- Alabama – I’m picking Alabama to win the SEC West until Alabama doesn’t win the SEC West. Sure, they’re going to lose a lot of great players from the National Championship 2015 team. Sure, they’re going to have to replace Jake Coker at quarterback, but I have a feeling Nick Saban and the offensive mastermind that he is will figure it out. Alabama has a solid SEC East test from Tennessee, but gets the Kentucky Wildcats in Tuscaloosa as their other Eastern Division opponent.
- Ole Miss – If Ole Miss can get out of the month of September with a winning record, they’ll have a shot to compete for the SEC West once again. The Rebels return the best quarterback in the SEC, and that will always give them a shot. Ole Miss will have to replace four contributors on the offensive line, but they bring in talented newcomers in Greg Little and Bryce Matthews that should see time there. Ole Miss has questions in the back end of the defense, but the defensive line should provide a strong presence and get pressure on the quarterback. If Chad Kelly plays like he did in 2015, or possibly even better, Ole Miss will be in the thick of things come November.
- LSU – The most talented team outside of the quarterback position in the SEC West. Unfortunately for LSU, their quarterback is still Brandon Harris. The Tigers don’t catch any breaks in the scheduling department either, as they’ll open the season in Wisconsin taking on the Badgers and will have to play in the Swamp in 2016. LSU had questions regarding the firing of Les Miles after the 2016 season, and unless there’s a huge improvement at the quarterback position, that question will come up again.
- Mississippi State – I like how Mississippi State’s schedule sets up. I understand that they’ve lost the best player to ever don maroon and white in Dak Prescott, but Dan Mullen has proven during his tenure that he turns out quality quarterback after quality quarterback. The early leader for the position of quarterback is Nick Fitzgerald, and while he probably won’t provide the legs that Prescott provided, he’ll be able to make the same type of throws. The Bulldogs get South Carolina from the East in the second game of the season, along with their permanent opponent Kentucky.
- Auburn – This is where it gets weird. I haven’t bought into Gus Malzahn, and I don’t think I will until he’s successful again. The 2013 season was blessed by God, and since then he’s fallen off. It looks like Jeremy Johnson is still competing to be the starting quarterback, unless newcomer John Franklin III takes over. If Johnson is the starter on the Plains, pray for Auburn.
- Texas A&M – Since Arkansas can’t beat Texas A&M, I’ll put them ahead of the Razorbacks. This is where I tell you that Kevin Sumlin isn’t that great of a coach, and this might be the year that Texas A&M implodes all over itself. Is losing two former five-star quarterbacks in a month good?
- Arkansas – I love Bert. I love him dearly. I think they will take a step back this year, as they lost their top four offensive playmakers in Brandon Allen, Jonathan Williams, Hunter Henry (oh, my heart hurts again) and Alex Collins. The Razorbacks will likely turn to redshirt junior Austin Allen, Brandon’s younger brother, at the quarterback position. The Razorbacks have a tough schedule as they have to play TCU in the non-conference and get Florida as their SEC East rotation game.
