2009 SEC Eastern Division Predictions

25 Jun

Now that some time has passed for those who read my SEC Western Division Predictions, now I will take a look at the SEC Eastern Division. Home to the reigning SEC and national champion Florida Gators. As I did with the West I will start from the team who finished last in the division last year and work my way up to the champions.

Kentucky Wildcats: Last Year (7-6, 2-6)

2009 Schedule (Prediction 6-6, 2-6)

9/5 vs. Miami (OH) (Cincinnati) W
9/19 vs. Louisville W
9/26 vs. Florida L
10/3 vs. Alabama L
10/10 at South Carolina L
10/17 at Auburn L
10/24 vs. LA-Monroe W
10/31 vs. Mississippi St. W
11/7 vs. Eastern Kentucky W
11/14 at Vanderbilt W
11/21 at Georgia L
11/28 vs. Tennessee L

Kentucky will be a team that will be the embodiment of “always a bridesmaid never a bride”. They have the ability and the coach to pull off more wins, but a rough stretch of games starting on September 26 with Florida will derail Kentucky’s season. It would not surprise me if they did pull off a upset against Alabama or Florida (before you laugh remember #1 LSU went down in Lexington in 2007 and a week later Florida almost did as well). But when push comes to shove I don’t see it happening. A key game for the Wildcats will be the game at Auburn, both teams will be looking for wins where ever they can get them. Still I do see them continuing their bowl bid streak into 2009.

Tennessee Volunteers: Last Year (5-7, 3-5)

2009 Schedule (Prediction 6-6, 3-5)

9/5 vs. Western Kentucky W
9/12 vs. UCLA L
9/19 at Florida L
9/26 vs. Ohio W
10/3 vs. Auburn W
10/10 vs. Georgia L
10/24 at Alabama L
10/31 vs. South Carolina L
11/7 vs. Memphis W
11/14 at Ole Miss L
11/21 vs. Vanderbilt W
11/28 at Kentucky W

Tennessee should have a interesting year, I think of ups and downs. Lane Kiffin’s mouth and coaching ability will be put to the test early with three tough games out of the first five. UCLA I think will get the home and home sweep due to a better coaching matchup, but Tennessee has the better talent, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they did win. The key will be how will this team react to a schedule that probably doesn’t allow for more than 7 wins right now. Can they hold it together or will they fold it in like they did last year. My sense is no, I do think Lane Kiffin’s first year will be somewhat of a success, if you define success as getting a bowl bid.

South Carolina: Last Year (7-6, 4-4)

2009 Schedule (Prediction 7-5, 3-5)

9/3 at NC State W
9/12 at Georgia L
9/19 vs. Florida Atlantic W
9/24 vs. Ole Miss L
10/3 vs. SC State W
10/10 vs. Kentucky W
10/17 at Alabama L
10/24 vs. Vanderbilt W
10/31 at Tennessee W
11/7 at Arkansas L
11/14 vs. Florida L
11/28 vs. Clemson W

Steve Spurrier’s frustration with South Carolina, I believe (unfortunately) will continue. It is just difficult to compete at the level of the Floridas and Alabamas of the SEC at South Carolina. However, I do think the schedule has plenty of wiggle room for them to have no fewer than 7 wins, with the possibility of reaching as many as 9. The key will be can Coach Spurrier finally get enough consistency out of the quarterback position for them to be effective. None the less they should receive a bowl bid without much difficulty.

Vanderbilt Commodores: Last Year (7-6, 4-4)

2009 Schedule (Prediction 4-8, 1-7)

9/5 vs. Western Carolina W
9/12 at LSU L
9/19 vs. Mississippi St. W
9/26 at Rice W
10/3 vs. Ole Miss L
10/10 at Army W
10/17 vs. Georgia L
10/24 at South Carolina L
10/31 vs. Georgia Tech L
11/7 at Florida L
11/14 vs. Kentucky L
11/21 at Tennessee L

First off all, how awesome was it to see Vanderbilt have a season they had last year. However, I hope they remember it throughout the year because I don’t see a repeat of it. Vanderbilt was the benefactor of several teams in the SEC being down, and to their credit they took advantage of it and won enough to get a bowl bid and win the bowl game. With that being said the SEC will not be as erractic in the middle as it was last year. I don’t see more than four wins for the “Dores”. You never know though, I didn’t think they would win 6 games last year, and they won 7.

Georgia Bulldogs: Last Year (10-3, 6-2)

2009 Schedule (Prediction: 11-1, 7-1)

9/5 at Oklahoma St. W
9/12 vs. South Carolina W
9/19 at Arkansas W
9/26 vs. Arizona St. W
10/3 vs. LSU W
10/10 at Tennessee W
10/17 at Vanderbilt W
10/31 vs. Florida (Jacksonville) L
11/7 vs. TN Tech W
11/14 vs. Auburn W
11/21 vs. Kentucky W
11/28 at Georgia Tech W

I know everyone is saying that this is the #1 schedule in the country, but in my opinion the shedule looks tougher than it really is. Not to say it will be easy, but it is manageable. Two games are key, the LSU game and the Florida game. I think they get by LSU in a tight game, but win due to it being at home. But I think Tim Tebow will knock them off in the Florida/Georgia Game (or “World Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”). Georgia will have a great season and probably get themselves in position for a possible BCS berth.

Florida Gators: Last Year (13-1, 7-1, Won SEC Championship Game)
**Defending SEC Champion**

2009 Schedule (Prediction: 12-0, 8-0)

9/5 vs. Charleston So. W
9/12 vs. Troy W
9/19 vs. Tennessee W
9/26 at Kentucky W
10/10 at LSU W
10/17 vs. Arkansas W
10/24 at Mississippi St. W
10/31 vs. Georgia (Jacksonville) W
11/7 vs. Vanderbilt W
11/14 at South Carolina W
11/21 vs. FL International W
11/28 vs. Florida St. W

Two words, Tim Tebow. Enough said. I witnessed the specialness of him first hand when I saw him from the upper deck in the Georgia Dome will his team to victory over Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. I have said this to many people, I just he was made to be a winner, pure and simple. There will be tough games, but there is no way Tebow will let his team not go to Atlanta for his farewell season as a Gator.

So to recap quickly:

Florida (12-0, 8-0)
Georgia (11-1, 7-1)
South Carolina (7-5, 3-5)
Tennessee (6-6, 3-5)
Kentucky (6-6, 2-6)
Vanderbilt (4-8, 1-7)

So 2 + 2 this year will equal a rematch for the SEC Championship between Alabama and Florida, of course this is just my prediction. I will not hazard a guess on who will win the game, because even though it is just one additional game, one week later than the latest games I predicted, things can happen. This could all blow up in my face if Alabama loses to Virginia Tech on September 5th or if Georgia upsets Florida on Halloween. These are my predictions do with them as you please.

I’m sure there are some people that think I’m nuts or like what I have to say, anyway if you want to comment email me at alleningamenow@gmail.com