2013 CFB Season: Breakdown of the Ap Top 25 Games of Week 2

Week one of college football was one every fan could possibly want it to be. Plenty of upsets and closes games to keep your adrenaline going until the next Saturday. There are a few differences in this week's poll compared to last week. It is a new week and a new breakdown of the AP top 25 games of week two.

Washington State at #25 USC
Line:  USC by 15
Score Prediction: USC wins 34-20
USC did not impress me when they played Hawaii last week. They managed to force a lot of turnovers, but struggled with the two quarterback system they were running. Washington State proved last week against Auburn that they are a much better passing team than they are given credit for. I do not see the Trojans covering the spread. It is possible, but I think this will be an offensive battle that will be won by USC because of their defense's ability to force turnovers. This game could be closer than expected and a upset is very possible. If Washington State can force their own fair share of turnovers we may have a ball game. I have USC winning comfortably, but I also am putting them on upset alert.

SouthEastern Louisiana at #24 TCU
Line: TCU by 43
Score Prediction: TCU wins 52-13
TCU suffered a disappointing loss to LSU in week one. That game was actually not as big of a defensive battle as I thought it would. A lot of FCS schools have pulled off some upset this past week, but this will not be one of them. TCU has a better offense than I expected and their defense will always be impressive with Gary Patterson as head coach. I do not predict TCU to cover the spread. It is hard to believe Gary Patterson would risk injury to his players in order to run up the score, but of course you never know and the spread could be covered. If SE Louisiana wants to win this game they must do what Eastern Washington did so well over Oregon State and that is dominate on offense. An upset is highly unlikely in this game. TCU will win big.

Buffalo at #23 Baylor
Line: Baylor by 27
Score Prediction: Baylor wins 49-24
I was actually very impressed with Buffalo this past week. They scored 20 points on Ohio State and ultimately their performance was nice enough for the AP to drop Ohio State back to number three. While they played nicely, Baylor will win this one in a blowout. I am not predicting Baylor to cover the spread because if Buffalo can score 20 on Ohio State, they can score at least that many points on Baylor. I feel like the Bears' offense will be a little too much for Buffalo behind running back Lache Seastrunk. Buffalo will need to slow down Baylor's offense and have high offensive production against them to pull the upset. Is an upset possible? Yes. Will it happen? No

Southern Miss at #22 Nebraska
Line: Nebraska by 28
Score Prediction: Nebraska wins 41-13
Normally I would not predict a team that only beat Wyoming by 3 points to cover the spread. Wyoming has a great passing offense that gave the Cornhusker's defense trouble. In this case, I predict Nebraska to cover the spread because they are playing Southern Miss which has now lost 13 games in a row because of last week's loss to Texas State. This week will be 14 in a row. Southern Miss has a chance of upsetting the Cornhuskers because they to have a high powered passing attack. Nebraska's rushing effort led by quarterback Taylor Martinez will be to much for the Golden Eagles to handle, and I predict a victory in favor of the Cornhuskers. It could be a closer game than one might believe if Nebraska plays poorly on defense which will provide Southern Miss with their only opportunity to upset.

Tennessee Tech at #21 Wisconsin
Line: Wisconsin by 45
Score Prediction: Wisconsin wins 56-14
Wisconsin displayed one of the most lethal offenses in the country this past week. They were very balanced in both their pass and run game. They also shutout Massachusetts. It is for this very reason that I do not believe there will be an FCS upset between these two schools. Tennessee Tech will have to play tremendously on defense to slow down Wisconsin. I like Tennessee Tech's ability to score so I predict Wisconsin will win big, but not cover the spread. The chances of an upset are very low.

#20 Washington does not play this week.

Syracuse at #19 Northwestern
Line: Northwestern by 10
Score Prediction: Northwestern wins 28-10
Northwestern is another team who showed great balance in their offense last week. Syracuse is also not a team to underestimate after playing a close game with Penn State. I believe Northwestern will win and cover the spread because of their ability to dominate the time of possession. If their defense can stop Syracuse they will eliminate any possible ability of an upset. If Syracuse can force turnovers and keep Northwestern off the field, they can win this game. I do not think an upset will occur in this game, but it is still very possible so I am putting the Wildcats on upset alert.

#18 UCLA does not play this week.

#14 Notre Dame at #17 Michigan
Line: Michigan by 3
Score Prediction: Michigan wins 31-13
Although Notre Dame is ranked higher, Michigan is the favorite in this game. I truly think Michigan will win big in this game. Notre Dame's quarterback Tommy Rees impressed me last week, but Michigan's quarterback Devin Gardner impressed me even more. Obviously this game could go either way especially if Notre Dame's defense shuts down Gardner. This is going to be a great game, but I think Michigan will pull away with it in the Big House. The Wolverines will need to show up on defense in order to make it a dominating victory which I am not completely convinced they can do. Notre Dame has a great defense that is led by their defensive linemen so that makes the game even more interesting. Michigan will cover the spread, but this game could get close easily.

West Virginia at #16 Oklahoma
Line: Oklahoma by 20
Score Prediction: Oklahoma wins 31-10
Oklahoma's freshmen quarterback Trevor Knight really impressed me. West Virginia almost lost to William and Mary and Oklahoma had a 34 point victory last week. An upset is possible because West Virginia is capable of scoring a lot of points, but I think Trevor Knight will be the key to the game. I think Oklahoma will cover the spread and may score more than I predicted them to. I still am  putting the Sooners on upset alert. Trevor Knight is still a young quarterback who is capable of making mistakes along with a young Oklahoma defense. The upset is not likely though so do not be surprised to see a dominating victory.

#15 Texas at BYU
Line: Texas by 7
Score Prediction: Texas wins 38-14
I may have gotten a little carried away in the score prediction. Regardless, I believe Texas is one of the most underrated teams in college football right now. Texas has finally found a steady quarterback in David Ash and established a very nice run/pass balance. The Longhorns have one of the defenses in the country this year led by Jordan Hicks and Jackson Jeffcoat. BYU lost to Virginia in week one which is not a terrible upset by any means. It still was an upset in which BYU played poorly in almost every aspect of the game. The game is at BYU so an upset is not out of the question. The Cougars are also a very good passing team which may cause trouble early in the game. After reviewing this game closely, I am giving a huge advantage to Texas and  I am giving BYU little to no chance of beating them.

