SEC Preview

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Welcome back!
Over these two weeks, I will be previewing each of the conference races, one per day, and giving my prediction on how they will finish.  This is based on a formula that I have devised, and has nothing to do with the power rankings I presented over the last three weeks.  While the power rankings are for how strong each team is, we all know that the schedule each team plays has a huge impact on their overall record.  After the season, I will compare my predictions with the actual results to see how I did.  Last year, I outperformed Phil Steele, Lindy's, Athlon, Street & Smith's, and the media predictions, using the formula outlined on pages 6 and 7 of Phil Steele's 2019 College Football Preview magazine! The Coach Rankings also use a formula that I devised, so feel free to disagree, because even I disagree with how some of the numbers worked out!

Let's get to it!

SEC

Predicted Order of Finish

SEC West
1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Texas A&M
4. Auburn
5. Mississippi State
6. Ole Miss
7. Arkansas

SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Missouri
4. South Carolina
5. Tennessee
6. Kentucky
7. Vanderbilt

Championship Game

Alabama vs Georgia (Atlanta, GA- Dec 7)

Conference Champion

Georgia

Best to worst coaches

1. Nick Saban, Alabama
2. Jimbo Fisher, TAMU
3. Kirby Smart, UGA
4. Gus Malzahn, Auburn
5. Dan Mullen, Florida
6. Will Muschamp, SC
7. Joe Moorhead, Miss St
8. Ed Orgeron, LSU
9. Barry Odom, Missouri
10. Mark Stoops, Kentucky
11. Matt Luke, Miss
12. Derek Mason, Vandy
13. Jeremy Pruitt, Tenn
14. Chad Morris, Ark

Key Conference Games

Sep 7 Arkansas @ Ole Miss
Sep 14 Alabama @ S Carolina
            Florida @ Kentucky
Sep 21 Auburn @ TAMU
            Tenn @ Florida
            S Carolina @ Missouri
Oct 5 Auburn @ Florida
          UGA @ Tenn
Oct 12 Alabama @ TAMU
            Florida @ LSU
            S Carolina @ UGA
Oct 19 Tenn @ Alabama
            LSU @ Miss St
            Kentucky @ UGA
            Florida @ S Carolina
Oct 26 Auburn @ LSU
            Missouri @ Kentucky
Nov 2 UGA vs Florida (Jacksonville, FL)
Nov 9 LSU @ Alabama
           Missouri @ UGA
           Tenn @ Kentucky
Nov 16 Alabama @ Miss St
             S Carolina @ TAMU
             UGA @ Auburn
             Florida @ Missouri
             Kentucky @ Vandy
Nov 23 TAMU @ UGA
Nov 28 Ole Miss @ Miss St (Egg Bowl)
Nov 30 Alabama @ Auburn
             TAMU @ LSU
             Vandy @ Tenn

Key Non-conference Games

Aug 24 Florida vs Miami (Orlando, FL)
Aug 31 Alabama vs Duke (Atlants, GA)
             Ga Southern @ LSU
             Auburn vs Oregon (Arlington, TX)
             Ole Miss @ Memphis
             Missouri @ Wyoming
             S Carolina vs N Carolina (Charlotte, NC)
Sep 7 LSU @ Texas
          TAMU @ Clemson
          W Virginia @ Missouri
          BYU @ Tenn
          Vandy @ Purdue
Sep 14 Kansas St @ Miss St
            Colo St @ Arkansas
Sep 21 California @ Ole Miss
            Notre Dame @ UGA
Oct 5 Troy @ Missouri
Nov 2 UAB @ Tenn
Nov 9 App St @ S Carolina
Nov 30 UGA @ Ga Tech
             FSU @ Florida
             Clemson @ S Carolina
             Louisville @ Kentucky

Chances to make the 2019 Playoffs

Both Georgia and Alabama have excellent chances to make the playoff, with LSU or TAMU having an outside shot.  Whoever wins the SEC is a pretty good bet to make it, but they can't have more than 1 loss.  If 2 undefeated teams meet in the SECCG, then both could make it, especially if the game is close. 

Don't be surprised if...

The SEC goes 3-1 against the ACC on Nov 30 in the annual rivalry games.

I'm not convinced...

Kentucky will fall back as much as everyone seems to think they will.  I believe Mark Stoops has finally gotten that program turned around.  Also, Missouri is in a strange place, due to (currently) not being eligible for the postseason.  If they start strong, they could carry that chip on their shoulder throughout the season and finish with 10 wins or more.  However, if they stumble and lose one or more of their first 5 games, then they may end up tanking.  Hard to tell what 18-22-year-olds will do...

That's all for now!  Come back Monday when I begin my normal weekly schedule

Mondays- TWIF Notes- observations and impressions on every game played the previous week.
Tuesdays- Power Rankings- updated to include all games played, highlighting the biggest movers.
Wednesdays- Odds and Ends- a statistical look at what has happened so far.
Thursdays- Paul's Picks- my picks for every FBS game for the coming weekend.

Until next time, may you and yours be blessed!



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