There's no running from the Bama machine: despite an always strong middle and an improving back end, the SEC once again belongs to the Tide.
West
Predicted Standings:
- Alabama (conference championship game winner)
- Auburn
- LSU
- Texas A&M
- Mississippi State
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
We know how this one ends. It's Alabama, who has recruited better than anyone for seven straight years, who has lost more than two games in a season just once since 2008, who has participated in five of the last eight national championship games and won four of them, who has maybe the best coach in the history of the sport leading them, who has pumped out first-rounder after first-rounder, who has been consistently otherworldly on defense and ruthless on offense, and who has yet to slow down even the tiniest bit.
The Tide destroys everything in its path through brute force and speed. Everyone in the Bama backfield has the ability to run right through you: three running backs averaged 6.5 yards per carry or more on at least 85 attempts. Add in Jalen Hurts's 172 non-sack runs that averaged 6.2 yards, and you have one of the most formidable rushing attacks in the country. Hurts can throw too, and there aren't many better players to throw to than Calvin Ridley, who caught eight touchdowns last year.
The Tide destroys everything in its path through brute force and speed. Everyone in the Bama backfield has the ability to run right through you: three running backs averaged 6.5 yards per carry or more on at least 85 attempts. Add in Jalen Hurts's 172 non-sack runs that averaged 6.2 yards, and you have one of the most formidable rushing attacks in the country. Hurts can throw too, and there aren't many better players to throw to than Calvin Ridley, who caught eight touchdowns last year.
If one was to try to have a concern about the Alabama defense, it would be the pass rush. Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Tim Williams combined for 36.5 sacks last season. The leading returner, Rashaan Evans, finished with 4.0. That's a lot of ability to replace all at once, so perhaps one of the nation's two best defenses won't get to the quarterback as easily. I am sure the rest of the defense will remain elite.
Auburn is often difficult to trust, but I'm considering putting my belief in them. The offense returns most of its regular starters (at a couple positions, it's difficult to tell who last year's "regulars" were), including All-SEC first teamers Kamryn Pettway (running back) and Alex Kozan (guard). There should be less shuffling at quarterback with the arrival of Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham, who was great in Waco. A bunch of young receivers got targets last season, and with Stidham, I anticipate a significantly improved passing game. Since Auburn's strength last year was the run (they finished 16th in yards per carry last year), this will make for a dangerous, multidimensional offense.
The defense is a little less of a sure thing. Some solid players, like safety Tray Matthews, corners Carlton Davis and Javaris Davis, and defensive end Marlon Davis (none of whom are related), are back, but the team's best two linemen, all-conference selections Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams, leave big holes. Even good secondaries need help from the line, and the Tigers' line might have trouble getting to the quarterback.
Still: Auburn looks quite promising. If they beat a transitioning Clemson in Week 2, they might find themselves in a New Year's Six bowl.
I don't know exactly what to think of LSU. A better offensive coordinator; short-term certainty at head coach; a track record of excellence; and some of the best recruiting classes of the past few seasons all point to these Tigers being really good, right?
Except they don't know how to do anything except run the ball (which they are admittedly fantastic at), eight defensive starters need replacing, and they have to go through the SEC West gauntlet, which so frequently cannibalizes itself for three months before leaving nobody but Alabama clean on the other side. Plus, I don't entirely trust Ed Orgeron in the long term. Perhaps that doesn't matter this season, but it doesn't help my confidence.
The best-case scenario for LSU is that they almost run table on sheer talent and athleticism, probably not upsetting Bama on the road but winning 10 or 11 games and coming within a couple breaks of the conference championship game. I think the more likely scenario is that the Tigers need a little time to work out the kinks and find a new way to score, resulting in a respectable but underwhelming eight- or nine-win season and a good but not great bowl. (And if you want the worst-case scenario: LSU struggles in their youth, gets really unlucky in close games, and finishes 6-6, reigniting the over-expectant boosters' rage and quickly putting Orgeron onto the hot seat.)
Kevin Sumlin is stuck at 8-5. Much of the country would love to be stuck at 8-5, but at Texas A&M, fans are reaching the limits of their patience despite being the fourth- or fifth-biggest program just in their division and outperforming Texas since the SEC move. Regardless of how justified Aggies' expectations are though, Sumlin may be reaching the end of his tenure. Of course, we said that last year and maybe the year before.
