An early line on the SEC in 2011, and UGA is … well, not No. 1
With the SEC having generated the BCS titlist five years running, the moral of our story — if indeed morals apply in this cutthroat conference — is this: Win the league, win it all. But that mightn’t be the case come Jan. 9, 2102. (Though the championship game will be played in New Orleans, smack in the heart of SEC country.)
Oklahoma figures to start next season ranked No. 1, and that would be a departure. The past three preseason No. 1’s have hailed from guess where: Georgia in 2008, Florida in 2009, Alabama in 2010. (As we know, none finished No. 1.) Eyeballing it from this distance, the SEC would appear slightly lessened in 2011, but is the Tiffany League ever truly down?
Herewith we offer a look-ahead, the 12 programs ranked in ascending order:
12. Vanderbilt: The Commodores have a new coach. So they’ve got that going for them.
11. Kentucky: The Wildcats seemed onto something when they played Auburn close and beat South Carolina, but they lost four of their final six games. They’ll have a new quarterback in 2011, and Morgan Newton — who started the BBVA Compass Bowl because senior Mike Hartline was suspended — appears a cut below his predecessor.
10. Ole Miss: Wasn’t it only yesterday — actually, it was 2009 — that this team was hailed as a national contender? Nothing has gone right since. Gambling on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, the defrocked Oregon Duck, enabled the Rebels to win only one SEC game, that against Kentucky. Houston Nutt’s nutty program again appears the least of the SEC West.
9. Tennessee: The Vols have found a quarterback in Tyler Bray, and his emergence enabled them to become bowl-eligible. Now the bad news: Tennessee finished 6-7 and didn’t beat anyone of consequence. Heck, it lost big to …
8. Georgia: Going on returning talent, this ranking is too low. Going on the tenuous state of the program, this ranking might be too high. Some Bulldog fans see Isaiah Crowell, the recruit from Columbus who has yet to commit, as The Next Herschel Walker. I ask: Have we learned nothing in 30 years? There was but one Herschel Walker.
7. Florida: Will Muschamp, the new head coach, is also a rookie head coach. Hiring Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator will help, but Weis hasn’t seemed half as clever since being separated from Tom Brady. John Brantley, the quarterback of whom much was expected in 2010, is considering transferring — and even Gator backers don’t know if that would be good or bad.
Zach Mettenberger, new to LSU. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
6. Auburn: The national champs will surely lose quarterback Cam Newton and defensive destroyer Nick Fairley to the NFL, and they weren’t just the two best players on their team — they were the two best players in the country. And that’s how it works in the better half of this conference: You can go from No. 1 in the land to No. 5 in the SEC West in the wink of an eye.
5. Mississippi State: The temptation is to put the Bulldogs a notch higher, but two factors mitigate: State lost defensive Manny Diaz to Texas, and the sneak-up factor from 2010 will be gone. Still, if the Bulldogs can win at Auburn on Sept. 10, they’ll face LSU in Starkville on a Thursday night in a cowbell-clamorous game that could propel them into the Top 10.
4. Arkansas: The Razorbacks will take a slight step backward — they reached the Sugar Bowl in Year 3 under Bobby Petrino — only because they’re losing quarterback Ryan Mallett to the NFL draft. But Tyler Wilson seems an able replacement, and Petrino can coach quarterbacks. The downside: Hogs must face Alabama and LSU on the road.
3. South Carolina: The Gamecocks achieved their forever-awaited breakthrough by winning the SEC East. They then lost twice in the Georgia Dome by an aggregate 48 points. The key offensive players return, and Carolina hopes Jadeveon Clowney, the in-state product considered the nation’s No. 1 recruit, will take his talents to Columbia and do for the defense as tailback Marcus Lattimore did for the offense.
2. Alabama: Talent-wise, this is the SEC’s deepest program. But losing three key offensive players — quarterback Greg McElroy, tailback Mark Ingram and wideout Julio Jones — has to have some effect. Doesn’t it?
1. LSU: The SEC West will hinge the Tigers’ Nov. 5 game against Alabama, which will be staged in Tuscaloosa. But LSU, which has struggled for three seasons to find a quarterback, might have two: Jordan Jefferson has begun to settle, and Zach Mettenberger, dismissed from Georgia’s program after his arrest, might wind up starting. And there’s precedent for an SEC champion being quarterbacked by a Georgia native who began at one league program but flourished at another: Cam Newton of Atlanta did it in 2010; might it Mettenberger of Watkinsville in 2011?
