Results are interesting.

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SEC National Rankings

4 Alabama
6 Arkansas
7 Georgia

9 Mississippi State
12 LSU
13 Ole Miss

19 Florida
20 Missouri
21 Tennessee
24 Texas A&M
25 Auburn

31 South Carolina

64 Kentucky
71 Vanderbilt

Observations

The SEC really is the real deal. The reason there is SEC Bias in the media is because they produce. Even using unbiased numbers like I do, the SEc is on top.

-I don't care what my model says, Alabama is not going 12-0. They play the #2 toughest schedule according to my system, and they WILL slip along the way. Are they the best team in the SEC? Probably, but the league is too good this year to produce an unbeaten champ.

-Auburn is the surprise last place team in the West. I think 6-6 is underballing them, they are the 3rd best team in the division IMO behind Alabama and Arkansas. Auburn fans before attacking me, keep in mind my model doesn't take into account coaching changes(how can you objectively measure it?) so the Muschamp factor is not present here, so combine losing a lot of offensive production with the fact my model doesn't factor in a defensive coaching improvement, you have 6-6. With that being said, I think the predictions for them to win the SEC may be a bit too optimistic. Like every SEC team, the schedule is tough, but with road games at Arkansas, Texas A&M. and LSU, and home games against Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi State, getting out of that with less than 3 losses will be a challenge. You can tout their recruiting and "addition by subtraction" all they want, but you can do that for every other team in the league as well. Auburn has a lot of ifs - IF Jeremy Johnson is a step up, IF Will Muschamp gets the defense going, IF the recruits like Cowart pan out. I know other teams in the league, like Alabama, have IFS too. When it comes to metrics that can be objectively measured, Auburn needs their IFS to come to pass the most.

-Florida going 8-4 would have to be a success. The schedule isn't too bad, and beating Florida State is always a plus.

-Tennessee and Arkansas are the rising teams of the offseason, and both are projected to go 9-3. Arkansas plays the tougher schedule so their 9-3 would be more impressive. Tennessee has its sights on winning the division so you have to wonder if 9-3 with another loss to Florida would be a bit of a letdown.

-A lot of people are calling for Mississippi State to drop off, but my model doesn't see it. Sure, they lose STARTERS, but the problem is they don't lose as much PRODUCTION. This was a deep team last year, so the guys who didn't start last year who are replacing the starters produced, they just didn't start. #9 might be a bit too high, but a 9-3 record is perfectly reasonable.

-Time for Texas A&M fans to put up or shut up. I know we all joke about the iPhone post, but how well would another 7-5 season and 3rd straight non-winning SEC record go over with the A&M fanbase? If they view it as a positive, its proof that there was more to the iPhone post than what we gave it credit for. Especially with a favorable schedule and the easiest East crossover draw in the division.

-Georgia may be projected to go 9-3 but they are closer to 12-0 than you think. Their 3 losses are by 5 points combined. A playoff bid could very well be on the line in that finale vs. Georgia Tech. Will this be the year they avoid the Richt special(losing a game they shouldn't)?

-What happens to Spurrier if South Carolina goes 6-6 again? Does he retire?

-Kentucky is the hard luck loser here. Will they be better? Yes, but so will the rest of the league. I do think they will win one of the home games against Florida, Missouri, Auburn, and Tennessee. But that road game against Vanderbilt is a must win. There is the path to bowl eligibility right there. Steal a SEC home game, win the rivalry game vs. Louisville and win at Vanderbilt. AKA The Rich Brooks path, king of bowl bids despite going 2-6 in the league.