2011 SEC football predictions and picks aren’t easy to make. It’s not really that easy any season because of the vast amount of talent in the conference generally recognized as the greatest year in and year out in college football.
The teams this year with the possibility of being national contenders include several from the SEC. Alabama, Georgia and LSU have been mentioned as possible championship calibre clubs. Analysts believe the SEC could continue their recent dominance of the National Title game and who could doubt that. The only hitch is that the conference, as usual, is so competitive that many teams could possibly pin a loss on one another.
The Associated Press has Alabama listed as the 2nd ranked team in the country entering 2011. LSU is 4th, South Carolina 12th, Arkansas 15th, Georgia 19th, Mississippi State 20th and Florida and Auburn are 22nd and 23rd respectively. This doesn’t even figure in a Tennessee football team which should be much improved. The early signs and indications are that a lot of SEC teams will be beating each other up heading toward the SEC title game. What else is new, right?
So who emerges as the SEC champ? Most will figure Alabama as the team to beat. But in the SEC, it’s just never that easy. The Tide has road games at Florida, Mississippi State and Auburn this season-all ranked teams at this point. They also have a showdown at home with LSU and a non-conference road game at Penn State. There’s absolutely a chance that Alabama is the best team in college football but still has one or two losses at the end of the season-which could ironically keep the Tide from actually playing for the title if other well known conference teams are undefeated or have just one loss at that point. Still, I think Bama is poised for another championship run. My gut feeling is the Tide will lose at least one regular season contest–most likely on the road at Florida or Auburn. I don’t believe this will cost the Tide either a chance at the SEC title or the National Championship-so the key might be the PSU road game if Alabama wants to win it all.
LSU has a more favorable schedule but they kick off at Oregon to start the season. The Tigers could be dominant but off the field issues could prevent a serious run at the title. LSU also has its biggest game of the season, the matchup with Alabama, on the road. Nobody really wants to play the Tide on their home field.
Arkansas might be edged out of the mix just because they have road contests this season at Alabama and LSU. Those two losses could prevent the Hogs from being top notch. Things could change drastically for the Razorbacks with a win in either of those two contests.
If Florida can beat Alabama, the doors might open for the Gators to steal a title(or at least a title chance). The Gators follow up their home date with the Tide though with a trip to LSU. These back to back games could determine what happens to Florida.
Mississippi State could have one of their best teams in years but they’ll still have to play Alabama and LSU in the loaded Western division just to get a shot at the SEC title. Something has to give and it’s most likely going to be the Bulldogs at some point due to an incredibly hard schedule.
So what are my predictions and picks for the SEC in 2011?
Eastern Division Champs? I like the schedule for South Carolina but I just can’t get past the fact that the Gamecocks will have lots of trouble with road games at Georgia, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Arkansas. It’s just that brutal. For that reason, I believe Florida emerges as the winners of the East in the SEC but with at least one loss and possibly two. Could there be a surprise team? I truly believe Tennessee could be in the mix if the division beats up one another. The Vols have a tough schedule but they have an exciting young quarterback and most likely will rise in the next year or two as they continue to gain experience.
Western Division Champs? I’m not very original but I believe Alabama has the tools to win it all-and that includes a Western Division crown. LSU could emerge as the division winner but they’ll have to get it together quickly and need some luck along the way(like a pair of Bama losses). The great story here would be a trip to the title game from Mississippi State-but I can’t see that as likely considering the power of the top tier teams in the West. The SEC West could match up and dominate just about any football conference this season-it’s going to be that good. I still like only two teams from the West to emerge–LSU or Alabama.
It could come down to one contest on November 5th when the two collide. Mark that game on your calendars because it could be the game of the year in the SEC barring any earlier losses from the two teams.
So what are my 2011 SEC Title game predictions? I pit Florida(East) against Alabama(West) in a winner takes all situation. I think Florida is going to be ultra competitive this season but Alabama is just too good on the defensive side of the ball. Nick Saban has another SEC title team with a 26-17 win over the much improved Gators. Alabama then goes on to the National Title game-where…
let’s just say history repeats itself.
That’s it for my 2011 SEC predictions and picks. Enjoy the football season everybody.