#13 Oklahoma State at UTSA
Line: Oklahoma State by 26.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma State wins 49-10
Oklahoma State and Mississippi State play a great game last Saturday. The Cowboys pulled away with it in the second half but did not establish a dominate passing game. I was still very impressed with quarterback J.W. Walsh's ability to pass and run the ball. UTSA is not as bad as people believe they are, but I predict a dominating victory. If UTSA wants to win this ball game they will have to shut down the passing game and force Oklahoma State to run the ball. Considering that Oklahoma State ran the ball pretty well with the read option, I do not think an upset will occur. Anything can happen especially since the game is at UTSA. The spread will be covered and the Cowboys will win in dominant fashion.

#12 Florida at Miami, FL
Line: Florida by 3
Score Prediction: Florida wins 20-17
This is going to be one of the most interesting games of the week. Florida is a tough SEC team, but I have noted that I expect Miami to make it to the ACC Championship game. I have Florida winning the game, but Miami very well can pull the upset. Florida played a weak offensive game against Toledo in week one. Miami showed a very solid rushing attack behind running back Duke Johnson in their game against FAU. In order for Miami to win they will have to find a weakness in a stingy Florida defense. Since it is a home game for the Hurricanes the crowd must be a factor. Turnover margin will be crucial for both teams and there has to be some big plays down field. Gator quarterback Jeff Driskel needs to throw well in this game so Florida can survive the upset. This is the type of game that could come down to a last second field goal. Florida is on upset alert in this game.

#6 South Carolina at #11 Georgia
Line: Georgia by 3
Score Prediction: Georgia wins 27-20
Although the line favors Georgia, South Carolina is ranked higher and most analyst are predicting the Gamecocks. I am predicting the Bulldogs to pull the upset. Georgia is coming off a tough loss to Clemson. A young defense proved just too much for them to handle. I like Georgia in the game because of motivation. Mark Richt is dedicated to win a big game and they need this one. Crowd will be a factor and if Georgia shuts down the rushing attack and can find a way to block Jadeveon Clowney then the Bulldogs will get the win. South Carolina needs to attack this young Georgia secondary and slow down Todd Gurley. Clowney will need to put a lot of pressure on Aaron Murray as well. These are all they key factors for the Gamecocks to win. A game like this could go either way, but I like Georgia's chances even though they are coming off a loss.

#10 Florida State played on Tuesday Night.

UAB at #9 LSU
Line: LSU by 35
Score Prediction: LSU wins 38-17
I like LSU to win big in this one, but not cover the spread. A upset is possible in this game, but is not going to happen. In order for UAB to win they will have to take advantage of a young LSU defense by dominating on offense. UAB head coach Garrick McGee is was an offensive coordinator in the SEC so he knows how to expose an SEC defense. The Blazers just do not have enough all around talent to beat the Tigers in Death Valley. Zach Mettenberger will be way too much for the UAB secondary to handle. I see an interesting first quarter, but after that LSU will control and dominate the game.

Eastern Kentucky at #8 Louisville
Line: Louisville by 40
Score Prediction: Louisville wins 63-7
In all reality, I am giving Eastern Kentucky a zero percent chance to win this game. Teddy Bridgewater, a Heisman candidate, is much too dominate for Easter Kentucky to stop. I think the Cardinals will cover the spread, but Eastern Kentucky preventing Louisville from covering the spread will be the only thing they could take away from this game. Louisville wins big in this one.

Sam Houston State at #7 Texas A&M
Line: Texas A&M by 45
Score Prediction: Texas A&M wins 59-10
Johnny Manziel will be playing the whole game this week and that calls for me to give Sam Houston State zero percent chance to win. This is ultimately a practice game in order to get ready for Alabama. The Aggies may not cover the spread, but will win this game in a landslide. Manziel may not even play in the fourth quarter. If he does not play because the Aggies are dominating or because he gets ejected is something that is to be determined.

San Jose State at #5 Stanford
Line: Stanford by 20
Score Prediction: Stanford wins 31-10
I am giving San Jose State a slight chance to upset Stanford. They are a team that has dramatically improved over the past few seasons and it is possible. Stanford is my favorite to make it to the national title game and I predict the Cardinal to win and cover the spread. It is Stanford's first game of the season so they could be a little sloppy. If the Spartans want to upset they will have to take advantage of weaknesses like that. Stanford is solid on both sides of the ball and I predict a nice victory in their first game.

South Carolina State at #4 Clemson
Line: Clemson by 52
Score Prediction: Clemson wins 65-7
This is yet another game where I giving a top notch team's opponent a zero percent chance to win. Clemson score 38 points on Georgia, I can only imagine how many they will score on South Carolina State. This will be essentially a game to rest players from last weeks game. Clemson wins big against South Carolina State.

San Diego State at #3 Ohio State
Line: Ohio State by 24
Score Prediction: Ohio State wins 45-17
I am not ruling out the possibility of an upset. San Diego State has gone downhill a little since the departure of Brady Hoke, but they are capable of the upset. Ohio State played poorly against Buffalo in some aspects of last week's game. The Aztecs are still a really weak team so the upset will not happen. Braxton Miller will lead the offense on a big scoring run that will result in a nice victory for the Buckeyes.

#2 Oregon at Virginia
Line: Oregon by 23
Score Prediction: Oregon wins 49-6
Virginia was not favored to beat BYU last week, but the Cavaliers won the game. This also a home game for Virginia which gives me all the more reason to give them some kind of chance of pulling an upset. The key for any team to beat Oregon is to slow down their offense. The Cavaliers do not have the depth on defense that is needed to stop the tempo Oregon has. The offense will prove too much for Virginia and Oregon will win big.

#1 Alabama does not play in week 2.

2013 CFB Season: Breakdown of the AP Top 25 games of Week 1

The best time of the year is finally here. The start of college football is better than Christmas to a die hard fan, and we are now less than a week away. Each week I will breakdown every top 25 team and their upcoming game. These top 25 rankings will be based on the Associated Press poll until the BCS rankings are released. These predictions will give keys for each team to win the game and also a final score.

Eastern Washington at #25 Oregon State

Line: Oregon State by 28

Score Prediction: Oregon State wins 49-10

Week 1 is usually filled with games like this. Oregon State is looking to make a run in the PAC 12 and should win big. Eastern Washington will need an Appalachian State over Michigan type upset in this one.  The Beavers will start out their season 1-0 with a blowout win over Eastern Washington. The Beavers should cover the line easily.

