So, anyone wanna make some early predictions about who is going to face us in the SECCG? Most just assume it's going to be the Tide, but 'not so fast my friends...'

Stidam is going to throw a scare into some opponents and if they take down Washington in game 1, Auburn will have a mountain of momentum. They already feel confident after taking down the Tide last year. If they can find a good replacement at RB, I'd say they are going to have a good shot at making it back to the SECCG.

I got this feeling that LSU is going to struggle after losing to the Canes in week 1 and then get knocked off the track and never recover. They play UF and Auburn also before playing us, so they could have 3 losses...make that 4 against us and ol Coach O could be out before he's even had time to get his seat warm.

Ole Miss is getting overlooked. They got a pretty good QB coming back and the best WR corp in the nation. They'll match up nicely against Bama, who losses their entire secondary from last season. This could be an upset in the making here.

So...can any of the above take down the Tide? I'm saying that the Rebels or Auburn will, probably Auburn. My early prediction...

Yeah, I know, the Tide just reloads, but they've just lost toooo much talent off of that D. You can't get a D better by losing 7 players to the NFL. That's just too much talent against a super duper passing game like Auburn. If Auburn fines even a decent RB, they'll meet us in the Dome.

What say you DPrs?

Auburn is replacing nearly all of their OL, as well as top two backs. Stidham is good but if under pressure he struggles. I think AU could lose 3-4 games this year. I don't think LSU will be that great, despite some good transfers, don't think Ole Miss will be able to do it, but I like Miss State to be in the fight in the west this year. Still think Bama has too much for anyone over there.

I agree with this. Kerryon Johnson carried Auburn last year. They don't have a back like him this year. Stidham is trash against pressure. We showed that in the SECCG. Ole Miss may have the talent, but I don't think they have the coaching. LSU will have to find a QB before they can be serious contenders. A&M may turn some heads with Jimbo at the helm.

Haney said:

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Auburn is replacing nearly all of their OL, as well as top two backs. Stidham is good but if under pressure he struggles. I think AU could lose 3-4 games this year. I don't think LSU will be that great, despite some good transfers, don't think Ole Miss will be able to do it, but I like Miss State to be in the fight in the west this year. Still think Bama has too much for anyone over there.

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2018 SEC West predictions

1. Alabama - once again, the most talented team (on paper) in FBS
2. Auburn - good talent level (esp. QB and DL), however, a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde team (i.e., they can perform at a high level one week then stink it up the next; need to be more consistent)
3. LSU - very good talent w/ a great defense and DC (Dave Aranda); don't trust their HC or OC
4. Texas A&M - decent talent w/ a good DC (Mike Elko); don't trust their HC after he quit on FSU last season
5. Mississippi State - have some high-level players, but not enough; I like their new HC Joe Moorehead
6. Ole Miss - lost too many good players to transfer (e.g., 5* QB Shea Patterson to Michigan, 4* WR Van Jefferson to Florida); furthermore, scholarship reductions weakened team depth; don't think Matt Luke is an elite HC (he was promoted to the position after Hugh Freeze was fired)
7. Arkansas - least talented program (on paper) in the West; skeptical whether Bielema left him the type of players he wants to run his offense

I think atm has the blue chippers to contend, more so than the rest. They have not Been coached on D, up to the level of talent they had imho. Jimbo will make them tougher-which looked like a problem. Auburn lost too much OL/RB to be a threat. I agree w what was said re LSU.
Bama
aTM
Miss St
Auburn
Ole Miss
LSU-goodbye Ed
Arkansas
That's my guess

I think you have to go with Bama for obvious reasons.

The teams that could challenge are obviously Miss State, Auburn, and LSU. LSU has a tough schedule. MSU has a tough slate also (if Florida is improved). Auburn plays at Bama, and if that game is decisive, I have to favor Bama. They are a machine.

I'm beginning to think Florida is going to be a lot better, perhaps 9-3. Our game with them could be decisive. They get a lot of players back from suspensions and whatnot, and Mullen knows how to coach in the SEC.

A decent QB and they could be a tough out.

I forgot about A&M, I look for them to be top 2-3 in the west, Jimbo is a good coach-flaky but good-and they have talent there. They might have the toughest opening month in the country playing both Clemson and Alabama in September. Watch out for that Clemson game, it is at A&M in Jimbo's first big home game-they open on a Thursday so they have a couple extra days to prepare for it too. They have to travel to Bama, also play at Auburn and at South Carolina. IF they can somehow beat Clemson, they could surprise.

As for UF, looking at their schedule, they have back to back at UT and at Miss State, if they sweep those two, they will be a challenger in the east. They play UK in the Swamp week two, I think that game will tell us a lot about both those teams. UK has a pretty talented defense-two players on SEC first team all conference and also one of the best RB's in the conference as well. I know UF has like a 500 year winning streak against them, but that will tell me a lot about UF.

Looking at UF's schedule further, they only leave the state 3x this season, Knoxville, Starkville, and Nashville. WOW!!!

IF the Gators are "pretty good", they could end up 10-2 without it being a real shock. They might not be 10-2 "good", but an 8-4 team with a favorable slate.

This might require that USCe and LSU be mediocre. Hard to pick UK beating the Gaters for reasons you note.

UF-Tenn will tell us a lot, I agree.

The mystery teams for me, teams that could do 10-2 or 9-3 (or 6-6) are:

LSU
Florida
A&M
Miss State
USCe.
Auburn (not really sold on them)

I could not make more than a guess on the records of those teams.

Miami-LSU will tell is something also.

UW vs. Auburn will tell me a lot about Auburn because UW will be better coached I feel sure. They have an experienced QB same as AU, I doubt their D is as good as AU but I will bet their offense is better than AU's,

I know some folks say, we need to pull for Auburn, LSU etc in the non conference games, I say NOPE. We UGA needs to do is control their own business. Doesn't matter if those two are 6-6 at the end of the season, UGA goes 12-0 or even 11-1, chances are we are playing for the SEC title-win that game and we are in the playoff. In some cases, I will root for the SEC team to win, but not always like some do. Heck, AU recruits against us heavily, so I hope they lose-and I am tired of hearing how good they are. They lost every tough road game they played last year for the most part, at LSU, at Clemson, they won two games at home against us and Bama, but you take them away from their stadium, they lost 4 games LAST year.