re: Way early SEC East prediction.

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They surprised a shitload of people last year. Yeah, I think they've had a dropoff over the offseason, but to outright discount them is patently foolish.

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They lost as much as anybody in the conference and recruit as bad as anybody in the conference. Where's the offensive production coming from? They have 1 proven pass rusher and a bunch of question marks at DB. That's typically not a good combination.

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They've won 33 games the last three years, and were a miracle catch last year from playing in Atlanta. They've been the most consistent team over this stretch; that's not bias, that's fact. To discount them is stupid.

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They've shat the bed every year the last three years. That came with the best QB in school history and the best individual player in school history, a generational talent, playing on the same team. Not to mention there was a pretty good RB mixed in for a couple of those years. That's not bias, that's fact. It's not that they cannot win the division, it's just that I won't predict them to. I picked them last year to win the East and felt like an arse after they shat the bed in Neyland.

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Another wildcard. They surprised everyone in '12, and there's plenty of talent there. I think they played over their heads in '12, but I think they win 2/3 of the UGA/UTK/USC games.

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Until Muschamp actually wins the East, I don't think I would predict them to win the East. They were 4-8 last year in a season where they had about the same amount injuries as the UGA team that went 8-5. Smells like poor leadership and a lack of mental toughness to me.

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Because Richt's teams are mentally soft, have a new DC, a new QB, and have to go on the road to the two best East teams from last year in Mizzou and USC. Add in the neutral game with UF, and they win *maybe* one of those three. Gurley's good, sure, but you don't have a QB that has to be game-planned against anymore.

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Mentally soft is a bit much, I would argue, but to each his own. New QB? Sure, but Carolina and Mizzou also have that issue. And, honestly, I'd take either of their three newcomers over Driskell. A new DC? Sure, but not a total transformation of the defensive scheme. I can think of two teams who played for the MNC last year who had new DCs.

As for going on the road to Mizzou...oh well? It's not like we're going to Neyland, WBS, BDS, JHS, Death Valley or the Swamp. There's no question about it, they won't be as strong as they were last year and the road team has won each of the last two games in this series.

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But to openly mock any of Mizzou/UF/USC as East winners is painfully stupid.

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My post was about how to determine what winner you should predict. I didn't discount UF or USCe's ability to win the East, just said it wouldn't be smart to predict them to win it. The only real disagreement we have is Mizzou and I stand by my statement that there is about a 0% chance that Mizzou repeats.