#24 USC at Hawaii

Line: USC by 21.5

Score Prediction: USC wins 45-20

The USC Trojans traveling to face Hawaii will not give any edge to the Warriors. Hawaii is still trying to rebuild with head coach Norm Chow and opening up with USC is not ideal. USC should cover the spread easily, but Lane Kiffin is playing both Cody Kessler and Max Wittek at quarterback which may cause the Trojan offense not to score as many points. Hawaii will need to take advantage of the two quarterback system and force turnovers. The Warriors will also need to have smart clock management and not turn the ball over in order to upset. An upset of USC is not likely. Although I believe USC will struggle some throughout the season, they should win this game comfortably.

Massachusetts at #23 Wisconsin

Line: Wisconsin by 45

Score Prediction: Wisconsin wins 56-6

This is another one of the weaker opening games. Sadly, it is very likely that Wisconsin will cover the spread. It all depends on how much mercy new Wisconsin head coach Gary Anderson shows. It actually would not surprise me to see the Badgers score more than 56 points. Massachusetts is yet another team that will need to play an amazing game in order to pull an upset over a team like Wisconsin. Gary Anderson will win his first game as head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers.

#22 Northwestern at California

Line: Northwestern by 6

Score Prediction: Northwestern wins 27-17

This is actually a very interesting game. California is not projected to do much this year, but expect them to keep this game close. I predict Northwestern will cover the spread by scoring a touchdown or two late in the game. California will need to step up on defense and keep Northwestern’s offense off the field in order to win this game. The Golden Bears will also need to establish a solid passing game. New California head coach Sonny Dykes will do everything possible to win his first game. His efforts will come up just short as I believe the Wildcats will run away with it in the second half. This game could be an interesting one though.

Nevada at #21 UCLA 

Line: UCLA by 19

Score Prediction: UCLA wins 34-17

UCLA is favored to win big over Nevada. While Nevada is a weaker team this year, I do not expect the Bruins to cover the spread. They could cover the spread depending on how long this game stays close in the first half. UCLA will still win in nice fashion, but the Bruins are not as strong as they were last year. This matchup will show just how good UCLA will be this year even though the line is by 19. Nevada will need to be physically dominant on both sides of the ball and force turnovers in order to pull the upset. The game will be close in the first quarter, but will quickly start to get out of Nevada's reach.  

#20 TCU vs. #12 LSU

Line: LSU by 4

Score Prediction: LSU wins 20-13

This will be one of the most exciting games of week one. Fans should expect a defensive battle. While I predict LSU to win, the Tigers are on upset alert. The key for LSU to win this game will depend on the play of quarterback Zach Mettenberger and how well the defense performs. TCU will need to take advantage on a young Tiger defense. TCU will also need to find an identity in their offense and find a nice pass/run balance. Turnover margin will be crucial in this game, and LSU head coach Les Miles will have to show his mad hatting skills in this close battle. I believe LSU will hang on and win it.

#19 Boise State at Washington

Line: Washington by 3

Score Prediction: Washington wins 35-31

Although Boise State is ranked and Washington is not, the Huskies are favored in this game. I call for Washington to win which I am considering an upset. Boise State has a young team but a very good quarterback in Joe Southwick. If there is any coach in the country that can win against all odds it is Boise State head coach Chris Peterson. Washington has home field advantage, quarterback Keith Price is healthy, and Washington has 18 returning starters. Boise State will need to perform well on defense and force turnovers and Southwick will need to have a really good game passing in order to win. A game like this could go either way, but I give the edge to Washington.

Wyoming at #18 Nebraska

Line: Nebraska by 28

Score Prediction: Nebraska wins 56-14

Nebraska has a very powerful offense behind quarterback Taylor Martinez and I expect a blowout victory. Wyoming will need to perform with an amazing defense to slow down this Cornhusker offense and pull this monster upset. Nebraska will begin 1-0 on the season in dominant fashion over the Wyoming Cowboys. I also believe the spread will be covered unless Bo Pelini shows mercy.

Central Michigan at #17 Michigan

Line: Michigan by 31

Score Prediction: Michigan wins 41-17

Michigan should dominate this game, but I do not see them covering the spread. Central Michigan is capable of keeping this game from getting out of hand. This is another example of something big having to happen in order for an upset to happen. I am not saying it is not possible, but highly unlikely. This will be Michigan's first year without Denard Robinson so it will be interesting to see what head coach Brady Hoke has in store. Central Michigan will have to play flawlessly so it is safe to say Michigan starts 1-0.

ULM at #16 Oklahoma

Line: Oklahoma by 23

Score Prediction: Oklahoma wins 31-21

Oklahoma is favored in this game by 23, which I believe will not be covered. I am also going out on a long limb and putting Oklahoma on upset alert. ULM returns roughly 17 starters including quarterback Kolton Browning. Bob Stoops also surprised the country by naming Trevor Knight as the starting quarterback over Blake Bell. ULM also upset Arkansas last season which is impressive regardless of how badly the Razorbacks were last year. I predict the Sooners win this in a close matchup. In order for the Warhawks to pull the upset, the defense will need to put plenty of pressure on Trevor Knight. Kolton Browning needs to play like he did against Arkansas last year and take advantage of a young Oklahoma defense.

New Mexico State at #15 Texas

Line: Texas by 42

Score Prediction: Texas wins 63-6

This is yet another game that will end with the spread probably being covered. New Mexico State ultimately has no remote chance of beating the Longhorns now that they have an identity on both their offense and defense. Texas will make a strong push for the Big 12 title and they will start their season with an easy victory. New Mexico State will have to do everything perfect in order to pull this big upset.

Temple at #14 Notre Dame

Line: Notre Dame by 24

Score Prediction: Notre Dame wins 41-9

This will not be the biggest blowout of week one, but Notre Dame fans do not have much to worry about. Notre Dame's only concern is not having Everett Golson, which will be what Temple needs to consider in order to have a remote chance of winning. The Fighting Irish have a phenomenal defense and will probably keep Temple in low scoring numbers. This is just another example of a simple first game in order to ensure a victory. The spread will more than likely be covered, and give Notre Dame a 1-0 start.

