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Kirby Smart said it best earlier this summer in response to Dan Mullen's plethora of playful shots at Georgia.
"I just don't know that there is a lot that we control by the words we say," Smart said. "Football so much to me is played between the lines and the physicality of the people that play it."
Much like preseason predictions from those who don't strap on a helmet and shoulder pads, take these picks as you may. Whether they're used for bulletin board fodder or I-told-you-so tweets during the season, these SEC prognostications are meant to warrant discussion and make you ponder arguments outside of the norm.
Some predictions are bolder than others, but here are 10 picks that could surprise in the SEC this season:
10. MIZZOU IS A TOP 10 TEAM IN NOVEMBER
It'll only last a week, but the Tigers will be ranked inside the Top 10 at 8-0 following a win over Kentucky on Oct. 26, heading into a mammoth showdown vs. Georgia in Athens coming out of their bye week in November. Courtesy of the SEC's softest schedules next fall, Mizzou will take full advantage of a favorable slate with Clemson transfer Kelly Bryant at quarterback and benefit from a five-week stretch of home games from Sept. 7 to Oct. 12. They'll flounder down the stretch, but the Tigers will be 2019's Kentucky from last season. With the current Vegas win total at 6.5 for Mizzou, get in quickly and buy low.
9. ARKANSAS GOES BOWLING
Arkansas will be a much-improved football team in 2019, largely due to better quarterback play, an underrated rushing attack and immediate impact newcomers at wideout. In other words, expect Chad Morris' offense to take a substantial step forward after a two-win disaster. Road games at Ole Miss and Kentucky are the two swing contests that will dictate whether the Razorbacks finish 6-6 or worse. Win both of those, sweep the cupcake non-conference slate and there's your bowl berth. My take on the Razorbacks' potential bowl hopes this season and projected hot start in September can be heard, here.
8. KENTUCKY MISSES A BOWL GAME AFTER 10 WINS
First, Kentucky veteran linebacker Kash Daniel has something to say about the onslaught of less-than-positive preseason projections involving his Wildcats this season: "They're just a bunch of jackasses, who cares," Daniel said this month. "ESPN, CBS, NBC, I don't care. The season starts in August and we'll see how it goes."
I'm not high on Kentucky either and attributing it to substantial personnel losses, faltering hopes in quarterback Terry Wilson and an opening SEC stretch on the schedule that will put Mark Stoops' team against the wall early. Kentucky's 5-year winning streak vs. South Carolina will end, chalk the Florida game to the Gators with the revenge factor setting in and the road trip to Starkville will be a challenge. That leaves the biggest shock of all — a home loss to Arkansas — as the potential head-scratcher this fall that may keep the Wildcats out of the postseason.
7. THE SEC PRODUCES TWO HEISMAN FINALISTS
Tua Tagovailoa has to be a Heisman finalist lock as a junior after finishing second to Kyler Murray last fall, right? The other pick here is Georgia's Jake Fromm, who should take the next step as one of college football's top passers. He rarely gets the credit he deserves in the quarterback conversation nationally, but that'll change this season when he does more with less after losing top receiver Jeremiah Holloman this summer. At times, Fromm will shoulder the offensive burden for the Bulldogs, who I expect to reach the College Football Playoff despite a litany of reasons — schedule toughness, personnel departures at the skill spots — why they should not. Both of these quarterbacks should pass the 3,000-yard, 30-touchdown plateau this season as leaders of two Top 5 teams throughout.