If Sumlin wants to keep his job (and I would assume he does), he needs his recruiting ability to pay off. The excellent Christian Kirk is one of just two wideouts from last season who caught even six passes last year and is back for 2017. Jake Hubenak has significant playing experience and a lot of goodwill among fans, but we have yet to see if he's more than just a reliable backup. A lack of proven receiving options doesn't help his cause at all. Fortunately, a nice running back pairing (Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford averaged 6.1 yards per carry between them) should lessen the load placed on the passing game. I'm unsure whether that's enough.
The Aggie defense looks better. Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall will be missed dearly at the line of scrimmage, but seven other starters return, including four defensive backs. Corners Nick Harvey and Priest Willis broke up 18 passes and intercepted two last season, which should be enough to cover opponents' best receivers. All-around safety Armani Watts is a huge player to get back; Watts had six tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two picks, and two forced fumbles. Whatever is missing in the front seven (and that's a decent bit) will not be in the back.
It's still not an ideal situation. Replacing so many receivers will be incredibly difficult, and youth will still have to play in the box on defense. Against the likes of Bama, Florida, and Auburn, A&M could again lose most of their conference games and rile up Aggieland.
The bottom three in the West are pretty nearly interchangeable, and any one of them could vault to third or fourth in the division. That said, they each have something significant going against them.
Aside from three-fifths of the line and top receiving target Fred Ross, the solid Mississippi State offense returns pretty much everyone. Last year's Bulldogs averaged an 11th-best-in-FBS 5.7 yards per carry, mostly thanks to Nick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was respectable throwing the ball, but after posting 1,454 non-sack yards and 16 touchdowns with his legs last season, he's made it clear there are clearly few better running quarterbacks in the nation. Running back Aeris Williams is a decent compliment, and with experience in the receiving corps, Fitzgerald could significantly improve his aerial game too. If the blockers get themselves figured out and the skill players stay healthy, Mississippi State could have a truly elite offense.
In a worse conference, the Bulldogs' defense could be passable enough to make them a dark horse in the division race. Not in the SEC though: the lack of a proven pass rusher to replace Johnathan Calvin and A.J. Jefferson is highly problematic, and last year's unit allowed 31.8 points per game. While plenty of players got snaps last year, including many linebackers, there is a definite ceiling on State's capabilities. If the teams in front of them stumble, they could finish with an impressive record.
At Ole Miss, there's little other than chaos. Hugh Freeze "resigned" just as fall camps were starting, the culmination of a full-on, multi-year fecal supercell over Oxford. The mess featured paying players (or, more accurately, being sloppy at it), blaming it on the previous head coach, lawyering up when that previous coach didn't like that, beating Bama twice, falling out of buildings, blackmail via gas mask, and finally, like all great stories, calling prostitutes from your work phone.
I'm sure there's a scenario in which such a talented team gets over this in the interim and has a solid season. For now, I'm predicting immense difficulties. Just having such great ability, and playing Vanderbilt and Kentucky, narrowly keeps the Rebels out of last place.
Arkansas had a big defensive problem last season. Just five teams in FBS gave up more yards per play, and the closest SEC team to the Razorbacks was 18 spots ahead. They were also one of three teams in the exclusive club of allowing 6.0 yards per run or more, joined by Nevada and Cal. In a conference and a division of great running backs, that's generally a bad thing.
It may get better in 2017, but not by much. Four of the six players to start five or more games on the defensive line graduated, and a usual sub who started one game left the program as well. Arkansas is switching to a 3-4, which means one of last year's backup ends, Randy Ramsey, is moving to a starting spot as a linebacker. The position had one real playmaker, the since graduated Brooks Ellis, but everyone else who recorded a tackle returns. That experience should pay off – not enough to create a passable run defense right now, but perhaps in 2018.
On the positive side, the secondary looks pretty deep, headlined by corners Ryan Pulley and Henre' Tolliver, and free safety Josh Liddell. In addition to finishing second through fourth on the team in tackles, those three combined for 23 pass breakups and six interceptions.
