SEC Betting – 2011 SEC College Football Preview
In the South, the community of MLB baseball betting students is marveling at the Atlanta Braves’ ability to steamroll to the National League wild card berth, carving out a healthy lead for that prize at the end of August. In the football world, sports betting analysts are once again confronted with an even greater form of Southern supremacy. The best college football in the United State is played in the South, and there’s simply no way to deny this claim. It’s as sure and certain a part of the sports world as anything else.
The SEC has earned top billing by capturing the last five BCS national titles. It has posted wins over teams from the Big Ten, Pac-10, and the Big 12. The league’s perception is not likely to change this year - the 2011 landscape features several teams in the SEC West that could once again contend for the national championship if they escape the conference with only one loss.
The battle for the SEC West will be determined by which team most effectively answers its lingering questions at quarterback. Despite the loss of Patrick Peterson to the NFL, LSU remains loaded on defense. How far it goes in competing for the SEC and national titles will depend on whether or not the staff can generate more offense and better play from quarterback Jarrett Lee, who will step in for Jordan Jefferson, the quarterback who got involved in an ugly altercation and cannot be expected to play in the team’s huge opener against Oregon. On LSU’s heels are two other teams with questions at quarterback: Arkansas and Alabama. Nick Saban and Alabama have loads of defensive talent stockpiled in Tuscaloosa, plus one of the nation’s best backs in Trent Richardson. The quarterback question was unsolved in spring ball, and that lingering weakness is all that stands between Alabama and another run at a conference title. Arkansas lost Ryan Mallett to the NFL, but, Tyler Wilson appears poised to do what all Bobby Petrino-coached quarterbacks do: put up gaudy statistics. Whichever team gets the most consistent production from its offense should win the west and possibly be a national title contender. Arkansas will be hurt by the loss of its top running back, Knile Davis, injured for the season a few weeks ago. Mississippi State and coach Dan Mullen return much of last year’s Gator Bowl team, but losses on the defensive staff - coordinator Manny Diaz shuffled off to Texas - could interrupt the continuity that helped make the Bulldogs such a feared team in 2010. Ole Miss and Auburn also have lingering quarterback battles but lost so many pieces from last year’s teams that it’s difficult to imagine them competing for the West title.
The SEC East is nowhere near as stacked. In fact, it’s accurate to say that three, perhaps four, teams from the West would be large favorites to win the East. South Carolina should be the favorite to repeat as East champs with the return of receiver Alshon Jeffery and running back Marcus Lattimore, but the discipline issues with senior quarterback Stephen Garcia cloud any optimism that might be connected to the Gamecocks. Florida is in the midst of a transition from spread option offense to a pro-style look under new head coach Will Muschamp. While there is certainly talent on hand in Gainesville, it’s always difficult to win at an elite level in the first year under a new coach. Georgia returns sensational sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray, but it must try and find offense without standout receiver A.J. Green. The Bulldogs have the advantages of getting Florida on a neutral field and hosting South Carolina. If weapons on the edge develop, the Bulldogs might return to Atlanta for the first time since 2005. Tennessee should be improved in its second year under coach Derek Dooley, but a lack of depth due to the previous coaching transitions in Knoxville remains an issue. Vanderbilt and Kentucky struggled in 2010 and both lost significant pieces from last year’s team. Both could miss the postseason in 2011.
When the dust settles, you should trust Alabama with your SEC sports bet. The Tide will top Georgia for the league championship this year.
