It is hump day here in the week of July 15th. That means 2019 SEC Media Days are almost over. We preview SEC Media Days Day Three with Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and South Carolina.
Alabama:
“Just when I thought I was out; they pull me back in.” This famous quote is from the Godfather part 3. Just when you think Alabama is done, they show you they are not. This is no more prevalent in what we have seen happen the last 2 seasons. Georgia leading the National Championship 20-7, in the 3rd quarter saw Alabama pry victory from their hands, in overtime, on a 2nd and 26. History repeated itself in last year’s SEC Championship with Georgia leading 28-14 in the 3rd quarter. Alabama picked themselves off the turf and rallied to break the Dawgs hearts yet again. In Nick Saban’s tenure, Alabama has only been out of National Championship contention 3 times. In 2007, what looked like a promising year at 6-2, ended with a 4 game losing streak, including an embarrassing home loss to Louisiana-Monroe. Three years later, Alabama began the year 5-0, but losses to South Carolina, LSU and Auburn derailed title dreams. It has been 5 long years since the most shocking of those defeats took place. I am of course talking about the 2013 Iron Bowl. In a quest for a threepeat, Alabama came to the plains and with 1 second left attempted a 57 yard field goal. Adam Griffith’s kick went wide right and short, but that was not the end. Auburn’s Chris Davis grabbed the miss kick and ran 109 yards to end the game. The dynasty would live on for Alabama with National Titles in 2015 and 2017. As we begin 2019, Nick Saban goes for championship number 6 at Alabama.
The Crimson Tide return Heisman runner up Tua Tagavailoa and their 3 top receivers from last year. An offense that averaged 45.6 points per game last year figures to duplicate that performance this year. Nick Saban’s defense returns 6 starters including leading tackler Dylan Moses. We have seen it, year in and year out, Saban continue to put out uncanny defensive talent. Just when you think Alabama will have a weak defense, they never do. Saban continues to put constant defensive talent in the NFL and continues to pose fits for opposing SEC offenses. Look for Alabama to be tougher than ever to beat this season. The Crimson Tide have an early road test against South Carolina and then three weeks later travel to Texas A&M. If Alabama can get by both of those opponents, there is no reason they will not be 11-0 heading into the Iron Bowl. Auburn is no stranger to playing Alabama in big games at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The last two instances where it has been “winner take all” the Tigers have come out on top. If Gus Malzahn can duplicate this in 2019, will Alabama be left out of the College Football Playoff? I doubt that because something will bounce in Alabama’s favor. It always does. Year after year Alabama is seen as the team to beat in the SEC West. 2019 will be no different. Until Goliath is knocked off his perch, nothing stands in their way.
Arkansas:
2006 was a Cinderella year for the Arkansas Razorbacks. After dropping their opener to USC, the Hogs rattled off 10 wins in a row. Arkansas found themselves 10-1 and in strong contention for a National Championship when rival LSU came to town. The Hogs lost by five but had already clinched the SEC Western Division. Arkansas headed off to Atlanta for a right to play in the Sugar Bowl. The clock struck midnight for Cinderella as Florida bested Arkansas 38-28 en route to a National Championship. Arkansas slipped into the Citrus Bowl and lost to Wisconsin. Despite back-to-back 10 win season in 2010 and 2011, Arkansas has not returned to Atlanta. Brett Bielema was able to get Arkansas to 3 straight bowl games but was let go after a 4-8 year in 2017. Enter the Chad Morris era. Year 1 did not go a planned as Arkansas went 2-10 and 0-8 in the SEC. Coach Morris hopes to channel his inner Houston Nutt and bring glory and prominence back to Fayetteville.
The Hogs return their top 2 running backs from 2018 in Rakeem Boyd and Devwah Whaley. They also return 4 of their top 5 receivers from last year. The Hogs will, however, have a new signal caller. Transfers Ben Hicks and Nick Starkel will battle it out to see who starts in game one. Whomever that may be, the new quarterback must be a leader. If Arkansas has a leader under center this offense can go a long way. On defense, the Hogs return 6 starters including leading tackler De’Jon Harris. This is an Arkansas defense that gave up 34.8 points per game last year. Arkansas, along with Ole Miss, must make strides on defense if they want to compete in 2019. We get to see the Ole Miss/Arkansas showdown, in Oxford, in week 2. Arkansas will face Kentucky, Alabama, and LSU on the road as well. The home schedule features Auburn, Mississippi State, and Missouri. The annual Missouri rivalry will take place in Little Rock. Arkansas’ path to 6 wins begins with wins over both Mississippi schools, as well as sweeping through their non-conference. Something that was not done last year. I really do not see Arkansas beating any of their other SEC opponents. That is a tough road schedule and Auburn and Missouri are no cake walks. Arkansas is going to be hard pressed to make a bowl this year. If the pieces fall in the right place it can all work out for Arkansas to be bowling again.
