South Bound & Down
Fansided

SEC Football Way-Too-Early 2017-18 Hot Takes

By Michael Collins

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders and mascot celebrate in the confetti after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders and mascot celebrate in the confetti after the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Florida 54-16. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 10
Next
Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jeff George (19) and Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) and Volunteers wide receiver Brandon Johnson (17) prior to the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jeff George (19) and Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) and Volunteers wide receiver Brandon Johnson (17) prior to the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Some SEC Football Teams Who May Fall

Tennessee Volunteers

2016 Record: 9-4 (4-4SEC), 2nd in SEC East
2017 Recruiting Class Rank: 17th
2017 Predicted Record: 4-8 (2-6 SEC)
2017 Key Games:  Sept. 30 vs UGA, Nov. 28 @ UK

The Volunteers have been primed for a fall from grace for a couple of seasons now, but Joshua Dobbs managed to keep them out of harm’s way. Without Dobbs, things will begin to unravel for Butch Jones. The late season game against Kentucky will be a chance to stop some bleeding, but it may be too late by that time.

Much like Auburn several seasons ago, the luck will run out, and the Hail Mary passes won’t fall into the waiting arms of players in orange. This will be a struggle for Tennessee fans to watch, and will probably spell the end of Jones’ rocky tenure on Rocky Top.

Auburn Tigers

2016 Record: 8-5 (5-3 SEC), 2nd in SEC West
2017 Recruiting Class Rank: 9th
2017 Predicted Record: 6-6 (3-5 SEC)
2017 Key Games:  Sept. 9 @ Clemson, Nov. 11 vs UGA

Despite an excellent recruiting class, the Auburn Tigers aren’t quite ready for prime time yet. This is a team with a lot of parts which don’t quite make up an impressive whole yet. In a year or two, watch out for this team.

Auburn started and finished slow in 2016, including an embarrassing bowl game loss to No. 7 Oklahoma. The Tigers won’t start things any easier in 2017, taking on the defending national champions in the second game of the season.

There are just too many good and improving teams on Auburn’s schedule for them to hope for much more than a .500 season. Gus Malzahn desperately needs a quarterback who can run his system.

Home/SEC Football