6. GUS MALZAHN IS SEC'S ONLY DEPARTING COACH
With Gus Malzahn's buyout considerable, it wouldn't have made much sense financially to pull the plug on his regime at the end of last season for the Tigers' power brass. But will eight wins (or worse) for a preseason Top 25 team be enough for Malzahn to keep his job on the Plains after the 2019 season? The added role of play-caller may help, but Auburn feels like it is stuck in a strange realm of not knowing who it wants to be right now. Beginning with the opener vs. Oregon (in Dallas) and culminating with the Iron Bowl showdown vs. Alabama, Auburn's 2019 schedule is filled with potential potholes. Say the Tigers lose both of those matchups vs. Top 10 teams — do you think Malzahn can scrap and claw his way to eight wins over the 10 contests in-between? That slate includes road trips to LSU, Florida and Texas A&M as well as tough games on the Plains vs. Georgia and Mississippi State. This is not the season the Tigers compete for a crown in the SEC West. The schedule doesn't set up for it, even if Auburn is solid at the quarterback spot and improved offensively.
5. SOUTH CAROLINA ENDS SKID VS. TOP 25 TEAMS
Will Muschamp has lost 10 straight games against nationally-ranked teams with the Gamecocks, dating back to his first season in 2016. Facing the nation's toughest schedule this fall with as many as six matchups vs. Top 25 competition, it's not far-fetched to think South Carolina prevails in at least one of those contests, right? Muschamp says this will be the best team he's had in Columbia and that he expects the Gamecocks to be formidable. The victory may not come against Alabama, Georgia or Clemson, but Florida and Texas A&M are winnable games for a team led by senior quarterback Jake Bentley and a few elite players on defense.
4. JIM CHANEY IS SEC'S TOP (NEW) ASSISTANT
There's nowhere to go but up for the Vols offensively and Chaney is the right man for the job. With the help of first-year Tennessee assistant Tee Martin, Chaney should help Tennessee excel in the primary area the program has been lacking in recent years — quarterback. The Vols have weapons at the skill position, but there's uncertainty on whether rising junior Jarrett Guarantano is the long-term difference maker under center. Tennessee has ranked dead-last in the SEC the past two seasons in total offense, but the Vols will jump several spots in that category and get to a bowl game this season with Chaney's help offensively. I'll even go one step further and project Tennessee to hit the over with eight regular-season wins this fall. Chaney will be a major part of that.
3. LSU, TEXAS A&M DECIDES SEC WEST RUNNER-UP
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This one's not a huge limb, but one of these teams is going to win 10 games this season and reach the New Year's Six as the SEC's third-best team. Considering Texas A&M's preseason win total of 7.5, the Aggies would be the bigger surprise. By most accounts, they face the second toughest schedule in the conference behind South Carolina and are one of only two teams nationally who will play Alabama, Georgia and Clemson this season. This regular-season finale in Baton Rouge will be seismic should both teams come in ranked inside the Top 10 with a major bowl invite on the line in front of the selection committee.
2. FLORIDA BEATS GEORGIA, DOESN'T WIN EAST
I initially made this pick back in January and I'm sticking to it for the lightweight upset prediction in the East. Honestly, it won't be all that surprising since both teams should be inside the Top 10 when this matchup comes around in November. The Gators' schedule isn't going to do them any favors, however. Florida will come into the Cocktail Party with at least one SEC loss (Auburn, LSU, South Carolina three straight weeks pre-Georgia) and then face enormous pressure at Mizzou on Nov. 16 after beating the Bulldogs to potentially clinch the East. Somehow, Florida will finish 6-2 in SEC play and miss out on a trip to Atlanta despite beating the eventual division champs. Another 10-win season for Dan Mullen, perhaps 11 if the Gators care about their postseason game in the New Year's Six. This is undoubtedly the most important game on Florida's schedule.
1. NICK SABAN SUFFERS FIRST LOSS TO FORMER ASSISTANT
The six-time national champion has never tasted defeat against a former assistant, an unprecedented mark that could reach 20 games this fall should Alabama meet Georgia as an unbeaten in the SEC Championship Game. But will it? I have a feeling the 2019 season will be a strange one for the Bulldogs, who will be 11-1 (with a loss to Florida) and playing for a spot in the Playoff vs. the Crimson Tide in Atlanta. After coming up a couple plays short the past two games in the budding rivalry, Georgia will end Saban's streak in December to win the SEC, but could wind up playing the Crimson Tide again in the Playoff.
