2017 SEC Off-Season Thread

[cloverleaf]

SEC Media Picks

West: Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, Texas AM, Miss State, Ole Miss

East: Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, S. Carolina, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Missouri

I'm thinking Vanderbilt may be the surprise team in the conference. The Doars
are 26-14 ATS the past five years in SEC play. Definitely the best team Mason has
had going into his fourth season.

 

[rolltide]

As expected the SEC heavily populates the top 25 in Rivals' 5-year recruiting average. national ranking and 5-year recruiting ranking average below. 12 of SEC's 14 programs have rated inside top 25 in 5-yr recruiting


1) Bama = 1.2 avg
4) LSU = 5.8 avg
5) UGA = 7.8 avg
7) barn = 9.6 avg
9) aTm = 10.8 avg
10) Fla = 11.6 avg
12) Ten = 12.2 avg
16) Ole Miss = 18.8 avg
18) USCe = 19.0 avg
23) Miss St = 26.2 avg
T25) Arky = 27.2 avg
T25) UK = 27.2 avg


others:
38) Mizzou @39.2
45) Vandy @45.2

 

[CoachCB]

As expected the SEC heavily populates the top 25 in Rivals' 5-year recruiting average. national ranking and 5-year recruiting ranking average below. 12 of SEC's 14 programs have rated inside top 25 in 5-yr recruiting


1) Bama = 1.2 avg
4) LSU = 5.8 avg
5) UGA = 7.8 avg
7) barn = 9.6 avg
9) aTm = 10.8 avg
10) Fla = 11.6 avg
12) Ten = 12.2 avg
16) Ole Miss = 18.8 avg
18) USCe = 19.0 avg
23) Miss St = 26.2 avg
T25) Arky = 27.2 avg
T25) UK = 27.2 avg


others:
38) Mizzou @39.2
45) Vandy @45.2

And there lies the problem if your a UGA or lower ranked team fan. It's like the "team talent" stat, where they show your record vs. teams ranked higher or lower. Of course when Saban loses, he - pretty much - loses to a team ranked lower (in team talent rankings). And when you're ranked 5-15 spots ahead of the competition, you usually win.

SEC teams recruit very, very well....so if you look at those rankings everybody is competing for 2nd place. SEC teams need to either out-recruit, out-coach, or land a very, very dynamic QB...otherwise, it's Bama and the 13 stooges.

 

[CoachCB]

SEC Media Picks

West: Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, Texas AM, Miss State, Ole Miss

East: Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, S. Carolina, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Missouri

I'm thinking Vanderbilt may be the surprise team in the conference. The Doars
are 26-14 ATS the past five years in SEC play. Definitely the best team Mason has
had going into his fourth season.

I actually think UK is the "surprise" SEC East team. Having them ranked 5th is lazy voting my the SEC media. UK has a better team than South Carolina, and are arguably better coached. I'd have UK and UT tied at 3rd, w/ Vandy and SC tied at 4th (or Vandy slightly ahead).

 

[DeadLast]

I actually think UK is the "surprise" SEC East team.

I wouldn't be shocked if Ky finished 3rd or 4th in the East. Possibly even higher if they have improved QB play and are able to fill some holes on their D-line. They have a lot of things going for them - one of the best O-lines in the conference, decent backs and a ton of experience returning. Their D won't be great but they should be able to run the ball against almost everyone.

Another team that could surprise is Mo. Almost everyone is picking them last in the East. That could very well happen but I wouldn't bet against them winning a couple of conference games. They don't have SEC talent on D and will give up tons of points. But on O they have lots of returning experience. If last season is a decent indicator, they won't have trouble scoring against the also-rans on their schedule. The SEC is not a spread it out, throw it all over the field type conference so lining up against Mo will create unique match-ups for most.

Both Ky and Mo were involved in a lot of high scoring games last year and I expect that to continue. I would recommend checking the totals for these teams each week - could receive some decent value if Vegas is asleep at the wheel.

 

[rolltide]

Hugh Freeze is out. the early rumors is that he used a University supplied cell phone to call a hooker ...

probably BS about the hooker and will end up as retribution for constantly lying about cheating in recruiting but after the Mike Dubose / Mike Price / Bobby Petrino stuff i wouldn't be shocked

 

[CoachCB]

Hugh Freeze is out. the early rumors is that he used a University supplied cell phone to call a hooker ...

probably BS about the hooker and will end up as retribution for constantly lying about cheating in recruiting but after the Mike Dubose / Mike Price / Bobby Petrino stuff i wouldn't be shocked

Sounds like there's some truth to the "escort service" thing. It was Houston Nutt's lawyer that leaked it, after a Freedom of Information Act Request.

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/o...-university-issued-phone-call-escort-service/

 

[rolltide]

Sounds like there's some truth to the "escort service" thing. It was Houston Nutt's lawyer that leaked it, after a Freedom of Information Act Request.

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/o...-university-issued-phone-call-escort-service/

nutt buster

 

[rolltide]

BJ Emmons likely to transfer from Bama. He as consensus #1 or #2 RB in nation last year (2016 class) and played in 6 games before getting injured. Sounds like the need to rehab for a year coupled with the heavy Bama RB competition led him to transfer. Some decent players like Kamara and Dee went this route with success while most others, like Tenpenny and tyron, did not. Wish him the best. Dude is super talented

 

[WinOne]

Sounds like there's some truth to the "escort service" thing. It was Houston Nutt's lawyer that leaked it, after a Freedom of Information Act Request.

