Round Table: SEC East predictions
Every year conference predictions become an en vogue topic of conversation. Here the Cats Illustrated staff discusses how the East will shake out.
What's your prediction for the SEC East, top to bottom, and why?
T.J. Walker, Basketball Recruiting Analyst
1. Tennessee
2. Georgia
3. Florida
4. Kentucky
5. Missouri
6. Vanderbilt
7. South Carolina
Georgia has the most talented team in the SEC but it's a tough schedule for the Bulldogs. Tennessee's schedule is far more favorable and the year that no one talks about the Vols is the year they rise to the top of the East. The tricky part for Kentucky is that the Cats may actually be more talented than USC and MSU, but those games are on the road. Can the Cats go on the road and come back with a win? If the answer to that question is yes, then UK will be in the hunt because UK will take care of business at home.
Jeff Drummond, Managing Editor
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Kentucky
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina
6. Missouri
7. Vanderbilt
On paper, I think the East is a toss-up between Florida and Georgia with Kentucky and Tennessee being darkhorse challengers if all the right pieces fall into place. The Gators and Bulldogs could come down to their annual showdown in Jacksonville on Oct. 28. I give the edge to Florida overall because the Gators have a ridiculously manageable schedule this year with Tennessee visiting The Swamp and only three true road games (Kentucky, Missouri, and South Carolina). When was the last year UK may have been the toughest road game for Florida? Crazy. Georgia, meanwhile, has to visit both Tennessee and Auburn. The Vols have their work cut out for them with SEC matchups against Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU. I just don't see them surviving that with Josh Dobbs no longer running the show. Kentucky's key game for contention is Sept. 23 against the Gators. If the Cats can beat Florida for the first time since The A-Team and Magnum P.I. were on primetime TV, they could be legitimately in the mix if they get some help from others along the way.
Justin Rowland, Publisher
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Kentucky
4. South Carolina
5. Tennessee
6. Vanderbilt
7. Missouri
I'm expecting Jacob Eason to have a very good second season and Georgia's running game will carry them to the East championship as the Gators retool their defense. Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee are basically interchangeable at 3-5, but I like Kentucky's returning experience, physicality in the run game and playmakers on the back part of the defense. The Gamecocks will have a dangerous offense, as will Missouri, but the Tigers are soft on defense. Tennessee will win a game they shouldn't but there's not enough proven on offense for me to feel good about them this year.