2009 SEC West Football champs - who ya got?
- Thread starter FlabLoser
- Start date
...for what it's worth:
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Ole Miss
4. Auburn
5. M-State
6. Kentucky
Ole Miss will be good aGAIN, but I don't think they'll be as good as they were last year down the stretch. They certainly won't win the west, I don't think. LSU has some ridiculous talent coming back, and they really started to figure it out with their young QB toward the end of last year. They are going to be hard to handle. Alabama will be too, if they get any QB play that's worth anything.
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Ole Miss
4. Auburn
5. M-State
6. Kentucky
Ole Miss will be good aGAIN, but I don't think they'll be as good as they were last year down the stretch. They certainly won't win the west, I don't think. LSU has some ridiculous talent coming back, and they really started to figure it out with their young QB toward the end of last year. They are going to be hard to handle. Alabama will be too, if they get any QB play that's worth anything.
that's how I see it as well. The LSU/Bama game will probably decide the champ.
Except I think you meant Arkansas instead of Kentucky.
Except I think you meant Arkansas instead of Kentucky.
OM
Bama
LSU
Arkansas
MSU
Auburn
Yes, I see Auburn falling apart this year, and Mallet helping Arkansas a lot. Yes, I predict us, come on, I have no choice, and I see this as a year where things are coming together for us. I still don't believe in Jefferson, he played one good game that I recall.
Bama
LSU
Arkansas
MSU
Auburn
Yes, I see Auburn falling apart this year, and Mallet helping Arkansas a lot. Yes, I predict us, come on, I have no choice, and I see this as a year where things are coming together for us. I still don't believe in Jefferson, he played one good game that I recall.
MSUCostanza said:
The only problem with that theory is that LSU has to play the most difficult schedule. They play Georgia, Florida, and Vanderbilt from the East. Meanwhile, Alabama has Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and we have Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Plus, LSU has to play on the road at both Alabama and Ole Miss. LSU's schedule will likely keep them out of the SEC title game. I just don't see them surviving that SEC slate with better than a 5-3 record.
I would say Arkansas could be a darkhorse candidate this year, but they have a similar slate with Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina from the East. Not to mention the fact that they play at LSU, Ole Miss, Bama, and Florida. So, I don't see them being able to navigate that at better than 5-3 if they are lucky.
I also don't think Auburn or MSU will be in shape yet to be able to lose fewer than 3.
So, based on schedule and ability, I see it as a 2 horse race between Bama and Ole Miss. Being a homer, and with our game against them in Oxford, I'll pick us.
1. Ole Miss
2. Bama
3. LSU
4. Arkansas
5. MSU (still a year or two away)
6. Auburn
If you were to rank solely based on who will have the best team, I'd say Arkansas and LSU would both have a good argument to be right there. However, I think the schedule is so unbalanced against both of them this coming year that it knocks them down out of the race. I think most people are making the picks without looking at schedule. Alabama and Ole Miss have the most favorable schedules of the possible contenders.
division opponents at home. That's why I can see them winning the West assuming they handle the East.
1. Ole Miss
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Arkansas
6. Miss. State
The bottom three though really could go anyway. I still think that we will finish last, because our SEC schedule to pretty brutal, but so is Arkansas's schedule. Alabama lost a lot more than people realize. Les Miles knows he better get his **** together in Baton Rouge, because LSU fans won't take another season like last year (even if they beat Ga Tech's *** in the Peach Bowl). I just see Ole Miss clearly the favorite with there schedule and who they have coming back, I really hate to say it, but it's true. Ole Miss's worst enemy however is their self, every year they lose games that really shouldn't. Such as Vandy and South Carolina last year.
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Auburn
5. Arkansas
6. Miss. State
The bottom three though really could go anyway. I still think that we will finish last, because our SEC schedule to pretty brutal, but so is Arkansas's schedule. Alabama lost a lot more than people realize. Les Miles knows he better get his **** together in Baton Rouge, because LSU fans won't take another season like last year (even if they beat Ga Tech's *** in the Peach Bowl). I just see Ole Miss clearly the favorite with there schedule and who they have coming back, I really hate to say it, but it's true. Ole Miss's worst enemy however is their self, every year they lose games that really shouldn't. Such as Vandy and South Carolina last year.
needing a W in Starkville for us to win the West. That has upset written all over it. I haven't looked at the all time numbers, but State has pretty much always kept it close if not won outright in Starkville, atleast in my lifetime, with the exception being Eli's senior year.
about LSU's QB play down the stretch. They escaped Troy, lost to us, and lost to Arkansas before embarrassing Ga. Tech with a month to prepare. LSU was more physical than Tech on both sides of the ball, and they were probably better at every position except for Johnson at DE, and interestingly enough, QB.
