The SEC is back to being on top of college football after Alabama won the National Championship last season. The Tide lost Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry but the cupboard is not bare. They’re loaded with talent and will need to guys to step into new roles on the team if they’re to repeat as SEC Football Champions.
There were coaching changes in the SEC. Mark Richt is out at Georgia while Kirby Smart left Alabama to become the head man in Athens. Both of the SEC’s Columbia’s have new coaches as Gary Pinkel of Missouri and Stever Spurrier of South Carolina both resigned last year. Missouri promoted defensive coordinator and alum Barry Odom to the top job. South Carolina replaced one former Florida head coach with another in Will Muschamp.
The Tide will not roll. See who the new SEC Champions will be this season in our 2016 Preseason SEC Football predictions.
2016 Predicted Records and Standings for SEC Football:
| RANK | SEC EAST | W | L | CONF W | CONF L |
| 23 | Georgia Bulldogs | 9 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 14 | Tennessee Volunteers | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| 34 | Florida Gators | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 70 | Missouri Tigers | 5 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| 71 | Kentucky Wildcats | 5 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| 85 | Vanderbilt Commodores | 3 | 9 | 1 | 7 |
| 72 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 3 | 9 | 1 | 7 |
2016 SEC EAST PREVIEW
1. Georgia Bulldogs – Kirby Smart is the new top dog in Georgia after Mark Richt was let go last season. Smart inherits a talented squad and a favorable schedule that leads them to the SEC Championship game in 2016.
2. Tennessee Volunteers – The Vols are the most talented they’ve been since Phil Fulmer’s best days in Knoxville. They’re headed to a 10 win year but a tough SEC schedule including a game at Athens keep them from a trip to the conference championship game.
3. Florida Gators – QB Will Grier’s performance enhancing drug suspension last season derailed a season that had great potential. They lost their last three games of the year only scoring 23 total points. Grier is gone so someone will have to become a playmaker if the Gators are to become contenders in the SEC East this season.
4. Missouri Tigers – The Tigers come off a tumultuous season that saw protest and resignation. Gary Pinkel has handed the reigns to Barry Odom in Columbia. Odom shook the staff up. The defense kept them in most games but the offense was pathetic most of the season.
5. Kentucky Wildcats – Mark Stoops is expected to make a step forward this year. The Wildcats have talent but the schedule isn’t doing them many favors. To make a bowl, they’re going to have to rise up and pull off a road upset or two.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores – Can Derek Mason keep making progress at Vanderbilt? His defense improved a great deal last season but the offense is still struggling. It’s got to get better to have a chance at getting to a bowl game.
7. South Carolina Gamecocks – The rebuilding process is underway at South Carolina. The Gamecocks saw Steve Spurrier resign mid-season and five straight losses to end the year at 3-9. Will Muschamp was brought in to get them headed back in the right direction but an inexperienced team is going to make it a long season in 2016.
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| RANK | SEC WEST | W | L | CONF W | CONF L |
| 9 | LSU Tigers | 11 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| 2 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 11 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| 16 | Arkansas Razorbacks | 9 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 5 | Ole Miss Rebels | 9 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 20 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | 9 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 48 | Auburn Tigers | 5 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| 39 | Texas A&M Aggies | 5 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
2016 SEC WEST PREVIEW
1. LSU Tigers – Hopes are high in Baton Rouge this season. They bring a very experienced team into the season and have the talent to compete with anyone in the country. The question again is at quarterback. Can Brandon Harris make plays down the field? If he does, Les Miles could add to his trophy case.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide – It’s expected the Tide will be title contenders every season under Nick Saban. The defending champs have the talent to play with anyone but against must break in a new QB. The schedule is difficult and will lead the Tide to not making an appearance in the SEC Championship this season.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks – Brett Bielema’s squad returns the defense nearly in tact. They’ll break in a new QB as Austin Allen takes over for his brother Brandon Allen. Bielema has inexperience on the offensive line but he usually get a great performance out of that unit season after season. The Hogs have the schedule to be contenders.
4. Ole Miss Rebels – The Rebels return Chad Kelly at QB but will be breaking in young players on the O-Line. They lost talent to the NFL last year on both sides of the ball but look to have young talent ready to step up. Are they ready for the SEC?
5. Mississippi State Bulldogs – Dak Prescott is gone and that leaves a giant hole to fill in the Bulldogs’ offense in 2016. Dan Mullen might need to lean on his defense a little more than in the past to keep his team in games. The Bulldogs aren’t going to be contenders this season but will go to a bowl game.
6. Auburn Tigers – Guz Malzahn’s has a roster that should be able to keep them in games in 2016. Do they have the leadership to win close games? Carl Lawson is a force on defense and should draw enough attention to allow his teammates to make plays. The Tigers are still a year away from getting back in the hunt in the SEC West.
7. Texas A&M Aggies – Kevin Sumlin lost his top two passers to transfer last year. He does have former Oklahoma QB Trevor Knight ready to take the helm for the Aggies. With Christian Kirk and Ricky Seal-Jones to throw to, Knight has weapons ready to go. The defense is lead by superstar Myles Garret. The Aggies are talented but the schedule is gonna make it tough tomake a bowl game.
2016 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
It’ll be LSU against Georgia in the SEC Championship game.
2016 SEC Champions: LSU Tigers
Get bowl projections, preseason All-Americans and more in our 2016 College Football Preview.
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