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The big 2014 SEC football countdown, from Kentucky to Alabama
The top conference in college football is the last in Bill Connelly's 128-team guide series, with one advanced-stats megabreakdown each weekday. Follow along!
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August 15, 2014
Bama has some questions. And lots of answers.
For all of the talk of Alabama's weaknesses, it still took a miracle finish to keep the Tide out of the SEC Championship. And it might take similar misfortune to keep them out of the Playoff.
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August 14, 2014
LSU will be fun as hell
Les Miles' 10th LSU team might be his youngest and most athletic. That could mean a huge range of results and plenty of excitement and absurdity. And really, what else would we want?
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August 13, 2014
Texas A&M: The next generation
Texas A&M has enough experience, especially on the offensive line, to assure that the bar doesn't fall too low in this post-Manziel universe. Still, the Aggies will have a young quarterback facing a brutal schedule. That sets the bar around 8-4.
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August 12, 2014
Spurrier knows South Carolina is loaded
South Carolina must replace most of last year's top names but returns virtually everyone else. The Gamecocks are fast and physical, and with a kind SEC schedule, they should be favored in the East.
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August 11, 2014
Saving the Gators
Can a new offensive coordinator and a healthy quarterback cure what ailed Florida in 2013? And with a projection of 7-5, one must start asking how many wins it will take to save the Will Muschamp era.
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August 8, 2014
A healthy UGA is a dangerous UGA
Georgia has incredible skill position talent and a potentially dominant front seven. The Dawgs also have serious question marks at offensive line and defensive back. Good luck figuring them out.
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August 7, 2014
Missouri reloads, sort of
Considering the losses, you'll recognize more names than you think on this year's Missouri squad. But the Tigers have to fill some pretty big holes if they are to make a run at a second straight East title.
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August 6, 2014
Now what for Auburn?
In 2013, Auburn got better, then got lucky. What happens to an experienced Tigers team after the greatest run of good fortune since the 1990 Colorado Buffaloes? What magic does Gus Malzahn have prepared for one of the country's most brutal schedules?
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August 5, 2014
Arkansas will improve ... on paper
In Bret Bielema's second year, the Razorbacks should be excellent at running the ball and solid at defending the pass. But that probably isn't good enough to make headway against a brutal schedule.
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August 4, 2014
Mississippi State and sudden expectations
Through 10 games in 2013, Mississippi State was 4-6 and Dan Mullen was on the hot seat. Three games later, the Bulldogs had hype and expectations. Are they ready to back it up?
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August 1, 2014
Ole Miss needs a 3rd step forward
With a superb defense alone, Ole Miss should be able to match last year's eight wins in Hugh Freeze's third season. The offense will dictate whether the ceiling is higher.
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July 31, 2014
Tennessee and the Ole Miss model
Extreme turnover in the trenches should prevent Tennessee from doing much better than about 6-6, but great recruiting and increasing experience could make for high 2015 expectations.
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July 30, 2014
Vandy starts over again
Derek Mason has the perfect résumé for continuing Vandy's winning ways in James Franklin's absence. But while the defense has some exciting play-makers, the offense will be a question mark.
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July 29, 2014
Kentucky's real momentum
Mark Stoops improved Kentucky on the field (awful to bad) and in recruiting (top-20 class) in his first year. His Wildcats won't be bowling yet, but there's opportunity for another step forward.