College Football Future Picks: The East Division of the Southeastern Conference produced one of the biggest surprises in the country last year as the Missouri Tigers catapulted to win the East and represent it in the SEC Championship Game where the Tigers lost to Auburn. Mizzou’s rise to glory last year was a perfect storm as the injury battered Florida Gators endured a classic season from Hell, the South Carolina Gamecocks were upset at Tennessee, and the Georgia Bulldogs were ravaged by injuries. This year the East looks wide open as Georgia and South Carolina look like the best bets, but Florida could make for a strong comeback season and Mizzou has a lot of key departing players to replace. Meanwhile the Tennessee Volunteers look like a program on the risen although far from complete.
At The Top
Scheduling is a factor that far too many handicappers do not pay enough attention to and that is where the Georgia Bulldogs hold a potentially big advantage as they could potentially be favored in 11 out of 12 games. Georgia returns 51 lettermen and senior QB Hutson Mason impressed last year when filling in for departed Aaron Murray.
South Carolina returns 58 lettermen and loses only 10 but that does include starting QB Connor Shaw and defensive monster Jadeveon Clowney. The Gamecocks host Georgia on September 13 which may be the key game in the East for 2013.
Next Two
The Gators could prove to be a classic case of a quality stock that reached rock bottom and is now ready to soar. They return 49 lettermen and Kurt Roper arrives from Duke to coordinate the offense and get junior QB Jeff Driskel back on track.
The Tigers have just four starters back on both offense and defense and lost 24 lettermen from last year’s 12-2 team. Sophomore QB Maty Mauk was a key contributor last year which is cause for hope.
The Rest
The Volunteers are a team worth keeping an eye on as second-year head coach Butch Jones has recruited well and is quickly changing the culture.
Kentucky is also improving under its own sophomore head coach, Mark Stoops, but needs more time and other teams to fall while Vanderbilt is likely in for a long season as rookie head coach Derek Mason replaces James Franklin.
Our Pick
South Carolina has the best combination of coaching and experience to get our call.