Offensively, the Hogs are led by senior quarterback Austin Allen, who needs a lot of last year's freshmen to grow up quickly. Six of eight players with 10 or more receptions last season are no longer on the team. One of those players is running back Rawleigh Williams III, a 1,000-yard rusher as a sophomore and now a full-time student as a junior after suffering a second neck injury in spring ball. His successor, Devwah Whaley, has shown he is a very capable runner, but he hasn't had Williams's workload yet, and without many proven receivers, extra backfield support would have gone a long way.
The bottom line: I don't think Arkansas will do very well this season. Three cupcakes out of conference are guaranteed wins, and they're probable favorites against South Carolina and Mizzou. They're going to need some luck after that.
The defense is a little less of a sure thing. Some solid players, like safety Tray Matthews, corners Carlton Davis and Javaris Davis, and defensive end Marlon Davis (none of whom are related), are back, but the team's best two linemen, all-conference selections Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams, leave big holes. Even good secondaries need help from the line, and the Tigers' line might have trouble getting to the quarterback.
Still: Auburn looks quite promising. If they beat a transitioning Clemson in Week 2, they might find themselves in a New Year's Six bowl.
I don't know exactly what to think of LSU. A better offensive coordinator; short-term certainty at head coach; a track record of excellence; and some of the best recruiting classes of the past few seasons all point to these Tigers being really good, right?
Except they don't know how to do anything except run the ball (which they are admittedly fantastic at), eight defensive starters need replacing, and they have to go through the SEC West gauntlet, which so frequently cannibalizes itself for three months before leaving nobody but Alabama clean on the other side. Plus, I don't entirely trust Ed Orgeron in the long term. Perhaps that doesn't matter this season, but it doesn't help my confidence.
The best-case scenario for LSU is that they almost run table on sheer talent and athleticism, probably not upsetting Bama on the road but winning 10 or 11 games and coming within a couple breaks of the conference championship game. I think the more likely scenario is that the Tigers need a little time to work out the kinks and find a new way to score, resulting in a respectable but underwhelming eight- or nine-win season and a good but not great bowl. (And if you want the worst-case scenario: LSU struggles in their youth, gets really unlucky in close games, and finishes 6-6, reigniting the over-expectant boosters' rage and quickly putting Orgeron onto the hot seat.)
Kevin Sumlin is stuck at 8-5. Much of the country would love to be stuck at 8-5, but at Texas A&M, fans are reaching the limits of their patience despite being the fourth- or fifth-biggest program just in their division and outperforming Texas since the SEC move. Regardless of how justified Aggies' expectations are though, Sumlin may be reaching the end of his tenure. Of course, we said that last year and maybe the year before.
If Sumlin wants to keep his job (and I would assume he does), he needs his recruiting ability to pay off. The excellent Christian Kirk is one of just two wideouts from last season who caught even six passes last year and is back for 2017. Jake Hubenak has significant playing experience and a lot of goodwill among fans, but we have yet to see if he's more than just a reliable backup. A lack of proven receiving options doesn't help his cause at all. Fortunately, a nice running back pairing (Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford averaged 6.1 yards per carry between them) should lessen the load placed on the passing game. I'm unsure whether that's enough.
The Aggie defense looks better. Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall will be missed dearly at the line of scrimmage, but seven other starters return, including four defensive backs. Corners Nick Harvey and Priest Willis broke up 18 passes and intercepted two last season, which should be enough to cover opponents' best receivers. All-around safety Armani Watts is a huge player to get back; Watts had six tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two picks, and two forced fumbles. Whatever is missing in the front seven (and that's a decent bit) will not be in the back.
It's still not an ideal situation. Replacing so many receivers will be incredibly difficult, and youth will still have to play in the box on defense. Against the likes of Bama, Florida, and Auburn, A&M could again lose most of their conference games and rile up Aggieland.
The bottom three in the West are pretty nearly interchangeable, and any one of them could vault to third or fourth in the division. That said, they each have something significant going against them.
Aside from three-fifths of the line and top receiving target Fred Ross, the solid Mississippi State offense returns pretty much everyone. Last year's Bulldogs averaged an 11th-best-in-FBS 5.7 yards per carry, mostly thanks to Nick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was respectable throwing the ball, but after posting 1,454 non-sack yards and 16 touchdowns with his legs last season, he's made it clear there are clearly few better running quarterbacks in the nation. Running back Aeris Williams is a decent compliment, and with experience in the receiving corps, Fitzgerald could significantly improve his aerial game too. If the blockers get themselves figured out and the skill players stay healthy, Mississippi State could have a truly elite offense.
