The SEC West is a contradiction in many ways. It has historically been a very tough division to deal with. It is hard for most teams to fare well in the West, as beaten-down teams such as Arkansas and Texas A&M can attest. It is also a hard division to confront for the teams in the SEC East, which have historically fallen short against the West over the past decade. The SEC East champion has not defeated the SEC West champion in the SEC Championship Game since Florida defeated Alabama nine years ago, in 2008.
Yet, for all the talk about how hard the West is, a number of facts stand in the way of that claim. First, every non-Alabama team in the West last year struggled. Not one team managed to win 10 games. That reveals the gap between Alabama and the other six schools in the division. Another fact which does the same thing is this: Alabama has won four of the last five SEC West championships, and the only event which prevented Bama from holding each of the last five SEC West titles was Auburn’s incredible, extraordinary Kick Six field goal return in 2013, which followed the miss of a chip-shot Alabama field goal which would have sealed the Crimson Tide’s victory that year. Alabama is destroying the SEC West, which means the big story this year in the division is if anyone can finally and fully stand up to the big, bad bully which is running roughshod through the landscape of the South.
Here are more notes on the 2017 SEC West
Odds:
Ole Miss: off the board – ineligible to play in the SEC Championship Game
Mississippi State +6,500
Arkansas +2,500
Texas A&M +1,500
Auburn +800
LSU +500
Alabama -500
Team On The Rise:
The Auburn Tigers needed a quarterback, and in Jarrett Stidham, they got one. Stidham was injured at Baylor, but before he got hurt, he ably piloted the high-powered offense coached by Art Briles, before his disgraceful exit from college football. Stidham is a missing piece to the puzzle for an Auburn team which has been solid at the other positions on the field the past two seasons, but has lacked the trigger man to lead the offense and make the whole operation come together. Stidham is the most important player in the SEC West this season. He can take the SEC West away from Alabama, but he will need enough help from his teammates, and probably a little luck at some point. Auburn has a chance to spoil the Alabama party, especially since the rivalry game with the Crimson Tide is at home.
Team In Decline:
The Ole Miss Rebels lost their two coordinators, they lost star quarterback Chad Kelly, they lost their head coach, Hugh Freeze, just two months before the season. Ole Miss has been whacked by NCAA sanctions. The program has collapsed in terms of recruiting. It will be led this year by an interim coach. The team is set up to fail. Every other SEC West team has to beat Ole Miss to meet its goals this season.
Hot Seat:
Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M was not paid to win eight regular season games. He was paid to win 10 or 11. If he can’t do something this season, it’s hard to see how the people at A&M will have any patience with him. He needs to win at least nine regular season games, and it will be tough to get there with Alabama, Auburn and LSU on the schedule.
Outlook
The question is whether or not anybody is capable of beating Alabama? Or will Alabama flop in any way?
There are a couple of teams that can challenge the Tide but as of right now, they are deemed longshots. If everything goes right for Auburn, they could make a push. And if LSU finds a quarterback and a competent passing game, they could also win the West. However, Alabama is the cream of the crop in the college football world and they’re pissed about blowing the championship last season. Look for them to be focused and win the West once again.
Prediction: Alabama to win the SEC West
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