#13 Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi State

Line: Oklahoma State by 13

Score Prediction: Oklahoma State wins 38-21

While this is one of the more exciting games of week one, the Cowboys should win this with one without much worry. Mississippi State will keep it close early maybe even through the third quarter, but the Cowboys offense is to explosive for Mississippi State to slow down for four quarters. There is one huge factor for Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs to remember in order to upset Oklahoma State: play defense. This will not be the best year for Mississippi State, but they are capable of pulling this upset unlike other week one games.

#11 Florida State at Pittsburgh

Line: Florida State by 10

Score Prediction: Florida State wins 42-10

This may seem like one of the more interesting games of week one, but I expect a blowout in this one. FSU quarterback Jameis Winston will put on a show against this defense. Pittsburgh has enough talent to upset the Seminoles, but I do not see where they have enough experience on both sides of the ball to do it. The Panthers are going to have to slow down this offense and find weaknesses in the defense. Florida State should have this game under control from beginning to end and dominate on their way to a 1-0 start.

Toledo at #10 Florida

Line:  Florida by 21

Score Prediction: Florida wins 38-13

I actually do not believe this game will be as big of a blowout as one might expect. Florida tends to get a little big headed against opponents like this and while they always pull out a victory, I believe it will stay close in the first quarter. The Gators can cover the spread although it is not guaranteed in this matchup. Toledo will need to put pressure on quarterback Jeff Driskel and attempt a few trick/big plays down the stretch. The chances of an upset in this game are slim, but unlike most games in week one there is at least a chance.

Ohio at #9 Louisville

Line: Louisville by 20

Score Prediction: Louisville wins 34-6

Louisville will win big in this one. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the Louisville offense may put up more points than I predicted. Just like most of the games in week one, Ohio will need to pull out all the stops and play flawlessly on both sides of the ball in order to win. The only reason I give Ohio a slight chance is because Louisville tends to play weaker opponents too close. This should still be an easy victory and help start the road for a national title berth.

#5 Georgia at #8 Clemson

Line: Georgia by 2

Score Prediction: Clemson wins 28-27

This was by far the hardest game this week for me to pick. I give Clemson the slight edge because Georgia lost so many leaders on defense. I will say right now that this is one of those games that can go either way depending on who shows up. Clemson also has home field advantage. In order for Georgia to win, quarterback Aaron Murray will need to dominate passing and running back Todd Gurley needs to have solid game rushing. Defensively, the Bulldogs will need to slow down quarterback Tahj Boyd and his strong group of receivers. Winner of this game automatically becomes a strong national title contender. This game gets my vote for best of game of the week.

Rice at #7 Texas A&M

Line: Texas A&M by 28

Score Prediction: Texas A&M wins 35-10

While A&M will win this game, I do not believe they will cover the spread with at least a 28 point victory. All the controversy surrounding Johnny Manziel may very well affect his play. Also Rice has roughly 19 returning starters. No matter what kind of team you have experience is crucial. The Rice Owls are going into this game as big underdogs and will keep this game close possibly through halftime. The Owls will need to slow down Manziel which I am not convinced they can do. It is for that reason that I am giving A&M a dominant victory, but an upset is possible in this game as hard as that is to believe.

North Carolina at #6 South Carolina

Line: South Carolina by 11

Score Prediction: South Carolina wins 27-10

There is no question South Carolina will be lead by defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. This is one of the more intriguing games of week one, but the Gamecocks should cover the spread. There is a possibility they will not cover the spread because South Carolina needs to establish a rushing attack. North Carolina will need to find a way to stop Clowney and the passing game. Pulling an upset over South Carolina is not likely but is possible.

#4 Stanford does not play in week 1

Nicholls State at #3 Oregon

Line: Oregon by 58

Score Prediction: Oregon wins 70-7

Oregon is a 58 point favorite and I honestly believe they will cover that spread with ease. Oregon does not let up on their opponents and their offense is just too lethal. This is pretty much a warm up game for first year head coach Mark Helfrich and the Oregon Ducks. There is no chance for Nicholls State to pull out the upset.

Buffalo at #2 Ohio State 

Line: Ohio State by 35

Score Prediction: Ohio State wins 56-3

Buffalo ultimately has no chance of pulling this monster upset. Quarterback Braxton Miller is a dual threat quarterback that should pick apart this Buffalo defense. If the Buckeyes do not cover this spread, then Urban Meyer decided to show mercy. This will be a blowout from beginning to end and Ohio State will start 1-0.

#1 Alabama vs. Virginia Tech

Line: Alabama by 19

Score Prediction: Alabama wins 38-13

Virginia Tech has honestly not received their due credit this offseason. Quarterback Logan Thomas is a dual threat quarterback and an upset is possible. This Crimson Tide offense will be too much for the Hokies defense to handle. Alabama has its weak points in the secondary, but the defense should still keep Virginia Tech's offense off the field most of the game. The spread should be covered but it would not surprise me to see Nick Saban show mercy if it gets to that point. Virginia Tech will need to dominate on offense and slow down Alabama's balanced passing/rushing attack in order to pull off this massive upset.

2013 SEC Game Preview: Top 10 SEC Games to Watch For This Season

The SEC has proven their dominance over the last decade with an SEC team winning 8 out of the last 10 BCS national championships. SEC conference games are very important as they can make or break a team's season. Six out of the eight national title teams lost at least one game, and all losses were at the hands of another SEC team.

The 2003 LSU team's only loss came at the hands of Florida. The 2006 Florida team lost to Auburn. The 2007 LSU team lost to both Kentucky and Arkansas. The 2008 Florida team lost to Ole Miss. The 2011 Alabama team lost to LSU and the 2012 team lost to Texas A&M. This only proves just how important conference games can be. The top 10 SEC games made the list based on either importance, rivalry, or "revenge".

10. Ole Miss at Vanderbilt- August 29th
Ole Miss and Vanderbilt open things up with the first conference game of the year on this Thursday night game. Head Coaches James Franklin and Hugh Freeze are both young and overlooked coaches in the SEC. Both teams are looking to make strides in their divisions in the near future. Because it is one of the first games of the college football season, expect mistakes to be made and this game to be a close one.

9. Auburn at Arkansas- November 2nd
This game became heated following SEC media days. Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn disagreed on the injury risk on a fast paced, no huddle offense. Gus Malzahn called the idea of increased injury risk a "joke". When asked about Malzahn's comment, Bret Bielema responded by saying that he is not a comedian. Bielema and Malzahn are both first year SEC coaches and with these additional jabs being taken, expect an interesting game.

