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
GreyShirt
January 25th, 2012
3:51 pm
Lattimore’s better than all the Georgia backs combined.
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
3:51 pm
yea, USC already self-imposed some restrictions, but the NCAA could come down harder.
LSU did the same thing recently. I’m expecting something similar.
GreyShirt
January 25th, 2012
3:51 pm
Shaw better than Murray in big games.
Paul
January 25th, 2012
3:52 pm
GT Bob – I think Tennessee wins 8 games this season, and it’s going to be a close one in Athens. Looks like the Vols are climbing back with some great talent and a couple of rough sseasons under their belt. Is Tech going to be competitive this year?
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:53 pm
They are not rumors. players staying in $200 a night rooms for 10 bucks. lot’s of them.spurrier will be gone soon.
DrDawg
January 25th, 2012
3:53 pm
South Carolina has had our number lately, don’t feel good about that battle, but we might win the war for the SEC East, outr schedule is a whole lot easier.
Rollie
January 25th, 2012
3:54 pm
I got Latt winning the Heisman.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 25th, 2012
3:55 pm
UGA will get beat by Mizzou right out of the gate! The only reason you won the east this year was USCe had to play the Hogs otherwise you save yourself the embarrssment of the LSU beatdown. STFU until you do something and running your mouth doesn’t count.
GTBob
January 25th, 2012
3:55 pm
Almost the stupidest post I read on this blog. Without divisions there is no championship game. Doofey.
The only rule I know of is that you have to have 12 teams to have a championship game. Maybe there is a rule though that enforces the creation of divisions. Seems to me that the SEC would rather have two of their top 4 teams instead of having #1 vs #5 which will usually lead to a 30 point blowout. Although, maybe giving the #1 team an easy game is their way of ensuring a MNC bid.
GoCocksBeatDogs
January 25th, 2012
3:55 pm
Anyone who thinks Georgia won’t have its hands full when Spurrier’s 2012 Cocks rip into them next year has an extremely short memory. It promises to again be a rather exciting day!
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:56 pm
Pickle….Is that reason everyone else beat Florida?
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
3:56 pm
Rollie
January 25th, 2012
3:54 pm
I got Latt winning the Heisman.
———————————
Latti might not even be back before the season starts.
Good thing that USC doesn’t play Ga till week 6 or something.
Would hate for Ga to miss all those tackles on another SC running back
.
1eyedJack
January 25th, 2012
3:56 pm
I don’t think a guy coming off major knee surgery is going to win the Heisman. He may not play until mid-season.
dogSTILE
January 25th, 2012
3:57 pm
Lets all hope Murray can be a DGD in 2012. He had the tools to be good, rifle arm, quick feet, and a clean rap sheet. If hutSON MAson does not pan out the dogs have their eyes on this hotshot high school junior from south ga, MERSHON, PIERCE COUNTY, yea, I mean WAY south ga BABE. His name is Turpin Greenfeld. This wunderkid is the real deal. He has been scorching defenses in south ga since he was in jr high. He has a quick release, can scramble out of the pocket if he has to. He can run his entire playbook from his wristbands (all yall run deep and jump). Google the name, watch the tapes, he can’t miss. Comming to UGA fall2013.
JB
January 25th, 2012
3:57 pm
Wet Willie, until you unmask , your post are just meaningless drive by drivel.
Rick James
January 25th, 2012
3:58 pm
@GTBob
Wrong!!! People trying to make Georgia look bad keep saying that South Carolina was beaten by a good Arkansas team that Georgia didnt play which is why they didnt win the east.The truth is that they could not beaten Arkansas and still won the division and they not let an Auburn team that Georgia blasted beat them at home..
PMC
January 25th, 2012
3:58 pm
I think it hinges mostly on the play of the Quarterbacks and then the running backs.
Is Aaron Murray going to stop being a turnover machine?
Is Connor Shaw more comfortable and prepared now that it’s clearly his job?
How is Lattimore’s knee?
Is Georgia going to get any consistant production out of the RB position?
KB
January 25th, 2012
3:58 pm
jb, Only Tech
Bobo for Attorney General
January 25th, 2012
4:00 pm
I’ve got Denard Robinson winning the Heisman. Since the Big X can’t win a NC, they have to win some kind of consolation prize…
JB
January 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
USC/UGA game 6……Dawgs 24-7
Rollie
January 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
Spurrier really has his offense rolling.
Finished #1 in scoring in the SEC. Almost 40 a game against ranked teams.
Rick James
January 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
@GTBob
Sorry….All SC had to do was beat Auburn and the Arkansas loss would not have mattered..
Beast from the East
January 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
The SEC East is the Gators World. The rest of you are just kiving in it!
JB
January 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
Has Richt signed his extension yet?
JB
January 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
Welcome Beast
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
4:02 pm
JB
January 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
USC/UGA game 6……Dawgs 24-7
—————————————–
Ga’s defense isn’t THAT good.