By Mark Bradley
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332 comments Add your comment
Phil
January 13th, 2011
9:08 am
2011 Schedule:
Boise State: LOSS
South Carolina : LOSS
Coastal Carolina: WIN
at Ole Miss: LOSS
Miss State: LOSS
at Tennessee: LOSS
at Vanderbilt: WIN
Florida: LOSS (Richt can’t beat Florida no matter who is coaching)
New Mexico State: WIN
Auburn: LOSS
Kentucky: WIN
at Ga Tech: LOSS
4-8, write it down.
sportzfan
January 13th, 2011
9:18 am
I think some of you stopped off in Mexico on way home from Liberty Bowl with some of the theories I’m reading. Whatever it is I certainly enjoy your comments.
How is it Boise is ranked so high after losing 23 seniors? Yes I know, they played 60 players, but so did a lot of programs. UGA definately has enough talent to beat Boise at the Dome this year.
Also noticed people here talking about SC, with Garcia at QB next year…..won’t happen, Connor Shaw from Flowery Branch will be starting QB at SC next year.
Phil
January 13th, 2011
9:18 am
P.S. For all the Richt loyalists out there who claim Richt is going to turn it around and win 9-10 games next year, please show me where on that schedule we get 9-10 wins.
Crumpy loves playing with the pups
January 13th, 2011
9:22 am
1) ALABAMA
LoyalDawg
January 13th, 2011
9:49 am
It is disappointing that Fran wants to bring attention to himself. My mama always told me to not wash my dirty laundry in public. CMR has a handle on things. For those who are not in the loop, you do not have a clue. It may take a season or two. Give CMR time. This reporter is nothing but a back stabber. You would not be an honored guest at UGA.
charliecole
January 13th, 2011
9:59 am
SEC News at http://www.secsportsworld.blogspot.com
Shelley: There is some justice in college football – Randolph Leader
January 13th, 2011
10:02 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
mcdaviddawg
January 13th, 2011
10:26 am
A reality check for those who think Richt will turn it around next year.
Arch Dawg
January 13th, 2011
11:06 am
Grantham was a terrible choice for DC. But all the fans were clammoring for a 3-4 and a big splash hire. You should have gone after Manny Diaz, that guy was rock solid this year. I’m real bummed that Texas swooped in and stole him with a ‘huge’ contract for a guy with just one year in the SEC. (that ought to show you how good he was). Coach Richt is trying to please his fanbase too much and it is costing him.
I’m very excited though our (MS State) new CoDC/LB coach seems like Manny Diaz 2.0
Betting 77 » Blog Archive » Letters: 1/13
January 13th, 2011
11:16 am
[...] An early line on the SEC in 2011, and UGA is … well, not No. 1 Les Miles gets touchy-feely after beating Alabama. He and his Tigers will try again in 2011. [...]
Go Dawgs!
January 13th, 2011
12:09 pm
Arch Dawg
January 13th, 2011
11:06 am
“Grantham was a terrible choice for DC”
How do you figure he was a terrible hire?
Anyone with any kind of football acumen knows you can’t judge a defense in the first year when you are changing schemes.
He went to a 3-4 with 4-3 personel.
The terminology is different.
He didn’t have a TRUE 3-4 NT.
It’s football not a microwave dinner!
BTW- compare Granthum’s 1st year 3-4 stats to Bama’s when Saban and Smart took over. You will find their stats are very similar. What changed for them year two? Mount Cody. Also, had K.Smart come to UGA, Saban would have hired Granthum. He also tried to hire him when he was at Miami, but Granthum had already committed to the Cleveland job.
That’s why John Jenkins is the biggest recruit need we have even over Rome, Crowell, and Mitchell.
Hunker Down
January 13th, 2011
12:59 pm
MB
Don’t forget about Ogletree when speaking of talent and highly recruited. He is a dang good Dawg!
UGA Insider
January 13th, 2011
1:08 pm
2011 is a total rebuilding year for the UGA Dawgs….Please fans I think it be best for everyone to lower expectations for next year. If not, you are going to get your feelings hurt again. We are paper thin at every position and have done a bad job of recruiting the past 2 seasons. I look for 2012 to be CMR’s make or break season unless he goes 4-8 in 2011. I am thinking another 6-6.
Keith Strawn
January 13th, 2011
1:14 pm
Mark, You are only encouraging these “first!” knuckleheads with your kudos.
