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Beforehand: AAC, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, Solar Belt
The 2021 faculty soccer season is true across the nook and this week we might be previewing every of the Energy 5 conferences. The SEC is up first.
Beneath, Yahoo Sports activities’ Sam Cooper and Nick Bromberg present their ideas on every SEC staff earlier than predicting the place these groups will end of their division and if they are going to go over or beneath their projected preseason win whole.
Betting odds and win totals are supplied by BetMGM. Groups are listed in alphabetical order.
SEC East
Florida
SEC East odds: +450
Over/beneath: 9 wins
Sam: I do know Florida misplaced lots on offense, however I’ve confidence that Dan Mullen can assemble one other high-scoring unit with Emory Jones at QB and the ability place expertise he has on the roster. Defensively, I’m undecided UF has addressed a number of the points it had stopping the run. The knee damage to CB Jaydon Hill hurts, too. I believe 9-3 is true on the nostril right here, however I lean towards the over. Alabama and Georgia really feel like losses with the journey to LSU protruding as the sport that may swing the file to 10-2.
OVER 9 wins
Projected division end: 2nd
Nick: I notice Florida performed 11 SEC video games in 2020 however the Gators’ defensive stats have been shockingly unhealthy. Florida allowed 171 yards dashing per sport and opposing offenses accomplished 65% of their passes — these marks have been the very best in opposition to any Gator protection in Dan Mullen’s tenure. Whereas the Gators change six starters on that aspect of the ball, there’s expertise to get higher with a pair scheme adjustments and a few early-season cupcakes to pad the stats. Plus there’s an SEC East with 5 groups clearly worse than Florida. Put me down for a 9-3 season and an over if I needed to decide.
OVER 9 wins
Projected division end: 2nd
Georgia
SEC East odds: -400
Over/beneath: 10.5 wins
Sam: I believe it’s fairly clear that Georgia is the perfect staff within the SEC East. It’s additionally straightforward to see why many assume that is the 12 months UGA can deliver residence that elusive nationwide title. There’s a lot expertise on this roster, and JT Daniels actually elevated the offense late final 12 months, albeit in opposition to largely mediocre competitors. The protection is loaded, however UGA goes to want to constantly produce explosive performs offensively to get again to the CFP. The schedule units up properly. The Bulldogs might be important favorites in all however two video games: Clemson and Florida. Break up these two and handle enterprise elsewhere and you’ll land at 11-1.
OVER 10.5 wins
Projected division end: 1st
Nick: Each latest nationwide champion has had a receiving corps filled with NFL expertise. If Georgia has some huge receivers with a breakout 2021 then there’s no cause to assume the Bulldogs aren’t able to successful a nationwide title. Including somebody like Arik Gilbert was big for an offense that can seemingly not have George Pickens all season. If Gilbert is able to contribute instantly in opposition to Clemson in Week 1, Georgia is a menace to go undefeated. I just like the over right here even with a Week 1 loss.
OVER 10.5 wins
Projected division end: 1st
Kentucky
SEC East odds: +1800
Over/beneath: 7 wins
Sam: Mark Stoops has elevated Kentucky to a constant bowl staff by emphasizing the traces of scrimmage. UK’s o-line needs to be superb once more and the d-line has a ton of measurement, however I’ve obtained questions elsewhere. Stoops lastly realized his program wants a brand new offensive id, so he introduced in ex-Rams assistant Liam Coen as his OC. Extra of a vertical passing sport is seemingly on the horizon, and Penn State switch Will Levis has been tabbed as the reply at QB. Levis is cell and has a giant arm, however is he correct? I see six possible wins on this schedule, and the prospect for a seventh. However I don’t see 8-4. I’m on the beneath.
UNDER 7 wins
Projected division end: 4th
Nick: The Wildcats may need added probably the most of any SEC staff within the switch portal with the additions of Will Levis, ex-Ole Miss LB Jacquez Jones, former Nebraska WR Wan’Dale Robinson and former LSU OT Dare Rosenthal. That’s plenty of affect expertise that may step in instantly and play. The schedule is favorable; UK needs to be 3-1 at worst exterior of the SEC and Missouri and Florida each go to. Like Florida, the push actually appears to be like like the precise play right here, but when I used to be compelled to select I’d go along with the over.
