SEC Football: Best and Worst-Case Scenario for Every Team in 2015
Dec 6, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban leads his team on the field prior to facing the Missouri Tigers in the 2014 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2015 SEC football season just days away, we take one last look at the best-case and worst-case scenario for each team.
As we prepare to close the book on the off-season and turn our attention to the games that are now just days – nay, hours! – away, there are just as many questions surrounding the 14 SEC football teams as there were in January. Perhaps even more.
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It’s hard to imagine a preseason where the best-case and worst-case scenario for each team varies so widely. There are at least five teams that could conceivably win the national championship, but nine teams could fall short of bowl eligibility, which would likely cost five coaches their jobs.
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One national title contender falls into every category: a potential dream season that would result in a head coach’s first national championship, or a nightmare 5-7 campaign that would cost him his job or force him to retire.
Don’t believe it can happen? Remember that Florida went 4-8 following an 11-2 2012 season in which they were ranked No. 3 in the nation and played in the Sugar Bowl. Auburn won the national championship in 2010 and was 3-9 two seasons later after beginning the season ranked in the Top 25.
Tennessee went from 10-4 in 2007 to 5-7 in 2008, and Arkansas won 11 games in 2011 before all hell broke loose in 2012 and the Razorbacks went 4-8 the following season.
Keep in mind that this is an exercise in devil’s advocate. We’re talking best of the best and worst of the worst-case scenarios. Everything mentioned here can happen – and probably worse.
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