Who’ll grab hold of the SEC East – UGA or South Carolina?
Will Isaiah Crowell and Georgia leave South Carolina in the dust? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
For the first 10 years of the SEC East’s existence, Florida usually won. When it didn’t, Tennessee did. Then Mark Richt arrived at Georgia — and, not incidentally, Ron Zook took over in Gainesville — and the Bulldogs won the division three times in four seasons. Then the Gators, under new and better management, won three times in four years. And then, in 2010, something strange happened: The East was taken by none of the above.
South Carolina finally broke through, and two weeks into the 2011 season the Gamecocks were poised to consolidate that gain. They’d beaten Georgia in Athens. The Gamecocks had four of the more talented players — Marcus Lattimore, Alshon Jeffery, Melvin Ingram and Jadeveon Clowney — in the nation’s most talented league. But Carolina lost at home to Auburn and booted wayfaring quarterback Stephen Garcia from the squad for good and lost Lattimore to a knee injury and then lost at Arkansas. Georgia won the East for the first time since 2005, and today the Bulldogs stand where South Carolina did a year ago.
Georgia is a good young team coming off a lousy ending. Just as South Carolina did in 2010, the Bulldogs were routed in the SEC title game and contrived to lose their bowl. The 2011 Gamecocks, by way of contrast, finished by thrashing Clemson, which would win the ACC, and then Nebraska to wind up 11-2 to Georgia’s 10-4. And the Bulldogs must go to Columbia next season.
In sum, the SEC East remains in heavy flux. South Carolina has cause to believe it was the division’s best team, but was undone by luck and scheduling. Georgia can point to its 10 wins and its 15 returning starters as proof that its rise was no trick of the light. And then there are the others.
Various recruiting rankings indicate that Florida, which had to win its bowl to finish above .500, is poised to sign the top class among SEC East programs. Tennessee finished 5-7 and won only one conference game and could well be seeking a new coach soon. In Year 2 under James Franklin, Vanderbilt figures to do more than simply scare some of the big boys. About all Kentucky accomplished in Year 2 under Joker Phillips was to beat Tennessee for the first time since 1984. And this fall Big 12 expatriate Missouri, flouting geography, opens play as a member of the SEC East.
Most projections for 2012 show Georgia and South Carolina in the preseason top 10, and whichever one takes the East this year — it’s hard to envision anyone else rising past both — can lay claim to being the class of the SEC’s lesser division. (SEC West zealots may consider this the equivalent of being the world’s strongest weakling, but you can’t win the conference unless you play in Atlanta on the first Saturday in December, can you?)
Once again, all schedules aren’t created equal. Georgia, which managed not to play any of the West’s Big Three in the 2011 regular season, will miss them again. South Carolina has to play LSU in Baton Rouge and Arkansas in Columbia, which means the Gamecocks could again beat Georgia and still lose the East.
Loading ...In a division laden with uncertainty, signing day can have an outsize impact. The Gamecocks won the East in 2010 because Lattimore chose them over Auburn. Georgia won in 2011 largely because freshmen Isaiah Crowell and Malcolm Mitchell became playmakers. This year the Bulldogs have gained commitments from running backs Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley, making the matter of Crowell’s durability less significant. South Carolina’s top commitment is receiver Shaq Roland, who should slide into the spot vacated by Jeffery.
Looking toward autumn, it’s a close call between the two, but the pick here is Georgia. The Bulldogs have the kinder schedule and figure to have more good players returning, and South Carolina’s best player will be coming off knee surgery. That said, seizing control of a division — even if it is only the SEC East, as opposed to the West — requires a level of consistent excellence above and beyond what was required to break through once.
South Carolina knows this all too well. The Gamecocks were a better team in 2011 than in 2010 but didn’t play for the conference title. They missed their chance to stamp themselves as the post-Urban Meyer power in the SEC East. Now it’s Georgia turn to try.
By Mark Bradley
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530 comments Add your comment
WDE
January 25th, 2012
3:25 pm
GTBob wait I meant to say USC the gamecocks if memory serves your bunch did play ever directional school in Carolina.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:25 pm
People are here…………….because they want to be. pretty simple
SC
January 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
You must work for the post office. Get some help.
