The Southeastern conference perhaps acts as a mantelpiece for college football.

A rich tradition and storied history deeply rooted within the fanbases, the game comes as second nature, with potential petitions for inscribing Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier-like replicas amidst the crevices of Mount Rushmore.  

So when 5 Dimes opened up win totals for the FBS, one core of clubs that sought keen proofreading was the SEC. 

I’ll start my breakdown of the SEC by first taking a team-by-team look at the SEC West. 

Here’s my take on the 2015 SEC West season win totals:

 

ALABAMA

While they may lack the glitz of 2014, Alabama nabs their bid once more as the frontrunner of the SEC, 5Dimes sportsbook opening the Crimson Tide at 9.5 wins respectively. 

While the defense has prototypically cemented its presence as the long suit for Bama, last year Saban and OC Lane Kiffin were equipped with a lethal tandem on offense with quarterback Blake Sims and wide receiver Amari Cooper.

With the couplet of athletes withdrawn from the blueprint, I expect coach Saban to converge upon his defense once more in 2015 to potentially conquer the SEC as a whole, considering eight starters return from a season ago, including NT Jarran Reed and ILB Reggie Ragland.

The Tide will clash with a duo of collision courses on the road at Georgia and Auburn, but a doublet of losses would still suffice for “over” bettors, given Alabama runs the table of the remaining schedule.

With War Eagle, Georgia, and a handful of SEC squads climbing the ranks, Saban and Co. may be abandoned in the shadows by the general public, but the shellacking to Ohio State in the 2014 CFP and regaining troops on defense certifies this club as dangerous once more. 

Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide Over 9.5 Wins (-145)

 

ARKANSAS

College football junkie and statistical guru Phil Steele presents fans with a premature Christmas trinket (yes, even in the summer) each season, including lengthy previews and his personal sabermetric formulas for increasing win (or loss) percentage. 

One subdivision of his work regards teams suffering marginal defeats a season ago and how it can factor into production the following campaign.

For the Arkansas Razorbacks, this equation breezes into their wheelhouse as head coach Brett Bielema’s crew possessed the short end of the stick for much of 2014.

Four tallies in the loss column by a touchdown or less and impressing the nation with matching conference wins versus Ole Miss and LSU (outscored both by a combined 47-0), a seven-win club may bode as an unsung in the SEC for 2015.

I pocket minimal trust in quarterback Brandon Allen, but the duo of Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins stationed in the backfield, the Razorbacks contain two 1,000-yard rushers from a season ago, complimented by four returning big men up front.

If you’re seeking value, look no further, as Arkansas’ record was heavily skewed on loose leaf in 2014.

Pick: Arkansas Razorbacks Over 8.5 Wins (+120)

 

AUBURN

We’ve touched on returning starters, head coaching, and even dabbled into sabermetrics. The core of many predictions can easily stem from scheduling, and one program that I feel holds a substantial advantage is the Auburn Tigers.

As usual for most SEC teams, the non-conference schedule is filled with cupcakes. However, week one will measure the Tigers versus the Louisville Cardinals.

Bobby Petrino’s defense potentially returns five guys from the 2014 core, and while the unit as a whole boasted swell numbers last season, they managed to slip past three teams ranking in the top five of offensive efficiency a season ago in the ACC (Pitt, UNC, GT), while squandering an average of 33.2 to a handful of adequate offensive attacks in Florida State, Notre Dame and Georgia. 

The red flags rise here, even with the alotted time Louisville is armed with in preparing for one of the quicker offenses amidst the 2015 itinerary (we’ll weigh in shortly).

Following a showdown with the Cardinals, I graze over potential hectic road contests, yet the short scroll presents just a couple of potential disasters in LSU and Arkansas, with the Tigers welcoming such squads as Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Georgia, and Alabama to Jordan-Hare Stadium.

(And here we are) While the presence and flash of quarterback Nick Marshall may go for naught this fall, Gus Malzahn reloads his arsenal of playmakers with Jeremy Johnson under center and Duke Williams, a wide receiver qualified to emerge as the nation’s top threat. Upon mauling over the possibility of entering the draft, Williams stuck with his collegiate teammates to forego another year.

As for Johnson, he’ll have some monstrous shoes to fill following the tenures of Marshall and Heisman Winner/National Champion Cam Newton.

What suits the plan of attack is the slew of running backs in Jovon Robinson, Roc Thomas, and Peyton Barber, all seizing viable opportunities to carry the pigskin in 2015. With contrasting styles, expect Malzahn to test the waters with introducing each back to the offensive scheme, and perhaps using multiple backs regularly.

Former Florida head coach Will Muschamp takes over a defense that brings a trio of defensive backs and linemen to the forefront, so I believe the remnants of Auburn gradually building a nice stop unit for 2015 exist.