Mississippi State:
Like Arkansas, 2014 was a Cinderella year for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The journey began with marquee wins over #8 LSU and #6 Texas A&M. The Bulldogs would follow those wins with a triumph over #2 Auburn. Led by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, the Bulldogs achieved a number 1 ranking. Mississippi State would hold the number 1 spot for five weeks until they traveled to Tuscaloosa. Alabama put a chink in the armor by winning the matchup 25-20. After a win over Vanderbilt the stage was set as the Bulldogs faced their bitter rival in the Egg Bowl. With an injured quarterback, Ole Miss rallied to defend home turf and make the clock strike midnight for Prescott and the Bulldogs. The season ended with a disappointing loss in the Orange Bowl to Paul Johnson’s Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Three years later, Joe Moorhead takes over this Bulldogs program. In year 1, Moorhead picked up wins over Auburn, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. Moorhead’s squad finished the year 8-5.
As we start 2019, Moorhead looks to achieve what the 2014 team did. The Bulldogs are without last years sensational quarterback in Nick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald has graduated, but not before setting records and doing wonders for this team. The Bulldogs offense returns their top 3 receivers and their 2nd leading rusher from last year. On defense, Mississippi State is without Johnathan Abram, Jeffery Simmons, and Montez Sweat. There is a lot of turnover this year with these Bulldogs. That will not stop Moorhead from trying to accomplish his goals. The season starts off with 3 non-conference games, including a return game against Kansas State. The Bulldogs then enter the long haul of the SEC. Mississippi State hosts Kentucky, LSU, Alabama, and Ole Miss. The Dogs must travel to Auburn, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Arkansas. Assuming Mississippi State can start 3-0, a bowl game is feasible. With a cupcake game against Abilene Christian that leaves only two wins left to get. Give them a win over Arkansas and Ole Miss and they are home free. With all the turnover I am not sure Mississippi State can compete with their other SEC opponents. Kentucky could be a win, but the Cats were SEC runner ups last year. Moorhead and company did some surprising last year…will history repeat itself with some upset wins in 2019? Only time will tell.
South Carolina:
It was a fun time to be a resident of Columbia, South Carolina from 2010-2013. Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks won their first ever SEC Eastern Division Championship in 2010. Cocky looked prone to repeat as champions with a week 2 win on the road against Georgia. However, losses to Auburn and Arkansas derailed the train bound for Atlanta. South Carolina did not hang their head as they began 2012 6-0, which included a 35-7 win at home against Georgia. Tough scheduling and losses, both on the road, to LSU and Florida put the train off the tracks for a second year in a row. 2013 did not start off as strong as the previous 2 years, but the Gamecocks were still in contention at 5-1 heading to Knoxville. Butch Jones’ Volunteers kicked a game winning field goal as time expired to upset South Carolina. Even with a win over eventual East champs, Missouri, South Carolina could not gain enough ground to travel to the Georgia Dome. We have focused on a lot of heartbreak, but three straight 11 win seasons has never happened before and has not happened since. Will Muschamp will try and rekindle the flames that Spurrier left behind. Muschamp knows how to win in double digits. The 2012 season at Florida is the highlight for Coach Boom. He hopes year 4 at Carolina will be the magical one.
Cocky returns senior quarterback Jake Bentley. Bentley threw for 3,171 yards last year with 27 touchdowns. Bentley will have his top 2 rushers back in Rico Dowdle and Mon Denson. Even without Debo Samuel, South Carolina returns the next 3 top receivers from last year. Add in 3 returning starter on the offensive line and this Gamecocks offense could be one of the best Muschamp has ever had here. South Carolina returns seven starters on defense including TJ Brunson and Sherrod Greene. Muschamp is a defensive guy by trade so you know he will be motivated to put together a defense that can rival Kirby Smart and Nick Saban. The defense last year had some holes at times. They will need to plug up those holes to have a better 2019. The season begins with a neutral site game against North Carolina. If the Gamecocks win, they are probably 2-1 heading to Missouri. South Carolina won last year’s game in a torrential downpour. If Cocky prevails there, best case scenario puts them at 4-1 heading to Georgia. Georgia and Florida back-to-back is the make or break part of the season for Muschamp and company. If you lose both games, you are looking at having to win your next 4 before Clemson comes to town. Clemson has won the last 5 meetings and there are no signs of slowing down. With wins over Georgia and Florida, South Carolina would be 10-2 and Eastern Division Champions. Even if you split with those two teams, a 9-3 record is pretty good. I picked South Carolina to win the East last year. I am not quite sure I want to lock that pick in quite yet. After the 2 game stretch with Georgia and Florida we will revisit the conversation of South Carolina winning the SEC East. The East might be more enjoyable to watch than the West this year. It has been a good 4 years since we saw that.
Before watching about SEC Media Days Day Three, here are days one and two.
