2013 SEC Football Odds and Predictions – Preseason SEC College Football Rankings: The SEC has dominated college football for almost a decade, and the conference didn’t disappoint in 2012. Not only did Alabama notch the seventh straight national title for the SEC, but Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel gave the conference its third Heisman Trophy winner in the last four years. Throw in some epic battles that included Texas A&M’s upset of Alabama and Alabama’s comeback wins against LSU and against Georgia in the SEC title game, and calling 2012 a banner year for the SEC is more than appropriate. With six teams set to open 2013 ranked in or around the top 10, more of the same could be on tap this season. On that note, here is a look at how the best teams in the SEC stack up.
The Favorites
The Alabama Crimson Tide have won three of the last four national titles, including two straight, so it goes without saying that they are among the favorites in their own conference. This year’s loaded squad is led by quarterback A.J. McCarron on offense and linebacker C.J. Mosley on defense. McCarron has already guided the Crimson Tide to a pair of titles, and he led the country in passing efficiency in 2012. Meanwhile, Mosley was named team MVP last year, and he is just one of several playmakers for a defense that has ranked either first or second in most major categories the past couple of years. Throw in an explosive group of receivers, 1,000-yard rusher T.J. Yeldon and the top recruiting class in the country, and an SEC title could be just the beginning.
They came up just one play shy of winning the SEC title game and playing for a national championship in 2012, but the Georgia Bulldogs have the pieces in place to make another run. Leading the way is quarterback Aaron Murray, who has thrown for more than 10,000 yards in his collegiate career already. He is supported by a two-headed monster at running back in Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley that combined for more than 2,000 yards last year along with an offensive line that returns all five starters. Even though the defense lost linebacker Jarvis Jones and some other playmakers, the Bulldogs’ scoring punch gives them a leg up in the SEC East with the inside track back to the conference title game.
The Other Contenders
Although key losses on the defensive side of the ball aren’t ideal, the Texas A&M Aggies welcome Heisman Trophy-winning QB Johnny Manziel to the conference’s most explosive offense. Manziel’s dual-threat ability makes him a nightmare matchup for defenses, and he is a big reason why the Aggies went into Tuscaloosa and knocked off the eventual national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. That being said, life in the SEC West is never easy, and a rematch against Alabama early in the year and a road trip to Death Valley to take on the LSU Tigers near the end of the year will likely be the determining factors in whether or not Texas A&M has another impressive year or a special one.
Coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons, the South Carolina Gamecocks have been on the doorstep of an SEC title for the past several years. With the star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney leading a stout defense, they should be right back in the thick of things in 2013. Of course, defense hasn’t been an issue for the Gamecocks in recent years. If South Carolina is going to get over the hump, it will have to get consistent play from either Connor Shaw or Dylan Thompson under center. On the plus side, the Gamecocks do dodge SEC West powers Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M so the schedule is manageable by SEC standards.
If not for the Alabama Crimson Tide, the LSU Tigers might have built a dynasty of their own the past two years, but instead, Les Miles’ bunch has been on the wrong end of some big games. However, LSU figures to give Alabama and the rest of the SEC a run for its money once again in 2013 with a loaded group of running backs fueling a punishing ground game. A talented but somewhat inexperienced defense should take care of its business, and if quarterback Zach Mettenberger can step up in big games, there is no reason LSU can’t emerge from the SEC.
The Sleeper
Despite an offense that looked inept at times, the Florida Gators went to a BCS bowl last season. Thanks to an elite defense and a special teams unit that can both put points on the board, the Gators could contend in the SEC again in 2013 despite losing workhorse back Mike Gillislee Ultimately, dual-threat QB Jeff Driskel will have to find a way to make the offense somewhat respectable for Florida to conquer the loaded SEC, but the defense alone should give them a puncher’s chance in every game.
2013 NCAA Conference Odds – SEC
Odds to win SEC – 2013 College Football
1121 Alabama -125
1122 Arkansas +5000
1123 Auburn +7500
1124 Florida +800
1125 Georgia +300
1126 Kentucky +10000
1127 LSU +650
1128 Mississippi State +5000
1129 Missouri +5000
1130 Ole Miss +5000
1131 South Carolina +500
1132 Tennessee +2500
1133 Texas A&M +650
1134 Vanderbilt +10000
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