SEC West

This is possibly the toughest year to try and pick the winner of the SEC West.  There are so many questions about each team. 

Alabama is loaded again, but all of the top skill guys are gone (Sims, Yeldon and Cooper).  The offensive line is relatively inexperienced with only 40 starts between the entire unit.  Compare that to Ole Miss which has a whopping 120 starts between its returning offensive linemen.  The defense will be top notch as always.  The Tide get Ole Miss, LSU and Tennessee at home but must travel to Auburn and Georgia.

Arkansas is a real wild card this season.  The Hogs were very close to pulling early season upsets before going 3-1 to end the year.  During that four game stretch, Arkansas beat LSU, Ole Miss and Texas by a combined score of 78-7.  Plenty of experience returns on both sides of the ball including senior QB Brandon Allen.  Arkansas plays Auburn at home but must visit Alabama, Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU.

 

Auburn probably has the best QB in the league but only returns two starters on offense.  The defense will improve under Muschamp but by how much remains to be seen.  Using Phil Steele’s calculations, Auburn ranks 115^th of 128 teams in returning experience.  The Tigers will have a lot of learning to do as the season progresses. Auburn gets Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama at home with road trips to LSU and Arkansas.

LSU has been plagued by poor QB play.  It appears Harris will be the starter for LSU on opening night.  Effective QB play could make LSU a contender in the SEC West. The Tigers return many key players on both sides of the ball but questions will be asked about the defense led by new coordinator Kevin Steele.  LSU has regressed a bit each year since 2011.  The Tigers get Florida, Texas A&M, Auburn and Arkansas at home but must travel to Ole Miss and Alabama.

Mississippi State had a fantastic year in 2014.  But it won’t be repeated in 2015.  There are way too many losses on the offensive line.  The schedule will be markedly tougher as well as State gets LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss at home while traveling to Auburn, A&M, Arkansas and Mizzu.

Ole Miss is again a media darling with multiple publications placing them right outside of the Top 10.  The hype may be warranted. As I mentioned earlier, the OL is loaded with experience.  Clemson transfer Chad Kelly replaces “Good/Bad” Bo Wallace at QB.  The defense was nasty last year but ultimately wore down as the season went on giving up 35, 30, 17 and 42 in the last four games of the season vs. FBS competition.  The home schedule includes Arkansas and LSU with away trips to Alabama, Auburn and Florida.

Texas A&M was supposed to be the “big” addition to the league in 2012.  But Missouri has easily outclassed A&M the past three seasons.  Since joining the league, the Aggies are 13-11 in conference play.  The Mizzu Tigers are a 16-12 in conference which includes two trips to the SEC title game.  A&M will have a new starter at QB as Kenny Hill was eventually benched last season and transferred.  The defense will be better with John Chavis taking over.  But there is a question of whether his defense will be as efficient with A&M’s up tempo style on offense.  A&M has road games at LSU, Arkansas and Ole Miss and home dates with Alabama and Auburn.

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