In a worse conference, the Bulldogs' defense could be passable enough to make them a dark horse in the division race. Not in the SEC though: the lack of a proven pass rusher to replace Johnathan Calvin and A.J. Jefferson is highly problematic, and last year's unit allowed 31.8 points per game. While plenty of players got snaps last year, including many linebackers, there is a definite ceiling on State's capabilities. If the teams in front of them stumble, they could finish with an impressive record.
At Ole Miss, there's little other than chaos. Hugh Freeze "resigned" just as fall camps were starting, the culmination of a full-on, multi-year fecal supercell over Oxford. The mess featured paying players (or, more accurately, being sloppy at it), blaming it on the previous head coach, lawyering up when that previous coach didn't like that, beating Bama twice, falling out of buildings, blackmail via gas mask, and finally, like all great stories, calling prostitutes from your work phone.
I'm sure there's a scenario in which such a talented team gets over this in the interim and has a solid season. For now, I'm predicting immense difficulties. Just having such great ability, and playing Vanderbilt and Kentucky, narrowly keeps the Rebels out of last place.
Arkansas had a big defensive problem last season. Just five teams in FBS gave up more yards per play, and the closest SEC team to the Razorbacks was 18 spots ahead. They were also one of three teams in the exclusive club of allowing 6.0 yards per run or more, joined by Nevada and Cal. In a conference and a division of great running backs, that's generally a bad thing.
It may get better in 2017, but not by much. Four of the six players to start five or more games on the defensive line graduated, and a usual sub who started one game left the program as well. Arkansas is switching to a 3-4, which means one of last year's backup ends, Randy Ramsey, is moving to a starting spot as a linebacker. The position had one real playmaker, the since graduated Brooks Ellis, but everyone else who recorded a tackle returns. That experience should pay off – not enough to create a passable run defense right now, but perhaps in 2018.
On the positive side, the secondary looks pretty deep, headlined by corners Ryan Pulley and Henre' Tolliver, and free safety Josh Liddell. In addition to finishing second through fourth on the team in tackles, those three combined for 23 pass breakups and six interceptions.
Offensively, the Hogs are led by senior quarterback Austin Allen, who needs a lot of last year's freshmen to grow up quickly. Six of eight players with 10 or more receptions last season are no longer on the team. One of those players is running back Rawleigh Williams III, a 1,000-yard rusher as a sophomore and now a full-time student as a junior after suffering a second neck injury in spring ball. His successor, Devwah Whaley, has shown he is a very capable runner, but he hasn't had Williams's workload yet, and without many proven receivers, extra backfield support would have gone a long way.
The bottom line: I don't think Arkansas will do very well this season. Three cupcakes out of conference are guaranteed wins, and they're probable favorites against South Carolina and Mizzou. They're going to need some luck after that.
East
Predicted Standings:
- Florida
- Georgia
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Missouri
- Vanderbilt
Prepare yourself for October 28: the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville should be the game that decides the SEC East.
In one corner: the reigning East champions, the Florida Gators. Last year's Gators held opponents to a 45.1 completion percentage, second-lowest in the country, and 4.7 yards per play, eighth-lowest in the country. Just four times did they allow more than 14 points in a single game, and six times they allowed fewer than 10. When they were burned (against Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida State), they were incinerated, certainly, but they otherwise dominated like few other teams could.
In one corner: the reigning East champions, the Florida Gators. Last year's Gators held opponents to a 45.1 completion percentage, second-lowest in the country, and 4.7 yards per play, eighth-lowest in the country. Just four times did they allow more than 14 points in a single game, and six times they allowed fewer than 10. When they were burned (against Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida State), they were incinerated, certainly, but they otherwise dominated like few other teams could.
And on offense, they were abominable, sandwiched between Rice and South Carolina at 107th in yards per play. They averaged 23.9 points per game, third-worst in the conference. Against the teams ranked in the top half of FBS in S&P+, they averaged 18.8 points per game. (Additionally, a plodding pace ensured dull viewing.)