He Hate Gator
January 13th, 2011
1:31 pm
Agree Phil…no indication or reason has been given to think the record would be otherwise…going on the current trend, then no road wins and no wins over teams with winning records
jbirdawg
January 13th, 2011
1:43 pm
UGA will be the surprise team of the SEC next year. The DL will be 20lbs more stout per position. Adding Jenkins will only further help that. They will start the season with a year of experience in the system and with a QB who will begin next season as a seasoned veteran as opposed to a kid trying to get used to the speed of the game at the college level. Those two things will make a huge difference on those close games we lost this year. If Crowell or some of the FR are able to help out then all the better but I am saying it won’t be necessary for UGA to be better.
Phil
January 13th, 2011
2:04 pm
jbirdawg
Even if we get Crowell, Richt the idiot will redshirt him just like he did Knowshon Moreno. Don’t look for any help from Crowell next year. For all those who say Christian LeMay is the answer, ditto on him, redshirt.
Our recruiting class is not that strong, don’t expect great things from any of them next year. Basically the same team as this year, minus our best player(AJ Green) and several other good ones.
I agree we will be the surprise team of the SEC. We will surprise everyone by only winning 4 games this year, not 6 like this past season.
Gatormeat
January 13th, 2011
2:07 pm
It amuses me to see dog fans whine about MB’s column. He is speaking nothing but the truth, the dogs do not deserve to be ranked. Just think dogs, Meyer, Saban, Miles, and Chizik all won the NC within their first 5 yrs or less at their schools, richt has been at georgia 10 yrs and has none. The window has closed, he will never win one. You simply are not that kind of school, basically you are Vanderbilt. You are Kentucky. The sooner you accept it the better off you will be
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
January 13th, 2011
2:13 pm
nemov, What a dumbass moron, Did you not see the BCS and see that AU fans bought 70% of the tix in Glandale, AZ. AU travels very well you idiot!!! AU has done nothing wrong with regards to Cam Newton & his eligibility, NCAA has not even sent Auburn a letter moron. AU does not have to defend their honor to anyone, especially your dumbass.
WAR DAMN EAGLE
Phil
January 13th, 2011
2:13 pm
UGA Insider
Where do you see 6 wins next year? I gave them the win at Ole Miss but that road game could be a loss just as easy. If we don’t pull that one out, I think we’re looking at 3-9.
A team that scored 6 points against UCF will not beat Tennessee in Knoxville. Will not beat Miss State at home. May not even beat Kentucky at home, but I gave them that one just for being the home team. I think 4 wins is about right. Could be 3 though.
Phil
January 13th, 2011
2:20 pm
Correction UGA Insider
I gave them a Loss at Ole Miss. Kentucky is the toss up game that will determine either 3 or 4 wins.
Would like to get your take on the 6 wins. I’m just not seeing it.
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
January 13th, 2011
2:32 pm
Funny to see All the jelousy towards Auburn University. Any other teams around this blog in SEC gone undefeated twice in Six years, 2004 & 2010 Undefeated, ALL you morons that try to make excuses for teams against the Mighty AU Tigers are just idiots. Running the table does not just occur as happen-stance… GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER…
WAR DAMN EAGLE
Bryant
January 13th, 2011
3:21 pm
Flip one and two and it looks good.
Radly Dawg
January 13th, 2011
3:26 pm
Four thousand and ninty seventh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who cares….it’s waaaay too early. If you don’t think so…..check Bradley’s predicts for the last 2 years!
Go Dawgs….when it’s time…uhhhh, maybe September 2011!!!!
Mattvols123
January 13th, 2011
3:35 pm
The west will have the top teams again and the east is wide open.The vols are looking at somewhere between 6-6 and 8-4 and hopefully getting back in the hunt for the east in 2012.
Ed (The Original)
January 13th, 2011
3:36 pm
First of all, South Carolina didn’t achieve a “breakthrough” – they were the beneficiaries of the weakest SEC East in memory, and they still finished just 9-5, yet another 5-loss or more season under Spurrier.
Auburn might be ranked a little low. Confidence alone should elevate them higher.
Georgia’s ranking appears about right. And when it happens, it will be predictable. Why Georgia needed one more year to convince itself that Richt is done is beyond me, but so be it. “Wait ’till next year!” in this case means literally next year – the 2012 season.
Ed (The Original)
January 13th, 2011
3:40 pm
Thinking positively…in 2102, I’ll be too old to care. In 2012, I’ll be too apathetic to care.
