Storyline: The LSU Tigers will prevail, the Hogs will surprise, and ‘Bama won’t repeat in the always touch SEC West.
Last week I analyzed the SEC East, predicting that Tennessee would represent the division in Atlanta on December 3rd.
Which SEC West counterpart will play the Volunteers for the SEC crown? (Spoiler Alert: It won’t be a team from Alabama.)
LSU Tigers (11-1, 7-1 SEC)
Courtesy: nola.com
LSU head coach Les Miles has so much pressure on him going into this season that I’m amazed his head hasn’t turned into a diamond already. When the Tigers fell to 7-3 last season after a loss at Ole Miss, rumors flew that Miles was going to be fired. But LSU decided to give “The Mad Hatter” another year … and he has to make the most of it.
Fortunately for Miles. he has his whole team coming back…well almost. 19 starters return, including All-American RB Leonard Fournette. And the Tigers’ stout defense is going to be one of the best, if not the best, in the SEC.
LSU’s main threats on their schedule are Alabama and Ole Miss, but both have the near impossible task of leaving “Death Valley” with a victory. The Tigers will take care of the Tide and Rebels at home. An upset by Arkansas in the annual “Battle for the Golden Boot” will be the single blemish on the Tigers’ record.
Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2, 7-1 SEC)
Yes, you read that right: I’m predicting Arkansas to finish second in the SEC West. The Razorbacks are highly underestimated. Many predict that the Hogs will be lucky to finish above the .500 mark. I don’t see it that way.
The reason is Junior QB Austin Allen. He’s the younger brother of Brandon Allen, the Razorbacks’ star QB last season, who’s currently playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The younger Allen may be under the radar, but he’s every bit as talented as his older brother.
Arkansas has a very favorable schedule, too, hosting LSU, Ole Miss, and Alabama, and playing Texas A&M at a neutral site (AT&T Stadium).
Arkansas is projected to finish in the bottom tier of the SEC by many but, trust me, that’s not going to happen. Behind a breakout year from QB Austin Allen the Razorbacks are the sleeper team to watch in 2016.
Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2, 6-2 SEC)
Alabama won the SEC and national championship last season, but a repeat isn’t going to happen.
Courtesy: outkickthecoverage.com
Even though Saban has several nice pieces returning, including All-American WR Calvin Ridley, Bama’s tough schedule is going to keep the Tide from making a return trip to Atlanta. Alabama hits the road to face Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, and LSU. All key games, they are must wins for Alabama.
I see the Tide leaving Oxford and Fayetteville with a victory, but Bama will drop both road games against archrivals Tennessee and LSU. Those losses will keep them out of the SEC championship game.
Alabama is still going to have an impressive season, but (without a SEC crown at the very least) Crimson Tide fans will likely evaluate the year as a failure.
Texas A&M Aggies (8-4, 4-4 SEC)
The Aggies will have a good season. The primary reason is QB Trevor Knight, a graduate transfer from Oklahoma. Knight transferred to A&M after Texas Tech transfer, Baker Mayfield, forced Knight to become a Sooner second-stringer.
With sophomore Christian Kirk leading the way, the Aggies boast what may be the best lineup of receivers in the nation. There’s definitely no shortage of targets for Knight to throw to this season.
The Aggies are weak up front, though, especially on offense. I think Knight and the elite receivers will keep Texas A&M in games, but poor play from the linemen will do-in the Aggies at crunch time.
Ole Miss Rebels (8-4, 4-4 SEC)
And the award for the most overrated team in college football this year goes to … The Ole Miss Rebels!
Courtesy: news.olemiss.edu
Ole Miss is ranked #12 in the preseason poll, but the Rebels are nowhere close to being that good. Sure, Ole Miss is returning the SEC’s best QB in Chad Kelly, but with the departure of three NFL first-round picks it will be extremely difficult for the Rebs to emerge from the division as victors.
Hugh Freeze’s good fortune with the Tide will finally come to an end, as Alabama will invade Oxford and leave with a victory. Road games at Arkansas, LSU, and Texas A&M will make it difficult to go above .500 in SEC play.
Hugh Freeze and the Rebels also need to beware when they host a talented Sun Belt opponent, Georgia Southern, on November 5th. The underdog Eagles will come in to Oxford the week before the Rebels’ all-important trip to Aggie Land. It’s a classic trap-door game.
Auburn Tigers (5-7, 2-6 SEC)
Auburn barely made a bowl last season, becoming bowl-eligible very late in the year with a victory against Idaho on November 21. Well, this season the Tigers will experience the second part of that old phrase, “Better late than never.” Despite having a very proficient defense, there’s simply too many question marks on offense.
In conference play, Gus Malzahn’s Tigers will knock off the Bulldogs in Starkville and defeat Vandy at home. A home-opening loss to defending national runner-up Clemson will get the year off on the wrong foot.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-8, 1-7 SEC)
Courtesy: replayphotos.com
Dak Prescott has been “Da Man” for the Bulldogs, one of the main reasons for MSU’s incredible success. Let’s not forget that MSU was ranked #1 for five consecutive weeks during the 2014 season.
But, now that Prescott has left Starkville for an NFL career with the Cowboys, the Bulldogs are going to fall like Wiley Coyote off a cliff.
The Bulldogs have some decent players on defense but, like Auburn, the lack of offense is what will limit Mississippi State’s success.
State will have a 4-4 record after the first two months, with victories over South Alabama, South Carolina, UMass, and Samford, but a rough November will make for an unhappy Thanksgiving for Bulldogs’ fans.
