Which team will be "the surprise SEC team" next year

[crawfish]

Here's how last year's SEC teams finished. Who do you think will be "the surprise SEC team" next year?

EASTERN DIVISION

Tennessee 6-2, 10-4 (East co-champ - won tie breaker)
Georgia 6-2, 11-2 (East co-champ)
Florida 5-3, 9-4
S. Carolina 3-5, 6-6
Kentucky 3-5, 8-5
Vanderbilt 2-6, 5-7

WESTERN DIVISON

LSU 6-2, 12-2 (West champ, SEC champ, National champ)
Auburn 5-3, 9-4
Arkansas 4-4, 8-5
Miss. State 4-4, 8-5
Alabama 4-4, 7-6
Ole Miss 0-8, 3-9

[crawfish]

For the East: South Carolina - The old ball coach has a football revival this year and finishes tied for 2nd in the East.
For the West: Alabama - They learn how to finish games this year.

Overall surprise team: Alabama - Although I don't think they win the West, I think they will be co-champs and lose the tie breaker with LSU.

[timNem]

Sounds good to me.

[PuddingTime]

Why aren't we above South Carolina? We went 8-5.



lol......I know why...they beat us....but I love how someone always does that whenever someone posts standings.

I dunno about surprise....I think Bama is going to do a damn site better than 7-6 next year.

Ole Miss will win more than 0 conference games....so call that a surprise.

I don't see UK going worse than 6-6 overall....we can beat Vandy and MSU next year and maybe pull one off over some unsuspecting team. I swear, we're not going to be as bad as many of you think. I'm saying 2...maybe 3 conference wins is reasonable. Our non-con includes MTSU, UofL, WKU....I dunno....it'll be tough. Basically, my argument is that those of you who think we're going to go 2-10 or 3-9 will be surprised when we win 5 or 6 games next year.

[shanksta13]

Ole Miss is the obvious surprise pick, with Jevan Snead and Enrique Davis coming in on offense and alot of playmakers on defense returning.

[PuddingTime]

^That....and you can't do worse than 0-8 in the SEC :D

[crawfish]

Why aren't we above South Carolina? We went 8-5.

lol......I know why...they beat us....but I love how someone always does that whenever someone posts standings.
I dunno about surprise....I think Bama is going to do a damn site better than 7-6 next year.


Sorry PT, I just copied and pasted it off of the SEC's official site (http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=2&change_well_id=1).

[ColonelKurtz]

East-Kentucky
West-Ole Miss

[GatorBait15]

Well PT they beat you in the head to head and the ooc doesn't matter in conference rankings there for they are ahead...

[GatorBait15]

same thing with UT and UGA, PT...

[PuddingTime]

Read my whole post GB before responding....

[BAMAPERRY]

Gonna be between Bama, OM, and USC.

[WarEagle73]

In the West, I think it's somewhat of a toss up, with Auburn probably having a slightly stronger chance of being the surprise team (in regards of a chance to win the West). I will not include LSU in the equation due to the fact they are favored by most to win the West, thus them winning would not be a surprise.

I think Bama is a good candidate for the surprise team, however there are some key positions that have to have young players step up and fill some pretty big gaps. I think there are still some issues on the defensive line that will cause them problems. They do bring in a stellar class, but nobody has an idea of what (if any) they will impact the 08 season. I look for improvement from Bama this year, I'm just not certain they are where they need to be just yet.

Auburn could very well be the surprise team as well. Wile replacing our QB and installing a new offensive system, we return our offensive line intact and have really developed depth in the all important to the spread wide receiver corps. From the reports coming from Spring training the offense should be much improved from last year. Wile Auburn did lose some key defensive players from 07, the guys stepping into starting roles are for the most part proven players with prior game experience. Our line backing corps should be one of the best in the SEC and possibly the nation. Our defensive line is very deep and one of the strongest points on an already strong defensive unit. However, with a new offensive & defensive coordinator walking the sidelines watching what is essentially a first year starter at QB playing in a familiar but still new offensive system, this season is no guarantee of success much less SEC glory. It's possible, just not certain.

Past Auburn & Alabama, I think the team with the next best chance will be Mississippi State. Croom has steadily improved the Bulldogs over the last few years and may be on the cusp of getting the ship fully righted. Ole Miss & Arkansas are in my opinion something of a mystery in 08. I think Ole Miss has a slightly better chance at a successful season than Arkansas due to the Hogs losing so much talent in Jones & McFaddin coupled with a new offensive system and as of now no proven QB. That could change though with this transfer they have coming in (if the NCAA clears him to play this season).

