Season projections
SEC EAST
1. South Carolina >> 6-2, 10-2
Depth carries a Gamecocks team that lost its quarterback, top defender and top receiver.
Sign Up and Save
Get six months of free digital access to The Kansas City Star
#ReadLocal
2. Georgia >> 6-2, 10-2
Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall are the nation’s top running back tandem.
3. Missouri >> 5-3, 9-3
Tigers are good enough to make it two straight division titles.
4. Florida >> 4-4, 7-5
Heat is on Will Muschamp, who might need to at least reverse last year’s 4-8 finish.
5. Vanderbilt >> 3-5, 7-5
Can Stanford assistant Derek Mason continue what James Franklin started?
6. Tennessee >> 3-5, 6-6
Vols have to rebuild both sides of line before making move in division.
7. Kentucky >> 0-8, 2-10
Wildcats looking to bust out of the 2-10 habit.
SEC WEST
1. Alabama >> 8-0, 12-0
Stop a field-goal return for a touchdown and Alabama would have played for 2013 SEC title.
2. Auburn >> 6-2, 9-3
SEC defenses get a second crack at Gus Malzahn’s uptempo offense.
3. LSU >> 5-3, 9-3
Very talented but young, LSU might be a year away from a serious run at division.
4. Mississippi >> 4-4, 7-5
Rebels have a chance to make a move with Bo Wallace at quarterback
5. Texas A&M >> 3-5, 7-5
Kyle Allen takes over for Johnny Football, but the Aggies also have to find a new defense.
6. Mississippi State >> 2-6, 6-6
There’s optimism with 18 returning starters, but the division is a killer.
7. Arkansas >> 1-7, 4-8
Razorbacks should be able to shorten games with good backs, offensive line.
Bowl teams
College Football Playoff: Alabama
Orange: Auburn
Peach: South Carolina
Capital One: Georgia
Outback: LSU
Music City: Missouri
Gator: Florida
Liberty: Mississippi
Texas: Texas A&M
Belk: Vanderbilt
Birmingham: Tennessee
Independence: Mississippi State
Three can’t-miss games
Sept. 13: Georgia at South Carolina
Bulldogs broke a three game losing streak in the series last year. The winner gets a leg up in division race.
Nov. 8: Alabama at LSU
’Bama-LSU games always seem to come down a final possession in Baton Rouge.
Nov. 29: Auburn at Alabama
How can they top last year’s epic Iron Bowl?
Award winners
Offensive player of the year: Todd Gurley, Georgia running back. Gurley missed three games last season and still accounted for 1,430 total yards (rushing and receiving) and 16 touchdowns.
Defensive player of the year: Landon Collins, Alabama safety. Collins played strong and free safety last season and wound up as the Crimson Tide’s second-leading tackler.
To reach Blair Kerkhoff, call 816-234-4730 or send email to bkerkhoff@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BlairKerkhoff.
Comments