FTA Fantasy Team Advice
It’s Finally Here: SEC Preview, Who Should you Watch?
ksThe SEC is as wide open as ever: The House that Johnny Built is unoccupied, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, and Vanderbilt have new starting quarterbacks, Tennessee and Kentucky never had a quarterback, Mississippi State might actually be good this year, and if last year was an indicator of anything, this year should be as entertaining as ever.
Thank you for visiting and welcome to the inaugural season of College Fantasy Football. As part of the introduction and in honor of the most entertaining event to ever come to college football this season, the college football playoff, there are going to be breakdowns of the most entertaining conferences and which teams are most worth watching this season. This year with the SEC Network, there will be more games to watch than ever before, and thus more options, leaving the casual SEC fan with choices. The objective of this article is not to say which team will win the conference or play in Dallas, but rather to help the casual fan who has no team allegiance to decide who he should adopt this year in terms of pure entertainment value. So, if eating grass, making fun of reporters, jorts, elite wide receivers and running backs, and everything that happens in Alabama interest you, welcome to SEC football. In this conference preview, each team will be carefully broken down by their overall skill level, coaching personality, a comparison, and overall entertainment value of the team.
# 1 Auburn Tigers
Key Players: HC Gus Malzahn, QB Nick Marshall, RB Corey Grant, RB Cameron Artis-Payne. WR Sammie Coates
This team is so much fun. Last year alone, Auburn had to stop Johnny Manziel on a last second, play, throw a Hail Mary against Georgia, over commit an illegal forward pass against Alabama, and then lost on a last second play to an undefeated Florida State. Gus Malzahn is an offensive genius, his team scored over thirty points thirteen times and broke fourty-three five times. Combine that with the fact that Auburn have two of the most dangerous runners in the country in Marshall and Coates, and Auburn is easily the fastest, and most entertaining team in the SEC, and likely the nation.
Comparison: The Road Runner
# 2 LSU Tigers
Key Players: HC Les Miles, HB Leonard Fournette, QB Anthony Jennings
Two words: Les Miles. It happens every year with LSU: lose a ton of talent to the NFL draft, sign superstar recruits, win extremely close games, call a stupid play, make a genius one ten seconds later, and have the other team put 13 men on the field. That in itself is enough reason to become a fan of LSU, but this year they have more. Freshman running back Leonard Fournette, a 6’ 1’’, 226 pound beast who runs a sub 4.5, is already a Heisman candidate and has drawn comparisons of being as elite as Michael Jordan and having a floor of Adrian Peterson. This year, LSU also plays games against Wisconsin, Auburn, Alabama, and Texas A&M. Even if LSU is not your choice, watching their games is still almost a must. So if you like nail biting, head scratching decisions, eating grass, and freshman phenoms, then LSU is the team for you.
Comparison: The Mad Hatter
# 3 Georgia Bulldogs
Key Players: RB Todd Gurley, RB Keith Marshall, WR Malcolm Mitchell
This team will just be fun to watch. Todd Gurley is a legitimate Heisman candidate and likely top 15 pick in this year’s NFL draft, Keith Marshall is an elusive playmaker with game-breaking speed, and Malcolm Mitchell was one of the SEC’s premier talents before tearing his ACL last season. On top of that, they will be very good this year and have a legitimate shot at winning both the SEC and National Title. So if you like big-time play makers, Georgia is the team for you.
Comparison: The Avengers
# 4 Tennessee Volunteers
Key Players: RB Jalen Hurd, WR Josh Malone, WR Von Pearson, WR Marquez North
No really, Tennessee is going to be fun to watch this year. They are going to lose a lot of games, but they are going to be entertaining. Maybe they will not be as fun as the 2012 Volunteers which featured Cordarrelle Patterson, Justin Hunter, and Tyler Bray, but these future NFL first rounders will make opposing defenses take them seriously every week. Jalen Hurd is also the best freshman you likely have never heard of. As a junior at Beech High School, Jalen had over 3,500 yards and 46 touchdowns before having shoulder surgery and missing his senior season. Their receivers are nothing to laugh at either as Von Pearson is arguably the best JUCO wide receiver to come out since Patterson, and maybe he is even better, Josh Malone is another five star receiver who has drawn lofty comparisons and has elite speed, and Marquez North set a Tennessee record for most receiving yards as a freshman (496). So, if you like to see offense, and cheer on a team with huge upset potential, then Tennessee is definitely your team.
