Welcome back friends. I know many of you are asking "where has the blog been?" (I realize no one has asked this). But I have 2 answers to that question: 1. I don't care to analyze any sports but football and basketball 2. I am extremely lazy. Well it's that time of year wear you can smell football. It's right around the corner. So to begin the season, before kickoff I'm gonna try and break down the 14 (welcome A&M and Mizzou) SEC teams and try to predict where I think they will finish. This is gonna be fun and interesting since I know nothing about the Aggies or Mizzou. Well here goes nothing...

14. Kentucky- We can just get straight to the point: this will be Joker Philip's last season. You can't succeed when no one cares about your program. These people are ready for basketball season already. They will be competitive but the talent just isn't there.

Returning Starters:
Offense-4
Defense-5

Key To Success: The offense must be better. It was the worst in the SEC last year. Young playmakers must step up.

Educated guess on final record: 3-9

13. Ole Miss- Now before all my Rebel friends freak and I just think I personally hate you guys, I assure you that is not the case. Let's step back and look at this schedule:
vs #15 Texas
AT #2 Alabama
vs #30 Texas A&M
vs #25 Auburn
AT #10 Arkansas
AT #6 Georgia
AT #1 LSU
vs #33 Mississippi State
(rankings according to preseason coaches poll)

This set-up would be a tall order for anybody, much less a school coming off 2 and 3 win seasons, a new head coach and a team who has had a hand full of transfers and dismissals. I think Hugh Freeze can help this team in the long run but not this season.

Returning Starters:
Offense-7
Defense-6

Key To Success: Either Barry Brunetti or Bo Wallace has to step and lead this team as a solid QB. 2 QB systems DO NOT work in the SEC.

Educated guess on final record: 4-8

12. Vanderbilt- I think the Commodores will be much improved, but this is another case of the schedule just being too difficult. James Franklin has this team on the up-swing. Anytime you can get you team into a bowl game in Nashville, fans will view it as a major success. Look for Franklin to be recognized as a candidate for a major college program this coming offseason.


Returning Starters:
Offense-9
Defense-8

Keys to Success: Keep the momentum rolling and and stay confident. Franklin has the team believing they can compete in the SEC.

Educated guess on final record: 6-6

11. Tennessee- With his most talented group yet in Knoxville, all I can say is Derek Dooley better succeed. The team took a huge hit losing it's star wide receiver, Da-Rick Rogers (why the hell can't he just spell it Derrick), but with Tyler Bray at the helm he should be able to turn some of his younger receivers into stars. The Vols have had 2 straight losing season, which is absolutely unheard of in the land of Rocky Top. Many believe this is the year they return to SEC prominence, but I am not one of those people. I will also go out on a limb and predict the Vols will be looking for a new coach by seasons end.

Returning Starters:
Offense-9
Defense-7

Keys To Success: Tyler Bray has to step up and be the Heisman candidate type QB many think he can be.

Educated guess on final record: 7-5

10. Texas A&M- Let me give you a few facts about the Aggies going into their first season as an SEC member:

• A new coach
• New spread offense
• New 4-3 scheme defense
• New starting QB

Now this would be a tough situation in Conference USA, but in the SEC West, we can call this task near impossible. I think in the long run the addition of A&M will be good for the SEC but i just don't think they realize what they are in for this coming season. 

Returning Starters:

Offense-9

Defense-6

Keys To Success: Buy into Sumlin's program. The SEC can be rough, don't let it be overwhelming and just stay competitive.

Educated guess on final record: 7-5

9. Missouri- Much like Texas A&M, I think Mizzou is in for a giant culture shock entering the SEC. The only break, if you want to call it that, is that they will be competing in the East as opposed to the West. Having undersized lines on both sides of the ball will really be exposed against SEC caliber athletes. They will be able to move the ball through the air, but the running game and defense may really struggle.

Returning Starters:

Offense-6

Defense-7

Keys To Success: Let James Franklin do his thing and show the SEC how good of a QB he really is.

Educated guess on final record: 7-5

8. Florida- There are no two ways around it, the first season for the Gators under new coach Will Muschamp was a complete and utter disaster. But they come in to this season with much more confidence and competent offensive coordinator (hahahahhahaha Charlie Weis y'all). The defense which was pretty solid last year, will be solid again this year. The biggest question mark is still on the offensive side of the ball, and more specifically the QB position. While the Gators will be much improved, they are still another year away from competing for the East title.

Returning Starters:

Offense-7

Defense-10 (!)

Keys To Success: Find an SEC caliber QB. The talent is there, but a someone needs to step up and lead the offense.

Educated guess on final record: 8-4