For the final time in SEC history, Georgia football will play in the SEC East division.
Since 1992, Football in the South has been formatted more or less the same. Now with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas to the league, the SEC will go division-less. I’ll personally miss the divisions, this is how I learned Georgia’s schedule as a young lad. It is sad to see a lot of these games go away. South Carolina and Vanderbilt will not be on the ‘24 schedule. It’s odd to see the Georgia-South Carolina game just go away. It would be unthinkable in the 2010s that this matchup would go away. Georgia and Vanderbilt first started playing against each other in 1893 and every year in 1954.
And so, we move on. But remember this year good or bad, because it will be the last of many traditions we have grown accustomed to having. With that, it is time to predict the SEC East final standings.
7. Vandy: Look, if you are an SEC fan, we should all be pulling for Vandy to turn it around. With Texas and Oklahoma coming into the league and realignment running mad in CFB; Vandy could get washed away from the SEC. So I’ll do my part and pull for them. They have the potential to be to start the season 4-0. So all they need is to steal two games to make it to a bowl. Which they very well could. The Defense lost Orji, who was the best player they had. The defense was the worst in the league. So hopefully they can improve a bit. Quarterback, AJ Swann in his second year as the starter looks to have another great season. If the Defense improves and the offense stays the same, Vandy could easily go bowling.
6. Florida: Oh to be the Gators. Billy Napier heads into year two with more uncertainty. This season feels like a make-or-break year for the Gators. They are going to struggle offensively. If you watched the spring game, you saw that. Yes, a spring game showed that. Mertz, the Wisconsin transfer is going to start at QB for the Gators. But with the Offensive line being completely overhauled, I would not expect anything great from the Gator’s offense. The defense should be improved. They are replacing 3 of their stars on that side of the ball, but many around the program feel like it could be better than last year. Gator fans better hope so or they will be down in the basement with Vandy and maybe no Bowl game bid.
5. Missouri: I am a believer in Eli Drinkwitz. The antics could go away but that is a personal problem and that does not affect play on the field. The Defense just like last year is going to be the anchor of this team. They had one of the best turnarounds in the SEC last year, and I think they keep that momentum up and have another solid season. Offensively they got a new OC Kirby Moore. If Cook is what they think he can be looked at for the Tigers to win some games they aren’t expected to win.
4. South Carolina: To be really honest with you I wanted to put South Carolina above Tennessee just to troll Tennessee fans. But then, as I was thinking about it, it became a coin flip. I really do believe Beamer is the right guy for the Gamecocks. With Rattler coming back, South Carolina looks to have an even better season than last year. There are still a ton of questions about the Cocks, are they going to be good enough on the lines of scrimmages? Losing their best lineman in the spring probably did not help their case. Also, they are breaking in a new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. They were the second-worst run defense in the SEC last year and lost Jordan Burch, a highly recruited defensive end to the transfer portal. We will get a read on them in week one when they play North Carolina. If they win that game there will be a ton of hype for them to upset Georgia in week 3. But in the last 3 matches versus the Dawgs, the Gamecocks have been outscored 133 to 36. A lot will have to improve for them to upset the Dawgs in Athens.
3. Tennessee: I am a doubter when it comes to the Vols. In the second year of Josh Hepuel, the Vols won 11 games and had a Heisman contender, Hendon Hooker, who put up silly numbers. The Vols had all this momentum, beating Alabama, and then, suddenly, like the rain in Athens melt away when they played the back-to-back champs. Now the Vols have to replace Hooker, Hyatt, Tillman, and a pair of linemen on the offensive side. Also, Tennessee is replacing its two best players on a putrid defense. Do you really think that Tennessee’s defense is going to greatly improve in year 3? Also here is another negative about the Vols. Joe Milton lost 2 starting jobs at 2 different schools. So why is he now Patrick Mahomes of CFB? Because he can throw a ball far? Do you know who threw a ball far and didn’t win anything? Jeff George. So while the media and Vols fans celebrate another pre-season national title, I’ll be honest with you all. I think Tennessee wins 8 or 9 games this year.
2. Kentucky: The Wildcats have always been predicted to be in this spot. For the past 3-4 years it always seems that Kentucky is picked to finish 2nd in the east. They have not delivered on that promise…. yet. Well, it is the year of the cats. With Liam Coen coming back to take over play-calling duties, and the addition of Devin Leary, Kentucky could have a shot at winning 10 to 11 games this season. Kentucky also has one of the best wide-out groups in the SEC outside of Georgia. On defense, Kentucky is returning a bunch of seasoned guys. I like the Wildcats to surprise some people and finish second in the east and play in a New Year 6 bowl.
1. Georgia: was it going to go any other way? Georgia has a ton of returning talent from the 2022 national championship team. The real question mark is who will replace Stetson Bennett. Carson Beck looks to be the starter, so we here at Dawn of The Dawg, we believe that too. If Beck can put up similar numbers as Bennett, there shouldn’t be that big of a drop-off. Georgia has one of the easier schedules in the country (only because they are Georgia) so they should have an easy path to Atlanta. Outside of Georgia going 12-0 the real question is where is that trap game? Is it South Carolina early in the season? Is the Auburn game for Georgia the trap given that it is the first road game? Or Ole Miss before traveling up to Knoxville to play the Vols? Your guess is as good as mine. I didn’t think Mizzou would have given Georgia that many problems last season.