Arch Dawg
January 13th, 2011
3:45 pm
Grantham can turns things around for sure, I was stating that I feel he had a much much less succesful season than Manny Diaz had in his first year at MSU. Of course Manny just got called up to Texas for big money, se we lose anyway. The only reason I’m stating this is because Diaz was not the ‘glamour’ pick being from Middle Tenn State so he didn’t get hired. I humbly feel that UGA fans are always out looking for the big splash or mega star players that can come in and make it happen just for the sake of being there. Talent comes from all different places not just programs or kids with hype. Finding and developing real potential is where greatness is made.
I think one reason a lot of coaches taking over a new program have success early is that they are forced to develop the team they inherit, not just put the pieces together and expect it to work because all the kids are 4 & 5 star players. If Richt is going to turn UGA around he needs to get dirty, teach toughness, fundamentals, effort, the O line looked overweight and slow, the RB’s have fumbleitis, etc… Back to basics, break it down and build it back with a rock solid foundation.
But what do I know, I’m just a message board coach.
Les Miles
January 13th, 2011
3:45 pm
[...] to stay at LSU and not go to …Steven M. Sipple: SEC gets nod in 2011, again HuskerExtra.comAn early line on the SEC in 2011, and UGA is ⦠well, not No. 1 Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Folks Need to Sack SEC in Football, but They Won't [...]
Mattvols123
January 13th, 2011
4:05 pm
The vols went for the big spalsh with kiffin and now Hamilton is reeping what he sowed.And the jury is still out on Dooley I think he is a good man but that dont equal wins in the sec.Any sane vol fan will give him time.
Vince
January 13th, 2011
4:15 pm
South Carolina wont have a repeat year. You can drop them. And LSU while talented, lived off some luck this year. It will catch up to them. I go with Florida or Alabama. I think either UGA or Tenn. will do better than expected. Most everyone else will be in the middle. 2011 might not be the SEC’s year to win the National title. You have OK and TX wont stand for another poor year. Can we talk about the Falcons now?
Mattvols123
January 13th, 2011
4:17 pm
GO FALCONS IM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!1
wdm
January 13th, 2011
4:30 pm
The good news is that football games are decided on the field…not by articles or opinions offered by a douchebag sports columnist Mark Bradley. Just for the record, Mark Bradley is no UGA fan, he is just a stinkstirrer, and someone who is insanely jealous of Coach Mark Richt. The interesting thing is after talking to one of Mark Bradley’s childhood friends, it appears as a kid he was the same pathetic person he is today. He was always the last one picked and once the games finally started, he would start crying because he was fouled, then start crying and take his ball, and go home to play with himself (just like the adult version of Mark Bradley.) UGA fans, those of you who are being suckered in to this hate Coach Richt spill by the never was nor never will be Mark Bradley are just like all these ignorant college kids who voted Obama into office. Since Coach Richt began his tenure at Ga, even including the last two seasons, UGA averages one of the highest end of the year ranking teams in the country. Just to put it in perspective, during the same tenure of Mark Bradley’s job at AJC, the AJC circulation has dropped to an all time low and they have extremely curtailed their delivery areas. Now based on non-disputable numbers, who do you think should be fired?
UGA Fan
January 13th, 2011
4:56 pm
I would put UGA at 8 or 9.
Al
January 13th, 2011
5:11 pm
No way LSU beats Alabama. Bama’s defense will be much improved and A.J. and Phil Sims will improve the quarteback position tremendously. Do you really believe Les can beat Nick in Tuscaloosa? Also, Alabama has all the tough ones at home.
Lakedawg
January 13th, 2011
6:03 pm
Enter your comments hereWay to go MB, just another opportunity to take a shot at the Dawgs. Can’t wait unyil next year and you are going to have to find something else to write about. Hope CMR ingnores you again completely when he wins coach of year in 2011 or 2012.
Harris: ‘Next Year’ Shouldn’t Be a Given for Pelphrey or Any Coach If … – ArkansasSports360.com — Baton Rouge Real Estate
January 13th, 2011
6:04 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
barkmadleylikesCPJmanteats
January 13th, 2011
6:18 pm
Why does anyone even read the negative agenda that spews from the worst sportswriter since Terrence Moore? Is there another rag in the nation that would even give this guy a job? Why doesn’t Kentucky newsrags want him? Because who wants a writer that thinks his job is to bash the coach at the State University? What coach or player would want to go to a place where a guy can average 9 wins a year, and be bashed CONSTANTLY by a sportswriter who is an idiot? Bradly NEVER has anything good to say about UGA, yet, constantly sucks up to the teat of CPJ? Why aren’t there articles about how Johnson needs to go, that he can’t even win in the ACC? How that program has slipped and can only average 8 points per game in a bowl? Why? Because he HATES Richt is a good man and ALL LIBERALS are envious of Christians…..AJC FIRE BRADLEY…… I think we should ALL flood the AJC with FIRE MARK BRADLEY and his closet buddy Schultz for Brains
techismybeeotch
January 13th, 2011
6:21 pm
Amen! Bradley needs to go! Flood the editors with emails letting them know we are tired of all the hate and the negativity….
