These are not overall predictions (those will be posted the week of August 30th when regular weekly columns begin); instead this is an analysis of reasonable best-worst case seasons for each SEC team.
Scenarios are listed alphabetically.
SEC West
Alabama: Best 10-2 ... Worst 6-6
Probable Wins: Tulane, Western Kentucky, Kentucky, Arkansas State
Probable Losses: @Georgia, @Tennessee, @LSU
Swing Games: Clemson (@Atlanta), @Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn
Comment: Talent level is rising for Tide, but may be year away from conference elite status.
Arkansas: Best 6-6 ... Worst 2-10
Probable Wins: Western Illinois, LA-Monroe, Tulsa
Probable Losses: @Texas, Florida, @Auburn, LSU
Swing Games: Alabama, @Kentucky, Ole Miss, @South Carolina, @Mississippi State
Comment: Bobby Petrino is likely to struggle for a year as the Hogs lost a ton of offensive talent.
Auburn: Best 11-1 ... Worst 8-4
Probable Wins: LA-Monroe, Southern Miss, @Vanderbilt, Arkansas, UT-Martin
Probable Losses: None
Swing Games: @Mississippi State, LSU, Tennessee, @West Virginia, @Ole Miss, Georgia, @Alabama
Comment: Auburn should probably be favored in the West, but the visits to the Mississippi schools and to Bama will not be easy.
LSU: Best 11-1 ... Worst 8-4
Probable Wins: Appalachian State, Troy, North Texas, Mississippi State, Tulane, Alabama, Ole Miss, @Arkansas
Probable Losses: @Florida
Swing Games: @Auburn, @South Carolina, Georgia
Comment: Road trips to Florida and Auburn should determine whether defending champs repeat as division winners.
Ole Miss: Best 8-4 ... Worst 5-7
Probable Wins: Memphis, Samford, Vanderbilt, LA-Monroe
Probable Losses: @Florida, Auburn, @LSU
Swing Games: @Wake Forest, South Carolina, @Alabama, @Arkansas, Mississippi State
Comment: Don't be surprised if the Rebels surprise. Ed Orgeron left much talent in Oxford ... still, those five road games are tough and finding more than 8 wins seems a stretch at this point.
Mississippi State: Best 8-4 ... Worst 5-7
Probable Wins: SE Louisiana, Vanderbilt, MTSU, Kentucky, Arkansas
Probable Losses: @LSU, @Tennessee
Swing Games: @LA-Tech, Auburn, @Georgia Tech, @Alabama, @Ole Miss
Comment: The two Mississippi schools are intriguing in the West. Sylvester Croom has built a solid program and several of those swing games are winnable.