8. LSU at Georgia- September 28th
Georgia is projected to win the SEC East behind quarterback Aaron Murray. LSU is one of the top teams in the West and will more than likely go into Athens as an underdog. LSU may have a tough time battling Georgia's experienced offense, but the Tigers tend to play their best football against the toughest opponents. Georgia has a very tough start with games against Clemson and South Carolina to start the season. The Bulldog's fourth game being against LSU will be hard, but Georgia benefits from a bye week in week 3. This should be a great battle between two of the top schools in the SEC.

7. Alabama at Auburn- November 30th
The Iron Bowl is one of the greatest rivalries in all of college football. This is a game that is always to close for comfort for both teams. Auburn almost upset Alabama in 2009 on the road to Alabama's national title season. Alabama blew a large halftime in a 2010 Iron bowl victory for Auburn. Auburn has a bye week prior to the Iron Bowl so expect new Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn to have his team fired up for this game.

6. Georgia vs. Florida (Neutral Field-Jacksonville, Florida)- November 2nd
Georgia and Florida are great rivals and always provide a great game. Last year's game decided the SEC East champion. Florida turned the ball over six times which all but helped Georgia win the game. This game may help decide the East champion again depending on the outcome of the Georgia vs. South Carolina game. This should be a close game and Georgia's offense vs. Florida's defense will be a great battle.

5. Texas A&M at LSU- November 23rd
Texas A&M and LSU are the two elite teams in the West that will make a strong push to win their division and make it to Atlanta. If Alabama loses in the regular season, this late season game may help decide the West division champion. LSU beat Texas A&M last year in College Station and will attempt to do it again in Death Valley. A young LSU defense will have to put together a good game plan to slow this up tempo Aggie offense led by Johnny Manziel. LSU head coach Les Miles will have to pull some of his magic in order to pull out the victory. Expect a close game from start to finish.

4. Florida at South Carolina- November 16th
Florida and South Carolina have built a rivalry since Steve Spurrier took over for the Gamecocks in 2005. Steve Spurrier is well known for coaching the Florida Gators to a national championship and six conference titles before leaving to be the head coach of the Washington Redskins. Florida and South Carolina are two top teams in the SEC East and the game may help decide the East champion. This will be a battle in the trenches. Both teams have great defenses which should provide a low scoring game. The rising rivalry in this game makes it intense every year and stakes will be high.

3. LSU at Alabama- November 9th
Two years ago, this game was labeled the game of century. This has become one of the most heated rivalries in the SEC since Nick Saban accepted the head coaching job at Alabama in 2007. To make the rivalry even better, Alabama and LSU faced off in the 2011 national championship game. Last year's game was one of the most exciting in all of college football after running back TJ Yeldon caught a screen pass and scored a winning touchdown late in the game. This year should be no different and should be close one as usual. Both teams also have bye weeks prior to the game which will provide even more hype. This may not be another game of the century, but will be one of the best games of the year.

2.  South Carolina at Georgia- September 7th
Last year, South Carolina beat down Georgia in Columbia. This all but guaranteed South Carolina a spot in the SEC Championship until Florida beat the Gamecocks in Gainesville. The Gators lost to Georgia in Jacksonville a week later. Although the Bulldogs are a favorite in the East, Steve Spurrier and South Carolina will look to beat the Bulldogs again and make it to Atlanta. Georgia maybe trying to get a little revenge due to last year's embarrassing loss. This game is especially important because it is the early part of the season and every game is crucial. The winner of this game will have an early advantage to win the SEC East and make it to Atlanta.

1. Alabama at Texas A&M-  September 14th
Last year, the Texas A&M Aggies shocked all of college football by upsetting top ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa. If you watched Texas A&M play last season, it was very clear the team played like a veteran SEC squad despite it being the Aggies first year in the SEC. Alabama does not take losses lightly and you better believe Nick Saban will be prepared for the Aggies. Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin will also have his players prepared and this will be a game not to miss. Alabama has a bye week prior and all eyes will watching on September 14th. This may be the best game of the year in college football and the winner is an immediate favorite to win the West.

The Top 5 Overlooked Head Coaches in College Football.

In a college football world run by coaches like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and Brian Kelly, many great head coaches fly under the radar. These coaches need their due credit for their contribution to the team they coach. While this list includes great college football coaches, it only ranks the ones who get little or no attention. These coaches may or may not receive recognition from the conference or area they coach in, but do not get as much national attention as other coaches. All of these coaches are entering into at least their third season as a head coach.

5. James Franklin- Head Coach of Vanderbilt                                                                                                    James Franklin took on the most difficult head coaching job in the SEC in 2011. Vanderbilt pursued Franklin after then Auburn offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn, denied the opportunity to be the head coach. James Franklin had absolutely no prior head coaching experience before coming to Nashville to lead the Commodores. He was lured away from Maryland, where he was the offensive coordinator. In his first two years as head coach, James Franklin led Vanderbilt to consecutive bowl games including a 9-4 record last season. Why is this a big deal? Before taking Vanderbilt to consecutive bowl games in his first two seasons, the Commodores had appeared in 3 bowls in 34 years.  James Franklin is a big risk coach that may very well take Vanderbilt all the way to Atlanta in the future if given enough time. It is extremely hard to recruit for Vanderbilt because of the school's academic excellence, and Franklin has proved he can not only recruit but also win in the toughest conference in the country.

 

4. Dabo Swinney- Head Coach of Clemson                                                                                               Dabo Swinney became the interim head coach for Clemson after Tommy Bowden was fired in 2008. Prior to being named the interim head coach, Swinney was the wide receivers coach for Clemson. The Tigers finished the season 8-5, which included a victory over South Carolina. Clemson decided to name Swinney the official head coach at season's end. His career record at Clemson is now 40-21. Last year, Clemson went 11-2 and upset LSU in the Chik-fil-A Bowl. Dabo Swinney has defied all odds and proved his abilities as a head coach. This was just the fourth 11 win season in school history. Clemson will be pursuing a possible ACC Championship and a third straight double digit win season. Dabo Swinney brings a lot of excitement to this program through his electrifying coaching ability. He has lots of enthusiasm and will compete for the ACC on a yearly basis if he continues to recruit successfully.