Because since 91 when the Battle for the Golden Egg returned to campus, I think the series record for State is 8 wins and 10 losses.
Home Record is 6-3
Away Record is 2-7
Home Record is 6-3
Away Record is 2-7
In that case, he's right. Since the Egg Bowl returned to campus, if we've only won 3 times, I'm assuming that's 1993, 1997, and 2003. In 93, we won by a FG. In 97, we won on the 2 point conversion. The only comfortable win we had was 2003.
He looked great in the first half of the Peach Bowl, but other than that, he was shaky. Obviously, he was a true frosh, so you couldn't expect much. However, I don't know that I'd say that Jefferson's performance would mean that they will have reliable QB play next fall. I expect that he'll still have erratic play from time to time as he continues to adjust to the D-1 level of play.
93 was the year my usually docile father almost got into it with an Ole Miss fan because they made fun of MS State Engineers.
State won 20-13.
State won 20-13.
...I shouldn't have said "down the stretch". Really I thought he was very impressive in the Peach Bowl. He's the type of QB that can really take their offense to the next level with his running ability.
Frances Drebin said:
That's true, though I still think you're still going to see some growing pains out of Jefferson next year.
Also, I still think their biggest question mark next year is on defense. The whole co-DC thing didn't work out for them last year, but they were 9th in scoring defense and 9th in total defense last year. Their pass defense was 11th in the SEC. The only thing they did well on defense at all last year was stopping the run, and they lose all 4 starters and two of their back ups at the DL positions, so that's 6 of their top 8 on the DL. Plus, they lose one of their starting linebackers.
I know LSU recruits well and all, but it's going to be tough for them to replace that much from their defense without missing a beat. I know that Chavis is a step up for them as a DC as well, but he's going to have a lot of work to do to put together that front 4, and he's going to have to develop those DBs into quality coverage guys since they couldn't get it done last year.
Plus, they have the wild card, Les Miles, as their head coach, and he continues game after game to make dumb decisions. You put all that together with their schedule, and I just don't see them being there at the end in the West.
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...I'll list my choices and give some reasons. I'd group the top 3 very closely and the bottom 3 very closely.
1. LSU: LSU has the best athletes in the SEC West, and Jordan Jefferson showed they will have a QB.
2. Alabama: Alabama has the 2nd best athletes in the SEC West, and will find a QB better than Sarah Jessica Parker. It may be a true freshman named McCarren.
3. Ole Miss: Ole Miss has the best QB in the SEC West, excellent offensive players, and some decent returnees on defense. Michael Oher and Peria Jerry will be missed. Oher protected Snead, and Jerry anchored the DL.
4. Mississippi State: MSU was much better last season than 4-8, just wasn't coached well. We have almost all our starters returning on offense, and the nucleus of a good defense. Mullen will be a star as a coach.
5. Arkansas: Arkansas will have an explosive offense, but is still very young and undermanned on defense.
6. Auburn: Chizik hasn't proved he can win anywhere. His selection was greeted with jeers. This is a program waiting to implode.
1. LSU: LSU has the best athletes in the SEC West, and Jordan Jefferson showed they will have a QB.
2. Alabama: Alabama has the 2nd best athletes in the SEC West, and will find a QB better than Sarah Jessica Parker. It may be a true freshman named McCarren.
3. Ole Miss: Ole Miss has the best QB in the SEC West, excellent offensive players, and some decent returnees on defense. Michael Oher and Peria Jerry will be missed. Oher protected Snead, and Jerry anchored the DL.
4. Mississippi State: MSU was much better last season than 4-8, just wasn't coached well. We have almost all our starters returning on offense, and the nucleus of a good defense. Mullen will be a star as a coach.
