Zero is scored “love” in tennis. That might lead you to think what’s love got to do with college football, in general, and the SEC, in particular. Well, I love college football and the SEC, as do those who will take the time to read this blog. And I hope Auburn’s first opponent, the University of Massachusetts, scores zero points next week when we rabid football fans finally get to a full slate of SEC games.
There is one SEC game on tap for Week Zero. Vanderbilt will host Hawaii. The Dores are a 17 point favorite to defeat the Rainbows. And who doesn’t like rainbows? And lollipops? And roses? I digress. I like digressing.
(Clears throat)
The SEC. Enjoy this 2023 season of SEC football. It’s the last time you will see it in its current form. Next year the conference will add Texas and Oklahoma to its already stellar cast of 14 squadrons. There will be no divisions. No SEC East and SEC West. It’ll be one through 16. The top two teams will play in the SEC Championship Game. And there will be an expanded playoff field. The playoff has to be revisited and revised due to the new madness of conference upheavals. Then there’s NIL and the transfer portal. I truly hope greed doesn’t kill the games. A motto of mine is “Greed Kills”. So good luck to college football and her survival.
Here are my picks on how things will finish in the SEC. A couple of adjustments since I posted my initial impressions on Facebook immediately after SEC Media Days.
Once more with feeling!
SEC East
- Georgia
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Vanderbilt
SEC West
- LSU
- Alabama
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- Ole Miss
- Arkansas
- Miss State
Georgia is, of course , a “Duh” pick to win the East, although that group of runners up continue to improve as the East gets better and better. The Dawgs and Tennessee game, in November at Neyland Stadium, could be for the all marbles in that division. There are no bad teams in the East any longer. Yes, I love what Clark Lea is doing in Music City. Vandy is not an automatic “W” as you glance over your favorite team’s schedule and it includes Vandy. Eli Drinkwitz (You) and Shane Beamer have both done great jobs at Mizzou and USCe, respectively. The jury is still out on Billy Napier and the Gators. He is recruiting quite well at Florida. And you can’t count out Mark Stoops and his Cats. They’ll be gnarly, per usual.
Will the SEC West be decided in Tuscaloosa when the Bayou Bengals come to town? ‘Twas the case in Red Stick in 2022. Preseason pundits seem to love the Aggies of College Station as they do every season and, to this point, that love has not translated to a division title.
Lane Kiffin has been quoted as saying that Hugh Freeze is the best game day coach in college football. I hope he is correct. What he has done on the Plains, thus far, is nothing short of remarkable. Auburn will be highly competitive and capable of beating anyone on its schedule. They will also be capable of losing to anyone except UMass, Samford and New Mexico State. I do believe the Tigers ceiling is nine wins. Who’d a thunk it after the 2022 mess. Thank God for Cadillac and Hugh. We Aubie folks were looking square at a 3-9 season before the “Freeze Warning” was issued and we were replenished with an incredible haul in recruiting and a portal bonanza. WDE!
I think Ole Miss has a cruel schedule that will keep the Rebs from being contenders to win the West. Arky and State have very good football teams but the SEC West simply doesn’t allow either team to land in its top three. One of them in the fourth slot? Maaaaay-be.
One more observation on the West. Bobby Petrino as OC at A&M will be fun to watch. Whatever else you think about him, he can flat out coach an offense. Harley’s? Not so much. Jimbo and Petrino. A match made in (fill in the blank).
How about a quick update on conference realignments. The Big 10 has 20 teams. The Big 12 has 18. The SEC sports 16 fine football teams. And the ACC is squabbling about adding Cal, Stanford, and SMU. That would give the “Atlantic” Coast Conference 18 teams. And we would say goodbye to the PAC 12. Tragic.
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On to the “pick”.
Hawaii at Vanderbilt (-17)
The Rainbows will be dancing to the hula beats while the Anchormen will pedal up the steel guitar and twang late into the early Sunday morning hours. A battle it shall not be as the Music City Home Boys thump the visitors from the Aloha state. Vanderbilt 44, Hawaii 10.
“Well I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that it didn’t hurt, and the beer I had for breakfast wasn’t bad so I had one more for dessert. Then I fumble through my closet for my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt. And I washed my face and combed my hair and stumbled down the stairs to meet the day…” ($1 to the great Kris Kristofferson!)
That’ll do it for Week Zero in the SEC and all of college football! Take care out there and love your neighbor as yourself.
Next week! Batman vs. Mr. Freeze! Peace out!
Bird's Banter 