GTBob
January 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
I see a GTBob name and a few others, I just don’t get it. What’s the point?
Its more fun then sitting around watching Mark Bradley and the other UGA homers discuss how great they are every year and making their National Championship plans.
LSu don
January 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
You’re wrong lex. Zach is going to have a great season at lsu. We will be playing in the nat champ game next year after blowing you guys out again.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
SC @ 3:24……………..And we know ya’ll have the hardware to back that up……….right?
UGA Insider
January 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
The big question is will USCe have anything to play for?……Sources tell me that Carolina is about to get crushed on Feb 17 by the NCAA infractions committee. I am hearing that penalties could include the loss of post-season play in 2012. These are major infractions that occurred at USCe folks so anything is possible. If my sources are correct USCe really has nothing to play for and Lattimore will completely shut it down. The USCe program is about to implode folks!!!!!!
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:27 pm
Why can’t Murray put up a 200+ passer rating against a team that finishes in the top 25?
Shaw had big games against Clemson and Nebraska.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:28 pm
GTBob is here because discussing nose picking and nerdism on the Tech site is pretty lame. Ask him. He’ll tell you.
Walker, Texas Ranger
January 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
Counting Florida out is always a bad bet. Gators are not thin on talent. I’m thinking UGA wins the east but I’m keeping an eye out toward the South
UF 98
January 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
All this means is UF will be back on top and win the east.
UGA Insider
January 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
Oh and the NCAA may come and snatch that mythical 2010 SEC East trophy that now looks tainted. Only at South Carolina folks….If they didn’t have bad luck they wouldn’t have any luck at all.
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:30 pm
Mettenberger’s a winner. 11-1 record as a starter, led his team to the JUCO National Championship in his 1st season.
32 td’s, 4 int’s.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:30 pm
Damn, a Gator crawled out of the swamp
SC
January 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
You sound like you’re about 5′6′ and 135 lbs. I think I understand your problem.
Gamecock in Georgia
January 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
PLain and simple.
UGA is over-rated every year.
But if they had Hershal!!!
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:32 pm
UGA has narrow wins over Vanderbilt, Tenneessee, Kentucky and others sub par teams.
Should have been 7-7, got 3 lucky wins.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:33 pm
Yea Pickle, our big nose guard Jenkins was a big shot JC player from last year…..And he was OK….Mett will find out that DB’s and LB’s in the SEC are a little better than JC’s guys who couldn’t muster a D1 offer.
GT
January 25th, 2012
3:33 pm
And if pigs could fly. The reason South Carolina lost the SEC in 2010 is because Latimore was injured on the first play. Then the next year he is injuried again plus they had some dead weight at quarterback. South Carolina is the better team, Shaw is really coming around but has to play the back tees while the Dawgs get another pass. One year lucky but when you are taking Alabama off the schedule and putting some none SEC team on and South Carolina now picks up LSU come on…
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
UGA only beat Fla by 4. 4 narrow wins.
Should have been 6-8.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
Pickle, you blog like you’ve been in the juice. Narrow wins my butt.
DawginLex
January 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
SC
This loser wants to compare height and base his opinion from reading a blog post!!
What a loser!
Only in SC!!
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
A GT guy piling on…..now that’s strange.
DawginLex
January 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
GT
go file your complaint with the SEC office who changed the schedules.
While you are at it, maybe you can remove UGA from Tech’s schedule since you never win
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
South Carolina……………one of the few SEC schools that don’t need a trophy case.
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
South Carolina’s Defense, vs. ranked teams, much better than UGA’s.
SC only gave up 28 points a game, UGA 39.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/911/team/defense/split13/category09/sort01.html
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
Tech is hurting our strength of schedule.
East Alabama Gator
January 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
I hope the Gators can get things turned around next year.
I know this sounds crazy but here is a Gator wishing Georgia and South Carolina the best of luck. I am sick and tired of the SEC West having a few dominating years, then looking down at the SEC East. It wasn’t long ago the SEC East was top-heavy and nobody talked about the west outside of maybe Alabama.
This is the SEC and good football is played in both divisions.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:38 pm
Darn Pickler, you would make a good Tech fan bringing us stats.
