Predicted Order of Finish
East Division
1. Georgia- repeat National Champs return All-American TE Brock Bowers and a loaded WR corps on offense while on defense sophomore DE Mykel Williams (4.5 sacks, 6.5 TFL) is back to anchor the line, Stetson Bennett’s absence leaves a major leadership void and former offensive coordinator Todd Monken is off to the NFL OVER/UNDER Total Wins 11.5
2. Tennessee- senior QB Joe Milton, who started for the Vols in 2021, is coming off 3 TD, MVP performance in the Orange Bowl and has plenty of weapons around him, defensively the secondary has been near the bottom of FBS in pass yards allowed for 2 straight seasons and must replace sack leader DL Byron Young up front OVER/UNDER Total Wins 9.5
3. Kentucky- the Wildcats' offense loses second round QB Will Levis but gains senior NC State transfer Devin Leary who tossed 61 TD’s in 4 seasons for the Wolfpack, the offense line allowed 46 sacks last year and must improve drastically to provide better protection for injury prone Leary OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
4. Florida- the Gators feature a loaded backfield led by junior RB Montrell Johnson Jr., and new coordinator Austin Armstrong hopes to turn around a lackluster defense from last year, the QB spot remains undecided after an underwhelming Spring performance by senior Wisconsin transfer QB Graham Mertz OVER/UNDER Total Wins 5.5
5. South Carolina- senior QB Spencer Rattler finished 2022 on a tear throwing for 1,044 yards and 10 TD’s the final 3 games that included wins over Tennessee and Clemson, the defensive line was porous last year ranking 116th in yards per game that included surrendering 374 yards in a 38-6 loss to Florida OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
6. Missouri- the Tigers return 8 starters from last year’s defense that slashed its points allowed down from 33.8 in 2021 to 25.2, the offense put up only 213.7 yards per game through the air which ranked 90th in FBS and junior QB Brady Cook is coming off offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
7. Vanderbilt- the Commodores increased their win total from 2 to 5 in HC Clark Lea’s second season and return 16 starters including second team All-SEC senior WR Will Sheppard, the defense was overmatched against the speed and athleticism of the SEC allowing 50 plus points 4-time last year OVER/UNDER Total Wins 3.5
West Division
1. LSU- HC Brian Kelly restored order in Baton Rouge leading the Tigers to 10 wins along with an SEC West crown in his first season and returns senior dual threat QB Jayden Daniels (28 total TD’s) on offense, the backfield lacks a premier RB to compliment Daniels and 7 defensive backs must be replaced in the secondary OVER/UNDER Total Wins 9.5
2. Alabama- as long as Nick Saban is still the HC in Tuscaloosa the Crimson Tide will continue to bring in top-rated recruiting classes and remain at the center of the CFB discussion, former Heisman-winning QB Byrce Young has moved on and his replacement may not be solidified by the start of the season OVER/UNDER Total Wins 10.5
3. Ole Miss- the Rebels return junior QB Jaxson Dart along with first-team All-SEC sophomore RB Quinshon Judkins (1,567 yards, 16 TD’s), new coordinator Pete Golding must shore up the defense in time for a September slate includes road matchups against Tulane and Alabama along with a home date with LSU OVER/UNDER Total Wins 7.5
4. Texas A&M- the offense turns to former Arkansas and Louisville HC Bobby Petrino for a spark after ranking 100th in scoring and the silver lining from last year’s 5-7 finish was the Aggies lost 5 games by 6 points or less, the defense allowed 208.8 rush yards per game and must replace NFL bound S Antionio Jonhson in the secondary OVER/UNDER Total Wins 7.5
5. Mississippi State- 3-year starting senior QB Will Rodgers (82 career passing TD’s) is back and on defense the Bulldogs are strong at LB with the return of seniors Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson, how smoothly the transition from the Air Raid offense to a balanced attack under new HC Zach Arnott goes remains to be seen OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
6. Arkansas- the Razorbacks return a potent rushing attack with the 1-2 punch of senior QB KJ Jefferson and 1,000-yard rusher junior RB Rocket Sanders, the defense, which ranked last in the nation pass yards allowed and 100th in scoring last year, will turn to new coordinator Travis Williams to solve the issues OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
7. Auburn- the Tigers' defense returns 8 starters including a potentially elite secondary led by junior STAR Keionte Scott, new HC Hugh Freeze, who has successfully developed QB’s while at both Ole Miss and Liberty, has his work cut out inheriting an offense that ranked 118th in FBS in pass yards per game in 2022 OVER/UNDER Total Wins 6.5
Buy- None
Sell- South Carolina- the Gamecocks ranked outside the top 100 in rush yards and rush yards allowed last year which isn’t a formula for sustained success in the SEC
Best Bet- South Carolina UNDER total wins