SEC West Preview: Is it Alabama versus the world?
Every year it seems, people will want to know whether anyone will unseat the immovable objects.
In the college football, those unmovable objects are routinely Clemson and Alabama. Last year it was the same, until LSU actually proved what can happen when you get a good quarterback, some future NFL first round wide receivers, and an excellent offensive coordinator, which in one season undid the ole cliche always attributed to the Tigers which was “They’ve got the talent, but they are perennially disappointing”.
This year, the objects will be a bit different. We don’t know how many practices each team has managed. We don’t know what what how many have contracted COVID-19 and when, because they aren’t about to let the opposition get the upper hand. We don’t know if any of the players who have recovered from COVID-19 are seeing ongoing effects.
We also can make presumptions- particularly in the SEC West – about two starting quarterbacks (Texas A&M and Auburn), but the rest is somewhat of a mystery, with the biggest coming at Bryant-Denney.
Anyway, so here’s our predictions.
- Alabama (10-0)
The Tide will be quarterbacked by Mac Jones, who beat out Bryce Jones to Nick Saban’s graces after a highly-competitive camp. Jones will have the luxury of two future first-round picks to throw to in Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith, or they can hand the ball off to Najee Harris or pass it to a mixture of Trey Sanders (formerly the No.1 running back in the nation and he’ll be back from a foot injury) or Brian Robinson Jr. Defensively, Dylan Moses is going to be the star.
Schedule: Missouri (A), Texas A&M (H), Ole Miss (A), Georgia (H), Tennessee (A), Mississippi State (H), LSU (A), Kentucky (H), Auburn (A), Arkansas (H)
Our prediction: With the offensive firepower they’ve got and the defense that’s going to be fine if not utterly elite, it wouldn’t be surprising for us if the Tide are involved in some high-scoring games. And they’ve got the weapons to do that. The big game to watch out for will be Georgia, but otherwise, Alabama should win out.
2. Auburn (8-2)
Auburn’s QB problem is pretty settled, with Bo Nix getting the job. Auburn returns a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. WR Anthony Schwartz is going to be the most exciting of them. He’ll be backed by Eli Stove, Seth Williams, and 4-star freshman Kobe Hudson. Defensively, DL Big Kat Bryant and LB KJ Britt are both preseason all-SEC picks. There are problems in the fact that Auburn had such a problem with COVID-19 that they had a whole week without practicing, and it will be interesting to see what happens to the team. And although Auburn returns a lot of offensive linemen from last year, they all don’t have the experience of their competitors.
Schedule: Kentucky (H), Georgia (A), Arkansas (H), South Carolina (A), Ole Miss (A), LSU (H), Mississippi State (A), Tennessee (H), Alabama (A), Texas A&M (H)
Our Prediction: Although we can imagine Auburn going 6-1 to start the season (losing to Georgia), down the stretch it’s a pretty mean one with games against Tennessee, Alabama and Texas A&M. We think they’ll go 2-1, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see 1-2.
3. Texas A&M (8-2)
I actually had the Aggies finishing second in the West until news broke that its best wide receiver Jhamon Auborn and junior LB Anthony Hines both opted out, which hasn’t helped matters as back-up QB James Foster, senior CB Elijah Blades, and junior DB Derrick Tucker also did the same earlier in the season. Now, I’m not confident about this season, so – like is the case with Auburn and LSU too, this is merely a big swish. What we do know is that the Aggies offensive line is going to be one of the strongest in the West, which should help young RB Isaiah Spiller and speedster Ainias Smith. Kellen Mond is a fun quarterback, too.
Schedule: Vanderbilt (H), Alabama (A), Florida (H), Mississippi State (A), Arkansas (H), South Carolina (A), Tennessee (A), Ole Miss (H), LSU (H), Auburn (A).
Our Prediction: This is a pretty successful year for Jimbo Fisher’s squad, with his young team – packed full of froshes and sophs, score major victories over Florida and LSU this season, while the two losses are against the two teams from Alabama.
