Since it is officially August, and football season is just three weeks away, I figured we should go ahead and get started with the predictions.
A few notes: Some teams (LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma State, etc.) have been assigned records and finishes that exceed their implied team value due to various factors such as favorable schedules, weak conferences, and what not. The four playoff teams that I have selected are based upon the results that I expect from the season; they are the four teams that I expect to make the playoffs, NOT the teams that I think are going to be the best four.
SEC - LSU will overachieve based on how the schedule lines up. Tennessee has the most returning production on both sides of the ball. Expect them to make major strides after showing some flashes last year. It helps having Florida early and Georgia at home after a bye week. Arkansas will make it to a bowl this year, but Missouri's post-season ban will prevent the conference from having ten bowl eligible teams. Look for Kentucky, South Carolina, and Mississippi State to fall hard. Toughest game to pick was Auburn @ Florida. After much deliberation and several flips, I went with Florida.
West:
1) Alabama 12-0, 8-0, 6-0
2) LSU 11-1,7-1,5-1
3) Texas A&M 10-2, 6-2, 4-2
4) Auburn 8-4, 4-4, 3-3
5) Arkansas 7-5, 3-5, 2-4
6) Ole Miss 4-8, 1-7, 1-5
7) Mississippi State 5-7, 1-7, 0-6
East:
1) Missouri 11-1, 7-1, 5-1 ***ineligible for SEC championship pending appeal
2) Tennessee 10-2, 6-2, 5-1
3) Georgia 9-3, 5-3, 5-1
4) Florida 8-4, 4-4, 3-3
5) Vanderbilt 6-6, 3-5, 2-4
6) South Carolina 4-8, 1-7, 1-5
7) Kentucky 4-8, 0-8, 0-6
SEC Championship: Alabama def. Tennessee