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/o...-university-issued-phone-call-escort-service/

Not that I do that but it's why I have 2 phones. My corporate phone and my personal phone. Same for credit cards, etc. That's just sloppy. I am guess he had a morals clause in his contract. Probably means he won't even get paid on the way out the door. Any idea why they were trying to dump on Coach Nutt.

 

[Well-Seasoned]

Les Miles is back in the SEC.............would be ironic considering LSU and Ole Miss are major rivals..............although I could see it happening

 

[CoachCB]

Florida loses Senior starting SS Marcel Harris to torn achilles tendon. Leading tackler last year. There's very likely going to be a true freshman starting in that secondary.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Florida gets a QB-verbal for 2018, Matt Corral. Probably means Fields is off the table, but either one of those guys would be a great addition. If both those guys ended up in the East.....

 

[CoachCB]

Florida gets a QB-verbal for 2018, Matt Corral. Probably means Fields is off the table, but either one of those guys would be a great addition. If both those guys ended up in the East.....

Big recruiting weekend for McElwain. Corral is the highest rated QB ever to commit to UF.

As far as Fields, I think he ends up at FSU - which sucks.

Florida also got a Safety, Randy Russell (had been committed to Miami), 4-star TE from up north (Pitts) and a 3-star south Florida TE.....and a couple of OL's. Pretty good weekend for McElwain.

 

[rolltide]

yeah that's a huge grab for Nuss and Mac. the pro player comparison for him is Brett Favre ... ridiculous arm (threw it 77 yards at Elite event) with a ridiculous ego

with Corral, Pitts, Clement, Copeland, Gammage, Dunlap, etc they could have the #1 offensive recruiting class in program history.

hopefully bama can get Petit-Frere otherwise he will be a Gator too.

hard to believe any Gators fans could be disappointed in b2b SEC title appearances and now some serious recruiting momentum. They have to stop the revolving door at QB but not much you could do about the Grier thing

 

[cloverleaf]

Florida loses Senior starting SS Marcel Harris to torn achilles tendon. Leading tackler last year. There's very likely going to be a true freshman starting in that secondary.

Not good coach....kid was a player!

 

[CoachCB]

UF just landed a WR out of Miami.....their 8th commit of the week. Class is now ranked in the top 10.

 

[cloverleaf]

Bump....best thread on RX!

 

[CoachCB]

I'm looking forward to watching this game after we kick Michigan's ass on Sept 2nd.... If I had to wager, I'm taking Bama in a very close game. Either way, it's going to be interesting to see how this game plays out.

This is a SEC Country (Alabama's page) article, from their perspective:

2017 Alabama football opponent preview and prediction: Florida State

https://www.seccountry.com/alabama/2017-alabama-football-opponent-preview-prediction-florida-state

Alabama vs. Florida State

• When: Saturday, Sept. 2
• Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ET
• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
• TV: ABC

FSU at a glance

• Coach: Jimbo Fisher
• 2016 record: 10-3, 5-3 ACC; beat Michigan 33-32 in Orange Bowl
• Last matchup vs. Alabama: Florida State won 21-14 in 2007 (later vacated)
• Returning starters: 20 (11 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams)

FSU players to watch

DERWIN JAMES | S
Derwin James is one of the top defensive backs and arguably one of the top players in the country.

He missed most of last season with a torn meniscus in his left knee, but as a true freshman in 2015 he made 91 tackles and 4.5 sacks for the Seminoles.

NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks called James a mix of former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster and former LSU safety Jamal Adams. Both players went in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The Crimson Tide offense will want to know where McFadden is at all times.

FSU QB Deondre Francois attended IMG Academy. (Florida State/courtesy)
DEONDRE FRANCOIS | QB
Deondre Francois showed a lot of toughness last season because he took a beating at times behind Florida State’s offensive line. Heading into his second year as starter, Francois should improve.

Francois threw for 3,350 yards and 20 touchdowns vs. 7 interceptions last season.

TARVARUS MCFADDEN | CB
Florida State has another top player in its secondary. Tarvarus McFadden led the ACC and finished tied for No. 1 in the nation with 8 interceptions.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts must be careful when throwing at McFadden.

Our take
This is an early candidate for the game of the year. Alabama and Florida State should both be ranked inside the top 5 in preseason polls, and both could be in the top 3.

Alabama thrives in these type of matchups. Nick Saban likes to schedule big-time season openers to give his team something to focus on during the offseason, and there are few opponents better than Jimbo Fisher’s Seminoles.

Saban and Fisher are two of the top coaches in the game, which makes for intriguing story lines. Fisher worked under Saban as offensive coordinator while at LSU. Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt held the same position at Florida State when the Seminoles won the national title in 2013. So both coaching staffs knows each other very well.

On the field, Alabama’s Jalen Hurts and Florida State’s Deondre Francois are two of the top young quarterbacks in college football.

Defensively, Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and Florida State’s Derwin James each have a case to be the best defensive back in college football.

This contest is full of NFL talent, elite coaching and passionate fans. We can’t wait for this clash.

Prediction
Alabama 27, Florida State 20

 

[cloverleaf]

FSU vs Bama will be a fun matchup to open the season.

I like Alabama simply because the Tide's defensive front will out play the Nole's weakness...

.....offensive line.