3. Brady Hoke- Head Coach of Michigan
If there is any man who has proved that he can win at any college football program, it is Brady Hoke. Hoke's career record is 66-57. While that may not seem very impressive, Hoke has had to rebuild every program he has coached. After taking over as head coach for his alma mater, Ball State, in 2003, Hoke slowly but surely turned Ball State around which included an undefeated regular season in 2008. Ball State is obviously not an FBS powerhouse, so having an undefeated regular season is very impressive. Hoke  left Ball State to accept the head coaching job at San Diego State. In just his second season coaching at San Diego State, he led his team to a 9-4 record which included a bowl appearance. The Aztecs had not appeared in a bowl since 1998. After just two seasons at San Diego State, Brady Hoke accepted the head coaching job at Michigan. In his first season at Michigan he defied all odds and led Michigan to an 11-2 season and BCS bowl victory. Prior to Brady Hoke's first season at Michigan, the Wolverines had been to only one bowl since 2007. 2007 is also the last year Michigan won a bowl. Fans in Ann Arbor are excited and they have every right to be. Hoke has also proven himself as a great recruiter. Michigan will once again will be competing for a spot in the Big Ten Championship and Brady Hoke has them back to their winning ways.

2. Art Briles- Head Coach of Baylor
Baylor's football team received a lot of publicity because of Robert Griffin's Heisman season. While Robert Griffin is one of the big reasons why Baylor had a successful season, a large amount of the credit should be awarded to head coach Art Briles. Briles started his head coaching career at Stephenville High School where he won 4 state championships and only lost 2 games in a period of six years. He began his college head  coaching career at Houston. In a 5 year career at Houston, he helped lead the Cougars to 4 bowl appearances. Prior to Briles being hired by Baylor in 2008, the Bears had not been to a bowl since 1994. After just two years at Baylor, Art Briles coached a 7-5 squad that received a bowl bid. A year later, Baylor produced a 10 win season behind quarterback Robert Griffin. Briles is hoping for a run at the Big 12 Championship. Although 2013 might be the year for Baylor to accomplish such a feat, a conference championship might just be in the near future.

1. David Shaw- Head Coach of Stanford
David Shaw took over the head coaching at Stanford following the departure of Jim Harbaugh. Shaw was the offensive coordinator for Stanford and had no prior head coaching experience before taking over. In his first two seasons, Shaw appeared in back to back BCS bowls, which also included a PAC-12 Championship last year. Although one may argue that Shaw is winning with players that Jim Harbaugh recruited, one can not deny how difficult it is to win not only at Stanford, but also compete in the PAC-12 on a yearly basis. David Shaw has great coaching skills and plenty of coaching experience in both college football and in the NFL.  Shaw has narrowly missed the opportunity to play in the national title game the last two seasons. Stanford has a strong chance to win another PAC-12 Championship and may very well make it to the national championship if they survive teams like Oregon, UCLA, and USC. If he continues his success, do not be surprised to see programs chasing after Shaw to be their head coach. The ability to continue Stanford's success after Harbaugh's departure shows David Shaw's coaching skills and ability to win. If you do not already know this man, I suggest memorizing his name because he is on track to be one of the best coaches in college football.

Honorable Mentions
Mark Hudspeth- Head Coach of Louisiana
Charlie Strong- Head Coach of Louisville
Gary Anderson- Head Coach of Wisconsin
Bill O'Brien- Head Coach of Penn State (He is entering his second season as head coach so he was not eligible for the list. Extremely impressive first year as head coach considering the sanctions Penn State received.)



 

 

 

2013 Preseason SEC Breakdown

The SEC has made its mark as the best conference in today’s era of college football. While some may argue about the power of the SouthEastern Conference, here are a few stats that just might prove its power. An SEC team has won every BCS national championship since 2006. Since 2001, there have been 98 players drafted in the first round from an SEC team. Since 2007, there have been 4 Heisman winners from an SEC team. Seven teams from the SEC made it into my top 25. Two more were named as honorable mentions. The 2013 Preseason SEC Breakdown will rank both the West and East division with also other insight and analysis. The SEC looks to continue being the most powerful conference in the country.

SEC WEST

1. Alabama
Alabama is not only a preseason favorite to win the SEC, but also the national championship. Alabama brings back a solid team with the biggest concern being on the offensive line. The Tide only returns two starters from last year's team, future first rounder Cyrus Kouandijo and  senior Anthony Steen. The Crimson Tide also returns offensive superstars AJ McCarron, T.J. Yeldon, and Amari Cooper. If the O-line can hold up behind new offensive line coach Mario Cristobal, this may be the best Alabama offense in the Saban era. Alabama was in the exact same situation in '09 by having to replace 3 starters on the O-line.  On the defensive side of the ball, Alabama returns 7 starters. Defensively, cornerback Dee Milliner and safety Robert Lester have gone to the NFL which leaves a few questions in the secondary. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has plenty of depth and experience with players like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Deion Belue, John Fulton, and Landon Collins. Alabama may struggle at times on defense, but they will have an experienced group of linebackers led by CJ Mosley. Alabama has a favorable conference schedule with the toughest road game being against Texas A&M. Alabama  avoids Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida out of the East. Alabama also has bye weeks before they play Texas A&M and LSU. Winning a third SEC Championship will be difficult with the target on Alabama's back. Just ask the 2010 Alabama football team. I predict Alabama to make it to Atlanta for the second straight year if the team stays healthy. A true dynasty has started in Tuscaloosa and it will be hard to stop the rising Tide.

2. Texas A&M
Texas A&M surprised many people with an 11-2 season their first year in the SEC. Freshman sensation Johnny Manziel won the Heisman and helped the Aggies upset Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Aggies returns 11 starters from last year’s squad. Similar to Alabama, A&M has starters to replace on the O-line including first round draft pick Luke Joeckel. Another interesting question that will need to be answered is the loss of A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury who departed to be the head coach at Texas Tech. While playing under a new assistant coach sometimes proves difficult. Manziel and the offense should be fine and will be difficult to stop. Defensively, the Aggies only return 5 starters and may struggle. Losing Damontre Moore will be the biggest loss, but the Aggies have a more experienced secondary than last year. Co-defensive coordinators Marcel Yates and Mark Snyder have a little work to do. On the schedule, the Aggies avoid Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida out of the East. They get Alabama at home, but must face LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, and Arkansas on the road. Manziel will have another great year if he stays healthy, but other teams now should be more prepared for him. Regardless, head coach Kevin Sumlin has proved he is able to hang with the best of them. Aggies will be in an SEC dogfight to finish second in the West.