OVER 7 wins
Projected division end: third
Missouri
SEC East odds: +1500
Over/beneath: 7 wins
Sam: It took just one season for Eli Drinkwitz to make Missouri fascinating once more. The Tigers went 5-5 and located their QB of the longer term: Connor Bazelak. Bazelak has the potential to be one of many SEC’s greatest. If a number of the staff’s younger receivers emerge, this offense has a excessive ceiling. There’s some stable items on protection, too. So long as Mizzou takes care of the rebuilding groups within the division, a bowl is a fairly secure guess. I believe 7-5 is the most probably final result, however with toss-up video games like Kentucky, Boston School and Arkansas, I believe 8-4 is extra seemingly than 6-6.
OVER 7 wins
Projected division end: third
Nick: At first look, Missouri appears to be like prefer it might go 9-3. The one video games that soar out on the schedule as losses are to Texas A&M, Georgia and Florida. However that is Missouri, nothing ever goes as deliberate. The Tigers deliver again eight starters on offense and Tyler Badie is an underrated working again who would be the major dashing choice. Including switch LB Blaze Alldredge (Rice) and switch CBs Akayleb Evans and Allie Inexperienced (Tulsa) will bolster the protection. I believe 8-4 is extra seemingly than 6-6.
OVER 7 wins
Projected division end: 4th
South Carolina
SEC East odds: +8000
Over/beneath: 3.5 wins
Sam: This looks like the start of a rebuild. There are some good gamers left over from the Will Muschamp period that can make the Gamecocks aggressive, however the damage to quarterback Luke Doty and a brutal second half of the schedule make it arduous to foretell many wins. If USC goes to go over the three.5, it must win its non-conference video games in opposition to East Carolina and Troy. If Doty is out for Week 2 on the street in opposition to ECU, I believe that’s a loss.
UNDER 3.5 wins
Projected division end: sixth
Nick: South Carolina ought to begin the season 2-0 irrespective of who’s enjoying QB. After that, issues get actually robust. Troy isn’t any pushover and even for those who pencil that sport in as a win together with a house contest in opposition to Vanderbilt, the ceiling doesn’t look any greater than 5-7. RB Kevin Harris goes to must shoulder a heavy load once more in 2021 for South Carolina to achieve that ceiling. I believe 4-8 is the file to go along with right here.
OVER 3.5 wins
Projected division end: sixth
Tennessee
SEC East odds: +2000
Over/beneath: 6 wins
Sam: The most important hope for Tennessee followers this 12 months needs to be that certainly one of these QBs (Joe Milton, Hendon Hooker or Harrison Bailey) clearly stands out above the remaining. Above-average QB play can go a great distance in Josh Heupel’s offense, however I don’t have my hopes up. The Vols additionally had plenty of their greatest gamers switch, particularly on protection. UT will get a go to from Pitt in Week 2 and faces each Missouri and Kentucky on the street. These are the swing video games right here, and I believe they’re in all probability all losses, leading to a 5-7 file.
UNDER 6 wins
Projected division end: fifth
Nick: Whereas Heupel and his employees have been keen so as to add Milton and Hooker to the QB room this offseason, it looks like the most suitable choice for Tennessee in 2021 and past is for Bailey to win the beginning job. He was the perfect QB for the staff as a freshman in 2020, although that’s not a lot of an endorsement given how final season went. Tennessee misplaced plenty of expertise to the switch portal and it’s arduous to not see how final season’s 3-7 file isn’t remodeled into 4-8 or 5-7 or so in a 12-game schedule in 2021.
UNDER 6 wins
Projected division end: fifth
Vanderbilt
SEC East odds: +20000
Over/beneath: 3.5 wins
Sam: The Commodores bottomed out beneath Derek Mason and introduced in Clark Lea to exchange him. He’s obtained plenty of work to do. Lea is a Vanderbilt alum, so he is aware of what he’s moving into — an extended rebuilding course of. Having a promising quarterback like Ken Seals is an effective place to start out, however there are challenges forward. UConn and ETSU are on the non-conference schedule, so there are just a few wins available. I believe Colorado State is beatable, too, however I don’t assume Vandy will get each CSU and one SEC win. I’ll take the beneath 3.5.
UNDER 3.5 wins
Projected division end: seventh
Nick: Vanderbilt received six video games in 2018. It wants three wins in 2021 to achieve six mixed wins over the three seasons since. A important trigger for Vanderbilt’s latest struggles is the offense. Vandy averaged 16.5 factors per sport in 2019 and an abysmal 14.8 factors per sport in 2020. Vandy scored over 20 factors simply twice in 9 video games a 12 months in the past. If the Commodores are going to hit the over, they must hit 20 or extra 5 or 6 instances this season. And that also is probably not sufficient.