Pick: Auburn Tigers Over 8.5 (+100)

 

LSU

To summarize last season, the Bayou Bengal faithful could outline their morale with a reluctant “eh.”

And that’s exactly how it went for Les Miles and his Tigers. 

The non-traditional defense circumscribed with the deprivation of NFL talent, an inexperienced and occasional perplexed quarterback, and the absence of a go-to wide receiver, the aura simply carried a peculiar vibe. 

Fear not, because LSU managed eight victories amidst question marks, and I praise the talent that returns.

You’d have to perceive Anthony Jennings to regroup with a year as the regular under center etched into his résumé, while the top three wide receivers from 2014 were underclassmen, including the highly touted freshman Malachi Dupre.

That’s not the scary part, either.

A force at tailback in Leonard Fournette administers the offense with a deadly balance, the freshman accumulating 1,034 yards on the ground and 11 scores in his initial year cloaked in purple and yellow. 

A fifth-ranked defense via points surrendered in 2014 returns a respectable seven players, and will hope to rejuvenate back to the prototypical lockdown entity that Les Miles frequently permits.

It’s quite easy to state the positives as I type, but an obstacle-filled trial, especially with trips to Ole Miss, Alabama, and Mississippi State will surely test the waters in Louisiana.

I’ll vouch for them, however.

Pick: LSU Tigers Over 8 Wins (-115)

 

MISSISSIPPI STATE

We venture to the likes of Mississippi State, the Bulldogs’ projection sitting at 7 victories (over -110/under -130).

The 10-2 regular season docket for MSU initially perceives the 2015 win total to fall beneath expectations, so let’s weigh in on this sector a dash further.

The good? Dak Prescott strolls back under center, the once-Heisman contender set to lead the ‘Dogs once more in 2015. 

And that’s where the list runs barren.

MSU fails to return more than two players at any position group, so while experience lacks for the maroon and white, the scheduling offers roadblocks of its own.

Consecutive road expeditions to Auburn and Texas A&M may equate to two defeats, while traveling to Arkansas a week prior to the notorious Egg Bowl with rival Ole Miss poses an additional obstacle.

That’s excluding the intertwining with LSU and Alabama, so while the number significantly drops for Mississippi State, their lone shot at a title may be wallowing in the shadows of 2014.

Pick: Mississippi State Bulldogs Under 7 Wins (-130)

 

OLE MISS

Ah, Ole Miss. Hotty Toddy, flim flam, yadda yadda yadda.

I’ll reluctantly admit that I partially adopted the program upon snatching Hugh Freeze as the ringleader and that illustrious 2013 recruiting class, so I’m armed with a supplementary pair of eyes when it comes to the Rebels.

Last year–absolutely glorious. For the most part, at least.

Overcoming the Tide in Vaught-Hemingway, slithering to No. 1, the “Landshark” defense as Ole Miss aficionados title it, the accolades began to accumulate. 

The conundrum of ousting the cream of the crop and thwacking the barrier to the SEC appeared all but over until the chips dismantled like that of a Jenga set. 

A trip to the Bayou for a showdown with LSU ended the Rebels perfect season, and an injury to star receiver Laquon Treadwell the following week amidst a barn burner versus Auburn, subsequently halted an opportunity to snag a bid to the playoffs.

A hefty portion of that elite defensive core cuts ties in 2015, including Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt in the secondary, so while players like DT Shackleford and the Nkemdiche brothers solidify their positions once more via the front seven, I’m not entirely sold on Ole Miss.

The offensive line appears in great shape and a trio of receivers return (including a hungry Treadwell), but the magic may be all but dry from 2014.

They endure their share of cakewalks with New Mexico State and UT Martin, but will be tested as visitors upon waltzing into the likes of Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi State, and a vastly improved Memphis core.

The blockade may have been shattered by Freeze’s bunch in 2014, but I view it as merely fragmented with a heavy dose of luck to overcome.

Pick: Ole Miss Rebels Under 8.5 Wins (-130)

 

TEXAS A & M

Texas A&M saw its decline once the Johnny Manziel era culminated, the Aggies swirled into a state of bewilderment and frustration for much of the 2014 season.

Their quick strike offense could be very well intact for ’15, and I am personally ecstatic to absorb the development of the ever so athletic wideout in Speedy Noil.

Contests with Arizona State, Bama and LSU could initially mark Kevin Sumlin and company 0-3, while I also believe the Gamecocks, War Eagle, and Razorbacks avenge losses from a year ago. 

A&M’s an ominous bunch. They may be the SEC team that concludes the season 9-3, or opens on the wrong foot en rout to a 5-7 record–I select the latter for the Aggies.

Pick: Texas A&M Aggies Under 7.5 (-105)

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Which SEC West team do you consider the BEST BET to go Over or Under their posted total this year?

I will return next week and wrap up the conference with SEC East win totals. 

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For more college football discussion and information, you can follow Alex on Twitter @AlexK_47.

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