3. LSU
Les Miles and his "Mad Hatter" ways are becoming less potent every year. LSU ended their 2012 season with a one point bowl loss to Clemson to finish 10-3. The only other two losses were against Florida and Alabama. Head Coach Les Miles hopes to make it back to Atlanta for the SEC Championship, but he must do it with 12 returning starters. On the offensive side of the ball, LSU returns 8 starters including quarterback Zach Mettenberger. Mettenberger did not perform as well as fans hoped for in his first year. He did however play a great game in the heartbreaking loss to Alabama. LSU's biggest concern is the defense. Only 4 starters return and may be the youngest defense Les Miles has ever had. Luckily, the Tigers have a great defensive coordinator in John Chavis. What makes LSU vulnerable is their schedule. While Alabama and Texas A&M avoid Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida out of the East, the Tigers will have to play Florida at home and Georgia in Athens. LSU also has away games at Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. To make matters worse, LSU's opening game is against an underrated TCU. Les Miles and his Tigers will give everything they have into winning the West. Their attempt will fall short with a young defense and tough schedule. The "Mad Hatter" will have to pull out some unused tricks to get this team where he wants them this year.

4. Ole Miss
Head coach Hugh Freeze proved his coaching ability in his very first year at Ole Miss. The Rebels finished 7-6 with a victory of Pittsburgh in the Compass Bowl. Ole Miss is not a team to underestimate. The Rebels return an SEC best 19 starters for Hugh Freeze's second season. Not to mention Ole Miss pulled in one of the best recruiting classes in school history led by number one player in the country Robert Nkemdiche. Robert's older brother, Denzel, is a linebacker for the Rebels. Ole Miss is fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball because of the 19 returning starters. The coaching staff is still young, but Freeze is building quite a depth chart in Oxford. As hard as it is to believe, Ole Miss would be a favorite to win the West if not for their schedule. They open with an underestimated Vanderbilt team in Nashville. Starting on September 14th, Ole Miss will have 3 consecutive away games at Texas, at Alabama, and at Auburn. After the Auburn game, Ole Miss will have to face Texas A&M and LSU in back to back weeks. The schedule will prove tough for Hugh Freeze and his Rebels, but expect to see this team upset some big name opponents.

Tied-5. Arkansas
The best thing Arkansas can do is forget about recent troubles within the football program and start fresh with new head coach Bret Bielema. Bret Bielema was the best hire in the SEC this offseason considering his record at Wisconsin. Of course that was the Big Ten. This is the SEC. Arkansas will have problems on offense with only 4 returning starters and replacing Tyler Wilson at quarterback. Defensively, the Razorbacks return 8 starters. This is good news considering how bad last year's defense performed. Arkansas very well may start of the season 4-0 before facing Texas A&M on September 28th. A 4-0 would be tremendous considering last year's final record of 4-8. Arkansas has to face Florida and South Carolina out of the East. They also have three other SEC road games at Alabama, at Ole Miss, and at LSU. It does not matter how bad Arkansas plays in the regular season, they will give LSU all they want on November 30th. A new staff and young offense are the two biggest faults for the Razorbacks. Give head coach Bret Bielema and this team time and Arkansas will be back fighting for a West division title.

Tied-5. Auburn
The second best hire in the SEC this offseason was made by Auburn. Bringing back Gus Malzahn was the best option for the Tigers. Auburn thrived in Malzahn's spread offense in the 2010 national championship. Malzahn has already shown his abilities as a recruiter with Auburn pulling in a very impressive recruiting class this offseason. Auburn going to the pro-style offense last year was a terrible decision and may very have cost Gene Chizik his job. Auburn is looking for a fresh start with Malzahn. Auburn returns a very impressive 15 starters with 7 of those being on offense. It will take Malzahn at least one year to adjust back to the spread which may be the biggest problem for the Tigers. The quicker they can adjust, the better season they will have. Defensively, Auburn returns 8 starters. Malzahn hiring Ellis Johnson as defensive coordinator was one of the best assistant coach hires in the SEC this past offseason. Auburn's defense will be highlighted by their D-line and secondary. It would be unfair not to mention that Auburn will also have the best kicking tandem in the SEC behind kicker Cody Parkey and punter Steven Clark. The Tigers have a tough but manageable schedule. Opening up against Mike Leach and his Washington State team should prove to be a very interesting game. They travel to LSU, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Tennessee. While they do avoid Florida and South Carolina they do have to face their yearly rival Georgia. Auburn will definitely improve from last year’s 3-9 record (0-8 SEC), and may very well upset some big SEC teams. New coaching staff and adjustments on offense calls for the Tigers to finish 5th or 6th in the SEC. Regardless, Guz Malzahn will have one of the most improved teams not only in the SEC, but also in the country.

7. Mississippi State
Dan Mullen has been very impressive at Mississippi State so far. The Bulldogs finished 8-5 after beginning the season 6-0 and being ranked as low as #13. The Bulldogs have struggled defensively at times under Mullen, and returning 5 starters may not look good. Mississippi State does return 7 starters on offense including quarterback Tyler Russell. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs it looks to be a long upcoming season. Miss. State opens the season against an explosive offense in Oklahoma State. After a few more tough games, Mississippi State has the toughest remaining 5 games in the SEC. With back to back road games against South Carolina and Texas A&M, home game against Alabama, road game against Arkansas, and finally a closing home game with rival Ole Miss. Because of the toughness of their schedule and lack of depth on defense, Mississippi State looks to finish last in the West. Fans should not give up hope on Dan Mullen because the future is bright under this young coach.

 SEC East

1. Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs came up just a little bit short of winning the SEC Championship which would have led to a more than guaranteed national championship. An SEC East championship and a Capital One bowl win is all the Bulldogs had to show for last season. Georgia is an immediate favorite to win the SEC East for a third straight year. Aaron Murray leads an offense that may finish the best in the SEC when it is all said and done with 9 returning starters. Georgia also returns running back Todd Gurley who was last year's leading rusher. The biggest problem Georgia will have is lack of experience on defense with only 3 returning starters. Returning starters is not always the deciding factor on how good a team will be. Losing players like Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones, and Bacarri Rambo will be the biggest hit to this defense. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has made a significant change to the defense since he was hired at Georgia. The Bulldogs have depth, but the lack of experience may hurt them. Luckily, they are still the strongest team in the East behind their offense. Opening up with a game at Clemson will be challenging for the Bulldogs, but luckily Clemson is not an SEC team. That will be a close game and will be extremely important considering both teams are making a run at the national championship. Other than that game, Georgia faces their toughest SEC opponents at home not including the Florida game which is always played in Jacksonville. The defense will have to prove themselves early in order for Georgia to survive this year. But thanks to the coaching skills of Mark Richt and the quarterbacking skills of Aaron Murray, Georgia should find themselves in Atlanta for a third straight year.

