2023 College Football Predictions: SEC

Photo by Rogelio V. Solis from the Associated Press

It just means more…

It’s also the last year SEC teams could do a horns down celebration for whatever reason without it being a penalty.

Better get it out while you can!

East

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Last year, I had my doubts of Georgia’s success considering the amount of pure talent they lost.

I still thought they’d be good, but I didn’t think they’d repeat.

And boy oh boy did they make me look stupid!

So, who am I to doubt them again?

2. South Carolina Gamecocks

I wasn’t as high on the Gamecocks last year as others.

I always liked Shane Beamer, but Spencer Rattler was a ton of talent with not a ton of good decision making at Oklahoma, and he was pretty much the exact same way at South Carolina last year.

But he got it figured out late, and they capped their season off with big upset wins over Tennessee and Clemson.

I see it as a corner turned for the former 5 star recruit.

3. Tennessee Volunteers

No more Hendon Hooker. No more offensive coordinator Alex Golesh.

But I like what Josh Huepel is doing at Tennessee, and I’m a fan of Joe Milton.

The Vols should be good again.

4. Kentucky Wildcats

The man who made Will Levis look excellent, Liam Cohen, is back at Kentucky to coach up former NC State quarterback Devin Leary.

I have no reason to believe it won’t go well.

5. Florida Gators

Billy Napier is going to make Florida his team, and that’s going to take some time.

The question is, will Florida’s fans and administration have the patience required to get them there?

We’ll see, but I do think Graham Mertz is going to have a good year.

Simply because it’d be peak Wisconsin to have him suddenly become good.

6. Missouri Tigers

The talent is there!

The talent has always been there!

But since Drinkwitz took over at Mizzou, the Tigers have gone 5-5, 6-7, and 6-7.

We gave Scott Satterfield crap for his lack of success at Louisville. Same with Neal Brown at WVU.

Drinkwitz has to do better. Period.

7. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vandy is actually going to be good this year.

But it’s the SEC East. So they’ll still be last.

West

1. LSU Tigers

Brian Kelly winning the West last year in his first season with the Tigers was absolutely remarkable, and he did it with some iffy quarterback play.

If Jayden Daniels finds some more consistency, this is a title favorite.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Nick Saban started at Bama with a philosophy of great defense and pounding the rock.

Then, when the landscape of the sport changed, he got 5 star QBs and receivers and threw all over everyone.

That landscape is still here, and who is their quarterback?

Who are their running backs?

Is Tommy Rees even a good coordinator, or was he held back by a mediocre Notre Dame offense?

It’s still Alabama, so they’ll be good.

But I don’t see them coming close to LSU this year.

Which is usually the jinx Saban needs to win another title.

3. Auburn Tigers

Say what you want about Hugh Freeze as a person (and believe me, there is A LOT to say…) but he is a damn good football coach.

And Auburn has the talent to succeed right away with Freeze.

Payton Thorne, the Michigan State transfer, will be the quarterback, and the defense has been revitalized by transfers as well.

I see big success in year one for Freeze.

4. Ole Miss Rebels

This team will score and this team will not play any defense.

And it’ll rule.

5. Texas A&M Aggies

Once again, there’s a ton of talent on the team and on the coaching staff.

Once again, I don’t expect it to add to any major success.

A&M is who A&M is.

We shouldn’t be surprised by it.

6. Arkansas Razorbacks

K.J. Jefferson is back for one final season. I like what Sam Pittman has done a lot.

But this is the hardest division in football, and I just haven’t seen enough from Arkansas to justify anything higher.

7. Mississippi State Bulldogs

The tragic and untimely death of head coach Mike Leach puts State in a very tough spot.

They’re in the hardest division in football, and they’re switching offensive systems to something completely different that the coaches have not recruited for.

It feels wrong to do after everything they’ve been through this offseason, but I just don’t see it being a successful season for State.

Leach probably won’t care, though.

He’ll just be hoping they have some fun together.

SEC Championship Game: Georgia vs LSU

Georgia has won the last two national championships, and will now have a more talented quarterback than the 45 year old car salesman Stetson Bennett.

It’d be absolutely stupid to pick against Georgia.

But stupid is my middle name!

Actually it’s McKay, but that’s neither here nor there.

LSU wins the SEC Championship.