MrSEC.com’s 2011 SEC Predictions

South Carolina is about to embark on a multi-year beat down of the entire SEC. They return the best line in the SEC period, both sides of the ball. Their D-line is going to feast on offenses like Lions chasing wounded buffalo. The offense is going to be absolutely sickening behind a veteran offensive line. Trying to somehow ignore the obvious is simply delusional. They will beat UGA for the third straight year. The other shoe has finally dropped and UGA can now climb into the backseat of the SEC East and take their seat next to Kentucky and Vandy. Its been coming for a long time. You knew it was coming although you denied it, hoped it would not happen, ignored the obvious signs of its coming. The past ten years, all those close games. Holtz came so close to three in a row and Now Spurrier will emphatically slam the door on this rivalry. Last year South Carolina was not ready to face Auburn in the SEC title game. This year they will be very ready and the result will be very different. South Carolina will play for and win its first national championship in Football.

MSU goes 5-3 in SEC play.

Go Vols

As far as the SEC East goes, it's going to be a tight race.

USC has the best shot, no major changes from last year's 8-4 campaign. If anything, they'll probably be marginally better. In my opinion, their schedule sets them up to start out at least 6-0, before they go to MSU and then UT. I really wouldn't be surprised if they post a 10-win regular season.

UGA's defense seemed to get a lot better last year, but their main concern is along the O-line, depth at RB, and AJ Green's replacement. Not ideal for a young QB, even one as good as Murray. Those offensive concerns scare me into thinking they'll go 6-6 or 7-5.

UF is going to have a brand new coach. And while I think they're still loaded with talent overall, they're really thinexperienced in their secondary, which could cause problems (hopefully against Bray, Hunter, and DaRick... had to throw that one in). I expect Brantley to improve slightly, but the fact that they've got two spread RB's in a pro-style offense with an inexperienced O-line doesn't bode well. I'm not too optimistic about Muschamp's debut season, like UGA, a 6 or 7-win season with a bowl berth.

I hope my bias doesn't get in the way of level-headed reasoning for UT's season. I really like our offense. I think our line will be much stronger than last year (after last year, there's no way to go but up), and that will help Poole to another 1000-yard season. Bray is strong. I don't want to hear about a horrific Spring game, because going back to last year, he still played really well against both UGA (although that was garbage time) and USC (he made it a ball game in the second half). Our questions lie in the defense. I like our starters along the D-line but we have ZERO depth, and we might as well bring in subs from the student section for our LB corps. I think our secondary will be pretty strong, though, and that may mean we gamble. I wouldn't be surprised to see us get some picks but also get burned. Weak OOC and another brutal October means a 7-5 season.

I'm not even going to post about UK or Vandy. What's the point?

Ole Miss over MSU in Starkville...come get real. I think State wins by at least 2 touchdowns. What 3 sec wins do you have MSU winning?

Your predictions are too funny and as usual the typical Bammer hate and wish that Aubbie would do bad is prejudiced. I'm no Auburn fan by no means, but I am not blind to the fact that they have been doing some serious recruiting over the last couple of years. They are going to be alot tougher than people think. It's also a yearly ritual for the Tide to be picked number one as it seems that Bammer thinks they own college football. Without the accomplishments of the Bear whom is no longer with Bammer(although I don't think Bammer realizes this), their program would not be what it is. The fictitious 13 titles which is in reality 8 is another delusion that Bammer tells themselves, but noone else seems to buy.

But moving on, it seems most have Bama to win the West and SC the East. Sorry, I don't agree with either. I say Bama is in serious trouble as they don't have a true leader to guide them at the qb position. They will crumble as they did last season. The West will be won by either Auburn(whom everyone is underestimating), Arknasas, or LSU. South Carolina won by a fluke last season in the East and no they will not repeat. The East will be won by either FL, GA, or TN. South Carolina will finish in their normal respective place of fourth or fifth in the East as usual. The East may still be rebuilding, but they are much stronger than they were last season. SC does not and will not repeat as SEC East Champions again anytime soon.

I really like it when writers are not biased in their opinions which is obviously you being a Bama fan that you were not in reference to this column. I'm no Auburn fan, but I don't allow my dislike of them to make predictions based on bs rather than fact!

Love the Auburn prediction....can't wait to see you fall on your own sword.

John

What 3 SEC games do see Ole Miss winning?

Hard to argue with these picks. Watching TN closely, I tend to think TN will finish at least 3rd in the east (possibly even 2nd with a few breaks), although I'm not sure who they might supplant in front of them. There's just a lot of good things going on there, plus TN was two historically freaky plays away from being 8-5 instead of 6-7, not to mention the team was a disaster at the beginning of the season. However, John, I totally agree with you that it will be Dooley's third, and I think fourth season when TN will have a chance to contend for the SEC.

"But Bama also has Nick Saban" = Saban is God
John you truly crack me up! Keep writing this is good stuff. Some times I think you may be a fellow Bama man : )

Make sure you don't "lose" these awesome predictions during the year. You need to come repost this after 6 games and see how they are holding up. I predict Auburn goes at least 4-4 in conference. You pointed out that AU only went 3-5 during the Chizik's first year, but that was before getting two consecutive Top 5 recruiting classes and being crippled with TT's players who couldn't run Malzhan's offense.

Negative, ghost rider, Vols 4-4 in the SEC no Bueno. This is, however, the state of UT football.

Why do you feel Tennessee will finish 3-5? Is it just a safe bet because alot of unknowns. Or they 're just not that good of a team and years away from being contenders in the east. Just want to know what you have to say about them.

UGA? Really? I'm still trying to figure out why they are the media darling this year? I'm no Gator fan, but I believe that the Gators will finish well ahead of UGA. I don't see the dawgs beating Tennessee or Florida. As you wrote, they have little offensive line depth and no A.J. Green and lost to UCF in their bowl game with an Offensive Line and A.J. Green. Last I checked, Florida beat a strong Penn State squad in their bowl game and still has an offensive line and we know what to expect when the Gators and Dawgs meet in Jacksonville every season. Also are the Dawgs really talented enough to beat the Gamecocks? I got three losses right there. UF, SC, @UT. I guess you guys are expecting Crowell (minus an Offensive Line) to be the next Marcus Lattimore (who had a veteran offensive line)? Also, you may want to look at UGA's last couple of visits to Neyland Stadium when the Dawgs were by far the more talented team.