If the Southeastern Conference had a resume, it would list its attributes as follows:
Faster athletes than the Big 10; Crazier fans than the Big 12; Returning Heisman Winner; Home of the Defending National Champion, twice over
SEC Stands for Sexy.
2008 couldn’t possibly live up to the unbelievably exciting and fruitful 2007 year in the SEC...Could it? The cocktail filled fans of
FLORIDA
Esquire Rating: 5/5
Can Tebow and a born-again defense lead the Gators to the Promised Land?
Heisman Winner? Check. Hottest Coach in
This year’s Gators feature a veteran defense and the most offensive talent in
Must Win: @ GEORGIA (11/1). The winner has a leg up to winning the SEC East and making an appearance in the BCS Championship.
Rivalry Comment: Has there been a higher profile athlete who has trumpeted his Christian faith and missionary activities like Tebow has?
Predicted Finish: 11-1 (7-1 conference)
Esquire Rating: 5/5
Will the nation’s sportswriters take their adoring eyes off
The 2007 Bulldogs were a dominant team at the end of the season, hammering
The national media jumped on the bandwagon.
Must Win: @ LOUISIANA STATE (10/25). Beat the Tigers and create momentum heading into the Cocktail showdown with
Rivalry Comment: Has an SEC team ever got so much media respect for beating a WAC team?
Predicted Finish: 11-1 (7-1 conference)
AUBURN TIGERS
Esquire Rating: 4/5
From I Form to the Spread.
Must Win: @ MISSISSIPPI STATE (9/13). There may be bigger games, but getting upset by Sylvester Croom would start grumbling before the Tigers hit the meat of the jungle.
Rivalry Comment: Beat
Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-3 conference)
Esquire Rating: 4/5
So you’re saying Ryan Perrilloux isn’t going to win 4 national titles?
2007: National Title.
2008: Uncertainty. With the QB spot wide open, the solidity of the offense will be in question. Matt Flynn, Jacob Hester, and Glenn Dorsey are all gone. Fortunately, LSU has a great play caller in Les Miles and defensive athleticism only matched by 3-4 other schools in the nation. The schedule is light (Non-Conf: Appalachian State,
Must Win: @Florida (10/11). The Swamp will be rocking and LSU will need to slow Tebow early; a win here gives LSU instant national credibility.
Rivalry Comment: This is an elite program with classic jerseys, Richter Scale shaking fans, and a bunch of national championships. The Rivalry, Esq. respects and enjoys LSU football.
Predicted Finish: 9-3 (5-3 conference)
Esquire Rating: 3/5
How will the team react to a brand new offensive coaching staff?
The 2008 version of the Volunteers will be lucky to continue their success. Jonathon “Straight Outta” Crompton is a highly rated QB, but lacks big game experience. The Volunteers defense, lately famous for their defensive linemen (Reggie White, Albert Haynesworth, John Henderson, Leonard Little), haven’t been able to get to the QB lately and its scoring defense has been horrendous. These factors all lead The Rivalry, Esq. to believe
Must Win: @ UCLA (9/01). If the Volunteers lose to this struggling Bruin program, the tough SEC schedule will look even more daunting.
Rivalry Comment: The Volunteers have been hit by the suspension and arrest bug. Looks like Joe Paterno needs to bring his stadium-cleaning discipline to
Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3 conference)
Esquire Rating: 3/5
Sylvester Croom makes his bid for sustained respectability.
Croom won't allow the Bulldogs to return to bottom-dweller status -- 2007 proved that with the development of a frosh QB in Wesley Carroll and had a hard-hitting defense. The Bulldogs 8-5 record was an unbelievably good season, good enough for at least 10 puff pieces.
The 2008 Bulldogs will have something that no bulldog team has had in years: expectations. Carroll will be improved and athletic; the defense is solid and Croom has proven he can stop the big programs from running wild on his defense. Oh yeah, the Bulldogs DON’T PLAY
Must Win:
Rivalry Comment: Croom is a media darling, and oddly enough, probably deserves the accolades. We salute him.
Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3)
Esquire Rating: 3/5
Can a brilliant wide receiver group make up for Nick “I will not be coaching at
The Rivalry, Esq. is, to say the least, not a fan of Nick Saban. The Rivalry respects consistency, honesty, and respect for the media…little of which Saban has exhibited in the last 5 years.
The Crimson Tide of 2007 suffered offensive struggles toward the end of the year, losing to Louisiana-Monroe (huh?) and
Must Win: @ AUBURN (11/29). Saban cannot afford to start a losing streak against the Tigers (ask Lloyd Carr how that works out).
Rivalry Comment: QB John Parker
Predicted Finish: 8-4 (5-3 conference)
Esquire Rating: 3/5
Will Darth Visor fix his QB problem?
Spurrier hasn’t done anything extravagant at SC. 2007 was no different; the Gamecocks played close games, struggled on offense, and slogged their way to a 4-4 conference schedule.
Spurrier needs to get a cohesive offensive unit going for the Gamecocks if they are ever going to break into the upper echelon of the SEC. The Gamecocks have fantastic defense players returning (Jasper Brinkley) and their recruiting classes have loaded up that side of the ball. A killer end of year schedule will challenge whoever is starting at QB.
Must Win: @ ARKANSAS (11/08). Beating an ordinary
Rivalry Comment: Steve Spurrier has a great defense and an ugly offense. Karma, karma, karma.
Predicted Finish: 6-6 (3-5 conference)
Esquire Rating: 2/5
Darren McFadden and Felix Jones certainly made the Razorbacks one of the best teams to watch the last 3 years. But now that the outstanding duo has moved on to The League, the Razorbacks have inherited Bobby Petrino’s passing offense.
Passing is not exactly what Casey Dick, starting QB, does best. They'll have an identity problem on offense. Along with a brutal schedule, this is a rebuilding year for the Razorbacks.
Must Win:
Rivalry Comment: The phrase “Houston Nutt, 10-4, FOIA” should be a warning that college football is not, repeat not, all about winning.
Predicted Finish: 5-7 (2-6 conference)
Esquire Rating: 2/5
Thanks for flying
Rich Brooks has made
Must Win: @ LOUISVILLE (8/31). A traditional basketball rivalry has been a relevant football game on the national level the last three years.
Rivalry Comment: It’s a big challenge for college basketball powers to be significant college football programs (Duke, UNC,
Predicted Finish: 5-7 (3-5 conference)
Esquire Rating: 1/5
How will the Rebels utilize their 5 star QB?
Houston Nutt takes over a program full of potential, but short on results. Jevan Snead, who was one of the top 5 high school QBs in the nation 2 years ago, will run the Rebels. As many bloggers have pointed out, this is a 4 win team with potential to be a 7 win team. The recruits have been good (Enrique Davis, Jerrell Powe) but no one is expecting big things.
Must Win:
Rivalry Comment: These fans are underrated; I have seen them in action (Motor City Bowl v Marshall and Randy Moss) and they are wild.
Predicted Finish: 4-8 (1-7 conference)
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Esquire Rating: 1/5
Vanderbilt has experienced unparalleled success in the last few years. Jay Cutler (starting Denver Broncos QB) was groomed there and they upset
Must Win: @ MIAMI (OH) (8/28). If you enjoy spending time with wealthy, well dressed people with great academic pedigrees, this is your
Rivalry Comment: The Vandy team needs to continue to show some grit against the traditional powers. In their 3 games versus
Predicted Finish: 2-10 (0-8 conference)
1 comment:
Could you honestly be any more Florida, and the Choke artist Te-blow biased? seriously man...the offense is Good....but everyone with a decent Offense..i.e Auburn, LSU, Georgia, Michigan exposed Florida as a weak defensive squad...expect more of the same...and Florida will lose at least 2. and Please don't hate on UGA, they didn't get the Media attention for demolishing Hawaii...it was the dismantling of UF, Auburn, and Kentucky leading up to the SUGAR BOWL...get your facts straight loser
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