2. Florida
Florida has had to come a long way since Urban Meyer left the program. Will Muschamp is restoring order in Gainesville with an 11-2 season in just his second year. While Florida has stood strong defensively, the Gators have struggled on offense the last two seasons. Jeff Driskel returns at quarterback along with 5 other starters on offense. Florida will not have a dynamite offensive year like in the Tim Tebow days, but the offense should improve under second year offensive coordinator Brent Pease. Florida only returns 4 starters on defense and should expect to see some young faces in the secondary. Florida does have depth on defense and should still be one of the best in SEC if all players stay healthy. This just proves once again that it is not always about the number of returning starters. Florida has road games at Miami, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, and South Carolina. There is also the Georgia game that is played annually in Jacksonville. Florida plays Florida State at home this year, but expect to see Florida lose at least one non conference game ( Miami or Florida State). Florida also faces Vanderbilt on November 9th for Homecoming. Although Vanderbilt is usually not an SEC threat, Florida may very well be "hungover" from the Georgia game and play a close one. If Florida beats LSU on October 12th, this team will be hot and may make a run for Atlanta.

3. South Carolina
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has caused a lot of hype around South Carolina. While it is no secret that Clowney is an animal, there are many other factors that make a team successful every year. Clowney will be the leader on a defense that returns 5 starters. South Carolina will have one of the best defenses in the East, but offensively a lot of questions arise. Before Marcus Lattimore's devastating injury, South Carolina relied on a solid running game to balance out their passing attack. Mike Davis is projected to get the call at running back and needs to get
his running game going for this offense to be successful. The Gamecocks do return senior quarterback Connor Shaw, who has the ability to be a running threat. Shaw may very well be the make or break it player for this team. South Carolina will have to face Georgia in Athens, but fortunately avoids Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M out of the West. From October 12th to October 26th, the Gamecocks will have three consecutive SEC road games which may cause a possible upset and a drop in the SEC East rankings. Playing Florida at home does help South Carolina's chances. The Gamecocks have a great chance to beat Florida, but will come up short in a trip to Atlanta due to other losses. Head coach Steve Spurrier will have to prove just how much magic he has left.

Tied- 4. Tennessee
Tennessee has had their fair share of struggles in the past with so many head coaching changes since the departure of Phillip Fulmer. Tennessee will begin a new season with new head coach Butch Jones. They return 5 starters on offense and that will cause some problems playing in the SEC. The Vols will be playing with a new quarterback and a very young group of receivers. They do, however, return an experienced running back in Martin Lane. That may not be enough and the Vols will have to show a lot maturity early in order to hang in the SEC. Defensively, Tennessee is fundamentally sound with 8 returning starters. The biggest question is will this new coaching staff be successful in their first year at a struggling program? Butch Jones will need time like any coach to get his program going. Tennessee does play Georgia and South Carolina at home. They will travel to Oregon, Florida, Alabama, Missouri, and Kentucky. While the Vols may not have a championship season on their hands, expect a close game when they play Georgia. Tennessee does need to watch out for Vanderbilt and Kentucky at the end of the season. It will take at least three years, but Butch Jones is the right fit for this program and will hopefully be the answer to Tennessee's problems.

Tied- 4. Vanderbilt
James Franklin is one of the most underrated coaches in all of college football. He has completely transformed this Vanderbilt squad. He took on the challenge and has delivered with consecutive bowl appearances. Before James Franklin's arrival, Vanderbilt's last three bowls occurred in 2008, 1982, and 1974. Two consecutive bowl appearances are very impressive. The Commodores lost starting quarterback Zac Stacy, but they do return 7 starters on offense. They also return 6 starters on defense including their leading tackle from last season, Kenny Ladler. Vanderbilt has an extremely difficult away schedule with road games against South Carolina, Texas A&M, Florida, and Tennessee. Vanderbilt may not win 9 games like last season, but expect this team to pull off an unexpected upset on at least one of their opponents. James Franklin is a gutsy coach, and he is slowly proving that Vanderbilt is much more than just an academic school.

6. Missouri
Missouri had a tough time their very first year in the SEC. Head coach Gary Pinkel is hoping to regroup and prove that the Tigers are SEC worthy. Missouri has 8 returning starters on offense including quarterback James Franklin. When Franklin is healthy he can be lethal. Defensively, the Tigers have 6 returning starters with their biggest loss being defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson. Leading tackler Andrew Wilson does return this year. Missouri has a tough road game against Georgia, but faces every other big name SEC East opponent at home. They will have a tough road game against Ole Miss and a final home game against Texas A&M. The Tigers will improve on last season and make it to a bowl, but it is going to take time for  Missouri to adjust to the SEC. Gary Pinkel has been successful with this team, and hopes to bring more success in the years to come.

7. Kentucky
Kentucky made a very good hire when Mark Stoops was named head coach. Although Stoops is a first time head coach, he already has fans excited by landing some nice recruits in the offseason. It is very challenging for a coach to bring excitement to a football program at a school that is known for its basketball program (even Bear Bryant had trouble). The Wildcats return 14 total starters from a team that went 2-10 last season. Stoops may struggle in his first year with a young quarterback and a young team. If there is a coach in the SEC that needs time to rebuild, the greatest example would be Mark Stoops and his coaching staff. Mark Stoops will coach his first game against Western Kentucky who is now led by former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino. While that game may be interesting, especially since Western Kentucky beat Kentucky last year, the Wildcats have a tough road game schedule. Kentucky must travel to South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt. Home games against Florida, Louisville, and Alabama make things a little more challenging. Mark Stoops might not have the best inaugural season ever, but with enough patience from the athletic department and fans, Kentucky will have the team needed to be successful in the SEC.

Other preseason predictions include:

SEC Championship Game
Alabama vs. Georgia

Most Anticipated SEC Game
Alabama at Texas A&M on September 14th.

Most Improved SEC West Team.
Auburn

Most Improved SEC East Team.
Tennessee

Surprise Team.
Ole Miss