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SEC Football: 5 teams who can dethrone Alabama in 2017

By Jerran Anderson

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates their 33 to 32 win over the Michigan Wolverines during the Capitol One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates their 33 to 32 win over the Michigan Wolverines during the Capitol One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – OCTOBER 01: Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers scores a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

2. LSU Tigers – November 4

The LSU Tigers start a new era under head coach Ed Orgeron. With that being said, their 10-0 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide is something the Tigers can build upon. The Tigers are currently on a six-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide but that’s not necessarily indicative of ineptitude. They lost 20-13 in 2014 in overtime and 21-17 in 2012.

Close losses are still losses but LSU looks to finally find a solid quarterback since seeing a shuffle at the position the last few seasons.

The offense was a work in progress in 2016 under quarterback Danny Etling. The team even saw quarterback Brandon Harris transferred out and is now a member of the UNC Tar Heels. Etling threw for 2,123 passing yards and 11 touchdowns last season, but he also threw five interceptions.

The offense ranked 68th in the FBS in points per game (28.3). However, with running back Derrius Guice in the backfield now full time, things could change. Guice had 183 carries for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2016, rushing for 7.6 yards per carry (first in the SEC). If Guice can both pick up where he left off last season and do better in 2017, the Tigers could snap their losing streak to Alabama next season.

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