Getty Image / Lance King
For a while, we didn’t even know if we’d have college football at all this fall thanks to the coronavirus, but we’ve made it. While other conferences have already started their seasons, the SEC kicks off its season on Saturday signaling the official start of the 2020 college football campaign.
Just like the lead-up to the season, the regular season is going to be wildly unique. SEC teams won’t have an opportunity to play any tune-up games as each team will dive headfirst into a 10-game, conference only slate. We’re going to learn very quickly who the contenders and pretenders are in the Southeastern Conference.
With this season being surrounded by giant question marks, it’s safe to assume that we’re in store for some wildly unpredictable games and scenarios throughout the year. It’s only right we make five extremely bold predictions to stay on theme for what will be a wild SEC football season.
5. Alabama Goes A Perfect 10-0
While you could definitely argue that this isn’t a bold prediction – hence why it’s No. 5 on the list – we can’t discount the fact that Alabama lost a lot of talent this offseason, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Add that to the fact that this season is bound to be wildly unique given the circumstances, a team going unbeaten would be a tremendous feat, even for the oh so powerful Crimson Tide.
Nick Saban’s squad still has elite talent manning every position on the field and I think he is going to flex that muscle as we’ve never seen before in a shortened 10-game season where slip-ups simply won’t be acceptable in Tuscaloosa.
4. No More Than 1 Game is Canceled/Postponed
We’ve seen a number of games around the country postponed or canceled due to the virus and while it’s inevitable that we’ll see SEC players test positive during the season, I don’t think it’ll reach the point where more than one game will have to be postponed or canceled altogether. If one game is postponed I think the conference can make necessary adjustments.
The SEC has had a good handle on things leading up to the season, fingers crossed it can keep up the solid work and there are no major hiccups in the schedule. Plus, this is the SEC, as its motto goes: it just means more.
3. Auburn’s Bo Nix Will Be SEC Offensive Player Of The Year
Bo Nix played an extremely high-level last season as a true freshman winning nine games throwing for over 2,500 yards scoring 23 total touchdowns. Given that he’s got a year and a full offseason under his belt, the step that Nix could take toward becoming a truly elite quarterback could be gigantic.
Looking around the SEC, there are questions surrounding pretty much every quarterback room outside of Florida with Kyle Trask when it comes to proven guys. The spotlight on Nix will be extremely bright throughout the season, but it shouldn’t be a shock if we see him take the reigns as the best quarterback in the SEC this season.
2. LSU Struggles To Go .500
Last year was last year, this year is this year and if LSU wants to have another magical season it’s going to take Ed Orgeron to pull off one of the greatest coaching jobs in the history of the sport. Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and a number of key defensive players have already opted out for the year and Joe Burrow isn’t walking through that door anytime soon.
The Tigers could easily go 5-5 this year with losses on the road at Florida, Auburn, and A&M, plus home losses to Alabama and one of either Mississippi State or Ole Miss.
1. Georgia Finishes 4th In The SEC East
No, it’s not Georgia’s year, sorry Bulldog fans. Kirby Smart’s seat isn’t hot by any means, but he’s starting to feel a touch of heat on his ass after still not yet really winning anything since arriving on the scene. I think we see frustrations build in Athens this season to a whole new level.
Florida is going to go on to win the SEC East while I think Tennessee has a strong year finishing second. Third place will come down to Georgia and Kentucky and seeing as how the Wildcats play host in that matchup on October 24, I like Kentucky’s chances to grab the No. 3 spot.