SEC football preview, predictions for 2020: A Blitz Podcast

Our anomalous preview schedule comes to a close as the Blitz crew offers their takes and predictions on SEC football for 2020.

The strange and arguably irresponsible 2020 season has officially kicked off, and we set our sights on SEC football to wrap-up our conference-by-conference previews and predictions.

COVID-19 has caused the cancellations of various leagues, including the Pac-12 and Big Ten, but the SEC has moved forward with a conference-only schedule that is slated to kick off on the final Saturday of September. The league, often derided for playing only eight conference games, will play a 10-game league schedule in 2020.

Along with the usual defection of high-level talent to early-entry in the NFL Draft, the SEC has seen some high profile players opt-out of the 2020 season over health concerns. No team was hit harder by both than defending national champion LSU.

The Tigers went 15-0 in 2019 en route to one of the most dominant championship seasons in the history of the sport, but face an uphill climb as they look to defend their crown.

After a disappointing (by their standards) season in 2019, Alabama looks to reassert their autonomous claim on the SEC again in 2020, with a ton of talent back in Tuscaloosa. Can the Crimson Tide wrestle the SEC West back from LSU’s grasps?

And then in the East, both Georgia and Florida look poised to challenge for the conference crown and playoff spots. But both Tennessee and Kentucky are lurking, waiting for one slip up to make a run at the top of the divisional standings.

How will the SEC stack up in 2020? Who comes out on top, and what are the chances the league nets two — or even three — teams in the College Football Playoff with two Power Five leagues sitting out the fall season?

The Saturday Blitz Podcast is part of the FanSided Radio Network at Spreaker. The show goes live every Wednesday morning. You can reach John Mitchell at @jlmitchell93 and Zach Bigalke at @zbigalke on Twitter.