I am going to rate the "stockmarket" value of each SEC team. I invite you to do the same. Feel free to critique mine as well. Note, the criteria is based, not on who will make it to the NC, but how well they will perform in the regular season.
Let me start with the SEC Champions and hopefully future National Champions, the Florida Gators.
Florida Gators - Stock - Steady They bring a lot back to the table for 2007, and will remain consistent in a National Title hunt next season win or lose tonight (hopefully win). The SEC Title is still well within their reach.
LSU Tigers - Stock - Incline Questions surround the coach abilities of HC Les Miles, but I don't see a drop off for next season. If Jamarcus Russell stays, he'll only better the chances of the Tigers for a NC run. If he goes, the Tigers remain a dominant force in the SEC and will likely meet Florida for the SECCG.
Arkansas Razorbacks - Stock - Decline Arkansas had a great SEC run in 2006, and won the West. But with the loss of some key players to the NFL and rumored shake-ups within the coaching staff, the Razorbacks are looking at a 7-8 win season at best.
Tennessee Volunteers - Stock - Steady Phil Fulmer could very well be on the hot seat, and with that added pressure, the Vols might be scrambling to win the big games. They have a wonderful recruiting class coming in. They have an experienced QB who can make big plays. They remain steady for 2007.
Georgia Bulldogs - Stock - Incline The UGA Bulldogs are looking for a rebound season in 2007. CMR is always on top of recruiting and Matthew Stafford is only going to improve in the coming year. Look for an SEC East Title run, contending with the likes of Florida next season. The East winner could come down to whoever wins the WLOCP.
Auburn Tigers - Stock - Decline Since 2004, the Tigers haven't made a convincing run at the NC. They lose loads of key talent next season including David and Kenny Irons and Courtney Taylor. With CNS at Alabama, a few big prospects are changing their minds about playing for the Tigers. The Tigers, though still strong with QB Cox on board, should expect an 8-9 win season in 2007.
South Carolina - Stock - Incline The Gamecocks are lead my a Mad Genius known as Steve Spurrier. His recruiting prowess only helps the Cocks in a run for the SEC East crown. The loss of Sidney Rice (family issues, possible Draft prospect) is going to be key. SR will be hard to replace. However, SC will be stronger next season and I fully expect no less than 9 wins (possibly 10 with a bowl win) for the Cocks.
Alabama Crimson Tide - Stock - Incline With the arrival of Coach Saban and the memory of a 6-7 season in hindsight, the Tide can only improve from here. Alabama has landed a healthy mix of 4 and 5 star recruits for 2007. Andre Smith, JPW, Prince Hall, and Simeon Castille will be back to lead the Tide for the 2007 season. I expect a solid 8-9 regular season wins for Alabama and a decent post season bowl.
Kentucky Wildcats - Stock - Steady The Wildcats boasted an impressive 8-5 season in 2006. Rich Brooks turned this program around for the better. Expect similar results in 2007 with the Wildcats and a possible East upset on the way. The Cats have made themselves and the SEC East even more competitive next season.
Ole Miss Rebels - Stock - Incline Even though the Rebels had a poor showing in 2006, with the addition to Jevon Snead, they look to come into 2007 in competitive form. Questions still surround "The Big O" and his coaching abilities, but with a good recruiting class, 6-7 wins is not out of the question.
Mississippi State Bulldogs - Stock - Steady Sylvester Croom looks to lead his Bulldogs to a winning season in 2007. Though the team lacks the proper talent to compete. They won't be any worse than they were in 2006, and they may score another upset like they did over the Crimson Tide, but they don't seem to like they could improve heavily in 2007.
Vanderbilt Commodores - Stock - Steady The Commodores are lead by Bobby Johnson who has seemingly helped this program along in the SEC for the better. Scoring two big upsets in two years (UT 2005, UGA 2006), the 'Dores look to be knocking on the door to the post season. A solid 6 wins will grant them a trip to a bowl game. They're very capable of reaching the post season with the right amount of effort.
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WALLYGOAT - BAMA LOYALIST FOR LIFE
Last edited by WallyGoat : 01-08-2007 at 11:38 PM.
If we bought any of your 'stock' with your predictions, we might have as much VCash as you.. Hehe, but nice read though & agree with you on some of it. Go SEC tonight!
Yeah, the only thing I would change is that I would put LSU as steady instead of inclining...other than that I agree with basically all of it. Great post
Good post and pretty much spot on about the hogs. The only thing I would change is South Carolina. They may be more talented next year or maybe not, but what is for sure is that their schedule is going to suck. They play at Georiga, at LSU, at Tennessee, and at Arkansas and don't forget they still have Florida and Clemson and the Kentucky game won't be a gimmie next season either. They'll be 7-5, possibly 6-6 next season.
Good post, Wally. But Auburn won't skip a beat next year with the players we lost. We have so many blue chip guys coming in that we have been waiting on/redshirting and preparing for this moment. The coaching staff was aware long ago of what we would lose and they have done and excellent job preparing for it.
Mario Fannin. Tim Hawthorn. Ben Tate. Remember those names, because they're about to be the new set of Auburn offensive studs, something we lacked in a big way this year.
Good post and pretty much spot on about the hogs. The only thing I would change is South Carolina. They may be more talented next year or maybe not, but what is for sure is that their schedule is going to suck. They play at Georiga, at LSU, at Tennessee, and at Arkansas and don't forget they still have Florida and Clemson and the Kentucky game won't be a gimmie next season either. They'll be 7-5, possibly 6-6 next season.
We will definitely be more talented next year than this year, especially on the lines where it all begins. Every year in the East(and West) is brutal. Auburn rotates off and LSU rotates on...not a huge jump in difficulty. With the away and home games I dont really think it will make a huge difference. I dont put as much stock into away/home games for confrence foes as a lot of people do, especially when you have a veteran QB and great team leaders. Last time we went to UT we won, Ark we won, and put ourselves in great position to beat UGA in Athens. Sure it may make a difference in some situations, but when the schedule is so tough each year already the last thing the players are thinking about is the zip code the game is gonna take place in. We return our QB and have great depth at the position, both backs with a great frosh coming in, a talented O-line that will look to establish itself early and improve over the year, we have WR's stacked on top or WR's, and return both TE's. Plus we return basically all the major contributors on the D-Line, both Brinkleys are coming back and we get the other Lindsey twin back...plus we are set at LB and only lose one starter from our secondary which ranked 21st in pass defense. I'll be happy with a 9 win season and think its very well within reach. That would mean we've improved our record in each of Spurrier's years. Nothing to complain about with that.
this post might be out of place but I had posted somewhere recently that Kerry Murphy out of Hoover had committed to UA and that has now been proven to be untrue, still a heavy lean but not true
We will definitely be more talented next year than this year, especially on the lines where it all begins. Every year in the East(and West) is brutal. Auburn rotates off and LSU rotates on...not a huge jump in difficulty. With the away and home games I dont really think it will make a huge difference. I dont put as much stock into away/home games for confrence foes as a lot of people do, especially when you have a veteran QB and great team leaders. Last time we went to UT we won, Ark we won, and put ourselves in great position to beat UGA in Athens. Sure it may make a difference in some situations, but when the schedule is so tough each year already the last thing the players are thinking about is the zip code the game is gonna take place in. We return our QB and have great depth at the position, both backs with a great frosh coming
SEC Team Stocks for 2007
