Who do you think wins the SEC Eastern Division in '06?- and WHY?

[TerryP]

Personally, I like Georgia to repeat as Eastern Divison Champs. Here are a few of the reasons why I think the others will not win the East in order of UGA's schedule...

South Carolina. (finish 4th in the East)

If you read any of their spring practice/scrimmage reports you'll see 99% of those reports focusing on one aspect, the offense. That in itself isn't surprising considering who is at the helm, The Ole' Ball Coach.

Putting that in perspective...what is the SEC known for? I'm sure, the majority of you just said "Defense." That, is a word you don't hear mentioned around the Gamecock nation much of the time. I have heard Spurrior talk about his defense a few times over the last few months. The first time was his announcing he was bringing in Bill Oliver to consult with his staff in the off-season. The second time happened to be a few weeks ago when he said he was going to have to spend some time with the defense this season.

When Spurrior says "he needs to spend time with the defense" you know what the underlying message is. They need work.

South Carolina may be able to pull out 8-9 wins in '06. But, if they do it'll be because they have outscored their opponents. 5 non-conference wins look easy. Their 3 West opponents are Mississippi State (season opener on a Thurs night), Auburn and Arkansas. The question here is "can they win one of them?"

Getting past Vandy and Kentucky should be a lock. That would put them at 7 wins. My guess...8-4.

Tennessee. (winner of the UF/UT game claims 2nd)

A tough game for the Bulldogs? Sure. But, UT is likely to have some growing pains as this season progresses.

First you have Cutcliffe talking about installing a "fast break offense" with a QB that is sporadic at best and one returning starter in the WR position (Jayson Swain). They also return their FB (Corey Anderson) and their TB (Arian Foster) but only have 1 returning lineman, LT Arron Sears.

We've seen what an inexperienced line can mean even if you are deep in the skill positions. UT, however, has always had plenty of depth along the lines. Coming off of the debacle of the '05 season, replacing all but one of their front 7 on defense and returning 6 on offense leads me to think they can have a winning season, but winning the East is a stretch.

Florida (winner of the UF/UT game claims 2nd)

Simple put...

Toughest Schedule in the East, SEC and perhaps the nation.

Out of the West they face 3 out of the top 4 in Bama, LSU and Auburn. When you add UT, UGA and FSU in that mix you have 6 games that they will have their hands full. Just assuming, they are able to get through those games at .500 you are left with a 9-3 schedule.

Kentucky and Vandy...we'll call them "also ran"...

 

[GrayTide]

I feel Georgia wins the SEC East for two very important reasons. First, and there may be some disagreement here, but IMO they have by far more talent from top to bottom than any other team in the SEC. Second, they have arguably the SEC's top coach. They have an abundance of talent at QB, albeit not much experience, but Richt has shown he can develop QBs. They should cruise along until the UF game which has been a thorn in UGA's side even with Richt at the helm and the Aubs. Besides these 2, I don't see anybody sneaking up on the 'Dogs. UF and UT will have their moments but don't think they can over take UGA this season. The other 3, who cares.

 

[i26bamafan]

Georgia

 

[CajunCrimson]

I picked Vandy......I'd rather play them in the SECCG

 

[TexasBammer]

I hate to say it, but UThug will win.

Georgia breaks in a new QB.
Florida still has Leak who can't run that offense.

UT hasn't been down for two years in a row in forever.

USC just doesn't seem to have enough talent.

 

[coachts1]

UcheaT

Why? Money, Politics, officials, steroids, win at all costs - I honestly do not see how they lose a game.

 

[jthomas666]

I have to lean towards Florida, mainly because unlike UT and GA, they've got an established QB. TN almost has one, but will be breaking in a new line, which means they'll probably be breaking in a new QB before we see them. Plus, Gaston's departure means that UT won't get all the breaks this year.