Those who hope for improvement have some cause to believe in it actually coming. Most of last year's offensive starters return, including pretty much the whole receiving group and starting running back Jordan Scarlett.
And while Jim McElwain hasn't committed to one of the three quarterbacks vying for the starting job, the optimist could accurately say that none of them seem dreadful. Malik Zaire had a pair of cameos at Notre Dame before injury and DeShone Kizer limited his time at the reigns. Luke Del Rio started six games in 2016 and was below average without killing the team. And then there's redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks, a former four-star recruit with the build of a big-time quarterback but obviously no college track record. The pessimist could accurately say that in an ideal situation, you wouldn't have any of these players as the starting quarterback in the SEC.
As such, there's a clear limit on how much better UF can get this season. The strength of their defense should take them back to Atlanta, but the result will likely be the same.
In the other corner at the Cocktail Party: the Georgia Bulldogs, who struggled last year with inexperience and a coaching change but remain loaded with blue-chip talent. While not as great as Florida defensively, the Dawgs were above average in that regard, keeping opponents to 5.3 yards per play and 24.0 points per game. Unlike their rivals to the south though, their defense was full of sophomores and juniors. As a result, ten starters return for 2017. The only graduate is safety Maurice Smith, who performed decently but was far from the biggest reason Georgia did well. Assuming normal offseason development, this could now be one of the top defensive teams in FBS.
Also unlike Florida, Georgia (for their significant flaws) had some more obvious bright spots on the other side. A little more specifically, they know who their quarterback is. Jacob Eason was obviously a little rough at points as a freshman, and his 55.1 completion percentage reflects that, but he showed flashes of why Athens was so pleased to get his commitment. Eason possesses a ridiculous arm, and at times, he demonstrated he could place the ball pretty well too. He has great ability, and if he's not one of the country's best quarterbacks this year, he will be next year.
Other than Eason, Georgia returns all their offensive skill starters and two starting linemen. Nick Chubb, Sonny Michel, and Brien Herrien ran the ball pretty well behind last year's line, and Eason wasn't sacked too much either, so you wonder if the new bodies change that. However, I feel unexpectedly confident in Georgia. They were very unimpressive last season, but like Texas, experience should benefit them greatly.
Tennessee is taking a small step back this year. The Vols' 2017 offense is not a shell of last year's edition, as the offensive line is deep if nothing else, receiver Jauan Jennings should be a fine first option, and the receivers behind Jennings are no scrubs. John Kelly should at least be a serviceable running back, as well. Josh Dobbs, however, is a hard quarterback to replace, and it doesn't look like there's an obvious successor. Considering the impact Dobbs had both in the run game (1,051 yards, 12 touchdowns) and pass game (2,946 yards, 27-12 touchdown-interception ratio), that is a massive hole.
On defense, there's a desperate need for someone who can tackle a quarterback. After losing Derek Barnett and Corey Vereen, the 2016 sack total of returning players is 5.5; the two big departures combined for 20.0, more than three times that. Much of the rest of the group comes back though, which means they should play, at worst, at about the same level.
Like I said: it's a small step. The Volunteers' two cross-division games are Alabama and LSU though, and with Georgia's likely improvement, that will likely push them into third.
Somehow, Kentucky looks like a good football team. Not anything special, mind you, but just a seven- or eight-win team in a Power Five conference. Apart from their upset of Louisville to end the regular season, the Wildcats didn't really beat any high-quality opponents, but 2016 marked their first bowl season in six years, and their first winning final record in seven. They could improve on that mark this year.
Eight starters from last year's offense, which ranked 32nd in yards per play, are back – though you could really say nine, since while running back Benjamin Snell, Jr. was not the "starter," he led UK in carries and did quite well with the opportunity. He and Stanley "Boom" Williams (now in the NFL) both ran for over 1,000 yards, crucial to the Wildcats' success. Quarterback Stephen Johnson showed some savvy on his feet as well, running for 480 non-sack yards and three touchdowns to go with a respectable year in the air. The two receivers slotting into the lineup aren't very experienced, but F-receiver Garrett Johnson and tight end C.J. Conrad have both proven themselves to be reliable enough targets.
