re: Who’s your surprise East team?

Based on the replies, it sounds like Kentucky is expected to be solid and is not the correct answer for a “surprise” team.

The correct answer for any unbiased party is the Missouri Tigers, as they will surprise fans around the country as they stun Georgia on their way back to Atlanta

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Florida will only do it if some of the new guys on offense have breakout seasons.

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Big key is Richardson. If he comes through I could easily see Florida having a big year.

I agree with Kentucky

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Gators are going to wreck your hopes and dreams.

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Agreed, it seems like every first year coach UF gets wins eleven games in their first year no matter how bad the situation looks from the prior year. It's weird.

Kentucky is the safe pick.

Tennessee has talent on offense and a proven QB.

Florida will surprise if they stay healthy and Richardson can play consistently.

Hoping it's Fla behind a strong run game with Richardson stacking crazy highlights week after week. Not thag far fetch the dude is super talented.

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UT seems like the only real choice.

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It’s their year, havent you heard ?

Here is my "trying not to be a homer" take on all 3 options listed:

Kentucky - Really good coaching and very talented QB. Last year they had a very good offense. They have 5 starters returning from that offense, so their year will totally depend on replacing the OL protection they lost with players like Fortner (C) and Kinnard (OT). Bringing in Auburn transfer Tashawn Manning is a pretty good start...but they still have 2 Redshirt Freshmen likely to start on the left side of the ball. Eli Cox is on the Outland Trophy Watchlist...but we will have to see how his move from Guard to Center goes. As for skill players...(from their projected depth chart), they have 5 Freshmen in their 2 deep rotation at WR (2 True Fr, and 3 RS Fr). Their offensive success could make or brake on the productivity of Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson. It just seems like there are a lot of changes to adjust to on offense, with a lot of opportunities for things not to mesh.

Florida - The SEC has become a league that leans a lot on high powered offenses. Florida has as much talent as anyone in the East outside of Georgia, but with Napier in his first year and Toney as his OC...I'm wondering how much of the offense Toney will actually call vs Napier. Napier's Louisiana teams made a big jump in year 2 and a giant leap in year 3. A lot depends on how Richardson's ability to run a new offense under this regime. I think they will be good defensively...defenses adapt to new schemes quicker than offense, and I like their coordinators.

Tennessee - Should be very good on offense because they have so much coming back...defense was below average last year and will likely be the determining factor for how good their season goes. As fast as the offense scores, the defense is hung out to dry with TOP...so they need a lot of quality depth. They didn't have it last year, and there hasn't been much talk about any significant changes they've made since then. No team can afford a lot of injuries...UT is even more vulnerable than most on defense, because of how much they will need to rely on rotation to keep players fresh with as many snaps as they are likely to see on the field.


My homer take would be Tennessee...but a true "surprise" would be Florida. Tennessee and Kentucky both are positioned to make moves...but somehow Florida is coming in under the radar. I could see them surprising a lot of people.

Nobody in this thread has come up with the right answer yet.....