In the East I think the team with the best chance at being the surprise team is Tennessee. Both Florida & Georgia are supposed to vie for the top spot in the East, so much like LSU they would not be considered as a surprise team. I say Tennessee could surprise many due to the fact that they return a still solid team and Fulmer seems to perform best when on the hot seat. The wildcard in the equation for the Vols is the loss of David Cutcliff. The last time he left Knoxville, the Vols felt his absence quite painfully. Other than Tennessee, I'd have to guess South Carolina has an outside chance at being a surprise team. However, I would consider the Game Cocks as a considerable long shot due to the depth and talent in both Athens & Gainsville.

[GeauxTo]

In the East,
TENNESSEE could be surprisingly strong.

In the West,
OLE MISS could surprise some folks.

In the East,
GEORGIA is riding for some disappointment.

In the West,
ALABAMA will again disappoint the fans.

[BAMAPERRY]

Good surprise: Bama, OM, USC
Bad surprise: LSU, UGA, AU

[GetEmGamecocks]

I like SC in the East and Ole Miss in the West. I think Bama will do well, but it won't be much of a surprise to me. Like us, they are just a year or two away from an all around great team.

[WarEagle73]

Good surprise: Bama, OM, USC
Bad surprise: LSU, UGA, AU


No Suprise: BamaPerry

[lacene]

Just a question, but if Ole Miss only has one direction to go in, because they went winless in '07, and they actually go in that direction in '08, then why would that be a surprise?

[FightinTiger71]

Vandy beats University of Western Kentucky in the BCS championship game....that's my surprise...:laugh:

[BAMAPERRY]

Just a question, but if Ole Miss only has one direction to go in, because they went winless in '07, and they actually go in that direction in '08, then why would that be a surprise?

if they go 3-5, it won't be a surprise. If they go 5-3, it will be.

[STUCKNBIG10]

West (Positive Surprise): I think Arkansas will be a surprise. People are expecting them to fall off the face of the earth with the departure of mcfadden and felix jones. petrino is a great coach, so i don't see it happening. i hope i'm wrong, b/c i can't stand him so i would love to see a 1-11 year (do hope they beat texas).

East (Positive Surprise): UK. I'm not saying that we will contend for the east, but I don't think you will see the backward slide that some are expecting. I predict 7-5.

West (Negative Surprise): Alabama. I think Tide fans are expecting their $4MM man to pay off this year,but the schedule doesn't lend itself to that. A neutral game against a stacked clemson team to start the year, and then roadies against UGA, Tennessee, arkansas, and LSU is not a recipe for a great year. add that to a home game against auburn who never loses to bama anymore, and it could be another middling year.

East (Negative Surprise): UGA. I have a lot of respect for richt and his program but I just don't see them winning the SEC or the national title as many expect. History is against them regarding the UF game (last year notwithstanding), plus road games at LSU and Auburn, plus tough games at home against UT and Alabama, plus a few sneaky tough road games like UK and Arizona St. I wouldn't be surprised to see UGA lose 3-4 games.

[BAMAPERRY]

Kentucky will be the worst team in the SEC next year.

[GatorBait15]

BP hits yet another HOMER!

[BAMAPERRY]

YEP! It's between them and MSU. I think MSU will be better.

[NiKka]

SUPRISE! we will infact be 5-3 in the SEC this season.

[bbqit]

SUPRISE! we will infact be 5-3 in the SEC this season.

Or better!

[zartan]

South Carolina and Auburn.

[the Prodigy]

Ole Miss will be a lot better. But then when Ole Miss is 8-0 in the middle of the season and loses on a fluke play by Jevan Snead, Nutt will once again lose all confidence in his QB and Ole Miss will lead the conference in rushing for the next 9 years..... oh wait....:brick:

[FanninFan]

I'm really expecting South Carolina to be the big surprise team from the east. I'd be on the lookout for a BIG, BIG upset this season. Maybe a couple. From the west, Ole Miss should be good. I'm also a Texas fan, and from watching Snead before he transferred, he has a good arm, and excellent accuracy. They'll be no pushover for sure.

[carwwest]

i think we have a legitimate chance to surprise some people this year...we are returning 15 of 22 starters there are 2 very good players on defense that played a lot last year that will probably start this year....we are adding a faster running back to our two headed monster in dixon and ducre and our QB will now have a full year and spring(as a starter) under him....and not to mention our schedule is not nearly as hard as last years....

