Before spring football kicks in, how do the win totals look for all of the SEC teams? Here’s where the bar should be set … for now.
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Just how good are all of the SEC teams? There are still plenty of injuries, suspensions, and depth chart changes to come over the next several months – and spring football still has to kick in – but here’s the first look.
Based off of the schedules, timing of the big games, and the talent coming back, here’s around where the win total futures should be set.
The win total line projections are based on the regular season – bowl games or conference championships don’t count. And remember, this is a cold business. The investment market will set the line as the offseason goes on.
SEC East
Florida Gators
It might take a little while for the offensive line to come together … welcome to the opener against the Miami defensive front. The rest of the team should be ready to rock right out of the gate. The skill players are there, and the defense will be outstanding again.
Along with dealing with the Hurricanes, the Gators have to play Kentucky, LSU, South Carolina, Georgia and Missouri away from the Swamp. They’ll be good enough to win any and all of those, but assume two losses in the bunch. Throw in home dates against Auburn, Tennessee and Florida State, and getting to ten wins will be a fight.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 9.5
2018 Record: 10-3
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Georgia Bulldogs
Once again, Georgia should crank up one of the four best teams in college football. The offensive line will be strong enough to make the great group of skill guys go, and the defense has the experience to be a killer.
But can the Dawgs get to 11 regular season wins like they did in each of the last two years? There are landmines with Notre Dame, South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky and Texas A&M all in Athens, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Going to Tennessee and Auburn, and deal with Florida, is the concern. There will be a loss … will there be two?
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 10.5
2018 Record: 11-3
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky will still be strong, but the East should be better, and RB Benny Snell and LB Josh Allen are gone. The secondary has to undergo an overhaul, but the lines should be solid. Having QB Terry Wilson back is a big help.
Florida and Tennessee have to come to Lexington, but the Georgia, South Carolina and Mississippi State games are on the road. Can UK win four of those five, and not lose to Missouri or slip at Vanderbilt?
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 10-3
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Missouri Tigers
Start with Kelly Bryant taking over at quarterback, and there’s a whole lot to like. The receiving corps is solid, and the secondary is excellent, but the defensive interior needs work and the offensive front could use a boost.
The schedule is built for a strong year, with West Virginia and South Carolina having to come to Columbia early on, getting Florida and Tennessee at home late, and with winnable road dates against Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Arkansas to offset the almost-certain loss at Georgia.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 8-5
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
South Carolina Gamecocks
You’ve heard this before, but South Carolina has the pieces to be dangerous. QB Jake Bentley has plenty of talent to work with, but the O line needs a little tweaking. The defensive side is great up front, but has a whole lot of work to do in the secondary.
USC might be better, but … Alabama, at Missouri, at Georgia, Florida, at Tennessee, at Texas A&M, Clemson. Can the Gamecocks be good enough to win at least four of those, and not trip up against a Kentucky, North Carolina, or Appalachian State? The projected win total will be among the bigger investment question marks of the offseason.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 7.5
2018 Record: 7-6
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Tennessee Volunteers
How much better will the Vols be in Jeremy Pruitt’s second year? The receiving corps is loaded, the offensive front is full of veterans, and the defensive back seven should be good. The defensive front, though, needs some retooling.
Going on the road to Florida, Alabama, Kentucky and Missouri won’t be easy, and hosting Georgia, Mississippi State and South Carolina is a problem, but overall, the schedule is more than good enough – with around five sure-thing wins – to come up with a winning record.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 7
2018 Record: 5-7
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Vanderbilt Commodores
After a good season that finished up with a bowl appearance, can the Commodores do it again? The receivers are in place, but the offensive line loses three starters and the quarterback situation has to be settled. Eight starters are gone off the defense, but …
The schedule isn’t that horrible. It’ll be rough early on, but with home games against Northern Illinois, UNLV and East Tennessee State, there’s a base of likely three wins. It’ll take a few upsets – like at home against Missouri and Kentucky – to get to six wins.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 5.5
2018 Record: 6-7
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
NEXT: SEC West
SEC West
Alabama Crimson Tide
Can Alabama quickly get up off the mat after the national title collapse? This is still mostly the same team that ripped apart the regular season – especially for the passing game – to push for another unbeaten run to the SEC Championship.