UNDER 3.5 wins
Projected division end: seventh
SEC West
Alabama
SEC West odds: -450
Over/beneath: 11.5 wins
Sam: Contemporary off an undefeated season and one other nationwide title, Alabama is able to cycle within the subsequent batch of five-star skills. Bryce Younger will get the reins to the offense with an superior supporting forged round him and Invoice O’Brien in place as the brand new OC. There might be some slight rising pains on offense, however this protection has the prospect to be the nation’s greatest. The size and velocity of linebackers like Will Anderson and Christian Harris is ridiculous, to not point out the Tide added Henry To’o To’o from Tennessee. Alabama has gone by means of the common season unbeaten in three of the final 5 years. Maybe Nick Saban’s staff will slip up someplace, however I’m keen to take that probability.
OVER 11.5 wins
Projected division end: 1st
Nick: Can we take a second to understand this over/beneath for the Crimson Tide? You’re inserting a guess on whether or not or not you assume Alabama will lose within the 2021 common season. Floor-level knowledge says a staff changing eight starters on offense will certainly lose, however that is an Alabama staff that might have a fair higher offensive line and has loads of skilled ability place gamers able to step in. I’m actually bullish on the protection. The linebackers Sam talked about are implausible and the secondary might be actually good once more too. I’m going with the over too.
OVER 11.5 wins
Projected division end: 1st
Arkansas
SEC West odds: +5000
Over/beneath: 5.5 wins
Sam: Lots of people anticipated Arkansas to go winless final 12 months, so its 3-7 season obtained plenty of optimistic consideration. Maybe an excessive amount of optimistic consideration. That’s to not say there isn’t expertise on this roster. Treylon Burks is among the SEC’s greatest receivers, and there’s plenty of returning manufacturing on protection. However the lack of a confirmed quarterback and affect gamers up entrance on protection lead me to consider that is extra of a 5-7 staff than a 7-5 staff — particularly enjoying within the SEC West.
UNDER 5.5 wins
Projected division end: sixth
Nick: The Razorbacks play Texas in Week 2 and draw Georgia and Missouri from the SEC East. This might be the hardest schedule in faculty soccer. Feleipe Franks was quietly an excellent QB in 2020 for the Hogs and it’s arduous for me to see how KJ Jefferson will duplicate that in his first full season because the staff’s starter. Jefferson can have Treylon Burks and Trelon Smith, nevertheless, and they need to be productive even when Arkansas in the end finally ends up with only a win or two greater than it had in 2020.
UNDER 5.5 wins
Projected division end: seventh
Auburn
SEC West odds: +1600
Over/beneath: 7 wins
Sam: Bryan Harsin strikes me as a wierd match at Auburn, however he has SEC expertise on his employees with OC Mike Bobo and DC Derek Mason. The Tigers introduced in plenty of transfers, particularly on protection, and in addition return some high quality starters like RB Tank Bigsby and middle Nick Brahms on offense and LB Zakoby McClain and DB Smoke Monday on protection. However even with a brand new employees in place, I’m not anticipating Bo Nix to impulsively change into a top-tier SEC quarterback. When sizing up the state of affairs as a complete, brutal schedule included, I are inclined to land on 6-6 or 7-5 far more than 8-4. I’m selecting the beneath right here.
UNDER 7 wins
Projected division end: fifth
Nick: I believe that is my best over/beneath decide in all the SEC. Auburn has an extremely robust schedule with video games in opposition to Georgia and Penn State along with the conventional SEC West gauntlet. And it’s arduous to trust in Bo Nix except you consider a brand new teaching employees will trigger him make a giant leap. Auburn didn’t beat a staff with a successful file in any respect in 2020 and I’m undecided they are going to in 2021. I believe 6-6 is successful in Yr 1 of the Bryan Harsin period.
UNDER 7 wins
Projected division end: fifth
LSU
SEC West odds: +1100
Over/beneath: 8.5 wins
Sam: I believe LSU is getting ignored. The championship hangover was robust and so many issues went fallacious final 12 months, together with the disastrous Bo Pelini rent. There needs to be some steadier footing this 12 months and I’m anticipating a giant soar ahead, notably on protection. The secondary needs to be a giant energy. Can the Tigers rekindle the 2019 magic on offense? In all probability not, however I just like the QB-WR combo of Max Johnson and Kayshon Boutte and a number of the different younger items they’ve. If LSU can construct some confidence and win at UCLA to open the 12 months, an undefeated file nicely into October is on the desk.
