College Football 2011: SEC Teams That Will Finish Higher Than Preseason Rankings

The SEC has gained the respect of the entire landscape of college football and landed seven teams in the AP preseason top 25 poll, but four teams will finish higher than their preseason ranking.

Teams like Alabama and LSU, who were ranked No. 2 and No. 4 respectively, don’t have much room as far as improving their ranking goes, but one of those teams will finish higher.

Some teams that were ranked in the range of 10-25 will finish higher as well and one unranked team will be ranked once the season is over.

These are the teams that will prove the polls wrong and finish higher than their initial preseason ranking.

Tennessee

Preseason Ranking: NR

Tennessee is the dark horse in the SEC East, and Derek Dooley is enjoying teams like Georgia, South Carolina and Florida taking all the attention and pressure away from his program.

The Volunteers will be led by Tyler Bray this season who played well as a freshman last year and had 297 yards passing and three touchdown passes in the 42-16 victory.

Granted those stats came against Montana, but I still am a believer of Bray’s ability to run the offense and having Tauren Poole in the backfield will help him out.

Tennessee will be the surprise team in the SEC East and will be ranked anywhere from 20-25 when it’s all said and done.

Arkansas

Preseason Ranking: 15

Bobby Petrino might have his best team yet this year as he has playmakers at every position.

Losing Knile Davis before the season really hurts the Hogs, but as long as Tyler Wilson can have a breakout year and get the football to those talented receivers, Arkansas should be just fine.

Arkansas will finish second in the West as they’ll have losses to South Carolina and LSU, and their victory over Alabama come September 24 will give them the edge over a two-loss Alabama team once bowl season rolls around.

Arkansas will finish the season with an impressive 11-2 record and will finish in the top 10.

South Carolina

Preseason Ranking: 12

Most people might be down on South Carolina after it took them so long to get on track in their 56-37 victory over East Carolina, but I still have faith in this team because of their talent.

Their defense will settle down and improve and their offense will be just fine. It looks like Stephen Garcia has finally woke up and is ready to lead this team, and as long as they get the ball to Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery, the Gamecocks will put plenty of points on the board.

South Carolina will win the East and lose in the SEC Championship to the team on the following side. The Gamecocks will finish the season with one loss, and finish in the top five once the season is over.

LSU

Preseason Ranking: 4

LSU is riding a lot of momentum from their 40-27 victory over Oregon, and if Jarrett Lee can manage the game well and not throw a lot of interceptions, they will find themselves back in the national championship game in New Orleans.

The Tigers played in the national championship game the last two times it was played in New Orleans and won both games.

I believe it is the Tigers’ destiny to make it there once again and face off in a rematch with the Oklahoma Sooners. The Tigers will only have one loss going into the championship game and that’ll be at the hands of Alabama.

Alabama loses two games this year to Mississippi State and Arkansas, so the Tigers represent the SEC West in the SEC Championship game.

LSU beats South Carolina to become the SEC Champion and faces Oklahoma in New Orleans. Win or lose, the Tigers will finish in the top three once the final BCS polls are released.