their fair share of shots at winning the game.
Unlike Auburn, State returns the majority of the offense and defense but loses the bulk of its linebacking corps in 2011.
Look for this game to be a traditional hard-nosed win. Both teams will be in the fight, but at the end of the day, the trip to Auburn will be too much for the visiting Bulldogs. Auburn wins by 3.
South Carolina at Georgia – 9/10/11
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Another SEC opener that has the potential to show the viewers a great game is the Eastern Division opener between the Gamecocks and Bulldogs.
Entering the season, Carolina was the favorite to take the Eastern Championship, but with the recent suspension of Stephen Garcia, the Gamecocks appear to be in the hands of sophomore Connor Shaw.
Georgia is returning their starter in Aaron Murray and has a host of backs who return in the backfield. This could be an early tip to who leads the East and wins the division.
Look for Carolina to have growing pains with the suspension of Garcia and lose this SEC opener to Georgia. Georgia wins by 10.
LSU at Mississippi State – 9/15/2011
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LSU would like this game to be at Death Valley. Mississippi State will be coming off an away game at Auburn and starting one of their toughest stretches of the season. How the Bulldogs handle this conference test could determine their fate in the SEC.
LSU will be in its third week of the season with hopefully some answers for the quarterback position. Returning starter Jordan Jefferson will have the ability to keep his job, but Zach Mettenberger is in the position to make some waves.
If LSU can have its quarterback situation figured out, they may have the most talent of any team in the league. Look for Mettenberger to get his first signature win in this game. LSU wins by 7.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Tennessee at Florida – 9/17/2011
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No one knows what to expect out of either one of these teams at this point.
Tennessee has had a year under the regime of Dooley, but they were extremely limited last season with the lack of depth and experience at virtually every position.
Will this year help to return all of the experience or is it a lack of talent? I vote that experience helps.
Muschamp will have a lot of expectations entering this season. No one expects the Gators to go undefeated, but winning games is still a must.
This being a home game for the Gators will help and by this time, there should be some understanding of what Charlie Weis is looking for out of his new offense.
Despite these things, Tennessee will pull the surprise win in the swamp. Tennessee wins by 3.
Arkansas at Alabama – 9/24/2011
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Last season, this game was a heartbreaker for Arkansas. Both teams were in the top 10 in the country and the Razorbacks were in the driver’s seat to win the game. At home in front of their crowd, it couldn’t get any better. Then Alabama came back for the victory.
Moving into 2011, numerous questions are with each SEC team as they go forward but one hole that is glaring for these teams is quarterback. Both of these teams are losing starting quarterbacks and names that will be remembered at both institutions for ages to come.
Who has the edge this season? Both teams return the majority of their playmakers and both have similar holes. This game is in Tuscaloosa so the obvious edge goes to Alabama.
Arkansas owes the Tide some heartbreak, however, and last-minute antics tip this game to the hands of the Razorbacks on the road. Arkansas wins by 4.
Auburn at Arkansas – 10/8/2011
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Tyler Wilson saw the first action of his collegiate career in the competition at Auburn a year ago.
The game went on to see Wilson turn in a career day, and it ended as the highest scoring regulation game in SEC history.
This season may not have the antics of last season, but points will be scored.
Auburn travels into this game entering the toughest four game stretch of its season. How they fair in this game will go a long way in how the season may look for the Tigers.
Coming out of the four game stretch with a .500 record seems like a blessing. This game does not look to be one of the wins. Arkansas wins by 7.
Florida at LSU – 10/8/2011
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Muschamp will be making a trip back to one of his first jobs in the business when he makes his first trip to Death Valley as a head coach.
Muschamp is no stranger to the Valley and knows the ridiculousness of SEC fan bases, but this game will be interesting to watch nonetheless.
LSU should be well developed by the time October hits, and this game will go a long way in determining national perception of the Tigers program.
The Tigers will need a big win and with the receivers on roster, finding a QB to hit his stride by October could be dangerous. Look for LSU to win this game in runaway fashion. LSU wins by 17.
Alabama at Mississippi – 10/15/11
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Ole Miss is coming off one of the worst seasons in recent memory. Returning a player with some experience at the quarterback position will help, but Nathan Stanley was far from stellar in the games that he saw action in a year ago.
Ole Miss does have a stable of able backs to carry the load, and if guys like Enrique Davis live up to expectations, the Rebels have a shot to have a bowl trip season.
Alabama should be hitting its stride mid-season, assuming that the quarterback situation works itself out. Alabama will look for this to be a good division win and Ole Miss will be looking to play the spoiler.
The veteran offensive line at Alabama will overmatch a defensive line at Ole Miss that lost a lone star in Jerrel Powe. Look for Alabama to win this one big and keep its conference title hopes alive. Alabama wins by 14.