JB
January 25th, 2012
4:03 pm
Our Defense WILL be that good
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
4:03 pm
Beast from the East
January 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
The SEC East is the Gators World. The rest of you are just kiving in it!
—————————-
Na, just winning in it!
GTBob
January 25th, 2012
4:03 pm
Rick James, the point is that South Carolina had no margin for error at all. Beating UGA didn’t really mean anything for them because UGA was pretty much guaranteed to not lose another SEC game. South Carolina had no chance against Arkansas so basically they had to go undefeated against everyone else because UGA wasn’t playing anybody.
Rollie
January 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
Some are saying Shaw will win the Hesiman, yes, he did rush for 88 against Florida, 90 against Citadel and over 100 against Clemson, back to back at the end of the season, so yes, he will put up MONSTER numbers, but Latt’s will be even better. But Shaw will be in the Heisman conversation.
JB
January 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
Damn, can we all wait 7 months??????
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
ok, JB. Heard that last year too. SC will definately score more than 7……….at home.
tony
January 25th, 2012
4:04 pm
2011 – SC 45, GA 42 – What happen?
1) 2nd quarter – On a fake punt Melvin Ingram rush for 68 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
2) 3rd quarter – Crowell fumbled, recovered by Stephon Gilmore and takes it 57 yards to GA’s 5 yard line.
3) 3rd quarter – Aaron Murray pass intercepted by Antonio Allen at the Geo 25, returned for 25 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
4) 4th quarter – Aaron Murray sacked by Jadeveon Clowney, fumbled, recovered by SCaro Melvin Ingram at the GA 5 and he runs 5 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
SC scored 28 points on miscues and only 14 points on Todd Grantham’s defense. With 9 returning starters coming back on defense, I don’t think SC can score a touchdown on Grantham’s defense.
BP
January 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
GTBOB
You are making me laugh right now saying that the game does not matter anymore. Tech lives to play Georgia for the slight chance they can brag the next 365 days that they won. Oh, but wait they cannot do that cuz the losses keep piling up against us. Never say that game means nothing.
Rollie
January 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
JB, defense, are you talking Georgia’s defense? Seriously, like 4 reel? Gave up almost 40 points a game against the ranked teams. Last in the conference.
GTBob
January 25th, 2012
4:06 pm
GT Bob – I think Tennessee wins 8 games this season, and it’s going to be a close one in Athens.
I agree about the close one in Athens but I seriously doubt they can get to 8 wins. They haven’t done that in 4 years.
Nothing Could Be Finer
January 25th, 2012
4:06 pm
Shaw will not be in the Heisman talk. He’s good, not that good.
Delbert D.
January 25th, 2012
4:06 pm
SC should win the head-to-head against Georgia and should finish either 6-2 or 7-1 in the conference. Georgia should finish either 7-1 or 6-2 in the conference. Georgia’s OL must be ready on Sept. 8th at Missouri, who lost 3 starting D-linemen.
Vols 1
January 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
Vols will win the east
JB
January 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
GTBob……………….BEFORE we played Auburn last year, most of your yellow wig ilk told us all week that Georgia finally will play some SEC talent………………………..A route………Which is it Bob. It’s always will get beat during the week…and then when we win, we play nobody???????
LongThumb
January 25th, 2012
4:08 pm
Connor Shaw is on fire!
He is a clutch QB, great under pressure in big games.
I don’t see Murray ever doing the stuff Shaw does.
GTBob
January 25th, 2012
4:08 pm
Never say that game means nothing.
The game means absolutely nothing. Every year both teams are either looking ahead to more important games or are discouraged by their season already falling apart and have already packed it in. Were you at the game this year? There was almost no excitement for the game at all. The Western Carolina game had more energy.
buster brave
January 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
same old uga blah,blah,blah.even with the pansy ass schedule they will lose 2-3 games because they are georgia with hyped up expectations,and overrated “talent”. as someone who went to USC ,and a long time fan,although i’m a ga. native,dawg fans just do what you do best,run that hickey,bump dem’ gums,just prepare to eat crow next season,you should be used to it.
JARVIS JONES
January 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
i plan on making this 2012 a finishing team
BOB
January 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
2013 is the year for Coach Richt. No SEC championship; then in the immortal words of George Berry:
First,there will be opportunities for suicide, then there will be public excecutions.
JARVIS JONES
January 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
buster brave you do not sh…………………….
GTBob
January 25th, 2012
4:10 pm
most of your yellow wig ilk told us all week that Georgia finally will play some SEC talent
I said that whole week that Auburn didn’t have a chance. I don’t care what other Tech fans say.
clint
January 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
DawginLex,
Wasn’t 2008 SECCG #1 vs #2 as well. I know Bama came into that game undefeated and I thought #1. I thought FLA was ranked #2 that year, but I could be wrong.
DunNBEENstungAGIN
January 25th, 2012
4:13 pm
The Jackets will be competitive, IF they can play in AA – and avoid BUFORD!!!!!
TreaderJack
January 25th, 2012
4:13 pm
The Connor Shaw Heisman buzz is for real.