- Sep 8, 2014
- 25,430
- 59,358
It's going to be fun watching Muschamp go 5-7 or worse this year...
Which SEC teams are most likely to lose in Week 1?
Which SEC teams are most likely to lose in Week 1?
Excluding the Georgia-Vanderbilt game, can the SEC escape Week 1 with a perfect record? Here’s a game-by-game look at the likelihood of each team being 1-0 or 0-1.
1-0? It’s a lock
Alabama vs. Duke (Atlanta)
Do we really need to discuss this? The only debatable aspect about this game is whether Alabama should have demanded a better opening opponent. This game does nothing for Alabama’s resume or the SEC’s reputation. A Duke victory would be more shocking than Nick Saban’s first Tide team losing to Louisiana Monroe.
LSU vs. Georgia Southern
Ed Orgeron needs no help on the motivational front. But just in case …
“Y’all don’t remember the Georgia Southern game, do you,” Nick Saban began …
Mississippi State vs. Louisiana
Nick Fitzgerald accounted for 6 TDs in last year’s 56-10 romp. And a defense that just saw 3 guys drafted in the first round held the Ragin’ Cajuns to 1 TD.
Only the names will change.
Tennessee vs. Georgia State
Jarrett Guarantano has thrown for 300 yards once. No better time or opponent to make that happen again than against a Georgia State team that went 2-10 last season.
Texas A&M vs. Texas State
Texas State lost 35-7 at Rutgers last season. And that’s all you need to know.
Missouri at Wyoming
The Tigers blew out Wyoming in CoMo last season, largely because of Drew Lock (398 yards, 4 TDs). Road opener, new quarterback? In theory, those could be concerns. In reality, it shouldn’t matter, especially with the Tigers’ ability to lean on their run game if necessary and Wyoming having to replace its best offensive player, Nico Evans. Sure, West Virginia is looming in Week 2, but Kelly Bryant’s first start and the talent differential will be more than enough to offset any potential lookahead lapses.
Shouldn’t be close, but …
Kentucky vs. Toledo
Toledo is a solid MAC team. Solid MAC teams shouldn’t be within 3 TDs of 10-win SEC teams. Ah, but is this Kentucky team capable of winning 10 games again? That’s probably a tad too optimistic. Toledo has 2 capable QBs and Kentucky obviously has some holes to fill on defense. Ultimately, Terry Wilson and the Cats’ new-look offense get it done.
Arkansas vs. Portland State
There are no excuses in 2019. It’s time for Chad Morris to start producing. Predicting a bowl trip is overly optimistic, but the Hogs have to go better than 2-2 in nonconference play in 2019. That starts with what should be a routine victory over an FCS Portland State team that went 4-7 last season.
Florida vs. Miami (Orlando)
Sure, the cliches apply. Miami is a hated rival, many of these kids grew up playing against each other, and Camping World Stadium will be absolutely rocking.
These two fan bases talk about each other every day, but they haven’t played an actual game against each other since 2013.
Emotions will be a factor. Still, you’d rather be in Florida’s position than Miami’s, which is starting over at three critical positions: Head coach, offensive coordinator and starting quarterback.
Florida opened as an 8.5-point favorite. Is a 10-point margin in play? On returning talent alone, it should be, but teams rarely run away from Miami. As many questions as the Canes have on offense, they generally can rely on their defense. That group certainly will be motivated after Wisconsin hung 35 on them in the bowl game.
S-E-C! S-E-C? … Maybe
Auburn vs. Oregon (Arlington)
The oddsmakers like Oregon, and for good reason. The Ducks return 17 starters, including a Heisman candidate in QB Justin Hebert. They’re showing up in the top 10 of several way-too-early Top 25 polls.
That’s fine. I like Joey Gatewood. I like an angry Gus Malzahn. I like Auburn’s running backs and I always like Auburn’s defense.
Leap of faith? Sure. Auburn always does that to me.
On upset alert
Ole Miss at Memphis
This is a dangerous opener for the Rebels. Matt Corral likely will be making his first start, on the road, and might be the second-best QB on the field. Memphis’ Brady White was one of the top-ranked QBs in the 2015 class, ranked ahead of Drew Lock and Joe Burrow, among others. He signed with Arizona State, graduated early and transferred to Memphis, where he threw for 3,296 yards and 26 TDs last season. He’s one of the better QBs this revamped Ole Miss defense will face.
South Carolina vs. North Carolina (Charlotte)
This game shouldn’t be close. South Carolina has almost every conceivable edge, except on the sideline.
The Tar Heels are starting over. And that’s long overdue. The Mack is back, and it didn’t take Mack Brown long to blow up the old blueprint. How dramatic have the changes been in Chapel Hill? A former starting QB — Chazz Surratt — is now a linebacker. Former cornerback Corey Bell was a spring standout at wide receiver. Optimism clearly has replaced the cloud of doom that hung over Larry Fedora’s tenure. Will it translate to wins? The opener will reveal plenty about which direction both programs are heading.