Georgia at Vanderbilt – 10/15/2011
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Vanderbilt is always good for one big win a season. This may be the game that they pick as their upset game.
With Georgia in the supposed lead at this point in the season, it would be easy to overlook a game against a squad like Vanderbilt, especially with another coaching change.
Georgia will have Aaron Murray in great stride and the assumption that a go-to receiver will have developed has to be there.
Vanderbilt does have some playmakers on the defensive side of the ball who will be looking to cause confusion for the Georgia O. This game will depend on the Commodores' ability to get Murray off of the field and control the clock. Georgia wins by 21.
South Carolina at Mississippi State – 10/15/2011
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This is a big game for both of these teams. Both have the chance to play themselves into or out of position in the conference with a win here.
Mississippi State is a tough place for teams to go into and play, so the crowd will be deafening. Hopefully for South Carolina, Connor Shaw will be ready for the noise.
This could be a way for South Carolina to play their way back into the championship, assuming that Georgia can end with a loss at some point.
The positive for the Gamecocks is that the ability to lean on Marcus Lattimore will come in handy as the middle third and front four for the Bulldog defense will be new in 2011.
All that being said, Carolina will be in a hostile environment, and the Bulldogs should have the defensive woes figured out with the transfer of Brandon Maye and others.
Look for a tight game in Davis Wade in mid-October. Mississippi State wins by 4.
Florida at Auburn – 10/15/2011
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Auburn will be entering the second half of a tough four-game SEC stretch. What will be good is that Auburn has the game in front of the home crowd at Jordan Hare Stadium.
Will Muschamp will be entering his second former home environment. The reception is sure to be just as nasty as the one at LSU.
By this time in the season, John Brantley should be in stride. The Florida defense will be attempting to fill the holes that were left by both starting safeties.
The Gators will come into Auburn looking for a signature conference win for Muschamp and a memorable first year win in an otherwise mediocre season. Auburn wins by 3.
Tennessee at Alabama – 10/22/2011
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This rivalry has seen its ups and downs over the years for both teams, and the Volunteers will find themselves at the bottom of one of those lulls again this year.
There is a slight chance that Tennessee will find itself on top of this game, but the scenarios are unlikely.
This will be a big game for Alabama, another conference and rivalry win. It also leads into the off week before the Tide host LSU.
The most likely scenario that could lead to an Alabama slip here is that they are overlooking to the off week and possibly a top 5 matchup against LSU. Despite the distraction, Alabama gets the win. Alabama wins by 14.
Arkansas at Mississippi – 10/22/2011
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Arkansas will walk into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium looking for a must-win. Arkansas will have Tyler Wilson leading the charge, and at this point, he should have found his permanent stride in the Petrino offense.
Ole Miss will want to make an impact on the conference and get a win to move into a possible position to make a play for the division, but it will take a lot for the Rebels to make it to the heights they reached with Eli Manning at the helm.
Look for Ole Miss to keep the game close and possibly lead into halftime, Wilson will take the Arkansas offense over, and the Razorbacks will get the come-from-behind win. Arkansas wins by 10.
Mississippi State at Kentucky – 10/29/2011
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Kentucky is looking to replace some big names on the offense with the departure of Mike Hartline, Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb.
Make no mistake, Morgan Newton has the opportunity to step in and have a great season at Kentucky. Newton has the size and the arm to be dangerous this season.
Mississippi State will be focusing on this game and trying not to overlook the Wildcats. Kentucky has been a team that is always feisty but has won ballgames these past few years.
Look for Joker Phillips to have his squad ready for the home game, but Mullen and the Bulldogs are entering a third year and looking to have a breakout. The Bulldogs won’t stumble. Mississippi State wins by 7.
Georgia at Florida – 10/29/2011
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The largest outdoor cocktail party is always a good show. This year, Florida will bring a new coaching staff to the fold and what better way to end October than this rivalry game?
Florida and Georgia will both be in the Eastern division race at this point, and this game could spring the winner into first place.
Georgia is returning a lot of talent, but it also brings veteran coaching staff to 2011. Again, barring a major injury, Aaron Murray will lead Georgia to some substantial victories this season and what better game to win than this one.
Muschamp and his Gators will keep it interesting against the Bulldogs but with a shot at the East, Richt will have the Bulldogs ready to play. Georgia wins by 10.
LSU at Alabama – 11/5/2011
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In the past few years, this game has played a major role in determining the Western division. LSU will have the most talent in the SEC in 2011.
Alabama will have the second-most talented team. Both come into the season with quarterback questions and little else.
This game will easily go into the fourth quarter very tight, and it is very likely to decide who plays in Atlanta in December.
This game has all the makings of a Top 10 matchup and will bring the national attention that it deserves. Being held at Bryant Denny will help the Tide, but LSU pulls this game out. LSU wins by 3.
