SEC power rankings: Week 1 – Can anyone stop Georgia and Alabama?

The Volunteers have the pieces to put together a huge bounce-back season in Jeremy Pruitt’s second year. The puzzle will come together for Tennessee, the question is simple: when?

The critical pieces of the puzzle are on both sides of the ball. Jarrett Guarantano has the potential to take a huge step forward. This will be his first year as the true leader of the team, after battling for his starting role into August in 2018. He proved to be very efficient in 2018, completing 62 percent of his passes for 1,907 yards and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He has a trio of senior targets to spread the ball to this season in Marquez Callaway, Jauan Jennings, and Dominick Wood-Anderson.

On defense, the Volunteers will rely on their talented defensive backs in senior Nigel Warrior and sophomores Bryce Thompson, Trevon Flowers and Alontae Taylor to lock down opposing passing games.

Tennessee, however, will only go as far as their offensive and defensive lines allow them to. Starters on both sides of the ball remain unclear, and will likely not be solidified until they get into conference play.

The Volunteers will have to win at least two of their conference toss-up games (Mississippi State, South Carolina, Missouri, Vanderbilt) and/or pull an upset against rival Florida in Gainesville to reach their 2019 potential; which I define as an eight-win season.

Missouri is banned from bowl play in 2019, but they still have plenty to play for.

Barry Odom has surprised many and has moved the Missouri program forward, including 15 wins over the last two seasons. The Tigers have built an experienced roster, now led by transfer Kelly Bryant. He led the Clemson Tigers to a 12-2 record and an ACC championship before losing his starting job to phenom Trevor Lawrence and transferring from Clemson.

Last season Missouri averaged 36.6 points per game, 16th best in the nation. They also finished 50th in the nation in points allowed per game, 25.5. They currently project to return 15 juniors or seniors as starters. That experience will be critical as they attempt a run at the SEC East title.

Missouri’s toughest non-conference game is at home against a restocking West Virginia team, giving them a good foundation of wins outside of the SEC. They get to take on Florida at home and have the ability to pull an upset. They also play Georgia a week after the Bulldogs play the Gators and the week before Georgia faces off against Auburn-the Tigers could pull a huge upset in that trap game for Georgia.

The Aggies are out to prove they belong to be considered title contenders in the SEC West in 2019, but they aren’t there quite yet.

Texas A&M went 9-4 in their first season with Jimbo Fisher at the helm. Two of those losses were to Clemson and Alabama; the best two teams in the nation last season. Their season was highlighted by a 72-72 win against LSU in a wild seven overtime shootout in Week 12.

They finished 19th in the nation in scoring last season. Kellen Mond, their dynamic dual-threat quarterback, will look to build on an impressive first full season as a starter in College Station. He will be helped by an experienced offensive line. Their offensive trenches will be reinforced by 3 juniors and two seniors.

The Aggies will once again play both Alabama and Clemson this season. They will also travel to Georgia and LSU to finish the season. Those four games demonstrate the tough challenge ahead of this dynamic Aggies team. They are the clear “next up” in the SEC West, but should not compete for the division title with LSU and Alabama this season.

The Gators escaped the jaws of defeat against an inexperienced Miami team. Florida fans need to hope they saw the worst of their team in Week 0.

Florida struggled in their early-season primetime game. They turned the ball over four times on offense, twice through interception and twice by fumbling. Franks completed 17 of his 27 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns but looked like more of the same limited quarterback we have seen in the past.

Similar to years past, they were bailed out by their defense and special teams. They sacked redshirt freshmen quarterback Jarren Williams 10 times. They also forced two fumbles and recovered one. The momentum of the game swung away from the Hurricanes when Miami muffed a punt, allowing Florida to recover it in the red zone.

The Gators have a tough schedule ahead. They will face off against LSU Week 7, Georgia Week 9, and Florida State Week 12. They also will travel to Kentucky, South Carolina, and Missouri. They will need to protect the ball a lot better on offense and show more discipline on defense if they want a shot at knocking off Georgia in the SEC East.

LSU has the best chance of breaking up what appears to be a now annual date for Alabama and Georgia in the SEC Championship.

The Tigers recorded 10 wins last season, including a win against the SEC East champion Georgia Bulldogs. They are returning quarterback Joe Burrow who threw for 2,894 yards and 16 touchdowns, with just five interceptions after winning the starting job last season. LSU is hoping the addition of passing game coordinator Joe Brady will give their offense a much-needed revolution to the modern game featuring RPOs and more creativity in play calling.

Kristian Fulton and Grant Delpit will combine to form the toughest secondary in the SEC in 2019. Opposing defenses will be hard-pressed to throw or run on these two.

LSU faces a tough test in 2019, but they are up to the challenge. They will travel to Texas in Week 2 and Alabama in Week 9. They also will face off against Florida, Auburn, and Texas A&M at home. They will be on Alabama’s heels; waiting for the one slip up they can pounce on to claim a coveted SEC West title.

Kirby Smart has won 24 games over the last two years. That is no longer enough to be considered successful in Athens.

The Bulldogs want more this year. They want more than a loss to Alabama to end their College Football Playoff run or SEC title hopes. Jake Fromm wants desperately to get them there.

Fromm has been the definition of consistent for Georgia over the past two seasons. Fromm has completed 65% of his 598 attempts for 5,376 yards and 54 touchdowns, to 13 interceptions over the last two years. His play has forced high-profile recruits Jacob Eason and Justin Fields to transfer. He has led them within plays of beating Alabama in two consecutive seasons.

Their offense also features top NFL Draft prospect D’Andre Swift, who looks to be the latest in a recently impressive line of running backs. Swift is an explosive back who can shred any opposing defense on the ground or through the air. He totaled 138 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama in the SEC Championship game in 2018.

Their defense is also a force to be reckoned with. They finished 15th in the country last season in points allowed to opposing teams, allowing just 19 points per game. They have playmakers at all levels of their defense. Redshirt senior JR Reed (safety), Junior Monty Rice (linebacker), and junior Malik Herring (defensive line) are just 3 examples of the deep talent on the defensive side of the ball.

There is no logical way to arrive at any other preseason favorite; the SEC is Alabama’s conference to lose.

The Crimson Tide are 41-3 over the last two seasons. Two of those three losses, though, have come in the College Football Playoff championship. Both times against Clemson. They have a clear goal of getting back to the championship game this season. First, though, they will have to outlast a deep pool of talented SEC conference opponents, all with their eyes pinned on Alabama.

Alabama will once again be led by sensation Tua Tagovailoa. He threw for 3,966 yards and 43 touchdowns while completing 69 percent of his passes and throwing just 6 interceptions in 2018. Tagovailoa will have a bevy of wideouts to spread the ball to. Jerry Jeudy (1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2018), Henry Ruggs III (741 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2018), Jaylen Waddle (848 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2018) and Devonta Smith (693 yards and 6 touchdowns) will all return for the Crimson Tide.

Their defense is loaded with talent too. Junior Dylan Moses leads the linebacker group. He led the team with 86 tackles in 2018. Junior safety Xavier McKinney had 74 tackles and two interceptions in 2018. Senior defensive linemen Raekwon Davis highlights their defensive line after recording 55 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, last season.

Alabama’s biggest challenges this season will come in College Station against Texas A&M Week 6, at home against LSU in Week 9 and at Auburn in Week 12.