As Media Days start a quick look at the future of all 14 SEC football teams
By Ronald Evans
Let’s consider the 2018 future of the 14 SEC football teams and how likely each can reach the milestone of a 10 win season.
Alabama and Vanderbilt are the opposite ends of SEC football. A 10 win season In Tuscaloosa would cause despair. A 10 win season in Nashville would bring elation. Both programs require other standards to measure success. For Alabama success is a national championship. For Vandy, it is grabbing bowl eligibility with six wins.
Everywhere else in the SEC, the traditional measurement of 10 wins defines acceptable success. Auburn, Georgia, Florida and LSU fans may argue championships are also their school’s standard but history shows otherwise.
LSU last won a national championship in 2007 but has not won 10 games since the 2013 season. Florida won a national championship in 2008 but has had only three 10-win seasons since. Georgia last won a national championship in 1980 and failed to win 10 games, four out of the last 10 seasons. Auburn won a national title in 2010. Since then the Tigers have won 10 games only twice.
The idea of looking back at the 10-win history of SEC teams came from an interesting read by Chris Wright. Wright looked at each SEC team and predicted when each will next win 10 games. His picks for 2018 are Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State and South Carolina. His predictions are sound despite the low probability of all five teams hitting the 10-win milestone.
During SEC Media Days, fans will hear how each and every SEC football team will be improved in 2018. The fanbases of each school will largely buy-in to the rosy predictions of their coaches and players. Such optimism is so customary to be almost obligatory. Every team with a new head coach triggers renewed enthusiasm, even for in the lower rung of the SEC.
SEC Football Programs Trending Up or Not
The five teams Chris Wright predicted to have 10-win seasons have justifiable optimism. In the immediacy of a dynastic run, Alabama football has the most reason for optimism.
There is no question Will Muschamp has upward momentum with South Carolina. Auburn, Georgia and Mississippi State will probably be the next toughest 2018 teams to beat after the Crimson Tide.
Jimbo Fisher and Dan Mullin may not lead their new teams to 10 wins in 2018. Expecting both programs to improve quickly is warranted. The Gators and the Aggies join the top five as seven SEC football teams trending upward.
The situation is quite different with the other seven teams. As always, Vandy will fight for survival, both the team and head coach, Derek Mason. Do not be confused by anything said at SEC Media Days when it comes to Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
Perhaps Missouri has a sliver of a chance to be a division contender because of QB, Drew Lock. Chad Morris and Jeremy Pruitt start out in deep holes. They will not get out of them this season. The best scenarios for Kentucky and Ole Miss are to be respectable.
What about LSU?
That leaves LSU. The Bengal Tigers will again have a very talented roster and again a question mark at QB. There are three reasons why LSU should have a sub-par season in 2018. Two of them are employed by LSU – Ed Orgeron and Athletic Director, Joe Alleva.
Orgeron can recruit well but has never shown the acumen to be a head coach. Alleva is the guy who hired Coach O. The third reason is the toughest schedule in the SEC. LSU has too much talent to be a bad team in 2018. It just will not be a very successful one. The Bengal Tigers could lose five to seven games.
Next: SEC Media Days - the start of the 2018 season
The big day for Alabama football fans is Wednesday at SEC Media Days. Nick Saban, joined by Anfernee Jennings, Ross Piersbacher and Damien Harris will be center stage in Atlanta.