"I just don't know that there is a lot that we control by the words we say," Smart said. "Football so much to me is played between the lines and the physicality of the people that play it."
Much like preseason predictions from those who don't strap on a helmet and shoulder pads, take these picks as you may. Whether they're used for bulletin board fodder or I-told-you-so tweets during the season, these SEC prognostications are meant to warrant discussion and make you ponder arguments outside of the norm.
Some predictions are bolder than others, but here are 10 picks that could surprise in the SEC this season:
10. MIZZOU IS A TOP 10 TEAM IN NOVEMBER
It'll only last a week, but the Tigers will be ranked inside the Top 10 at 8-0 following a win over Kentucky on Oct. 26, heading into a mammoth showdown vs. Georgia in Athens coming out of their bye week in November. Courtesy of the SEC's softest schedules next fall, Mizzou will take full advantage of a favorable slate with Clemson transfer Kelly Bryant at quarterback and benefit from a five-week stretch of home games from Sept. 7 to Oct. 12. They'll flounder down the stretch, but the Tigers will be 2019's Kentucky from last season. With the current Vegas win total at 6.5 for Mizzou, get in quickly and buy low.
9. ARKANSAS GOES BOWLING
Arkansas will be a much-improved football team in 2019, largely due to better quarterback play, an underrated rushing attack and immediate impact newcomers at wideout. In other words, expect Chad Morris' offense to take a substantial step forward after a two-win disaster. Road games at Ole Miss and Kentucky are the two swing contests that will dictate whether the Razorbacks finish 6-6 or worse. Win both of those, sweep the cupcake non-conference slate and there's your bowl berth. My take on the Razorbacks' potential bowl hopes this season and projected hot start in September can be heard, here.
8. KENTUCKY MISSES A BOWL GAME AFTER 10 WINS
First, Kentucky veteran linebacker Kash Daniel has something to say about the onslaught of less-than-positive preseason projections involving his Wildcats this season: "They're just a bunch of jackasses, who cares," Daniel said this month. "ESPN, CBS, NBC, I don't care. The season starts in August and we'll see how it goes."
I'm not high on Kentucky either and attributing it to substantial personnel losses, faltering hopes in quarterback Terry Wilson and an opening SEC stretch on the schedule that will put Mark Stoops' team against the wall early. Kentucky's 5-year winning streak vs. South Carolina will end, chalk the Florida game to the Gators with the revenge factor setting in and the road trip to Starkville will be a challenge. That leaves the biggest shock of all — a home loss to Arkansas — as the potential head-scratcher this fall that may keep the Wildcats out of the postseason.
7. THE SEC PRODUCES TWO HEISMAN FINALISTS
Tua Tagovailoa has to be a Heisman finalist lock as a junior after finishing second to Kyler Murray last fall, right? The other pick here is Georgia's Jake Fromm, who should take the next step as one of college football's top passers. He rarely gets the credit he deserves in the quarterback conversation nationally, but that'll change this season when he does more with less after losing top receiver Jeremiah Holloman this summer. At times, Fromm will shoulder the offensive burden for the Bulldogs, who I expect to reach the College Football Playoff despite a litany of reasons — schedule toughness, personnel departures at the skill spots — why they should not. Both of these quarterbacks should pass the 3,000-yard, 30-touchdown plateau this season as leaders of two Top 5 teams throughout.
6. GUS MALZAHN IS SEC'S ONLY DEPARTING COACH
With Gus Malzahn's buyout considerable, it wouldn't have made much sense financially to pull the plug on his regime at the end of last season for the Tigers' power brass. But will eight wins (or worse) for a preseason Top 25 team be enough for Malzahn to keep his job on the Plains after the 2019 season? The added role of play-caller may help, but Auburn feels like it is stuck in a strange realm of not knowing who it wants to be right now. Beginning with the opener vs. Oregon (in Dallas) and culminating with the Iron Bowl showdown vs. Alabama, Auburn's 2019 schedule is filled with potential potholes. Say the Tigers lose both of those matchups vs. Top 10 teams — do you think Malzahn can scrap and claw his way to eight wins over the 10 contests in-between? That slate includes road trips to LSU, Florida and Texas A&M as well as tough games on the Plains vs. Georgia and Mississippi State. This is not the season the Tigers compete for a crown in the SEC West. The schedule doesn't set up for it, even if Auburn is solid at the quarterback spot and improved offensively.