OVER 8.5 wins
Projected division end: third
Nick: Sam is a little more bullish on LSU than I’m. I believe the absence of Myles Brennan might be a giant issue at first of the season, although it’s additionally straightforward for me to see how LSU is 6-0 heading right into a sport in opposition to Florida on Oct. 16. The soar from Pelini to no Pelini working the protection might be fascinating to look at and the offensive line can have 4 starters again. Whereas I’m undecided LSU is a contender for the West, I’m additionally not satisfied there are greater than 4 losses on the schedule. I’ll go along with the expertise in Baton Rouge and say LSU loses three.
OVER 8.5 wins
Projected division end: third
Mississippi State
SEC West odds: +4000
Over/beneath: 6 wins
Sam: Getting a full offseason is de facto going to profit Mike Leach’s program. Leach appeared to determine his constructing blocks late in 2020 (particularly QB Will Rogers, and getting these guys as many reps as doable in his offense ought to pay dividends shifting ahead. The Bulldogs are going to be pesky, and I received’t be stunned in any respect after they pull off a stunning upset in SEC play. I believe they will beat a staff like Memphis within the non-con, too. On the entire, although, I believe that is extra of a 5-7 staff than a 7-5 staff.
UNDER 6 wins
Projected division end: seventh
Nick: The Bulldogs misplaced 5 consecutive video games after successful in Week 1 after which misplaced three consecutive video games after successful their second sport of the season. It was not a terrific first season for Mike Leach. The offense has practically each key contributor again and WR Jaden Walley was quietly some of the productive receivers within the SEC. Throw in a protection that brings again a ton of its main tacklers and there’s plenty of room for enchancment right here. However will that enchancment be mirrored in Mississippi State’s file? I’m not so positive.
UNDER 6 wins
Projected division end: sixth
Ole Miss
SEC West odds: +1600
Over/beneath: 7.5 wins
Sam: Ole Miss is the SEC chaos staff. With Lane Kiffin working the offense, the Rebels are going to place up factors in bunches. Matt Corral, when he avoids INTs, is among the greatest QBs within the SEC and he has Jerrion Ealy and a slew of playmaking WRs on the market with him. However can Ole Miss cease anyone? That protection was brutal final 12 months, however obtained plenty of expertise a minimum of. With 9 starters again, they must take some form of step ahead, proper? Kiffin’s staff might be favored in all 4 non-conference video games and drew Vandy and Tennessee from the East. I believe there are positively eight wins on this schedule.
OVER 7.5 wins
Projected division end: 4th
Nick: Ole Miss followers could disagree, however the largest win of 2021 got here when Lane Kiffin introduced that his program had a 100% COVID-19 vaccination price. Changing Elijah Moore and Kenny Yeboah on offense received’t be straightforward, however Kiffin will discover playmakers. So long as Matt Corral avoids the multi-interception video games that plagued him in 2020 and the protection takes a minimum of a small step ahead, I just like the over right here. Drawing Tennessee and Vanderbilt out of the East is a pleasant reward.
OVER 7.5 wins
Projected division end: 4th
Texas A&M
SEC West odds: +600
Over/beneath: 9.5 wins
Sam: There’s a lot to love about this staff. The protection is loaded, the RB room is particular and the tight finish group has a ton of potential. The Aggies have the personnel to play like they did final 12 months and beat virtually all people on their schedule, however it actually looks like they should get extra aggressive on offense to essentially compete for a nationwide title. Their video games with Alabama haven’t been aggressive and till Jimbo Fisher makes some changes, I’ll stay skeptical of this program’s ceiling. I don’t assume A&M can beat Alabama this 12 months, particularly with an inexperienced QB. And even when A&M splits street video games in opposition to Ole Miss and LSU — by far the 2 different most tough video games — you may get to over 9.5.
OVER 9.5 wins
Projected division end: 2nd
Nick: Haynes King or Zach Calzada is the most important query mark dealing with the Aggies’ offense, however pay shut consideration to how A&M has rebuilt the offensive line this offseason. The Aggies want to exchange 4 starters up entrance. Jimbo Fisher has recruited nicely alongside the road, so there’s expertise there. But when there are any rising pains, they must be mounted within the first few video games. Alabama visits School Station on Oct. 9. The A&M protection has gotten higher in yearly of Fisher’s tenure, and with 9 starters again in 2021, it needs to be superb once more.
OVER 9.5 wins
Projected division end: 2nd
Sam Cooper’s SEC title decide: Alabama
Nick Bromberg’s SEC title decide: Alabama
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