SEC News: K.L.’s Projection for 2017 SEC West Season Order of Finish
The 2017 football season is fast approaching. Ole Hotty Toddy, SEC News and I have my projection for the order of finish for the SEC.
We are a just a matter of days away from the start of the 2017 football season. Although the ACC thinks they are the best conference in the country, we all know the SEC is still the king. Getting through the SEC schedule is very tough. Therefore, coming up with a projection is difficult.
The best football talent resides down here in the SEC. The talented young quarterbacks in the SEC West have the ability to keep the offenses moving. Shea Patterson here at Ole Miss is in line to have a great year. Austin Allen of Arkansas is hoping to build on his impressive 2016 season. Jalen Hurts of Alabama, Nick Fitzgerald of Mississippi State, and Jarrett Stidham of Auburn all look to have a great year.
The SEC West still has all the things that makes the SEC the SEC. Strong defenses, dominant running game and game breaking speed. So, expect it to be another great year in the country’s greatest conference.
Alright, here is my projection for the SEC West for this season. If you disagree, hit me up on Twitter and quote/share this article with your projection.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Ole Miss Rebels Football
11-1
There is a great benefit from loading up on four and five-star recruits year after year. The Crimson Tide have plenty of talent returning on their team. Jalen Hurts is only going to get better. They have two running backs who could start for nearly every team in the country in Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough. The defense is still as good as they’ve always been.
Auburn Tigers
9-3
The Tigers have been searching for the next Cam Newton since he left for the Carolina Panthers. They hope they have found someone close with the addition of transfer Jarrett Stidham. Auburn is hoping his stability added to they’re great running game lead by Kamryn Pettway. If the defense plays well they should be good.
LSU
8-4
LSU comes in with a formidable defense as usual. They also come into 2017 season with one of the best running backs in the nation in Derrius Guice. The Tigers opened up the offense a little under Ed Oregeron. However, Guice will get his carries. Although, there are still questions regarding the quarterback position.
Ole Miss
7-5
Saying the Rebels have had a tough off-season is a gross understatement. However, football season is here. Interim coach Matt Luke is surrounded by a mostly new staff. The offensive talent is pretty good. Rebel fans are looking forward to a full season of Shea Patterson at quarterback and the bevy of great receivers which surround him. The defense remains the great unknown. Any improvement from last year will be very welcomed.
Texas A&M
6-6
Kevin Sumlin may be entering his final year in College Station if he does not have the Aggies playing superior football in 2017. The team has talent in spots. Many believe WR Christian Kirk is the best in the conference. However, the quarterback spot is up in the air. The defense will continue to be an issue. The first game of the year against UCLA will let us know all we need to know about A&M. They’ll make a bowl game. However, Sumlin won’t be coaching it.
Mississippi State
5-7
I’m going to get pummeled for this anyway so I might as well delve in. State’s success rides on the arm of QB Nick Fitzgerald. He showed the SEC that he could run and that led to five regular season wins. Someone, in Starkpatch, the city that fun forgot, mentioned it included a 55-20 win over Ole Miss. However, Fitzgerald has yet to prove himself as a passer. He record only one 300 yard passing game against SEC defenses. The defense should be improved this year. However, I still don’t trust Fitzgerald’s arm. I hope they keep their grades up.
Arkansas
5-7
I don’t know how hot Bret Bielema’s seat is. However, I don’t think he could survive a bad season. Arkansas fans are hungry for something good. The good thing is that they return one of the most underrated QBs in the SEC in Austin Allen. They suffered a devastating loss in the spring when Rawleigh Williams went down with a career ending injury. Plus, they lost four of their top five receivers to graduation. The defense is iffy. They will need them to play well if the Hogs are going to make noises in the West.
So, there it is. I guess we’ll see how it goes. However, as senior contributor at OHT I truly believe these are the correct results of the 2017 SEC West season. Feel free to hit me up on social media with your rebuttals. Good luck to all and Hotty Toddy!