Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been taking a closer look into the SEC. We looked at the biggest storylines of fall practice, took a look at the QB battles, and even took a fun shot at predicting each SEC teams’ season by way of song. Now it’s time to look at how each team, yes every team, can make the SEC Championship Game.
SEC EAST
In order for the Florida Gators to make a trip to Atlanta this year….
-The John Brantley that was supposed to show up last year shows up this year.
-Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey have their best years as collegians and neither misses a game.
-Florida finds a go-to receiver a la Riley Cooper or Dallas Baker.
-In general, the Charlie Weis hire is looked back on after the season as a “home run”
-The Florida defense is closer to the 2008 and 2009 teams than the 2010 version.
-Florida continues it’s winning ways over Georgia and gets revenge against South Carolina.
In order for the Georgia Bulldogs to make a trip to Atlanta this year (other than Boise State)…
-The OL must make it through the season relatively injury free.
-The DL must show significant improvement and win battles at the line of scrimmage.
-The changes in the Strength & Conditioning program pay big dividends on the field.
-Orson Charles becomes one of the top weapons in the SEC and is a difference maker.
-Isaiah Crowell or Richard Samuel step up and become a solid SEC running back.
-The Georgia LB Corps lives up to it’s potential and Alec Ogletree has an All-SEC season.
-Georgia gets over the hump against Florida in Gainesville Jacksonville.
In order for the Kentucky Wildcats to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-Randall Cobb leaves Green Bay and is declared eligible for his senior season at Kentucky.
-Randall Cobb then wins the Heisman Trophy.
-Morgan Newton channels his inner Andre’ Woodson from 2007.
-Kentucky sweeps their games against Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
-Joker Phillips develops a cloning device and Danny Trevathan is able to play both outside linebacker positions and middle linebacker simultaneously.
In order for the South Carolina Gamecocks to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffrey must remain injury free and equal their production from last year.
-Stephan Garcia does not implode and Spurrier doesn’t make any crazy QB decisions.
-The DL lives up to expectations and the defensive backfield makes significant improvement from last year.
-South Carolina beats Georgia to start off the SEC season.
-The Gamecocks win in Arkansas on November 5th.
In order for the Tennessee Volunteers to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-Tyler Bray plays the entire season like he did against Memphis and Ole Miss last year.
-Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers become the best 1-2 receiver combo in the SEC outside of Arkansas.
-Janzen Jackson channels his inner Eric Berry and becomes the best defensive player in the SEC.
-The DL shuts down the run on a consistent basis.
-The Vols win four out of their first five SEC games (at Florida, Georgia, LSU, at Bama, South Carolina).
In order for the Vanderbilt Commodores to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-The rest of the SEC East is put on probation and declared ineligible to play in any bowl or championship games.
SEC WEST
In order for the Alabama Crimson Tide to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-The winner of the QB battle puts up solid numbers and doesn’t turn the ball over.
-The defense lives up to it’s potential and makes opponents one dimensional.
-Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy provide a rushing tandem reminiscient of the Ingram/Richardson duo of 2009.
-The T-Town Menswear controversy goes away very quietly.
-Duron Carter makes an impact at WR and becomes a go-to receiver.
In order for the Arkansas Razorbacks to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-Tyler Wilson is the real deal.
-Ronnie Wingo and/or Dennis Johnson step up and replace the lost production of Knile Davis.
-The Arkansas defense continues to make year over year improvement but takes a huge step forward this year holding it’s opponents to under 20 points per game.
-Jake Bequette, Tramain Thomas and Jerry Franklin have their best years at Arkansas.
-The OL performs well and remains relatively injury free during the season.
-Bobby Petrino doesn’t panic and flee the state in the middle of the night to take a High School coaching job somewhere in Texas.
In order for the Auburn Tigers to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-Kiehl Frazier wins the QB job plays like he’s Cam Newton’s long lost brother.
-Emory Blake becomes the best WR in the SEC.
-Michael Dyer leads the league in rushing yardage and rushing TDs.
-The DL finds a way to equal the production lost when Nick Fairley went pro.
-The incoming freshman class makes the biggest impact of any freshman class in the Nation.
-Auburn wins at Arkansas, at LSU and beats Bama at home.
In order for the LSU Tigers to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-Jordan Jefferson or Zach Mettenberger give LSU a true play-maker at QB.
-John Chavis is able to maintain the defense at the same level as last year despite the loss of talent.
-LSU finds someone to fill the hole left by Stevan Ridley.
-Russell Shepard lives up to his potential and becomes one of the most dynamic receivers in the SEC.
-Les Miles wins two games that LSU has no business winning based on how the game was played on the field, just by being Les Miles.
In order for the Mississippi State Bulldogs to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-The defense doesn’t miss a beat despite the departure of Manny Diaz to Texas.
-Chris Relf becomes a more well-rounded QB and becomes a legitimate Heisman Contender.
-Vick Ballard bests his 20 TD rushing performance from last year.
-The Bulldogs start off their SEC Schedule 5-0 with wins over Auburn, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky.
-The play at Linebacker is the best in the conference.
-Mississippi State wins the close games it lost last year and beats LSU or Bama.
In order for the Ole Miss Rebels to make a trip to Atlanta this year…
-Ole Miss finds themselves a QB and he plays at an All-SEC level.
-The Ole Miss defense that was supposed to show up last year shows up this year.
-The Rebels flip the script on their turnover margin from last year.
-Brandon Bolden leads the SEC in rushing.
-Ole Miss fixes their propensity to give up the “big play” and becomes one of the top three teams in the SEC at not giving up plays of 20 yards or more.
-Hell freezes over.
Who is your team and what will it take for them to win their conference or get to their championship game?
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