Barack Hussein Obama
January 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
We have to be fair and steal from the well offs and give to those less fortunate. So with that, I propose the following
Alabama and Lsu must send 5 of it’s top players to miss st and ole miss in an even swap.
Ark and Ga and SC must send 4 of it’s starters to Kentucky Vandy and Tenn
And UF must sawp 2 players with Auburn
GTBob
January 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
Tech is hurting our strength of schedule.
I would be as happy as anybody to end that game. Neither team cares anymore and it only creates trash on our campus.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
Gator,,,,,,QB may hold the Gators back next year. Really didn’t see anything out of those 2 guys coming back this year that played when Brantley got hurt. Now, they do have some athletes.
Paul
January 25th, 2012
3:43 pm
I think Mark is missing the boat on Tennessee. Dooley is there for the long haul and is about to close an exceptional recruiting class – probably a top 10 class. Dooley has the Vols well positioned for a return to the top of the SEC East this season, so I don’t think they should be taken lightly. I personally know of three major LSU boosters, for example, who would hire Dooley at LSU today. This is one case where you’ve got to look beyond the headlines and dig deeper into what the TN coach is doing to appreciate his achievements to date. For the record.
Jalex49
January 25th, 2012
3:43 pm
You know what? At this point it’s a toss-up and will be settled next year! I’m more interested on who will Georgia get this year in recruiting? I’m keeping my fingers cross they will get their target prospects and another good running back. GO Dawgs!!!!
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
3:44 pm
2012 SEC East Final Standing:
1. USC
2. UF
3. Ga
4. Vandy
5. Tenn
6. Ky
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:44 pm
JB, read the article, question was UGA or SC, not Florida.
FOCUS.
Jerry Blooger
January 25th, 2012
3:44 pm
All trolls suck
East Alabama Gator
January 25th, 2012
3:44 pm
JB,
I know what you mean and I agree. I have never been sold on Muschamp but I am willing to give him time. I think Charlie Weis leaving is a big blessing in disguise.
Anyway, best of luck to your team.
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:45 pm
UGA won 4 close game:
Fla by 4
Vand by 5
Tenn by 8
Kent by 9
Hard to imagine Richt getting as lucky as 2011.
DawginLex
January 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
NCBF returns!
Went into hiding after the Auburn debacle at home.
Same prediction you made last year.
Don’t bet the farm
SC
January 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
You continue to post like a 12 year old. Later.
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
Paul
January 25th, 2012
3:43 pm
I think Mark is missing the boat on Tennessee. Dooley is there for the long haul and is about to close an exceptional recruiting class – probably a top 10 class. Dooley has the Vols well positioned for a return to the top of the SEC East this season, so I don’t think they should be taken lightly. I personally know of three major LSU boosters, for example, who would hire Dooley at LSU today. This is one case where you’ve got to look beyond the headlines and dig deeper into what the TN coach is doing to appreciate his achievements to date. For the record.
————————————–
For the record, Tenn was 1-7 in conference last season.
DawginLex
January 25th, 2012
3:47 pm
Paul
UT will have Bray back and that will help but they play at UGA and at SC along with Bama.
they won’t win any of those
DawginLex
January 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
SC
January 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
You continue to post like a 12 year old. Later
****************************
you continue to respond like a 4 year old.
loser
GTBob
January 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
Are people really discussing UT as a potentially competitive team?
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
DawginLex, howdy. As promised last year I left after South Carolina beat Ga. I’m just back to mix it up a little.
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:49 pm
Spurrier has over 100 SEC wins, lot more than Richt, Spurrier just wins. Coaching advantage has to go to Spurrier.
Coming off the 11-2 season, South Carolina learned how to beat ranked teams.
1eyedJack
January 25th, 2012
3:49 pm
“If the SEC was smart they would get rid of the divisions and just have a big conference. Until they do they will have meaningless lopsided championship games with undeserving teams in them.”
Almost the stupidest post I read on this blog. Without divisions there is no championship game. Doofey.
DawginLex
January 25th, 2012
3:49 pm
NCBF
Nice season.
Hope the NCAA rumors are not true.
PickleJuicer
January 25th, 2012
3:50 pm
Only reason Richt beat Florida was because Urban Meyer left.