Comparison: Air Force One
# 5 South Carolina Gamecocks
Key Players: HC Steve Spurrier, QB Dylan Thompson, RB Mike Davis, WR Shaq Roland
Even on a team with Steve Spurrier and Mike Davis, the SEC is so full of talent that somehow South Carolina fell to number five in our countdown. That might not last for long however, as this might be the first year that Spurrier can lift the Gamecocks to a number one ranking and national title. With Mike Davis, one of the top three backs in the SEC, Shaq Roland, an electric receiver, and Dylan Thompson, these Gamecocks have the game to lift them to the top of the SEC and to the top of our hearts. So if you like heart-warming stories, and Steve Spurrier’s sound-bytes, then South Carolina is the team for you.
Comparison: Rocky Balboa
# 6 Alabama Crimson Tide
Key Players: WR Amari Cooper, HB TJ Yeldon, HB Derrick Henry
Winning cures everything. In a state plagued by idiocy, illiteracy, and lack of GEDs, everyone forgets all their troubles every Saturday, and probably every other day in between, watching and talking about Alabama football. In Alabama, there is no NFL football, so it is either Alabama or Auburn football, leaving the crazy fans to accumulate in either fan base, making for hilarious stories. They also have two running backs with a legitimate chance at the Heisman named TJ Yeldon and Derrick Henry. In addition, Alabama football is really good; they have a legitimate chance to win the title every year because of some head coach named Nick Sabin. So, if you like to be entertained by crazed fan bases, smash mouth football, and love the villain in every movie, then Alabama is the team for you.
Comparison: Apollo Creed
# 7 Ole Miss Rebels
Key Players: QB Bo Wallace, WR Laquon Treadwell, DT Robert Nkemdiche, RB I’Tavius Mathers
Yes, a defensive player appeared on this list. Nkemdiche has a legitimate shot at being the next Jadeveon Clowney. A three-hundred pound monster on the defensive line, this sub 4.6 freak of nature has a chance to disrupt offenses like no other this season. On top of that, potential number one receiver in the nation, Laquon Treadwell, has a chance to light up the score boards with dual-threat quarterback Bo Wallace and his running mate, I’Tavius Mathers. So, if you liked players such as Jarvis Jones, Patrick Peterson, and Clowney, defensive players who could change games by themselves, and enjoy electric offenses, then Ole Miss is the team for you.
Comparison: The Guardians of the Galaxy
# 8 Mississippi State Bulldogs
Key Players: QB Dak Prescott, WR Jameon Lewis, TE Malcolm Johnson
Mississippi State is our lovable loser. Every year they are seen as that Cinderella team that can capture our hearts and let us dream big, then someone else does it instead. Really, first it was Auburn with Cam Newton, then Vanderbilt, then Missouri and Auburn. After that nine win season with Dan Mullen calling the shots, everyone thinks Mississippi State could be that team. The only reason they are above Texas A&M and Florida? It is because this year they can actually do it. With an experienced head coach, a Tebow clone in Prescott, and a legitimate defense to defend, Mississippi State can once again be the darlings in our heart and pull off an upset against one of the powerhouses in the West. So, if you love the lovable loser or if you want the Egg bowl to actually mean something, then Mississippi State is the team for you.
Comparison: Chicago Cubs
# 9 Texas A&M Aggies
Key Players: QB Kenny Hill, WR Malcome Kennedy, RB Trey Williams, RB Tra Carson, HC Kevin Sumlin
Key Loss: QB Johnny Manziel
As a previously ranked four star and eighth best dual-threat quarterback in the nation, sophomore Kenny Hill has a large room to fill in the Home of the Twelfth Man. However, with returning receiver Malcome Kennedy and the explosiveness of both Trey Williams and Tra Carson, these Aggies have a chance to be something special on offense. Also, Kevin Sumlinhas a thing with great quarterback play as well. At Houston, he coached the quarterback with the all-time most passing yards in Case Keenum, and led Houston to a ten and twelve win season. So this is nothing new to Kevin Sumlin. Although the defense will still be unspectacular, the offense will likely create enough explosive plays and win enough games to be mildly entertaining in the SEC this year. So if you are a youngest child or like great quarterbacks, then Texas A&M is the team for you.
Comparison: Eli Manning
# 10 Florida Gators
Key Players: QB Jeff Driskel, DB Vernon Hargreaves, RB Matt Jones, DL Dante Fowler Jr.
