Fall of the SEC West

The last year of the Southeastern Conference as we know it. The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are set to join the mighty conference in 2024, and many questions still loom regarding the divisional realignment. I believe the addition of these programs in the SEC will heighten competitiveness, but some of our old traditions will be coming to an end. Thankfully no more watching Gary Danielson climax to the thought of Alabama, although I am sure he will find a way to mention the Crimson Tide during a Big10 game.

Who will be paired together in divisions? Few things are certain: death, taxes (honestly optional), Pittman having a more pristine rack than your girlfriend, and that Georgia will be put in the same division as the worst teams in the conference. Can’t have the Bulldogs playing contenders, we might not hear the end of it if they have to play someone tougher than South Carolina before December. Questions remain everywhere. Will some of the yearly rivalries be lost? Will recruiting become a mess down south? One thing holds sure, the current state of the SEC West is in disarray. Let’s take a look at where each of these teams lie before the conference is reconfigured.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alabama - No better way to rebound after getting spanked around by Texas then to beat USF by 14 points. Yes, the USF squad that won 4 games in the past 3 seasons. Things are getting ugly quicker than expected and those cross eyed fans are getting impatient. I am rooting for Jalen Milroe to improve as the year goes on, but if the team can’t compensate for mediocre quarterback play, don’t be surprised when they finish the year without a number by their name.

Original Prediction: 10-2 / New Prediction: 8-4

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arkansas - When you watch the podcast this week, we somehow failed to mention this game. Did you know BYU scored the final 17 points and beat these swine 38-31? What a statement to start the year. The Razorbacks head to Death Valley this Saturday and look to keep adding disappointing weekends to their 2023 resume. Rest assured, you get to play FIU at the end of November. Won’t it feel great to be a betting favorite again?

Original Prediction: 7-5 / New Prediction: 5-7

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Auburn - This season could get ugly real fast. Sure, you’ll sneak out a win one week where you aren't supposed to. That’s what the Tigers do; they are a program that relies on making a game ugly, taking their opponents out of their element. Traveling to Kyle Field this weekend, Auburn hopes history stays on its side, as the road team has won 7 of the last 10 matchups. A loss on Saturday foreshadows future woes, as Georgia and LSU are next up to bat on the schedule.

Original Prediction: 5-7 / New Prediction: 4-8

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LSU - How to judge this team. You get dismantled by Florida State, putting up less of a fight against them than Boston College did. Then you proceed to win your next two contests by a combined score of 113-24, making all Will Rogers draft talks appear ludicrous. Are the Tigers playoff bound? Doubtful. Did LSU get their swagger back? I’d say so. This is a team who is healthy and suspension free, looking to repeat as West champs. Their only tough road tests are Ole Miss and Alabama. If they can take at least one of those, expect the Tigers to be in Georgia.

Original Prediction: 10-2 / New Prediction: 10-2

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mississippi State - This could be the first year in a while that the Bulldogs do not exceed expectations. You can’t afford to have 11 straight plays with 0 or negative yards; surely your darling knights at Saturday Morning Shotgun could even gain a single yard if given 11 plays against a D1 defense. After all, Peyton runs a 4.5 forty - get this man a jet sweep and he can beat a defensive end around the edge. I’ll keep it simple - growing pains in year one under new management. Maybe Will Rogers can luck out with a better system at the next level.

Original Prediction: 8-4 / New Prediction: 5-7

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ole Miss - The Rebels in the 1st half this season: 58 points scored. The Rebels in the 2nd half this season: 100 points scored. This offense might be starting games slowly, but they are too talented to not get clicking on all cylinders soon. The time is now: the next two weeks against Alabama and LSU will make or break the season. If Lane wants to compete for a conference championship, he can’t afford to lose these two matchups to end the month of September.

Original Prediction: 8-4 / New Prediction: 9-3

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Texas A&M - Congrats, all the prophecies about Conner Weigman, Evan Stewart, and company have proven true. My handsome prince is 2nd in the nation in QBR, even with a shaky offensive line. If the Aggies can establish the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, they are a scary team that will win games on talent alone. Unfortunately, the constant 3 man fronts on defense will continue to be exposed, leaving my buttercup Weigman the need to run up the score on a weekly basis. DJ Durkin, scheme according to your players.

Original Prediction: 8-4 / New Prediction: 8-4 (my management team told me I can’t say 14-1 and future champs)