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BAMADOG'S SEC EAST PREDICTIONS
- 1999 SEASON -
1. Florida
- The East top 3 teams are definitely UF, UT, and UGA. How they finish out is like how Bama, Arkansas, and Mississippi State will finish out - it's just uncertain because all are neck-in-neck as far as talent goes. For the East though, I will have to go against some odds and pick Florida this year, mainly because it's so hard to "repeat". Even if it's not the national championship "repeat", it IS a repeat to beat Florida - only this time, it's in the Swamp. UT hasn't beaten Florida in the Swamp ever since I can remember. UT will have probably a stronger team than last with some good starters coming back (except for the OL I believe), but UT will find a way to choke this year. No more Al Wilson at LB either. Who will step up? It will have to be the Offense this year. Florida will capitalize on turnovers as in previous years and look for Spurrier to come out victorious. As far as UF's non-conference schedule, cupcakes except for the big showdown against Florida State. Look for Bama to try and pull the upset in the swamp this year to avenge the 35-0 loss in '91. UF still loses 1-2 games in the regular season, but comes out on top of the East.
2. Tennessee
- As I said, UT will look good this year and will expect to go undefeated since they haven't lost many people. They will lose a little on Defense this year and that's where their downfall will be. Remember, Defense wins championships... and the D seems to slip just a bit this year - enough to where either Florida or Georgia will take the East. On O, Tee Martin will be solid along with their running back coming off injury. The OL will have to gel in order for this team to be successful though. Also, Vecksbort (whatever that kicker's name is) is gone I believe and he will be sorely missed... enough that the new guy could cost them the game against a big rival (UF or Bama). Tennessee could finish 1st... everything comes down to UT/UGA and UT/UF... and if Bama were to pull the upset this year, they definitely won't be taking first. Non-conference games could be a problem with Notre Dame, Memphis (cough cough), and Wyoming. Who knows if Memphis pulls a rabbit out of their hat this year like a couple of years ago... We'll see.
3. Georgia
- Donan has really built a great program the last couple of years. The previous 2 seasons I believe the dawgs have gone 9-3 and 10-2. They lost a lot in Champ Bailey leaving, but someone else will step up. They still have sophmore and already star, Quincy Carter at QB. He has already thrown around 2400-2500 yards in his first year at the helm of UGA. Something tells me that he will be leaving early for the NFL before his Sr season. Like UT and UF, Georgia has a real shot at pulling out #1 in the East. I'm thinking it could even be a 3-way tie for the East Crown with some combination of UT/UF/and UGA beating each other. But since I'm ranking these, the huge loss of Bailey puts them at #3. Non-conference games include Utah St., Central Florida and in-state rival Georgia Tech. Should be a tough year for the Dawgs but they should handle most of it...
4. South Carolina
- Holtz at S.Carolina? Who'da thunk it? I can't even think of Holtz being anywhere except for Notre Dame. Well, for a team that only won one game last year, they needed something, and Holtz should be the answer. Just his name will get some good recruits coming his way - only his age might hinder guys from committing. Who knows how long he'll be around. I know he will pump up this team with his "in your face" mentality. Look for S.C. to pull an upset or 2, but don't look for them to even break the top 3. There's just too much of a talent gap between S.C. and the likes of the above teams. Bowl bound? Possibly, but they can only lose to the Big 3 in the East to get a decent bowl... and difficult non-conference schedule doesn't help, probably the hardest non-conference schedule in the SEC - First game at N.Carolina St, later at East Carolina and then rival game Clemson. Don't look for any gimmies. UK and SC will duke it out for the #4 spot.
5. Kentucky
- Couch is gone, but Mumme stays intact. Craig Yeast is back and they're gonna need him. Whoever the QB is, he will be a newbie... if UK's system is as simple as Mumme says it is, look for UK to put plenty of points on the board - only problem... the other team will still score more. When will Kentucky fingure out that you STILL need a defense to win games. If they ever do get a D, they could be a force to reckon with. With Couch back, they could finish as high as 3 maybe... without Couch, Mumme will see how good of a coach he really is. He'll start out probably 3-0 as he faces 3 non-conference teams in Louisville, UConn, and Indiana. Get ready, cuz Florida come to town right after that. Bu-bye, Kentucky...
6. Vanderbilt
- Hmmmm.... Vandy, should I say more? not really, but do realize that they didn't finish last in the East last year. That would be South Carolina who ended up rounding out the cellar. Since Holtz arrived, that definitely gives S.C. the advantage in NOT finishing last. Vandy - well, decent defense as usual, but the offense has got to learn how to score, period. If they do score, it will be on The Citadel, Duke, and N.Illinois. Vandy, can I play?? I can make your team. Anyway, it's really hard to recruit good talent in football when your school's entry requirements make you seem like a genius to other schools. And Vandy is in the SEC because....??? Coulda been FSU. Just imagine the SEC East if that woulda happened. Yikes!
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