DawgCrazy09
January 13th, 2011
6:54 pm
2102??? Wow thats a run of perfection if they think the sec is gonna win everyone till then!!
jumbeauxtiger
January 13th, 2011
7:36 pm
@Al
“No way LSU beats Alabama.”
We heard that 2 months ago too.
jumbeauxtiger
January 13th, 2011
7:38 pm
@Ed (The Original) 3:36
Well said on all 3 points.
MADDOG
January 13th, 2011
7:56 pm
Let’s see, time to rub it in. This is for Georgia fans, not Alabama fans, not South Carolina fans or Kentucky or MSU or LSU or Arkansas and everyone else in the SEC, just Georgia fans.
The season is over and Auburn is… #1.
We are #1 and UGA ended 7-6… oh wait, scratch that off those senior trophies, 6-7. 
Also, Georgia fans, speaking really just to the obnoxious ones, how many undefeated teams have you had since the 1980 National Championship? 0.
How many has Auburn had? 3. And with 3 different coaches.
Georgia was up 21-7 against Auburn and lost 49-31… man, no wonder you guys are soooo mad. But don’t get upset, here are 10 reasons why Georgia will go undefeated in 2010.
http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2010/steve-newman-10-reasons-undefeated-georgia/
Thanks for the dream team! I’m sure those players are going to do real well in Auburn.
MADDOG
January 13th, 2011
8:00 pm
The best part was “Georgia is going to destroy Auburn!” And lost.
“Fine, you cheated, Fairley hit our QB late after all of our chop blocks and other personal fouls, well, Alabama is going to destroy you! HA! HA! Sic em Dawgs, woof woof woof!” And Alabama lost.
“Well, South Carolina is going to kill you! Go Dawgs!” And South Carolina lost.
“GO DUCKS! WOOF WOOF WOOF!” And Oregon… lost.
MADDOG
January 13th, 2011
8:02 pm
Oh, “And the NCAA is going to declare Cam Newton ineligible and you’re gonna get the death penalty! HA HA! GO DAWGS!”
And the NCAA declared him eligible.
You just can’t win on or off the field.
South GA Dawg
January 13th, 2011
8:03 pm
I think UGA could very easily win 10 games. I think they will rip Boise to pieces. Florida will be the deciding game and UGA will win that one too.I think everyone will come into the game thinking UGA is going to roll over and they are going to get the surprise of their life. UGA played way down this year dont look for that to happen again.If you do you must not watch football.If not for a couple of stupid fumbles in the endzone we would not even be talking about this. Look for Murray to be even better and smarter. Defense will be much improved, offensive line has got to be better. Dont count UGA out yet.Go Dawgs
South GA Dawg
January 13th, 2011
8:05 pm
I say UGA loses to Tenn. and GT as bad as I hate it. Both have good teams and play hard.
coach smith
January 13th, 2011
8:12 pm
check out a real honest to goodness sports blog ran by REAL sports fans at Uhearditherefirst.com
let’s grow this thing together
coach smith
January 13th, 2011
8:15 pm
http://uhearditherefirst.com
MADDOG
January 13th, 2011
8:17 pm
I think honestly UGA will beat UF this coming year. Muschamp (the dork with blood on his face trying to coach) and Weiss are going to be nothing more than a college version of the Redskins. Buying all the wrong people for the wrong price. The wheels came off that wagon last year and I don’t see them improving. UGA could even win the East but it probably won’t take more than a .500 winning percentage to pull that off and thus it won’t mean a thing other than being the doormat in the SEC Championship for the SEC West team.
Of the 5 consecutive national championships by 4 different teams, 3 of those teams were SEC West and 1 was SEC East. The power is not in the SEC but in the SEC West. The problem is for UGA the first game will be a loss to BOI and then if you look at the schedule and given what UGA is right now going into this off season it’s easy to see a 1-3 start and then a 1-6 or 2-6 start.
Then what?