The House that Urban Meyer Built is in a bit of a standstill. The team has truly no identity and a lack of an elite quarterback. However, First Team All-American Vernon Hargreaves and the outstanding defense in front of him would like to argue that does not matter. In Florida, recruiting is plentiful and Florida can load up on elite athletes. Most of the time, that plan works, but last year it did not. Although Florida had their worst season in recent memory, Florida actually had a competent defense, but a terrible offense, which averaged only 14.6 points in each loss. This is why Florida has hope for this season. With the high profile recruits Florida brings in each year, if the offense develops, you could be looking at a potential force in the SEC this season, making this ranking of nine seem silly. So if you are a fan of the Seattle Seahawks secondary, jorts, and sub-par quarterback play, then the Florida Gators is the team for you.
Comparison: Mario or Richard Sherman
# 11 Vanderbilt Commodores
Key Players: QB Patton Robinette, RB Brian Kimbrow, RB Jerron Seymour
This is a team with potential. If Vanderbilt can recapture the offensive prowess of last year when Jerron Seymour rushed for 14 touchdowns and won six of their last seven games, then Vanderbilt should move up a lot more spots in this list. However, the biggest part that is keeping them down at eleven is the quarterback. The Commodores had the chance to start one of the most electric playmakers in the SEC in Johnny McCrary, but instead opted to go with the safer option with an ability to extend drives instead of the rocket armed, risk taker in McCrary. With Robinette, this team’s ceiling and floor are much closer together, but how much fun would it have been to watch the next Johnny Manziel play for Vanderbilt? So, if you are the person who believes academics are more important than sports, then Vanderbilt, and definitely not Alabama, is the team for you.
Comparison: Jimmy Neutron
# 12 Arkansas Razorbacks
Key Players: HC Bret Bielema, HB Alex Collins, HB Johnathan Williams, QB Brandon Allen
If you are ever in need for some great sound bytes, Bret Bielema is the obvious choice. This is the guy who called out the SEC for being morally corrupt, Oklahoma for signing Odell Green Beckham, and tried to pick a fight with Arkansas hero Gus Malzahn. Sure he is 0-8 in the SEC, but he sure is fun to listen to. Sound bytes aside, this Arkansas team has a superstar in the waiting with Alex Collins and a good quarterback in Brandon Allen. This team has potential, but when you have other teams to choose from, why bother? So if you live in Arkansas or like to smack talk without anything to back it up, then Arkansas is the team for you.
Comparison: Lane Kiffin
#13 Missouri Tigers
Key Players: QB Matty Mauk, RB Russell Hansbrough, WR Bud Sasser
This ranking is more so on the belief that Matty Mauk is not a very good quarterback as compared to anything else. Sure the team lost James Franklin, Dorial-Green Beckham, Henry Josey, L’Damian Washington, Micheal Sam, and Kony Ealy last year. They will simply not be as good this year, but it could get really bad. Last year, when Matty Mauk had to fill in for James Franklin, he had a 51.1 % completion percentage, 1,070 yards, 11 touchdowns and 229 rushing yards, with 5 touchdowns coming against Kentucky. If he could not perform with arguably the best receivers in the nation last year, how will he do with much less? This year, this team is no longer the underdog story. This year has the sound of a rebuilding year without much offense, so if you like a team that had great a great story but now has nothing, then Missouri is the team for you.
Comparison: Lance Armstrong
# 14 Kentucky Wildcats
Key Players: G Aaron Harrison, G Andrew Harrison, F Willie-Cauley Stein
This year Kentucky has a chance to be really good. With nearly their entire core remaining from last season, Kentucky has a legitimate shot at making another run to the Final Four. This year, with the number 5 recruit, Karl-Anthony Towns, coming into town with two other five stars, the Wildcats have a chance to replace the production of Julius Randle and perhaps even surpass it. So, if you are already looking forward to basketball season, Kentucky is the team for you.
Comparison: John Wall
SEC Predictions
Conference Champion: South Carolina over Alabama
Biggest Upsets: Mississippi State over LSU, Tennessee over Georgia
Coach of the Year: Steve Spurrier
Heisman Winner: Todd Gurley
Player of the Year: Todd Gurley
Defensive Player of the Year: Vernon Hargreaves
QB of the Year: Dylan Thompson
Dark Horse: Kenny Hill/Johnny McCrary
Surprise Team: Mississippi State
If you liked my article, let me know. I just want to welcome you to the College Football Daily Leagues and just wanted to provide a level of entertainment for the first story. This is literally for you all, so if my audience has any ideas, we can make it happen. As always, thanks for reading my article and tell me what you think!
FTA Fantasy Team Advice
It’s Finally Here: SEC Preview, Who Should you Watch?