2021 CFP SEASON PREVIEW AUTUMN 11

Projected Final 2021 SEC Standings
West SEC OVR East SEC OVR
1 Alabama 8-0 12-0 1 Georgia 8-0 11-1
2 LSU 6-2 10-2 2 Kentucky 6-2 10-2
3 Texas A&M 6-2 10-2 3 Florida 5-3 9-3
4 Ole Miss 5-3 9-3 4 Missouri 3-5 6-6
5 Auburn 3-5 6-6 5 South Carolina 2-6 5-7
6 Arkansas 2-6 5-7 6 Tennessee 1-7 4-8
7 Mississippi State 1-7 4-8 7 Vanderbilt 0-8 3-9
SPIN
Birmingham, AL – Alabama and Georgia will not only have the best defenses in the SEC but the entire
country besides Clemson. Alabama and Georgia are just about even across the board on offense and
defense. Georgia has a better running back room but with all the injuries to the receivers, Alabama will
be in better shape for the regular season. Georgia will lose their opener to Clemson for that reason but if
George Pickens returns from injury in time for the SEC Championship, this will finally be the year that
Georgia beats Alabama to win the SEC and advance to the College Football Playoff. The Dawgs have
lost six in a row to Alabama dating back to 2008. Two of those losses were in the SEC Championship and
one was to determine the national champion. Georgia has made the SECCG three of the last four years
with their lone victory coming over Auburn in 2017, which is the year they lost to Alabama in the CFP.
Alabama has lost too much production on offense from last year to be come close to matching the 2020
offense. Nick Saban is used to members of his staff moving on for bigger coaching roles on an annual
basis. This offseason had more departures than normal: OC Steve Sarkisian, RB/assistant to HC Charles
Huff, OL Kyle Flood, special teams coord/TE Jeff Banks, assistant to HC Butch Jones, defensive analyst
Charlie Strong, and strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran left to coach special teams for
Georgia. Last year I had Alabama and Texas A&M in the CFP. Notre Dame kept A&M out. This year,
Texas A&M will have a top ten defense, but the Aggies lost four offensive linemen to the NFL which is
why I have them losing to Alabama and LSU. Ole Miss will have a great offense, maybe the best in the
SEC, but there is no sign that the defense is going to improve. Harsin is inheriting a good team that
should make a bowl game. Arkansas is a victim of their schedule which is why they will not make a bowl
unless they upset Texas or beat Auburn like they should have last season. Looking at the East, Florida
will not be the same on offense but the defense should be better. Emory Jones could enter the Heisman
discussion if things go Florida’s way. Unfortunately, I have them losing to Kentucky who will be the
surprise team in the SEC because of their QB, RB and OL. Kentucky’s two losses will be LSU and Georgia.
However, Florida will beat LSU. Missouri will make a bowl despite losing their best players, RB Larry
Rountree and LB Nick Bolton.
Twitter @Autumn_Eleven