2022 SEC Predictions
Photo by Jeff Blake from USA Today
These predictions just mean more.
And why wouldn’t they? The SEC, like it or not, runs college football.
Now if only their fans can stop rooting for their rivals in the sense of “conference pride”….
East
1. Georgia Bulldogs
I’ll cut to the chase. Georgia will not be as good as they were last year.
Which isn’t exactly news, considering that the Bulldogs lost boatloads of talent to the NFL this past Spring.
Still, there’s no reason to think another team should end up in their place in the East.
Until we actually see a new challenger take it to them, it’s going to be Georgia.
2. Kentucky Wildcats
Spots 2 through 4 could honestly be in any possible order.
But Will Levis first year in Lexington was fantastic, so it’s safe to assume his second year with the Wildcats will be even better.
Kentucky gets the edge for me.
3. South Carolina Gamecocks
But don’t sleep on the Gamecocks.
It felt like it would take a bit of time for Shane Beamer to fix up the state of South Carolina, especially considering their quarterback room was, well, let’s just say not ideal.
But despite all of that, SC had a winning season and won the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. It was a very, very impressive first year.
And now they have an actual quarterback in Oklahoma transfer Spencer Rattler.
So why are they not 2nd? Because I’m not sure about Rattler.
Talent wise, he’s incredible.
Decision making wise, he’s not so good.
Maybe it was the pressure of Oklahoma. Maybe he is just reckless as a QB.
Who knows? And since I don’t, I couldn’t put them 2nd.
But this will still be a great year for the Gamecocks.
4. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennesee’’s offense looked good last year! It started what should be a turnaround for the Vols.
Which is the perfect time to have a lackluster season and lose to Florida.
5. Florida Gators
Florida actually isn’t in that bad of a situation.
It still isn’t ideal for Florida standards, as the team struggled and the incoming recruiting class was not good at all.
But the team was young last year, and they didn’t leave via the transfer portal when Dan Mullen got fired.
Billy Napier is a good coach, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made the Gators bowl eligible in year 1.
But it won’t save them in a very tough conference.
6. Missouri Tigers
Eliah Drinkwitz is doing a great job at Missouri except for one thing.
That one thing is finding a quarterback.
Take it from a WVU in the Neal Brown era who has watched Austin Kendall and Jarret Doege. Not having a QB can sink a season.
Mizzou still doesn’t have a QB.
It’s going to be a struggle.
7. Vanderbilt Commodores
I mean.
C’mon.
No, that’s not fair to Vandy.
They can be good. They’ve shown it in the past. Clark Lea might get them back on the right track.
But it won’t be this year.
West
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama was a young team last year and still went 13-2, won the SEC and had their QB Bryce Young win the Heisman.
I’d be more surprised if this team DIDN’T go 15-0 this season.
2. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Everyone thinks A&M will breeze to a 2nd place finish, but I’m not so sure.
It’s the 3rd year under Mike Leach (which historically have been great seasons) and the third season with QB Will Rogers who continues to get better and better.
I am expecting a very big year for the Bulldogs.
3. Ole Miss Rebels
The Rebs have a ton of transfers this year, including former USC QB Jaxson Dart and TCU RB Zach Evans, but if there is a coach who can make it all work out, it’s Lane Kiffin.
4. Texas A&M Aggies
I won’t lie.
I really, really thought about putting them 5th behind Arkansas (spoilers for who is 5th).
I decided against it, but I still just do not see the hype around A&M.
Yeah yeah I know they had the best recruiting class.
So does Texas every year.
Those recruits are still young and inexperienced.
Their new defensive coordinator is former Ole Miss defensive coordinator DJ Durkin who wasn’t very good at Ole Miss and is also a terrible person.
Their quarterback is either Hayes King or Max Johnson, both of whom don’t exactly spark much of anything.
Maybe I’m wrong. I probably am.
But I’m off the A&M bandwagon until they actually show me the hard work is paying off.
5. Arkansas Razorbacks
Man, the SEC West is brutal.
I really, really like Arkansas. And KJ Jefferson is an absolute stud at QB.
But there are just too many teams above them that I like a little more (except for Texas A&M but I’m a coward).
6. LSU Tigers
LSU is not exactly in good shape.
New coach, new QB, ton of transfers. It’ll be a down year in Baton Rouge.
But, Brian Kelly is a very good coach, and that should make LSU better than who I have finishing last.
7. Auburn Tigers
Auburn is more talented then LSU, and most likely Arkansas too.
But after an entire offseason of higher ups trying to get rid of Bryan Harsin and him somehow surviving the attempted coup, I feel the noise around the program is just a teeny tiny bit too loud.
Hey, maybe the players will play their tails off for Harsin to save his job.
But I feel one sniff of a bad season will get him booted.
Even though I’m still not entirely sure why they want to…
SEC Championship Game Prediction
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but it’s Alabama vs Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama stomped them last year before losing to Georgia in the National Championship Game.
But this Bama team is better. This Georgia team is worse.
And Nick Saban does not like losing to his past assistants.
Alabama wins the SEC
Tomorrow, the conference previews come to an end with a look at the Fun Belt.
