10. Florida: Will Muschamp is entering his third year as head Coach of the Gators and has posted a record of 18 -8 in his first two seasons at Floeida’s helm. His first year was rough, 7-6, however, he regrouped last year and his team went 11-1 in O12 That said, they stumbled in the Sugar Bowl to a very good Louisville Unit. Florida has a challenging schedule in 2013; @ Miami FL, @ LSU, @ South Carolina, & Georgia at a neutral site, Jacksonville. At home, they face a new look Arkansas team and an In-state rival, Florida State. While, in my view, Florida has a top 10 roster, their schedule will make it difficult for them to finish the season in the Top 10. The on-going dilemma between roster & schedule in the rating/evaluating a team may be best exampled through Florida. The Gators recruit some of the best talent in the nation and they need it as they are playing a top 5 schedule. A 10-3 finish may leave them ranked outside the top 10; yet, clearly better than some 11-2 or even 12-1 teams who may finsih the season in the Top 5.
9. Louisville: Charlie Strong has done a terrific job at every school he has coached (Texas A&M, Southern Illinois, ND, Florida, South Carolina & Ole Miss) yet, he may have saved his best for the Cardinals of Louisville (25-14 as HC). Charlie’s team finished at 11-2 last year and celebrated a great regular season by beating Florida in the Sugar Bowl, 33-23! Teddy Bridgewater is consider to be one of the best QB in the country and two of his receivers (WR DeVanta Parker & TE Gerald Christian) are thought of as the best in the AAC @ their positions! That said, I do not believe Louisville’s roster is better or even as good as Florida’s, yet they clearly have a better chance of finishing the season ranked higher then the Gators given their respective schedules!
8. Clemson: Talent everywhere… heart nowhere…. Sad to say this has been Clemson’s legacy in rescent years. One would often hear how the Tigers have SEC talent and then … year after year, they would go out and underachieve (2007 6-6, 2008 5-7, 2009 4-8, 2010 7-6, 2011 7-6). Last year, they beat everyone on their schedule that they were better than, but stumbled in games where their roster gave them little, if any, advantage; losses to Florida State, 49-37 & In-State Rival, South Carolina, 27-17 are prime examples. Well … this is a new year, Clemson opens its season vs Georgia, a win here and the sky has no limit, a loss …. (The reality… Georgia can lose this game and recover all the way to the BCS National Championship Game … win the SEC & your in Baby, Clemson cannot lose this game and get to the BCS Championship Game…the ACC Champion does not have the power to leap frog a one loss team from the PAC 10, Big 12 or Big Ten) This one game will determine Clemson’s BCS National Championship asperations, as, even if they were to beat FSU & South Carolina later in the season, it would not be enough … close … but no cigar! To finish ranked one or two; Clemson needs to be perfect! It may not be fair … but it is real!
7. Texas A&M: Kevin Sumlin (11-2 1st year @ A&M…46-19 overall) is fast becoming a college football household name, his ability to adjust points of emphasis in his offense to accent his quarterbacks skill sets are most impressive! Case Keenum & Johnny Manziel are little, to nothing, alike, yet they both have thrived in Sumlin’s offense schemes. The question we all have for /about A&M is … Now that SEC teams are fully cognizant of how good Manziel & A&M are … What happens this year? Do the Aggies keep on marching or is Mike Leech (former Texas Tech Coach) right about A&M when he implied ( If that’s a Military school then I’ m a pirate… Leech’s reference to being a pirate is related to Texas Tech being known as the Red Raiders with a pirate as their mascot … so … I think if is fair to say Leech was somewhat skaptical of A&M being anything like West Point… Pretty funny) or do SEC defenses adjust and put A&M back to the perception of when they came into the SEC ….. being, a Big 12 team, that can’t play “Big Boy Football” and ain’t marching anywhere! The answer to this question should/will be one of the top stories of the 2013 season! All this subject to and provided by the fact that Manziel is with us this season!!!
6. South Carolina: If I were asked which coach from the SEC Media Days is a “must see” … not close … it is/would be the “Ole Balll Coach”! Steve Spurrier has become the Richard Pryor/ Bill Murray of the SEC with his down home wit and his subliminal sarcasm of any and all things. His record is 66-37 @ USC and 208-77-2 overall, a winning percentage far above what the Gamecocks were achieving prior to his arriaval in Columbia! South Carolina may have the best, certainly the most feared, player in all of college football in Jadeveon Clowney, a ferocious pass rusher. Just ask Vincent Smith of Michigan if you have doubts about Clowney’s ability to get off the LOS and into the backfied with a suddeness not seen anywhere else in the country! South Carolina has a tough opening to the 2013 season, as they take on UNC @ home, at Georgia in week two & Vandy in week three! Their next two biggest challenges are at home vs Florida & Clemson! The good news for SC is they avoid Bama, LSU & Texas A&M in their crossover games vs the SEC West. If the Gamecocks survive the first three weeks of the season, they will be ranked in the Top 5!
!
Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Subscribe