The other side of the ball is undeniably weaker, but it was not terrible, and it returns eight starters of its own. Linebacker Jordan Jones (91.5 tackles, 15.5 for loss, four pass breakups, one forced fumble) and safety Mike Edwards (78.0 tackles, 5.5 for loss, eight pass breakups, three interceptions) are the stars, and both are among seven juniors projected to start on defense. There's at least an extra year for most of these guys, and that could mean an above-average (or better) unit to go with a solid offense in 2018. Mark Stoops has something good going.
Will Muschamp's South Carolina had an above-average but upperclassman-heavy defense and a subpar but young offense.
In the case of the former, a number of those upperclassmen were juniors, which should mean a similar or improved level of play. If the Gamecocks can find somebody to replace Darius English's pass rush – such a somebody isn't apparent right now, but there are a lot of experienced linemen – and some linebackers to compliment Bryson Allen-Williams, they might field a top-30 defense.
To have any degree of success, the South Carolina offense needs improvement up front. USC quarterbacks were sacked 41 times in 2016, and the team only could manage 3.7 yards per rush. When he stayed upright, quarterback Jake Bentley played fairly well for a freshman, and pretty much all of his targets are back. Rico Dowdle, when eventually given the chance, was a solid running back. It looks like the skill players are there; if the blocking comes, the Gamecocks could contend for the East as soon as next year.
A year ago, Missouri was one of the defense-only teams crowding the SEC East, a program known in significant part for routinely pumping out mighty defensive linemen like Kony Ealy, Shane Ray, and Aldon Smith. Now, after just a year, they're an offense-only team after former linebacker Barry Odom decided with offensive coordinator Josh Heupel to throw deep and go up-tempo. Sometimes, this isn't supposed to make sense.
Anyway, that unexpected spread offense looks like it will take a significant jump upward in 2017, since (going off the Arkansas game notes) all but two players who started a game are still on the team. That's not regular starters, or players who started the last game; that's players who started any game. Just tight end Sean Culkin, who graduated, started more than once and is gone. If quarterback Drew Lock gets the help he needs from his receivers, and running back Damarea Crockett doesn't get injured, this offense could be deadly.
If Mizzou does return to having a strong defense, it probably won't be this year. The team's best defenders, corner Aarion Penton and lineman Charles Harris, are among a few departures. The linebacking group is deep but loses its one standout player. The line will be reinforced by a handful of JUCO signees and perhaps a full year from Terry Beckner, Jr., who has had injury problems. Thomas Wilson, Cam Hilton, and K-State transfer Kaleb Prewett are the only defensive backs with any real track record.
Like with a number of bad defenses, you can find little pockets that look promising, but they always sit right next to or in front of one of the flaws. Maybe this unit improves, but it's probably not going to be by enough to make the Tigers much more than an average team. And average teams don't do well in the SEC.
A normal team that could improve as much as Vanderbilt might, but that doesn't face Alabama and Ole Miss in cross-division play, might be two or three spots higher. Two losses are big in a muddled East Division.
But about those improvements: Kyle Shurmur is entering his third year as a letterwinner and second as the starting quarterback, and with any kind of protection (he was sacked 32 times last season), he could develop nicely. Three regular first-team linemen return, including two who started all 13 games. Shurmur is supported by Ralph Webb, who ran for 1,283 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, and his bulkier backup Khari Blasingame. The receivers are all back, which should also give the quarterback a boost. On a team with such offensive problems, that kind of continuity is big.
On defense, where the Commodores are better, they return six positions' worth of starters and a handful of other players who essentially spot-started. Leading tackler Zach Cunningham and top coverage man Torren McGaster are not among those who are back. Cunningham's departure will hurt more, as just one linebacker left on the team recorded more than 16.5 tackles last season, and nobody left has shown such an aptitude for making plays in the backfield. Will that kill the defense? Probably not, but I can see it getting dragged down a little bit.
Vandy is unremarkable overall, and they have some concerns on either side of the ball, but they certainly aren't bad. It's not inconceivable that they frighten some superior opponents or sneak up the division standings.
* * *
Up next: the last conference on the list, the Big Ten.
A heaping amount of credit for statistical information goes to Bill Connelly, SB Nation's stats emperor and creator of the S&P+ analytics system. Sports-Reference's data also came in handy.
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