SEC Football: 2022 season outlook and prediction for each team

SEC Football is coming soon, and Week 1 officially starts on Thursday, September 1. There’s no better time to make predictions for the upcoming season so let’s get right into it.

2022 SEC Football season outlook and prediction for each team

Alabama

With the reigning Heisman trophy winner and best defensive player in the country coming back, the expectations for the Tide are sky high. Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. will lead Alabama to at least the SEC Championship game. And watch out for running back/Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs; he’ll be dynamic out of the back field. It safe to say that the Crimson Tide should be considered safe until the postseason.

Georgia

I think Georgia will be able to handle the new-look Oregon squad, similar to what they did to Clemson in last year’s opener, but I’m a bit hesitant to say they’ll run the table.  The SEC is very deep this year and with so many players leaving on the defensive side of the ball, I say they drop one SEC game. They do go on the road to Mississippi State and Kentucky late in November late in the year so those could have upset potential.

LSU

It’s tough to get a read on LSU, but Brian Kelly coming in, multiple future pros at the wide receiver position, and a stacked defensive front won’t let this team down. I’d say they’ll at least post more wins than last year (6 games) and surprise many.

Florida

The Gators still have one of the more well-rounded rosters in the SEC East despite finishing 6-7 last year. Now they’ll still find themselves behind Georgia and Kentucky, but quarterback Anthony Richardson is a major wildcard and could help head coach Billy Napier have a successful first season.

Vanderbilt

Vandy can start the season 2-0 but once conference play begins it’s simply just tough to keep up. As I’m writing this, they play Hawaii tonight, if they lose, then we’ll know all we need about the Commodores this year.

Missouri

The new look offense offers hope, but they’ve been nothing but average at best under head coach Eli Drinkwitz. He’s on the hot seat and Mizzou would love to see a season with more than six wins but I don’t think that can happen this year considering how many programs look to be improving in the SEC.

Auburn

Auburn had 20 players and 5 coaches leave the program after the end of last season. If they go 6-7 again, the boosters will come after head coach Bryan Harsin and unfortunately for him that may end up happening. The Tigers go on the road against Georgia and Ole Miss this year. Not to mention they also play Penn State, Texas A&M, and Alabama.

Texas A&M

A&M was the highest ranked team with under 10 wins last season and I just don’t see the Aggies stepping onto the National stage. They’ll need to beat teams like Arkansas and Mississippi State before they can be considered in the same class as Alabama and Georgia. I have a feeling that if they lose to the Crimson Tide, the Aggies might lose luster as the season continues on.

South Carolina

Shane Beamer’s successful first season paired with Spencer Rattler transferring in makes the Gamecocks intriguing. I don’t think this is their year because there is simply so much talent in the SEC, but they’ll definitely be everybody’s hot pick in 2023. For what it’s worth, I have them finishing ahead of Tennessee.

Kentucky

The Wildcats are having the most consistent success in program history. But despite having NFL prospect and top quarterback Will Levis return, Kentucky still can’t compete with Georgia. With that being said, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee should still be behind the Wildcats.

Tennessee

Not as high on the Volunteers as most people are. But they should hover around Florida and South Carolina in the East. If they are any better than expected, it will be because of quarterback Hendon Hooker who broke out last season throwing for 31 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions.

Mississippi state

Mississippi State is the most underrated team in the SEC, except they play in the West so they could finish anywhere from second or sixth in that division. I’d say closer to second though so watch out.

Ole Miss

I guess we won’t know the starting quarterback for the Rebels until the week of the first game but what we do know is that it will be either Luke Altmyer or Jaxson Dart. Either way they should still be able to dominate offensively and because of all of their incoming transfers, the starting QB’s job will be much easier. A NY6 bowl might not be in the cards this year but anything under 8 wins would be disappointing after the improvement last season.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks face a murderer’s row schedule this year again. With games against 5 preseason ranked teams that include Alabama and Texas A&M, they’ll most likely drop a few games, but 10 wins is definitely a possibility, especially with KJ Jefferson under center.