4. LSU (6-4)
LSU’s stunning National Championship win was supercharged by an offense that had everyone clapping. But now, the cupboard is pretty bare. Although LSU has just announced Myles Brennan will be starting quarterback, the one receiver who has major experience in that corps will be Terrace Marshall Jr, who had 671 yards receiving and 13 TDs last year. That’s not to say the cupboard will be bare, because LSU recruits and recruits well. On the other side of Marshall will be five-star freshman Kayshon Boutte, the No.2 WR in the nation. Chris Curry and Tyrion Davis-Price will be charged with leading the line at RB, and he’s got no real experience either. Defensively, the secondary will be solid (Derek Stingley and JaCoby Stevens) enough, and the line has been boosted by the return of Neil Farrell Jr.
Schedule: Mississippi State (H), Vanderbilt (A), Missouri (H), Florida (A), South Carolina (H), Auburn (A), Alabama (H), Arkansas (A), Texas A&M (A), Ole Miss (H)
Our Prediction: It’s easy to conceive of LSU winning the easy ones, and losing the hard ones (Florida, Auburn, Alabama and Texas A&M), because the team is so inexperienced. In fact, I’d be shocked if they were favoured against any of the aforementioned sides, and it’s very possible they go 0-4. This is going to be a rollercoaster for LSU fans, but don’t expect miracles.
5. Ole Miss (4-6)
Lane Kiffin can really run an offense, so it should be fascinating to see what he does with projected starter Matt Corral or John Rhys Plumlee. He’s got a good if not amazingly spectacular running back pairing in the excellently-named Snoop Connor and Jerrion Ealy. Prepare to be excited by RB Henry Parrish, too. Elijah Moore will be the big name as a wide receiver, but there will also be some focus on TE Kenny Yeboah, a transfer in from Temple who caught for over 500 yards in his time there. He also returns four starters from last year on the O-Line, but the O-Line wasn’t that good last year.
Schedule: Florida, Kentucky (A), Alabama (H), Arkansas (A), Auburn (H), Vanderbilt (A), South Carolina (H), Texas A&M (A), Mississippi State (H), LSU (A)
Our Prediction: It’s not going to beautiful in Oxford, but 4 wins (Vandy, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi State) is a probability, although we can also see them frighten the life out of a couple of teams. There will be some good grass roots.
6. Mississippi State (2-8)
We love Mike Leach’s brain, and we love his press conferences even more. His recruitment of KJ Costello as a transfer QB is a fantastic move (we’d go as far as saying it’s the transfer of the year). Costello will be helped by excellent running back Kylin Hill, who ran for 1,350 yards and 10 TDs. It will make quite the change from Leach’s usual offenses which are pedal-to-the-metal, and very pass-orientated. We can’t wait to see how Alabama transfer WR Tyrell Shavers will fit into this offense, which will also feature Osirus Mitchell, Caleb Ducking and most intriguingly JUCO transfer Malik Heath.
Schedule: LSU (A), Arkansas (H), Kentucky (A), Texas A&M (H), Alabama (A), Vanderbilt (H), Auburn (H), Georgia (A), Ole Miss (A), Missouri (H)
Our Prediction: MSU’s schedule is absolutely savage. The Cowbellers will face LSU and Alabama on the road, as well as Georgia and Kentucky. Winnable games are Vanderbilt and Arkansas, and if Missouri’s really bad, then No.3 will be the last game of the season.
7. Arkansas (0-10)
Sam Pittman’s first year in charge is not going to be an easy one. While Feliepe Franks coming in as a transfer QB from Florida might be a great headline, what will Franks be working with? For one, Rakeem Boyd is a terrific running back who will cause defenses problems – if the offensive line helps him out. And he’ll also catch some of Franks’ passes, too. But as horrible as this may sound, the cupboard’s still pretty bare. Sure, Pittman’s brought in talent for the 2020 class, but it’s still way behind the rest of the SEC West, although a little bit better than Vanderbilt’s.
Schedule: Georgia (H), Mississippi State (A), Auburn (A), Ole Miss (H), Texas A&M (A), Tennessee (H), Florida (A), LSU (H), Missouri (A), Alabama (H)
Our Prediction: If any of you can recognise a truly winnable game for me on this schedule, then please let me know.