5. Arkansas: Arkansas will have an explosive offense, but is still very young and undermanned on defense.
6. Auburn: Chizik hasn't proved he can win anywhere. His selection was greeted with jeers. This is a program waiting to implode.
followed by
LSU
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Mississppi State
Mississippi returns the best QB in the SEC West and most of its starters. LSU will always have talent, but you have to think Miles will be on the hotseat. Alabama returns a lot too, but they do not return a solid QB. As was said earlier, the last three could go in any order, but Crooms left the program in much worse shape than he found it as evidence in the QB, OL and WR situation.
LSU
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Mississppi State
Mississippi returns the best QB in the SEC West and most of its starters. LSU will always have talent, but you have to think Miles will be on the hotseat. Alabama returns a lot too, but they do not return a solid QB. As was said earlier, the last three could go in any order, but Crooms left the program in much worse shape than he found it as evidence in the QB, OL and WR situation.
Bulldog Backer said:
Just curious Backer, but where did you get that State had a good defense last year? And don't you lose 7 starters off that defense? I wouldn't say that's the nucleus of the defense coming back.
I do think you have a good shot at 6 or 7 wins. I just don't know that I agree with your thought process on what will guide you there.
Also, again I think you're one that is ignoring LSU's schedule and LSU's defense (or lack of defense from last year). Losing 6 of 8 from your two deep on the DL, catching both UGA and Florida from the East, and making road trips to your two biggest competitors in the West (Ole Miss and Bama) is going to be tough to overcome for LSU. Not to mention the game or games that Miles will blow for them with head scratching calls.
I really can't see any way that LSU navigates the SEC next year at better than 5-3 given what they lose, the questions that still exist at QB, and their schedule. And 5-3 won't be enough for them to win the division.
Also, on Bama, I really don't see why so many people were so down on Wilson. He didn't carry the team last year, but he didn't make mistakes, and he did a very good job managing the game. I really doubt one of their young QBs will be able to come in and manage the offense as effectively as he did last year. The one thing JPW did was that he didn't make any back breaking mistakes (as he had earlier in his career). I'm willing to bet you'll see at least a couple back breaking mistakes from Bama's QB this year as whoever it is adjusts to the D-1 level. Bama does return a very good defense though, which is a big reason why I think they'll be there all year.
1. Something about Bama with their ability to beat Ole Miss even when the Rebs are better (which is rare). Bama should be decent at QB next year. Yes, I really believe that. JPWilson wasn't that great and the two coming back have potential to be more explosive. If they can get by UM in Oxford with some Bama luck, they take it.
2. Rebs offensive line woes early (and they WILL have problems) cause their offense to be a little sketchy early in the season. If they can keep Snead healthy and the line gels enough by the Bama game, they take the division. That's even with an earlier loss to South Carolina. Bama will lose to someone other than Ole Miss.
3. LSU but just barely over a very improved Arkansas team. LSU had some O-line and D-line issues and lose a decent bit on both lines from a team that limped through the end of the season up until the Peach Bowl.
4. Arkansas will surprise some folks. They improved dramatically over the course of the season (the visit to Starkville being an exception...still makes me smile). Mallett's going to be very good and fits that offense perfectly.
5. MSU just barely over Auburn. Offensive line won't be good but we will be improved there. I'm convinced of it. The defense will have a tough time initially consider all the losses, there.
6. So why the pick over Auburn? Their defense will still be good but not great. Offense will suck terribly. The somewhat improved MSU offense will overtake AU's cruddy O and the MSU defense won't be as bad as some might expect.
2. Rebs offensive line woes early (and they WILL have problems) cause their offense to be a little sketchy early in the season. If they can keep Snead healthy and the line gels enough by the Bama game, they take the division. That's even with an earlier loss to South Carolina. Bama will lose to someone other than Ole Miss.
3. LSU but just barely over a very improved Arkansas team. LSU had some O-line and D-line issues and lose a decent bit on both lines from a team that limped through the end of the season up until the Peach Bowl.
4. Arkansas will surprise some folks. They improved dramatically over the course of the season (the visit to Starkville being an exception...still makes me smile). Mallett's going to be very good and fits that offense perfectly.
5. MSU just barely over Auburn. Offensive line won't be good but we will be improved there. I'm convinced of it. The defense will have a tough time initially consider all the losses, there.
6. So why the pick over Auburn? Their defense will still be good but not great. Offense will suck terribly. The somewhat improved MSU offense will overtake AU's cruddy O and the MSU defense won't be as bad as some might expect.