I like Georgia, but that QB spot is completely up in the air. The guy expected to challenge Tereshinksy (sp?) for the starting job missed most of spring practice with an injury, meaning that GA will have an unproven starter and questionable depth at QB. Sound familiar?

 

[TerryP]

I see a few are picking South Carolina. For the life of me, I can't figure out why.

Even SOS, who isn't known for coach speak (down-playing the talent he has) doesn't think they are in the running for the East. In fact, he's gone as far as saying they don't have the talent UT, UF, UGA and Clemson have.

 

[rgw]

I picked Georgia, though the post-Greene/Shockley era might be a bad experience for Richt...but he has too much talent to do anything but reload and win anymore.

Florida has such a brutal schedule. If they go 11-1, they'd deserve a national title game berth in my opinion. Auburn, LSU, Georgia, and FSU are all conference and national title contender. Alabama and Tennessee shouldn't be bad, heck one of the two might be a darkhorse contender. Even if none of those six teams meet their preseason speculation, they'll all be tough conference and geographical rivalries.

 

[OrleansDawg]

This is Mark Richt's least SEC-Proven Talented team since he got here, including 2001.

Our QB situation is beyond questionable. Stafford may be good but right now he is a true freshman with an OL that is incosistent.

Our D is very good but can't carry an offense that has no passing game.

UGA goes 9-3 in 2006

 

[TerryP]

This is Mark Richt's least SEC-Proven Talented team since he got here, including 2001.

Our QB situation is beyond questionable. Stafford may be good but right now he is a true freshman with an OL that is incosistent.

Our D is very good but can't carry an offense that has no passing game.

UGA goes 9-3 in 2006

I've said a few times that I don't believe we'll see a team from the E or W appear in the SECCG with an undefeated record. But, since we are talking about the E here (I'll get a poll up on the West in a little while) let's break down your post just a bit more, will ya Dawg?

3 losses? Where do you see those coming?

I just can't see that many. Sure, it'll take a few games for Terenshinski to get his "feet wet." But, he's in a situation that many OC's would envy. When you return your FB (Southerland) and then your tailback also (Brown, one of the best in the SEC) not to mention the strong side of your OL (G-Jones, T-Inman) it spells one thing to me. Run. That'll take a lot of pressure off of Terenshinski...not to mention help a great deal in pass protection.

Considering Shockley sat on the bench until his senior year...putting JT in that situation doesn't seem to me as a recipe' for failure.

Your schedule:

Sept. 2 WESTERN KENTUCKY
Sept. 9 at South Carolina
Sept. 16 UAB
Sept. 23 COLORADO
Sept. 30 at Ole Miss
Oct. 7 TENNESSEE
Oct. 14 VANDERBILT
Oct. 21 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 28 vs. Florida (Jacksonville)
Nov. 4 at Kentucky
Nov. 11 at Auburn
Nov. 25 GEORGIA TECH

I see three tough games there...one's that I would put a (?) beside. But, to think you'll lose all three?

If you look at UT and UF, their schedule vs the West is a lot tougher, no doubt about it.

 

[BayouBama75]

I pick UGA.

I think the winner will likely have 2 conference losses and UF has a worse schedule than any of them. I think the UT confidence is still down. I think they lose to UA, UF and UGA.

USC will upset some but will still likey lose in the swamp, AU and either UGA or TN

 

[THE BAMA IRISHMAN]

Hard to knock off the Defending SEC Champs. Recruiting and talent will keep the Bulldawgs in the Hunt.

 

[rizolltizide]

I'm going with UGA. Why? I don't think an inexperienced QB is going to hamper them as much as some think and I believe they have enough talent returning elsewhere to get the job done. I truly look at DJ last year as being inexperienced, at least in terms of running the team. He did ok but he wasn't all world by any stretch of the imagination. Look what the barn did last year with an inexperienced QB and an inconsistent O-Line. UT is completely up in the air to me, UF will have 3 losses on the year, no way USC gets it done. My pick goes to the Dawgs.