5. SOUTH CAROLINA ENDS SKID VS. TOP 25 TEAMS
Will Muschamp has lost 10 straight games against nationally-ranked teams with the Gamecocks, dating back to his first season in 2016. Facing the nation's toughest schedule this fall with as many as six matchups vs. Top 25 competition, it's not far-fetched to think South Carolina prevails in at least one of those contests, right? Muschamp says this will be the best team he's had in Columbia and that he expects the Gamecocks to be formidable. The victory may not come against Alabama, Georgia or Clemson, but Florida and Texas A&M are winnable games for a team led by senior quarterback Jake Bentley and a few elite players on defense.
4. JIM CHANEY IS SEC'S TOP (NEW) ASSISTANT
There's nowhere to go but up for the Vols offensively and Chaney is the right man for the job. With the help of first-year Tennessee assistant Tee Martin, Chaney should help Tennessee excel in the primary area the program has been lacking in recent years — quarterback. The Vols have weapons at the skill position, but there's uncertainty on whether rising junior Jarrett Guarantano is the long-term difference maker under center. Tennessee has ranked dead-last in the SEC the past two seasons in total offense, but the Vols will jump several spots in that category and get to a bowl game this season with Chaney's help offensively. I'll even go one step further and project Tennessee to hit the over with eight regular-season wins this fall. Chaney will be a major part of that.
3. LSU, TEXAS A&M DECIDES SEC WEST RUNNER-UP
This one's not a huge limb, but one of these teams is going to win 10 games this season and reach the New Year's Six as the SEC's third-best team. Considering Texas A&M's preseason win total of 7.5, the Aggies would be the bigger surprise. By most accounts, they face the second toughest schedule in the conference behind South Carolina and are one of only two teams nationally who will play Alabama, Georgia and Clemson this season. This regular-season finale in Baton Rouge will be seismic should both teams come in ranked inside the Top 10 with a major bowl invite on the line in front of the selection committee.
2. FLORIDA BEATS GEORGIA, DOESN'T WIN EAST
I initially made this pick back in January and I'm sticking to it for the lightweight upset prediction in the East. Honestly, it won't be all that surprising since both teams should be inside the Top 10 when this matchup comes around in November. The Gators' schedule isn't going to do them any favors, however. Florida will come into the Cocktail Party with at least one SEC loss (Auburn, LSU, South Carolina three straight weeks pre-Georgia) and then face enormous pressure at Mizzou on Nov. 16 after beating the Bulldogs to potentially clinch the East. Somehow, Florida will finish 6-2 in SEC play and miss out on a trip to Atlanta despite beating the eventual division champs. Another 10-win season for Dan Mullen, perhaps 11 if the Gators care about their postseason game in the New Year's Six. This is undoubtedly the most important game on Florida's schedule.
1. NICK SABAN SUFFERS FIRST LOSS TO FORMER ASSISTANT
The six-time national champion has never tasted defeat against a former assistant, an unprecedented mark that could reach 20 games this fall should Alabama meet Georgia as an unbeaten in the SEC Championship Game. But will it? I have a feeling the 2019 season will be a strange one for the Bulldogs, who will be 11-1 (with a loss to Florida) and playing for a spot in the Playoff vs. the Crimson Tide in Atlanta. After coming up a couple plays short the past two games in the budding rivalry, Georgia will end Saban's streak in December to win the SEC, but could wind up playing the Crimson Tide again in the Playoff.