There shouldn’t be any issues until the trip to Texas A&M. The Tennessee and LSU games are at home, but Mississippi State and Auburn are on the road. Even so, it’s Alabama. Even if there’s a loss, you’re bucking history if you think there will be a second.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 11
2018 Record: 14-1
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Arkansas Razorbacks
It’s going to be better. SMU grad transfer Ben Hicks will upgrade the quarterback situation, and almost all of the top skill spots should be fine. It’s the defense that needs the work, and at least the experience is there.
Getting past last year’s two wins shouldn’t be a problem – at least, they had better not be – with Portland State, Colorado State, and San Jose State all at home early on. With Western Kentucky in early November, pencil in four wins – can the Hogs come up with two more to go bowling?
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 6
2018 Record: 2-10
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Auburn Tigers
The Eagles will be more than fine despite the loss of QB Jarrett Stidham. The receiving corps mistreat, the line gets everyone back, and the defensive front will be among the best in the country. Here’s the issue …
Oregon, at Texas A&M, at Florida, at LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia, Alabama. That doesn’t include a few other dangerous games against Arkansas on the road and Ole Miss at home. The Tigers are good enough to beat anyone, but not everyone.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 8-5
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
LSU Tigers
Now the expectations are there to keep winning big, and push for the SEC title, and more. The passing game should be fantastic with just about everyone returning, and the defense, even with a few NFL losses, won’t take a step back.
There’s an early game at Texas, and the Tigers have to go to Alabama and Mississippi State, but overall, the rest of the slate isn’t all that bad for an SEC West team. Florida, Auburn, and Texas A&M have to come to Death Valley.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 9.5
2018 Record: 10-3
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Mississippi State Bulldogs
There’s a whole lot to like on the offensive side. Head coach Joe Moorhead has his talent in place – with most of the top receivers back and a good-looking O line. However, the defensive front is starting over, and a few parts are gone from the secondary.
On the plus side, the schedule isn’t that bad early on. The Bulldogs should be 4-0 – if they beat Kentucky – and then the fun kicks in. At Auburn, at Tennessee, LSU, at Texas A&M, at Arkansas, Alabama. MSU has to win at least three of those, and it can’t slip in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8
2018 Record: 8-5
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Ole Miss Rebels
Now that Ole Miss is eligible to go bowling again, can it get to six wins? QB Jordan Ta’amu is back, but he loses some NFL-caliber receivers and works behind a line that loses a few parts. The defense is loaded with veterans, but it has to be a whole lot stronger.
The Rebels have to shoot for a 4-0 start, but going to Memphis isn’t a guaranteed win, and neither are home games against Arkansas and Cal. Start at least 3-1, and with New Mexico State and Vanderbilt still on the slate, they can at least get close to six wins. However, at Alabama, at Missouri, Texas A&M, at Auburn, LSU, and at Mississippi State – winning at least one of those is a must.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 6
2018 Record: 5-7
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
Texas A&M Aggies
Jimbo Fisher’s team in his second year at the helm should be outstanding. QB Kellen Mond and all of the big, great receivers should blow up, the line gets back four starters, and the defense has just enough in place to fill in the big gaps. However, A&M has, arguably, the nation’s most unfair schedule.
The Aggies have to go to Clemson early, and travel to Georgia and LSU late. A&M can be one of the five best teams in college football, and lose all three of those games – and at home to Alabama. There also can’t be any misfires against Auburn, at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, or South Carolina.
CFN Early Spring Win Total Line Projection: 8.5
2018 Record: 9-4
– Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