 

[Boclive]

I picked Florida because they win the Georgia game every year.

If UGA is their main competition, I have to go with the Gators.

It has gone a little past "the thumb" for the dawgs.

Plus, UGA is average at best at QB. I think they lost a ton of talent to graduation.

 

[TiderinMiss]

1. Georgia. It's their's to lose.

2. Florida (The World's Largerst Cocktail Party will mean a lot this season) Urban isn't quite there yet.

3. UT. Yes, UT can be down two years in a row. They will have growing pains in the first six games. After they lose to Bama again, they'll start to pick up some steam, though.

4. South Carolina. Yes, Steve Spurrier is there, but he's still having to
tool his offense. We'll se if his Fulmer Mojo will continue. Could be difference between third and fourth place.

5. Kentucky. They'll be a little better, but they're still crawling out of a hole.

6. Vandy. Without Cutler, it's back to the cellar again, unfortunantly. I hope I'm wrong. I really do....

 

[TiderinMiss]

UcheaT

Why? Money, Politics, officials, steroids, win at all costs - I honestly do not see how they lose a game.

Explain them losing six last year.


Why?


For the same reasons you listed:
Money. Politics. Officials. Steroids.

Sometimes, those things can backfire on you.

 

[OrleansDawg]

I see UGA losing to Auburn, Florida, and either UT/USC...one of them

Why?

We always lose to UF
AU is better in 2006 BUT to be fair...the best team rarely wins this game for some reason.

I think we beat UT at home and I think we take USC with their losses at DL/OL but you never know

10-2 could be a reality

But, again...our QB situation may be bad...

 

[TommyMac]

I'l have to pick the Gators. I'm one of the few people on BAMA forums who believe that our easy win over them last season was NOT proof positive that Urban Meyer is a lousy coach and that his offense won't work in the SEC. I don't believe that his second year in the SEC will be as spectacular as in the MAC and the MWC, but I do think there will be definite improvement. He doesn't have the type of players he wants for his system yet, but he does have some very good athletes and he also has a better idea of what he's up against.

I don't think the viles can right their ship with the addition of Cutcliffe unless he brought along another Manning that we weren't aware of. :wink:

Georgia seems to fall into the fetal position when they see the Gators on the opposite sideline, plus they need a QB.

Spurrier and the horny yard fowl will probably knock off someone they shouldn't, (Let's hope it's the viles.) but they don't have the studs to win the East.

 

[TerryP]

I see UGA losing to Auburn, Florida, and either UT/USC...one of them

Why?

We always lose to UF
AU is better in 2006 BUT to be fair...the best team rarely wins this game for some reason.

I think we beat UT at home and I think we take USC with their losses at DL/OL but you never know

10-2 could be a reality

But, again...our QB situation may be bad...

On the other hand...

First of all, I think Auburn is the odds on favorite for the SECC. But, I don't see them making it that far undefeated. When it comes to playing the Dawgs, home field advantage has meant little in this series. So, it boils down to a few areas of specific interest, IMO.

* UGA's DL vs AU's OL. AU is returning the middle of the OL, but catching UGA the next to the last game of the regular season makes it logical to assume they'll have "gelled" as an OL (ends) at that point. So, that pretty well leaves the game in the hands of your running game facing 5 new players in the AU front 7. Today, if the over/under came out around 40 I'd probably take the under.

* I know USC plays UGA tough each year...but, with the returning backfield UGA has you should be able to run the ball consistantly all day. Make them stop it. If it is kept out of a "who outscores whom" situation UGA wins easily.

* UT. Same scenario as USC. UT replacing 6 of their front 7...they'll have a few games under their belts before facing you guys with Florida being the toughest. BUT, I don't see UF running straight at UT.

* UF. I tend to think UF gets this one also...but, late.

Bottom line...I'll be following UGA closely this year. You have UT the week before we do, have Auburn the week before we do...