[SeanVol]

Ole Miss will be the surprise team next year.

[NiKka]

This schedule is much better than last years..
We very well could start 4-0 heading into the swamp.. Memphis and Samford will be some tune up games... Wake is no gimmie neither is Vandy but should be good close physical games to start the season but I have great confidence that we are fielding better athletes than those two teams..

South Carolina at home is a good matchup (Ty Nix homecoming)

Alabama, It has been a hard fought game that has been won by 3 points the past 2 years, it should be a very good game.. I plan on attending this one it will be my first trip to T-Town

Arkansas, Circle that one.. should be interesting

Thank goodness we will be playing Auburn at home..
Patrick Trahan's revenge game




Aug 30 Memphis Oxford, Miss.

Sep 06 Wake Forest at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Sep 13 Samford Oxford, Miss.

Sep 20 Vanderbilt * Oxford, Miss.

Sep 27 Florida * at Gainesville, Fla.

Oct 04 South Carolina * Oxford, Miss.

Oct 18 Alabama * at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Oct 25 Arkansas * at Fayetteville, Ark.

Nov 01 Auburn * Oxford, Miss. TBA

Nov 15 Louisiana-Monroe Oxford, Miss.

Nov 22 LSU * at Baton Rouge, La.

Nov 28 Mississippi State * Oxford, Miss.


Florida & LSU are my only L's i'd mark for the schedule so far..




I think that Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, & South Carolina have some key question marks it's not ridiculous to consider them toss up's

I see no worse than 6-6 with the great coaching staff & talent we have.

[WDavE]

Why would Trahan game against us be a revenge game.

He flunked out going into the fall 2007 after being named a preseason starter.
His return from JC was predicated on him getting his grade highs enough by Jan. Didn't happen!

If anybody should have a revenge factor in the game it should be us....

[OleMissPike]

I don't think Alabama will be a surprise team next year, simply because it wouldn't surprise me if they did well. I'd like to say Ole Miss is a surprise team, but the West is going to be wide open next year, it wouldn't surprise me if we finished 1st or 6th.

That being said, I think the surprise team will be Kentucky. Everyone's expecting a 2 team race between UGA and UF for the East with Tennessee or South Carolina coming in 3rd and UK/Vandy ending out the order. I think Kentucky's new look with an athletic quarterback may shake things up. Most people are writing them off because of the players they lost, but if they show up with a whole new look, it might take a minute to figure out how to stop them. By then, they could have won half their conference games.

[FightinTiger71]

I see 4 losses for Ole Miss....I think LSU, Florida, and two losses from either Alabama, South Carolina, Auburn or Mississippi State....I can't decide which ones but I think Ole Miss will split the those 4 games and go 2 and 2. I think Ole Miss in a bowl game is definitely gonna happen.

[shanksta13]

I see 4 losses for Ole Miss....I think LSU, Florida, and two losses from either Alabama, South Carolina, Auburn or Mississippi State....I can't decide which ones but I think Ole Miss will split the those 4 games and go 2 and 2. I think Ole Miss in a bowl game is definitely gonna happen.

I've gotta say I'm a little worried about Ole Miss. We could be in for a letdown with an away game at Knoxville the week before. Ole Miss is going to be a deceptively good team next year. The offense has the potential to be very explosive with Davis, Snead and Wallace as the main playmakers behind a pretty good O-Line.

[Tider27]

My Tide will be the biggest surprise in the SEC. Call it a gut feeling more then a homer pick. Ole Miss will also be a lot better, there is only one way to go and it's not down.

In the east Tennessee should shock some teams this year. People think it might be a down year, but they should upset one of the 'big two' in Georgia or Florida. South Carolina will improve and finish strong at the end of the season, much like my Crimson Tide.

[lacene]

I hope it's not South Carolina. The way a lot of people are talking, the "surprise" would be them having a losing season.....

[azamugg]

My Tide will be the biggest surprise in the SEC. Call it a gut feeling more then a homer pick. Ole Miss will also be a lot better, there is only one way to go and it's not down.

In the east Tennessee should shock some teams this year. People think it might be a down year, but they should upset one of the 'big two' in Georgia or Florida. South Carolina will improve and finish strong at the end of the season, much like my Crimson Tide.


dammit, I seem to have that gut feeling every single daggum year

[Tider27]

dammit, I seem to have that gut feeling every single daggum year

Thought I was the only one. :lol:

[shk999]

I just hope LSU stinks it up, that would be a pleasant suprise. :biggrin: As for the East, hopefully USC will rise up.