Welcome to the 2022 college football season!

When we last talked we were picking the SEC Championship Game winner, which we lost. As it turned out though, we were just a game off.

The Georgia Bulldogs ended a 40-plus year national championship drought when they got past a depleted Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff final. Behind a historic defense and an extremely efficient offense, the Bulldogs took home the title by the final score of 33-18.

Now though, the 2022 season is upon us and we’re more than ready, especially here at DSE. If you’ve followed us over the years here at the SEC Pick of the Week, you’ll note that since the beginning of 2015 we stand at a pretty decent 63-45. That’s good for a 58% success rate which is just slightly above the national average.

But enough about me though, let’s get to it.

It’s finally time.

Week one…

SEC Pick of the Week: No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia (-16.5), in Atlanta, 3:30pm ET on ABC.

The Georgia Bulldogs. Defending national champions.

Ugh, that was tough to write.

I will say thought that it was much easier to write this year than it would have been a couple of years ago.

But, you know, 2nd and 26 happened.

Anyway, the Bulldogs are back to defend their crown (heavy, isn’t it?) minus a few key contributors. A total of 15 players from last year’s title winning team were drafted by various NFL teams in April but the cupboard is far from bare.

The defense, which is what led the program to that title will be fine so long as they have time to gel. All-SEC defensive tackle Jalen Carter leads a front seven that is anchored by All-SEC linebacker Nolan Smith. Not to mention they still have All-SEC defensive back Kelee Ringo patrolling the corners.

I swear that there’s like nine All-SEC performers out there on their starting defense. And that doesn’t even factor in the backups, who could of course start at any other program in the country.

The Oregon Ducks come into this game with a new head coach in Dan Lanning, who left his job as defensive coordinator with the Bulldogs to take things over in Eugene. Our old friend Bo Nix, who transferred in from Auburn, is slated to be the in the mix to start at quarterback.

As a result, we all know how this one should play out. The 2021 Pac-12 runners-up are going to be no match for the ‘Dawgs in Atlanta.

Of all places, Atlanta. Must be nice.

The Bulldogs begin their victory lap starts in style as they cruise to an easy victory and cover the spread.

Upset alert: No. 7 Utah at Florida (+2.5), 7:00pm ET on ESPN.

The first game we’re profiling that involves a first-year SEC coach is one that hits home for me. As most of you know, I’m a Gator. So I’ll do my best to take emotion out of this and focus on what I think will happen on the field.

Billy Napier takes over a Florida program that’s in much need of repair. To do that, he’s bringing with him and implementing an Alabama-style structure with a Clemson culture or so they say, thereabouts.

Anthony Richardson leads a Gators offense that may or may not lack playmakers on the outside, while Ventrell Miller and Rashad Torrence II lead a defense that needs to start taking care of business.

As for the Utes, well, they’re just the reigning Pac-12 champions with a head coach in Kyle Whittingham who knows exactly what he is doing. There’s a reason why Utah hasn’t missed a beat since Urban Meyer left after the 2004 season.

Cameron Rising is back at quarterback and he’s looking to build upon the success he had last year in throwing 20 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

When looking at this game my head says Utah wins but my gut says the Gators pull this out. When in doubt you always go with your gut, right?

Keep an eye on: Florida State vs. LSU (-3), in New Orleans, 7:30pm ET on ABC.

It’s kickoff time for the Brian Kelly Era at LSU and boy, has he got a nice one. This will be the Seminoles’ second game (they opened with a 47- 7 victory over Duquesne) but for all intents and purposes this is game one for them as well.

And if last year’s Notre Dame – Florida State game is any indication, we’re in for a good one.

How ready for the spotlight is LSU? What about wide receiver Kayshon Boutte? Or even Brian Kelly for that matter? Is he ready to take LSU back to where they were just a couple of years ago?

In that aforementioned Duquesne game for the Seminoles, they largely relied on their rushing attack, which admittedly looks good. For the first time in ACC history, three players on the same team each eclipsed 100-yards rushing.

They are also highly motivated as head coach Mike Norvell begins his third year.

This should be a good game.

On a personal level though, go Tigers!

Tending up: Jimbo Fisher.

In my entire life (I’m 38) I have seen two truly great recruiters. Just two coaches that I would go to the ends of the Earth for just because they asked me to. Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. Yes, Saban is the greatest to ever do it and Meyer is one the greatest slimeballs to ever do it, but their respective recruiting abilities are second to none.

In the next tier is Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley and apparently Jimbo Fisher. While great at FSU in the mid-00s, Fisher is known to leave destruction in his wake. Truth be told, that’s probably what happens to A&M when he leaves, but if he gets a national championship is it worth it?

As a Florida Gators fan I have seen this first hand in the aftermath of Meyer. And I can say that it is indeed worth it. Without a shadow of a doubt.

Fisher, who enters the 2022 season coming off the heels of what is arguably the greatest recruiting class of all-time, is clearly in the now or never phase of his A&M career.

He’s probably a player or two away from really challenging for things and Alabama isn’t going away just yet. But I see a lot of similarities in A&M and those LSU teams that Les Miles had going there a decade or so ago. You can play second fiddle to Nick Saban and still be alright.

Trending up II: Tennessee Volunteers. 

Ever since Philip Fulmer retired after the 2008 season, the Vols are just 4-35 against Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

Those wins are as follows:

1. ZERO wins against Alabama once Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007.
2. ONE win against Florida, which took a Herculean second-half in 2016.
3. THREE wins against Georgia, two of which were one-score games and one of those was a Hail Mary.

If the Vols, who claim to be back are really back then that has to change. They’ve got the offense to do it, led by quarterback Hendon Hooker, but at this point I’ll have to see it first. Plenty of questions remain on the defensive side of the ball.

Trending down: The Bryan Harsin Saga.

Why does it seem like that everything that happens to the Auburn Tigers football program should be a damn movie. I mean really, this program can’t ever seem to go a full calendar year with some major drama.

I swear, this stuff should be put on the big screen. Or at the very least, put on a dedicated 24/7 pay-per-view channel.

This year the drama once again concerned head coach Bryan Harsin. The coach that half the Auburn boosters didn’t want nearly got their way. Trumped up scandals, a will he be fired watch on ESPN, y’all know the story. And I’m sure he does too.

More than likely, this thing ends just one way: with his termination and a lofty payout.

Trending down II: Kirby Smart and relocation. 

For all his good attributes, Kirby Smart sure likes to complain a lot. I get that recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, I really do. But to publicly want to buck almost 100 years of tradition because you can’t have your way?

Seriously?

The annual Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville is one of the greatest treasures in all of college football. The pageantry of it all, the tailgating, the 50/50 crowd, the random sights and sounds have made it a bucket list event for generations.

To want to move the game because you can’t host recruits like you can at a normal home game? That’s a cheap excuse. Georgia has had better ones over the years when it tries to move the game.