We're roughly 40 days from kickoff and Im starting to get that itch. Here's what its looking like this year

CONTENDERS:

Alabama -158



Different year same story. Ironically, this year might be more about the offense than the defense this year. This is gonna be the first time Alabama returns most of their key players on offense in sometime. Arguably the best RB in College Football in Bo Scarbough and probably the best WR in Calvin Ridley should make for quite the show. Also Jalen Hurts returns as a possible heisman candidate (lol never gonna happen) but Alabama should be putting up a ton of points this year. Defense lost basically everyone that mattered minus Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is again prolly the best CB in college football. Im assuming Alabama found 5* Dlineman and LBs to replace what left.

They open up vs Florida St. in the brand new stadium in Atlanta which should make for a great game. FSU arguably one of 2 teams (OSU) that has the talent to match Alabama.

Auburn +600



The Gus Bus comes chugging into town revved up and ready to go. After what seemed like being on the slightly-warming seat last year early, he somewhat calmed some fears making it to the Sugar Bowl but it still seems like theirs unrest at Toomers Corner. Auburn's fate seems like it relies on the QB play of Jarrett Stidham former 5* recruit and stand out at Baylor. At least I imagine they go with him, Sean White and LASTCHANCE U star JF3 sucked last year. Pettiway is a bruising RB which Gus loves to have. Defensively, Auburn lost some key guys upfront but for the most part are solid. Seems like theyre never satisfied at Auburn, so I wouldnt be shocked if the seat starts reheating if they win <10 games this season.


LSU +725



Coach O comes in for his first full season at LSU. No one can understand a word he says so who knows what theyre gonna look like this year. Heisman Candidate Derrius Guice is taking over the departed Leonard Fournette. Hes not the athletic freak like Fournette, but he might be the best back in the SEC this year. QB remains to be a question mark for LSU. I believe they are still going with Purdue transfer Danny Etling at QB who seemed serviceable at times last year. Defensively, LSU has a lot of new faces. Arden Key, their best player, is away from the team? His situation is murky at best and no one knows if he will even play this season. LSU always seems to be like Alabama and replace people on defense so I wouldnt be too worried.

Georgia +1000



Good ole Kirby Smart has gotten off to a pretty good start over in Athens. He has Jacob Eason at the helm with a years worth of experience under his belt, I expect some big things out of him this season. Rub-a-dub Chubb is back as well who I wasnt really impressed with last season coming off the injury but we'll see if he can get back into form. Sony Michel provides a nice 1-2 punch there as well. Im pretty sure Georgia just made the fattest guys on the team play OLine last year with the hope they would get in the way, but that didnt really work out for them. Maybe this year will be better.Defensively Georgia, on paper, has the best defense imo. They were already a really good unit last year and return all but 1 starter. If the offense can get in gear, Georgia has a good shot of making the SEC championship game this year.

Florida +1150



Deny. Deny. Deny.

Anyways, Jim Mcelwain has come in and made the SEC championship 2 years in a row, but I (and others) still arent believers. QB position is once again up for grabs at Florida. Its between former ND QB Malik Zaire and RS Freshman Felipe Franks. Personally Id like to see Zaire but who knows. Jordan Scarlett isnt a well known running back but he runs hard and I think people will be talking about him as the season moves on. Defensively, Florida lost a ton of talent. Going to be a completely new secondary and mostly new LB core. This season the offense really needs to carry the torch or its going to be a long season. Opening up in Jerry World vs Michigan isn't going to help anything.


Pretenders:

Tennessee +2600

This is THEIR YEAR guys. Promise. After last years disappointing end, Butch Jones seat is going to piping hot this year after a couple of losses. They lost a lot of talent, dont really see them competing this year.

Texas AM +5500

QB situation looks bleak here. Christian Kirk is the most exciting player to watch in the SEC but not much else going on here. Maybe in year 2 John Chavis can have the defense churning on all cylinders but doubtful. Sumlins time could be running thin as well

Arkansas +8500

Fat Brett cant seem to put together a complete season. Always starts strong then ends in disaster. They prolly beat someone that they arent suppose to....but follow that up with a loss to Miss St. or something

Ole Miss +????

For some reason they dont have odds up for Ole Miss. Ole Miss was clearly the best 7-loss team last year. They got a shiny QB with Shay Patterson, and I think their DLine is solid but yeah Ole Miss seems to be regressing towards the mean very quickly


Miss. St +13000

Poor Dan Mullen. Had a great couple years with the Dak Attack, but it appears his time has run out. Nick Fitzgerald at QB is fun to watch though.

SEC LEAST

Kentucky
South Carolina
Missouri
Vanderbilt

Seems like the only appropriate thing to do would be to post their hot fans as some thread savers and call it an OP

Thanks for doing this thread! I've done it the past 3 years. Was hoping someone would do it this year.

Legggoooo auburn

War damn. Can't wait for some ess eee see footbawl

Oh yeh Florida lost their starting safety for the year. Ouch.

yeah that news came out today, brand new starters at every position in the secondary. Duke Dawson is pretty good but he's played nickel his whole career, hes gonna have to move out wide.

RB BJ Emmons, DB Aaron Robinson left Bama today

Florida has 3 true road games this year. One of them is @ Kentucky. Don't see how Jim Mac survives if they don't do well this year. Anything under 10 wins will be a huge disappointment.

This. Is. The. Year...

*cries*

I'm surprised the line isn't Alabama - 3500. Sure anything can happen and at least LSU and maybe Auburbn and Georgia and Florida are in the conversation of having somewhat similar talent, but let's be real. Edge in talent plus huge edge in coaching = champs.

Can we change the title already to LOL OLE MI$$?

I should have waited jussssst a tad longer haha

Gonna have to change the title anyway when ole miss hires lane kiffin next week. Haha

A+ OP

Let's make it another great season, fellas

We doing SEC Pick'em again, Costanza?

Freeze resigns amid scandal unrelated to cheating at football. Gotta admit I'm a bit surprised.

If anyone has evidence of wrongdoing they should just report it

Oh yeh OP, the reason Ole Miss probably didn't have any odds is because they self banned from the postseason for 2017. They cannot make the sec title or any bowl game. I totally forgot this as well. Easy to forget with everything else they got going on

In a shocking development, Auburn has named 5 star Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham their starting QB.

Also, lol Florida

In addition to this yuge news, the other other Auburn QB James Franklin, Third of his Name, has transferred and will be playing wide receiver

But he sucks. He has terrible hands. He's fast as hell but has hands made of butter. Gus Malzahn wanted him to be a KR/PR but he said nah. I mean, yeh he made the transition to play WR here but he was getting buried on the depth chart. Good luck to him. This is literally his last chance, haha. FORTH CHANCE U it is.

Yeah he probably shoots straight to the top of FAU's depth chart just based on who is there now

I'll do the pick 'em again. Any suggestions for changes?

Seemed like it worked good last year

Thanks for running it

although it would make it a bit lengthy, append:

; DEATH AFTER FREEZE?

to thread title iyam

Time to get the thread pick 'em started!

Week 1: SEC Thread Pick 'em