2003 SEC Regular Season Predictions
by Van Plexico

Below is the SEC as I see it this year, being a *bit* more realistic
about Auburn than in my all-Auburn post last week.

I think there will be a handful of really good teams, and several
surprisingly bad teams, and a couple that are complete mysteries
(Alabama for one).

I just keep thinking we'll lose a road game, probably LSU, maybe
Arkansas.  We could easily lose both, or even three games, if things
start melting down.

If LSU's running game doesn't approach what they had with Toefield and
Co last year, they could drop a couple more.  I still think Arkansas is
the main danger, lurking there with their weak in-conference schedule.
Pull off at least one upset in-conference win and they're in the thick
of it, especially if we do indeed stumble a couple of times.

I see the key for several upper-middle teams this year being their
games with lower-mediocre teams, such as South Carolina and Ole Miss and
Kentucky.  Beat those guys and you have a shot-- lose to just one of
them, and you're in serious trouble.

Weird scenario:  If, after the below outcomes, UT were to beat Auburn
in the SECC, you could have LSU at 10-2 getting left out of the BCS...


Even stranger:   If Auburn and LSU both finished 11-1, AU had beaten
LSU head to head, and then lost to UT in Atlanta, you could have an 11-1
Auburn or LSU getting left out of the BCS...



Team  -  Regular Season Record  -  SEC record

WEST

Auburn   11-1   7-1
if there's a loss, it'll be to either LSU or Arkansas

LSU        10-2    6-2
two losses among Georgia / Auburn / Florida / Arkansas-- three and
they're done

Arkansas  8-4   5-3
if they can upset LSU or Auburn, they're in the hunt, and they don't
play UGA or UT

Alabama   7-6   3-5
will win one they shouldn't, and lose a couple they shouldn't-- key may
be Ole Miss

Ole Miss   6-6   3-5
wrong year to be mediocre in the West

Miss St    4-8    1-7
not good; grateful they face Vandy this year


EAST

Tennessee   9-3    6-2
best case has them 6-3 after Nov. 8-- better than that and they've made
vast improvement

Georgia  9-3   5-3
good, but three buzzsaws-- at Baton Rouge, at Knoxville, and Auburn in
AU's home away from home

Florida   7-5   5-3
the good news is the five who beat them will have a combined loss total
of about 10

Kentucky   5-7   2-6
when in doubt (as I am about UK this year), bet against in the close
ones.  Beat SC and you're bowl eligible.

S. Carolina   4-8   2-6
best case scenario:  beat Ole Miss and Clemson and you're bowl
eligible

Vanderbilt   2-10    0-8
there is no best case scenario-- though you do have a shot at Georgia
Tech this year!

--Van