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SEC football 2018: Predicted order of finish

By Geoffrey Godfrey

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) looks to throw the football during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) looks to throw the football during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) looks to throw the football during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) looks to throw the football during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Predicted order of finish for the SEC West and SEC East where Alabama and Georgia could be poised to meet in the SEC Championship Game.

The SEC West is home to the defending national champions and the preseason No. 1 team in the nation in the Alabama Crimson Tide. Nick Saban’s team came back in the second half to beat last year’s SEC champion, Georgia in overtime.

The two enter the 2018 season as the prohibitive favorites to win their divisions and play in the SEC Championship Game. The winner of that game will likely clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff, but the loser isn’t necessarily eliminated from consideration.

As always, the SEC is deep and talented on both sides with Auburn the third best team in the conference, Mississippi State, Florida, South Carolina and LSU giving the conference seven potential Top 25 teams.

SEC West predicted order of finish

1. Alabama: 11-1

Once again Alabama will have another elite team and another elite year. Alabama should be undefeated as they enter the stretch in October and November that will determine their path toward another title. While they will be favorites in every game, the last three games of the year against LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn in the Iron Bowl seem to be the likely stumbling blocks, if they were to stumble. The rest of their schedule they should have no issue with.

2. Auburn: 10-2

Auburn came on strong and finished strong last year. They were able to keep their potential first-round quarterback Jarrett Stidham upright. However, they did lose their bell-cow running back Kerryon Johnson to the NFL Draft. They have a solid defense and a quarterback who can lead them through a tough schedule.

3. LSU: 9-3

After taking a big hit in the draft losing Derrius Guice, the LSU offense will rely on Ohio State transfer quarterback Joe Burrow. LSU has built a stronger defense, led by All-American cornerback Greedy Williams, the last two recruiting classes under Ed Oregeron and it’s about to show. I like LSU to win some close games to avoid what could otherwise be a potential 7-5 season.

4. Mississippi State: 9-3

Mississippi State plays a tough three-game stretch in the middle of the season with LSU, Auburn and Florida that will make or break their season. If first-year head coach Joe Moorhead can go 2-1 in that stretch, the Bulldogs have a chance to hit the nine-win mark. The biggest question will be if Nick Fitzgerald shows any ill effects from last year’s season-ending injury. The defense is loaded with NFL talent, especially on the defensive line with Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat.

5. Ole Miss: 7-5

Ole Miss to me is a team that could surprise us. Five out of the first seven games they play an easy opponent in Texas Tech, Southern Illinois, Kent State, Louisiana Monroe and Arkansas. Before they finish with Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. They will walk into five wins, just by way of being far more talented than the team on the other side of the ball. Their only real tests are Alabama, Auburn, LSU and South Carolina. This team could end up with a strong head of steam headed into bowl season.

6. Texas A&M: 5-7

They didn’t have a solid year last year, and I don’t look for that to change much here in the first year under Jimbo Fisher. This is a very new team with a new head coach who has a schedule that has some of the most elite teams in football. The Aggies play Clemson, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina and Mississippi State. Half their season they will step on the field with a top-25 team or a team right outside of the top 25. Five wins here would be a good way to limp across the finish line. Fisher has a rebuilding effort on his hands and the biggest wins this year will have to come on the recruiting trail to return to a bowl game next year.

Arkansas: 4-8

Arkansas always tries really hard, and they will do just that again. There is not much I like about the team Chad Morris has this year. However, they could end up with a much better record if they can get it together as they play; Eastern Illinois, Colorado State, North Texas and Tulsa. If they get some confidence wins, they could make it an interesting affair vs Missouri, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M that will ultimately decide whether they make it to a bowl game.