Saturday Down South thinks Gamecocks have a chance at the 2012 National Championship
Five Teams Could Emerge As SEC National Championship Contenders In 2012
SEC fans: it’s time to relax. It’s been a long year of college football, and we just had an all-SEC national championship in New Orleans. It was simply incredible.
Anyway, now that 2011 is officially in the books, we can begin to take a way-too-early look at the SEC and what teams could possibly emerge next year as national championship contenders.
A word to Brock Huard and other SEC haters: we aren’t going anywhere.
Here’s the list of five hopefuls for 2012, because we know it will be one of them:
LSU Tigers
LSU has to be the favorite in the SEC and maybe the country heading into 2012 to return to the National Championship for the SEC. The Tigers were virtually three-deep at every position across the board this season, and they return a ton of talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Les Miles has this program on autopilot right now, and they are building some unbelievable depth in Baton Rouge. Not only on defense, but the running back roster is four-deep heading into next year with Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard. I think LSU’s offense will improve next year in the passing game when either Zach Mettenberger or Gunner Kiel will likely take over the reigns next year at the helm of the LSU offense. LSU has to be the favorite based on how much talent they return alone.
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia will be a very big player and an interesting player in the SEC next year. The schedule is cake once again, and it is by far the easiest in the SEC next season. They return arguably the best quarterback in the SEC in Aaron Murray. Murray has broken quite a few records at Georgia so far in his short career. Murray returns Malcolm Mitchell and a slew of young, talented receivers with a year under their belts. The defense will be stout again under Todd Grantham’s tutelage, if he does not go to the NFL. The only question, once again, is who will step up and be the running back for the Bulldogs. A steady running game to go along with Murray should give the Bulldogs the edge in the East next season.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The defending national champions are losing some talent to the NFL, namely Trent Richardson, Dont’a Hightower and Dre Kirkpatrick. However, there is still a very good nucleus of offensive linemen, a steady dose of a solid, steady running game and a developing quarterback in AJ McCarron who could be ready to take the next step after his impressive performance against LSU. All in all, Nick Saban will field a good football team because he has recruited very well over the last couple of years. JUCO transfer Duron Carter should give McCarron a big weapon in the passing game that he did not have this season.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks are coming off of their first-ever 11-win season after a very impressive performance from Connor Shaw in the Capital One Bowl against Nebraska. Even though Alshon Jeffery, Stephon Gilmore and Melvin Ingram are gone, Carolina returns a formidable cast on both offense and defense for another run in 2012. The one big question mark is obviously how Marcus Lattimore will recover from his season-ending knee injury. Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson is also gone to Southern Miss, but the Gamecocks looked fine in the bowl game. Shaw, Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney will all be the leaders of this club next season. This team could actually be better than this year, and with the East being so weak, Carolina has a very good chance to win the SEC East.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas will be a team everyone will look at in 2012 because of quarterback Tyler Wilson returning for another season. Of the four very good receivers he had this year, Cobi Hamilton is the only returnee. However, the Hogs will get a boost when Knile Davis returns at running back because he missed the entire 2011 season due to an injury. Defensively there will be holes to fill with Jake Bequette and Jerry Franklin graduating, but I expect this team to be like it was this year – electric on offense and steady on defense. The Hogs could be a dark horse SEC contender in 2012.
Who’s your early prediction to win the SEC’s 7th consecutive BCS National Championship?
LINK: http://www.saturdayd...hip-hopes-2012/
Five Teams Could Emerge As SEC National Championship Contenders In 2012
SEC fans: it’s time to relax. It’s been a long year of college football, and we just had an all-SEC national championship in New Orleans. It was simply incredible.
Anyway, now that 2011 is officially in the books, we can begin to take a way-too-early look at the SEC and what teams could possibly emerge next year as national championship contenders.
A word to Brock Huard and other SEC haters: we aren’t going anywhere.
Here’s the list of five hopefuls for 2012, because we know it will be one of them:
LSU Tigers
LSU has to be the favorite in the SEC and maybe the country heading into 2012 to return to the National Championship for the SEC. The Tigers were virtually three-deep at every position across the board this season, and they return a ton of talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Les Miles has this program on autopilot right now, and they are building some unbelievable depth in Baton Rouge. Not only on defense, but the running back roster is four-deep heading into next year with Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard. I think LSU’s offense will improve next year in the passing game when either Zach Mettenberger or Gunner Kiel will likely take over the reigns next year at the helm of the LSU offense. LSU has to be the favorite based on how much talent they return alone.
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia will be a very big player and an interesting player in the SEC next year. The schedule is cake once again, and it is by far the easiest in the SEC next season. They return arguably the best quarterback in the SEC in Aaron Murray. Murray has broken quite a few records at Georgia so far in his short career. Murray returns Malcolm Mitchell and a slew of young, talented receivers with a year under their belts. The defense will be stout again under Todd Grantham’s tutelage, if he does not go to the NFL. The only question, once again, is who will step up and be the running back for the Bulldogs. A steady running game to go along with Murray should give the Bulldogs the edge in the East next season.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The defending national champions are losing some talent to the NFL, namely Trent Richardson, Dont’a Hightower and Dre Kirkpatrick. However, there is still a very good nucleus of offensive linemen, a steady dose of a solid, steady running game and a developing quarterback in AJ McCarron who could be ready to take the next step after his impressive performance against LSU. All in all, Nick Saban will field a good football team because he has recruited very well over the last couple of years. JUCO transfer Duron Carter should give McCarron a big weapon in the passing game that he did not have this season.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks are coming off of their first-ever 11-win season after a very impressive performance from Connor Shaw in the Capital One Bowl against Nebraska. Even though Alshon Jeffery, Stephon Gilmore and Melvin Ingram are gone, Carolina returns a formidable cast on both offense and defense for another run in 2012. The one big question mark is obviously how Marcus Lattimore will recover from his season-ending knee injury. Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson is also gone to Southern Miss, but the Gamecocks looked fine in the bowl game. Shaw, Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney will all be the leaders of this club next season. This team could actually be better than this year, and with the East being so weak, Carolina has a very good chance to win the SEC East.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas will be a team everyone will look at in 2012 because of quarterback Tyler Wilson returning for another season. Of the four very good receivers he had this year, Cobi Hamilton is the only returnee. However, the Hogs will get a boost when Knile Davis returns at running back because he missed the entire 2011 season due to an injury. Defensively there will be holes to fill with Jake Bequette and Jerry Franklin graduating, but I expect this team to be like it was this year – electric on offense and steady on defense. The Hogs could be a dark horse SEC contender in 2012.
Who’s your early prediction to win the SEC’s 7th consecutive BCS National Championship?
LINK: http://www.saturdayd...hip-hopes-2012/
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