SEC Football Teams With The Most To Prove This Season

The SEC is a conference jam-packed with talent, luxurious history, fearsome rivalries and big expectations. Every year we see teams rise and fall to the occasion, but what SEC Football teams have the biggest weight on their shoulders this season?

With big recruiting classes and big history, a lot of teams heading into the 2016 SEC football season are expected to make some noise. The only problem is that not every team can come out on top and some that are expected to do so will fail. With that failure, a lot of ridicule and media noise will also ensue. So what teams have the most pressure on them this SEC season?

Florida Gators

Previously mentioned in one of my articles, which can be found here, Florida needs to care of business this year. When you bring in a head coach that makes it to the SEC championship game and gives Bama a good fight in his first season, the exceptions are going to be high for his sophomore campaign. Florida has a good recruiting class coming in and some solid players coming off the redshirt, but they need to fulfill expectations and not become the next Missouri Tigers of the SEC.

Tennessee Volunteers

The program with the rowdiest and most boisterous fans amongst SEC Football program’s has a lot to prove this season. Multiple preseason rankings have them anywhere from top 5 to ranked as the best team in the country. The Vols have had constant praise over their recruiting classes over the past few seasons. The only thing the recruiting classes have resulted in, though, is blown leads. Butch Jones has everything on the line this year and is expected to win the SEC East convincingly and compete for a playoff spot. They don’t have the toughest schedule, but — nonetheless — it’s still SEC play. They also look to snap a 12-year losing streak to the Gators this season.

LSU Tigers

A team led by a Heisman frontrunner is always gonna have high expectations. Speaking of expectations look no further than SEC Football powerhouse LSU. Led by Junior running back and top 5 projected pick Leonard Fournette, the Tigers will look to finally prove the critics wrong this year. Last year they started off strong, but would soon falter behind horrendous QB play. They look to avoid that this year with a strong recruiting class coming in, even if they lacked a QB. Their main problem will be behind center. If the Tigers can figure that out early, they could be a scary team and give Bama a good fight for the SEC West.

Georgia Bulldogs

Kirby Smart in his first season with the Bulldogs will be looking to replicate what Florida Coach Jim McElwain did last season. Smart has more to work with than Coach Mac did coming in, but it will still be a battle for the SEC East. With one of the best recruiting classes in the nation featuring #2 Ranked QB Jacob Eason coming in, they have their eye on winning the SEC. On top of their spectacular recruiting class last season, the Dawgs’ are on pace to finish with the #1 class this season behind first year head coach Smart. To keep all those top pledges committed and expected pledgee’s on board, they must perform this year. I also wrote about that here. If Eason can start strong and they can avoid injuries, they look to battle it out with Florida and Tennessee for the East.

must read: Is Jalen Tabor The Best Gator This Year?

Of course, every team has expectations. Some are just higher than others. All of these have a lot on their plate and a lot to prove this season. Everything looks good on paper, but that’s why we play the games. I am excited for another season of SEC Football and I hope you guys are too.

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