This was originally posted on Hogville.net, however, a few people outside of Hogville have also asked for my thoughts on the SEC West this year.
How the SEC West Will Be Won…
Alabama Crimson Tide – #RollTide
Saban’s teams, regardless of the year, have never had a losing season (2007 and the vacated wins not withstanding). With Lane Kiffin on board and tinkering around with the offense, I anticipate that this will continue to frustrate Saban to no end, while providing the rest of the SEC laughing fits this year. This might end up being the best 8-4 or 9-3 team in the nation. I have some serious concerns about offensive production. Defense will do what they’re supposed to… until they meet their equal (Arkansas).
Arkansas Razorbacks – #BeUncommon
Defensive line has the fewest question marks on it, obviously… as long as they can do their part in controlling clock play and play deep game protection well. Offensively, the biggest concern I have here is passing plays. We know that the Hogs will ground and pound with the best of them this year. Time for our wide receivers to step up and time for our quarterback to nail ’em.
Auburn Tigers – #WarEagle
Any time you have a major shift in defensive philosophies, especially within the SEC, you’re looking at at least two years/recruiting classes to build it in. Auburn’s teams are designed for quick scoring and high offensive production games. Surprisingly, Auburn averaged 35 points per game while holding opponents to 27 points last year. In most cases, that would be good for a 10+ win season… they just don’t fare well in shootout scoring type games. Give ’em a couple years under Muschamp and they’ll be good. This year, Auburn will be in the middle of the pack.
LSU Tigers – #GeauxTigers
LSU lost one of its biggest names, defensively. John Chavis is probably one of the top four defensive coordinators in the nation, so I expect that LSU will take a step back in that area. Les Miles is going to Les Miles himself, as he’s prone to do every year. He’ll win a couple games he has no business winning, then he’ll lose a couple that he shouldn’t. No one ever expected LSU to get shut out by a team looking for its first conference win. LSU will battle Auburn and Texas A&M for the #3-4-5 spot.
Mississippi State Bulldogs – #HailState
I’m taking absolutely nothing away from Dak Prescott. The man is a legit badass QB. The biggest issue for the Bulldogs is the fact that they lost so much on the offensive line this year that I see them struggling offensively several games this year.
Ole Miss Rebels – #HottyToddy
I honestly have no idea what to do with these guys. On paper, they’re built to be one of the best teams in the nation… and have been since Freeze took over. The problem is that they’ve consistently failed to achieve those expectations. Look at last year’s Peach Bowl against TCU. I’m sorry, but the Rebels looked like a Division II team going against TCU. They’ll probably end up fighting for that #6-7 spot with Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies – #GigEm
Offensively, they need to settle down their quarterback situation. Defensively, it’s going to take Chavis a couple years to get these guys moving in the right direction (see my comment about Muschamp). They’ll be dangerous and contending for the SEC West sooner or later.
#1-2 spots: Alabama, Arkansas
#3-4-5 spots: Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State
#6-7 spots: Ole Miss, Texas A&M
Finishing seventh in the SEC West this year is still going to be better than finishing third overall in most other conferences.
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