South Carolina at Arkansas – 11/5/2011
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South Carolina will have played themselves out of the conference discussion at this point in the season.
Arkansas will remain hopeful and alive and clawing for every SEC victory that it can get to help its pursuit to the title game.
Arkansas will have a raucous fanbase by the time November rolls around as whispers of titles will be abound in Fayetteville.
Look for Arkansas to come out tight and trail early as South Carolina will be playing for bowl position only.
Arkansas will win a shootout in the fourth and break the heart of the Gamecocks yet again. Arkansas wins by 7.
Florida at South Carolina – 11/12/2011
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South Carolina’s last chance to claim a big-name victory happens this week against Florida. Connor Shaw will be confident in the system, and the Gators will be hitting the downward slope that follows the first-year coach.
Florida will open the game with some big drives and scores but the Gamecocks will play steady enough to keep themselves in the game.
At this point in the season, Muschamp will be pushing to have a winning season, and Spurrier will be wondering what went wrong.
This might be the biggest toss up of all, but Carolina gets the nod. South Carolina wins by 4.
Alabama at Mississippi State – 11/12/2011
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Alabama will travel to Starkville looking to close out a crazy season in the SEC but to finish it with hopes of a title still alive.
Mississippi State will be looking back on a large disappointment of what could have been a special season.
The Bulldogs have been gaining edginess in games these past two years under Mullen and they will play to that last whistle. The Bulldogs will be poised and ready for Alabama to come to town.
Despite the ability of both teams to run the ball effectively, State will pull away with the so called “upset” victory. Mississippi State wins by 7.
Auburn at Georgia – 11/12/2011
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The oldest rivalry in the South has played out some of the best football in the past few years. Last year, Auburn went into the game with possible questions of eligibility of then star quarterback Cameron Newton. Despite the allegations, Newton played phenomenally.
Georgia also remembers the game. A game that was filled with late hits and some suspect strikes on the Bulldogs quarterback will not be forgotten in 2011.
Look for Georgia to take the home-field advantage very seriously in this game. Auburn makes some plays, but the game is edged by a long pass in the end. Georgia wins by 4.
Mississippi State at Arkansas – 11/19/2011
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Arkansas enters this game with a must-win scenario on its hands. Beating the Bulldogs in front of the home crowd will give them the driver’s seat alongside LSU to the title game.
If Arkansas wants to prove they belong in the Western division discussion, they must win this game.
Mississippi State finds itself in somewhat of the same scenario. State has beaten teams in the past but never produced steady production.
A win against a very successful Arkansas team would be great for the institution and for national perception of the Bulldogs. Unfortunately, Arkansas is the real deal in 2011. Arkansas wins by 10.
Arkansas at LSU – 11/25/2011
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This game looks to be for all the marbles. Whoever finishes this game on top will likely win the West and the SEC. LSU will have the talent and Arkansas can’t seem to win the games that matter the most.
The battle for the golden boot will bring national attention, and whichever team can carry the ball the most wins.
Dominance in the air will occur but the rushing attack will be the name of the game. This game will end in the third quarter.
It will play tight for the first half but in the third quarter will lead to a separation and LSU will take away the game. Arkansas has a shot to find itself in the national scene but the Mad Hatter proves magical again. LSU wins by 14.
Tennessee at Kentucky – 11/26/2011
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Both of these teams will be fighting for recognition by the end of the season. Tennessee has a shot to be a very good team and possibly be a surprise stunner in the East, but the likelihood is that they will be fighting for bowl eligibility in this game.
Kentucky will be solid and looking for an eighth win in this game but Tennessee will look to mean business. It will be a quarterback battle between Newton and Bray but the home crowd will pull the Wildcats through.
Look for Newton to put the finishing touches on a very good Kentucky football season. Kentucky wins by 7.
Mississippi State at Mississippi – 11/26/2011
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Mississippi will just not quite finish this season. The Rebels will likely be calling for the head of Houston Nutt by season's end and this game will not be pretty.
The Bulldogs will be finishing their best season in recent memory and the Rebels will be predictably mediocre.
Look for the rivalry magic to be all over this contest and crazy happenings to occur, but at the end of the day, State proves too much for Ole Miss. Mississippi State wins by 7.
Alabama at Auburn – 11/26/2011
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The Iron Bowl the last two seasons has turned into ESPN instant classics overnight. Both games had national title implications and both games hosted the title winner.
This year, those stakes won’t likely be at play, but the game will draw national attention nonetheless.
Auburn returned from the largest deficit in the history of both schools last season on the road. Alabama will be looking to come into Auburn and return the favor, but it likely will not happen.
This game will play close and will keep the fans on the edge of their seats.
Look for both teams to rush for over 200 yards and whoever finishes the game with the ball will win. Auburn wins by 3.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
