SEC football is quickly approaching. We recently predicted how the SEC East and West would finish, and now it is time to take the next step and give come up with a power ranking for all 14 SEC football teams.
We’ll do the power rankings for all the SEC football teams like we did when we projected how they would finish their 2016 seaosn — in 3 sentences or less.
14. Missouri
The transition to Barry Odom has one major benefit: the defense should remain lights out. I don’t see him as being the guy to fix an offense in one year, however.
13. South Carolina
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Will Muschamp brought an SEC football blue blood to the cellar and now is taking over a perennial cellar team. I don’t like his odds. Jokes aside, I think him and Roper are great — but no one could fix this mess in one season.
12. Vanderbilt
Head Coach Derek Mason seems to believe Kyle Shurmur is the man to get it done at quarterback. If he’s right, Vanderbilt could make me look silly. Their running game is solid and their defense is legit.
11. Kentucky
This is why the SEC West is viewed as the power division over the SEC East. 4 teams in the SEC football power rankings and we’re still not to the SEC West. O yeah, Kentucky will make a bowl.
10. Arkansas
New quarterback, running backs, tight end and a defense that failed to impress last season + an SEC West schedule? Good luck Razorbacks.
SEC East: Projecting the Order of Finish (July)
The SEC East is ripe for the taking by any team in the division. The Gators, Bulldogs and Volunteers are favored -- can a surprise team emerge?
9. Auburn
If John Franklin is a legit SEC West quarterback, all bets are off. But Auburn has their third defensive coordinator in as many seasons in addition to the new quarterback. Consider me a doubter.
8. Mississippi State
Everything I just said about Arkansas + their quarterback was the best player in school history. Mullen always manages to keep the Bulldogs out of the cellar, though.
7. Florida
I know that Jim McElwain is supposed to be a quarterback guru. I also saw the Gators look absolutely anemic with Treon Harris as a starter and can’t help but have some doubts about the Gators offensive production potential while breaking in a new starter.
6. Texas A&M
Auburn and the Aggies scare me, as they are absolutely loaded with talent. Their defense will be improved and I think Trevor Knight will get them off to a fast start. He didn’t cut it at Oklahoma for a reason, though.
SEC West: Projecting the Order of Finish (July)
The SEC West is the deepest and most competitive division in all of college football. Who will be able to make their claim as division king in 2016?
5. Georgia
Kirby Smart enters his debut season with two stud SEC football running backs. Unfortunately, both of those studs are coming off major injuries.
4. Tennessee
I think they drop at least two, but that will be enough to win the SEC East. Bring out the boo birds. As soon as Joshuas Dobbs completes more than 60% of his passes, I’ll believe.
3. Ole Miss
The Rebels return the best quarterback in both the SEC West and in all of SEC football, which will help them offset the offensive losses of Tunsil and Treadwell. Until their identity changes, bet on the Rebels beating one of the two teams ahead of them but losing a game they shouldn’t.
2. LSU
The Tigers are absolutely loaded with NFL talent, which is why many are picking them to win the SEC West. Until Brandon Harris proves he is capable of running an offense, though, my bet will be against the Tigers. The Tigers would be picked by even more to win their conference if they weren’t playing SEC football.
must read: Jim McElwain's Quarterback Carousel Continues
1. Alabama
Not having a quarterback going into the season seems to impact every team but Alabama. Saban’s Tide have had new quarterbacks entering the last two seasons, and survived early season losses to win the SEC West. This will be their least experienced backfield in quite some time, though.
Obviously the power rankings weren’t based on how teams will finish in their division, as that would have put Tennessee at number 2. I think this is the year for the SEC East top break their streak of being dominated and for an SEC West team to topple Alabama. The Tide have earned the benefit of the doubt, though, having dominated SEC football recently.