It’s the midway point of the season, with every SEC team aside from Tennessee having played six games. The East and West divisions both have two undefeated teams remaining, with Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Tennessee all ranked inside the AP top 10. Here at Last Word on Sports, we have our SEC midseason roundtable discussion among the writers that cover the conference. We look at all the surprises, disappointments, and underrated players that have made us take note in 2022. We also look ahead to how things will shake out as the season progresses.
2022 SEC Midseason Roundtable
Who Will Play For The SEC Title?
Mike Loveall (covers Tennessee) – “They are vulnerable, but Georgia and Alabama are still the two best teams in the conference. More importantly, they have the most quality depth of any team in either division. I like Georgia’s chances to win the conference – I think they have a few more weapons on offense and a defense that can match up well against Alabama’s offense, which hasn’t really found its stride as yet.”
David Knight (covers South Carolina) – “Alabama vs Georgia. I know it’s a boring choice, but I still think these two are the best teams in the SEC. I don’t think both will be undefeated. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if both had one loss heading into the SEC title game in Atlanta. However, I still think they prevail in their respective division races.”
Kevin McGuffey (covers Kentucky) – “SEC East Champ- Georgia & SEC West Champ- Alabama.”
Phillip Jordan (covers Auburn) – “It is still Alabama and Georgia as the favorites to win the conference. With that said they aren’t unbeatable and an upset is certainly possible, especially with an improved Tennessee in the East.”
What Is The Biggest Surprise At The Midseason Point?
ML – “The biggest surprise at the mid-season point is that Alabama and Georgia look vulnerable. They are still the two best teams in the league and the best in their respective divisions, but Georgia’s lackluster effort against Missouri and Alabama’s struggle against Arkansas for three quarters and near disaster against Texas A&M, at home no less, gives the rest of the teams on the schedule some confidence heading into those games.”
DK – “For me, it has to be the play of Mike Leach’s Mississippi State Bulldogs. They have been very impressive, and Will Rogers has worked his way into the Heisman conversation. The offense is in the top five in the SEC in passing yards, total yards, and scoring. The defense is middle of the pack across the board but leads the SEC in takeaways. They are one bad half against LSU away from being undefeated and in the Top 10 themselves. Mississippi State plays three of the four remaining undefeated teams in the conference.”
KM – “Biggest surprise- How well Tennessee has played so far this season. On the flip side, it’s the struggles of Texas A&M that have been kind of shocking.”
PJ – “My biggest surprise this season is that Alabama looks vulnerable. Coming into the season I had them be above the rest of college football as the most talented team in the country with quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson on the roster. Especially with loaded backfield and linebacker group.”
Who Are The Underrated Players That More People Should Be Talking About?
ML – “On offense, the Ole Miss duo of Quinshon Judkins and Zach Evans are absolutely underrated. The two are averaging 175 yards per game combined and Mississippi is the second-best rushing team in the conference. On defense, without a doubt its Drew Sanders at Arkansas. he is second nationally in sacks, 24th nationally in tackles-for-loss, and 15th nationally in tackles. Playing with that secondary, Arkansas’ disappointing start would be a lot worse if it weren’t for Sanders.”
DK – “Marshawn Lloyd who is leading the way for the Gamecock offense. The junior tailback is seventh in the SEC in rushing yards, averaging almost six yards per carry, and leads the conference in total touchdowns with nine. On defense, I have really been impressed by Emmanuel Forbes of Mississippi State. The junior corner has three interceptions and a touchdown in the last two weeks. He leads the conference with four picks and is second with six passes defended.”
KM – “Under the radar on offense is Will Rogers from Mississippi State. He should be in the Heisman discussion. On defense its Brenton Cox from Florida.”
PJ – “The most underrated player in the league is Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers. All the attention goes to Young, Will Levis, Hendon Hooker, and Anthony Richardson, but Rogers has been one of the best in college football.”
What Is Your Bold Prediction For The Second Half Of The Season?
ML – “The SEC only gets one team in the CFP, but places three teams in the NY6 Bowls. Alabama or Georgia, and maybe both, drop a regular season game, making the SEC Championship Game a CFP play-in game. Ole Miss and Tennessee have two or fewer losses at the end of the regular season and are ranked high enough in the final CFP rankings to get a selection bowl.”
DK – “I think the SEC will have multiple Heisman finalists in New York at year’s end, but the reigning Trophy winner Bryce Young will not be among them. In his place, I could see Hendon Hooker, Will Rogers, or Will Anderson earning an invite. Hooker and Rogers are putting up huge numbers on very good teams right now, while Anderson has been all but unblockable in 2022.”
KM – “Tennessee beats Alabama by 10 points.”
PJ – “My bold prediction is either Ole Miss or Mississippi State will upset Alabama.”
