Alabama Football to Lead the SEC West
- Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0) – If I can’t clearly see through my crimson glasses, so be it. Maybe Alabama loses to Texas and goes 11-1. Otherwise, the game that carries the most doubt is at College Station. LSU will have an outstanding team and Tennessee will be very good, but I don’t see either one winning in Bryant-Denny.
- LSU Bengal Tigers (11-1) – At worst, LSU loses three games, but my guess is only Alabama beats them. With a top coach and an outstanding roster, LSU is every bit a Playoff contender.
- Texas A&M Aggies (9-3) – Jimbo Fisher has his best roster and in Bobby Petrino, a coach who can remedy an outdated offense. Ten wins are possible for the Aggies, but only if the Fisher-Petrino marriage works, and it may not.
- Ole Miss Rebels (8-4) – If, as some suggest, Ole Miss will be better defensively, the Rebels should get to eight wins. If not, seven is the likely ceiling. But, Lane Kiffin is one of CFB’s best at Portal rebuilds, plus he has the best running back in the SEC.
- Arkansas Razorbacks (7-5) – With offense provided by K.J. Jefferson and Rocket Sanders, the Hogs might be an eight-win team. but they have a brutal four-game stretch at LSU, Texas A&M, at Ole Miss, and at Alabama.
- Auburn Tigers (6-6) – As much as I want to pick the Aubies last in the West, I don’t expect them to have a losing season.
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-7) – The always underrated Bulldogs have a transition season in front of them. They could lose eight games or win seven while Zach Arnett and Kevin Barbay build a new offense.