Which SEC teams are most likely to lose in Week 1?
Which SEC teams are most likely to lose in Week 1?
Excluding the Georgia-Vanderbilt game, can the SEC escape Week 1 with a perfect record? Here’s a game-by-game look at the likelihood of each team being 1-0 or 0-1.
1-0? It’s a lock
Alabama vs. Duke (Atlanta)
Do we really need to discuss this? The only debatable aspect about this game is whether Alabama should have demanded a better opening opponent. This game does nothing for Alabama’s resume or the SEC’s reputation. A Duke victory would be more shocking than Nick Saban’s first Tide team losing to Louisiana Monroe.
LSU vs. Georgia Southern
Ed Orgeron needs no help on the motivational front. But just in case …
“Y’all don’t remember the Georgia Southern game, do you,” Nick Saban began …
Mississippi State vs. Louisiana
Nick Fitzgerald accounted for 6 TDs in last year’s 56-10 romp. And a defense that just saw 3 guys drafted in the first round held the Ragin’ Cajuns to 1 TD.
Only the names will change.
Tennessee vs. Georgia State
Jarrett Guarantano has thrown for 300 yards once. No better time or opponent to make that happen again than against a Georgia State team that went 2-10 last season.
Texas A&M vs. Texas State
Texas State lost 35-7 at Rutgers last season. And that’s all you need to know.
Missouri at Wyoming
The Tigers blew out Wyoming in CoMo last season, largely because of Drew Lock (398 yards, 4 TDs). Road opener, new quarterback? In theory, those could be concerns. In reality, it shouldn’t matter, especially with the Tigers’ ability to lean on their run game if necessary and Wyoming having to replace its best offensive player, Nico Evans. Sure, West Virginia is looming in Week 2, but Kelly Bryant’s first start and the talent differential will be more than enough to offset any potential lookahead lapses.
Shouldn’t be close, but …
Kentucky vs. Toledo
Toledo is a solid MAC team. Solid MAC teams shouldn’t be within 3 TDs of 10-win SEC teams. Ah, but is this Kentucky team capable of winning 10 games again? That’s probably a tad too optimistic. Toledo has 2 capable QBs and Kentucky obviously has some holes to fill on defense. Ultimately, Terry Wilson and the Cats’ new-look offense get it done.
Arkansas vs. Portland State
There are no excuses in 2019. It’s time for Chad Morris to start producing. Predicting a bowl trip is overly optimistic, but the Hogs have to go better than 2-2 in nonconference play in 2019. That starts with what should be a routine victory over an FCS Portland State team that went 4-7 last season.
Florida vs. Miami (Orlando)
Sure, the cliches apply. Miami is a hated rival, many of these kids grew up playing against each other, and Camping World Stadium will be absolutely rocking.
These two fan bases talk about each other every day, but they haven’t played an actual game against each other since 2013.
Emotions will be a factor. Still, you’d rather be in Florida’s position than Miami’s, which is starting over at three critical positions: Head coach, offensive coordinator and starting quarterback.
Florida opened as an 8.5-point favorite. Is a 10-point margin in play? On returning talent alone, it should be, but teams rarely run away from Miami. As many questions as the Canes have on offense, they generally can rely on their defense. That group certainly will be motivated after Wisconsin hung 35 on them in the bowl game.
S-E-C! S-E-C? … Maybe
Auburn vs. Oregon (Arlington)
The oddsmakers like Oregon, and for good reason. The Ducks return 17 starters, including a Heisman candidate in QB Justin Hebert. They’re showing up in the top 10 of several way-too-early Top 25 polls.
That’s fine. I like Joey Gatewood. I like an angry Gus Malzahn. I like Auburn’s running backs and I always like Auburn’s defense.
Leap of faith? Sure. Auburn always does that to me.
On upset alert
Ole Miss at Memphis
This is a dangerous opener for the Rebels. Matt Corral likely will be making his first start, on the road, and might be the second-best QB on the field. Memphis’ Brady White was one of the top-ranked QBs in the 2015 class, ranked ahead of Drew Lock and Joe Burrow, among others. He signed with Arizona State, graduated early and transferred to Memphis, where he threw for 3,296 yards and 26 TDs last season. He’s one of the better QBs this revamped Ole Miss defense will face.
South Carolina vs. North Carolina (Charlotte)
This game shouldn’t be close. South Carolina has almost every conceivable edge, except on the sideline.
The Tar Heels are starting over. And that’s long overdue. The Mack is back, and it didn’t take Mack Brown long to blow up the old blueprint. How dramatic have the changes been in Chapel Hill? A former starting QB — Chazz Surratt — is now a linebacker. Former cornerback Corey Bell was a spring standout at wide receiver. Optimism clearly has replaced the cloud of doom that hung over Larry Fedora’s tenure. Will it translate to wins? The opener will reveal plenty about which direction both programs are heading.
