2008 SEC Football Predictions & Season Preview
June 12, 2008
SEC East:
1.) Georgia Bulldogs
QB Mathew Stafford has matured and RB Knowshon Moreno knows how to run. A brutal schedule with games against Arizona State, Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech will have the nation knowing that the Bulldogs are the best team in the nation when the season is over. This is the most complete team in the SEC and they will find a way to win these tough games and likely an National Title.
2.) Florida Gators
Heisman winner Tim Tebow is back at quarterback and WR Percy Harvin makes their spread option lethal. The Gators lack depth on the defensive front seven and this will clearly be their weakness heading into 2008. But with an explosive offense and an improved defense overall, the Gators will once again have a chance to win it all.
The Volunteers have weapons at receiver and running back and their secondary should be strong. But losing six starters off the front seven will make it tough to win many road games during a brutal road schedule this season. Their offense could be as good as last year, but stopping the run is a key concern. The SEC East is tough as ever this season, otherwise we would be giving the Vols a better chance of competing.
Their defense should be better, because it couldn’t have been much worse to end the season last year. WR Kenny McKinley will be one to watch as he is perhaps the SEC’s best wideout. But with the last place run defense in the SEC, and an offensive line that has been a steady headache, the Gamecocks will have to be content with just making a bowl game this year.
There will be no miracles in Lexington this season. The Wildcats hung with the big boys in LSU, FSU, Louisville and Arkansas last year. But losing start quarterback Andre Woodson will hurt mightily. The Wildcats’ offense won’t be able to compensate for a defense that ranked last in the SEC in scoring defense last season. After back-to-back eight-win seasons, the Wildcats won’t finish with better than a .500 record in 2008.
The Commodores put some emphasis into defense last season and they will return six starters this year from a unit that finished No. 4 in the SEC which was the school’s best in a decade. But their offense was 11th in the SEC in total yards, and WR Earl Bennett turned pro early so don’t expect an improvement on this side of the ball. Vandy shows potential but we highly doubt they can get over the hump this season with a lackluster offense.
SEC West:
1.) LSU Tigers
Several players bypassed the NFL Draft to come back for another run at a national championship. A slew of talent remains for the Nationals Champions. QB is a huge question mark though and their defense lost six quality players. Despite a tough upcoming road schedule, the Tigers will repeat in the West with tremendous balance on the line on both sides of the ball.
2.) Auburn Tigers
The new spread option offense was effective in the bowl game and should add some much need scoring to the Tigers’ offense in 2008. Their defense also returns seven starters as this unit is a perennial powerhouse. The Tigers are still looking for the consistent QB play they have been missing for years. The Tigers have LSU’s number and they get them at home this season, so a win there could have Auburn winning the SEC West.
The Tide returns 15 starters who should all improve in their second year under Nick Saban’s system. Alabama lost their last four regular season games so they should be hungry from the start. Their front four seems vulnerable. The Tide will be improved with the young talent coming in after the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. Look out for Alabama in 2009 for sure.
4.) Mississippi State Bulldogs
This team also returns 15 starters from a unit that won four of their last five to record an eight-win season and save Sylvester Croom’s job. This came despite having the worst offense in the SEC in 2007 and this unit didn’t make much improvement in the spring either. The Bulldogs are always a tough out with the way they get after it on defense, but not tough enough to beat elite SEC teams.
5.) Ole Miss Rebels
Houston Nutt was a great hire and QB transfer Jevan Snead looked great in the spring. With 16 starters returning, the Rebels could be the surprise team in the SEC this season. But they lack skill players on offense for Snead to throw to and this will be a major concern heading in. The Rebels might challenge for a bowl game, but they likely won’t be able to keep up with the SEC’s best teams either.
Bobby Petrino brings in the promise of a passing game and with a strong offensive line, this offense won’t be too shabby. But when you lose your top three offensive players in Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Marcus Monk, the Razorbacks really can’t expect to be as competitive as they were last season. Petrino will eventually win, but Arkansas lost too many studs to compete right now.
