SEC East

SEC EAST


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

* I really like what Steve Spurrier has done at South Carolina. He has recruited extremely well, brought the Gamecocks to their first SEC title game in 2010 and first 11 win season in school history in 2011. Connor Shaw is talented and experienced at QB and if Marcus Lattimore can return from a devastating ACL tear in 2011, Cocky looks to return to Atlanta. Getting Georgia at home on October 6 doesn’t hurt either.

* Georgia had an interesting season in 2011. The Bulldogs lost the first two and the last two games of the season but went on a 10 game winning streak in between. 10 wins should never be dismissed, but when the marquee victory for the campaign was a win over an 8-5 Auburn team, Georgia fans felt a little unsatisfied in the end. In the four losses, Georgia gave up an average of 38.75 points per game. That is no way to win a title.

* Florida will be better this season, but there are serious questions on the offensive side. Both QB’s vying for the starting role, Driskel and Brissett, are inexperienced sophomores. It’s almost amazing to me, but I don’t see any way the Gators win the East unless both Georgia and South Carolina implode. I think Muschamp was average at best on game days and has a ways to go to match Spurrier, Richt, Miles and Pinkel who will be on the opposing sidelines this year. (Yes, on the whole I think Miles is better on Saturdays than Muschamp) We will know a good bit about Florida when they meet LSU on October 6. Two early road games at A&M and UT will set the tone for the season.

* The only reason I have Missouri behind Florida is I think the Tigers may struggle a bit on the defensive side of the ball in their first SEC season. They have plenty of talent on the offensive side and Gary Pinkel is a very good coach. Expect 7 or 8 wins this season.

* I hate to say it, but I don’t think Derrick Dooley survives past 2012 at Tennessee. The middle of the season has a four game stretch of at Georgia, at MSU, Alabama and at South Carolina. That looks like a 1-3 run or even an 0-4 disaster. The Vols could get to 6-6, but that would be the end for Dooley.

* Vanderbilt may not make it to a bowl game, but they will cause some problems. The Dores get Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee at home. I expect them to win at least one of those.

* Kentucky was atrocious on offense last season scoring a measly 15.8 points a game. It’s amazing they won 5 games. This season may be even worse. Don’t be surprised to see Joker Phillips joining Dooley in the unemployment line.