Can anyone recall a season in recent memory that promises to be as wide open as this one? Every team in the SEC has holes. Every team has question marks. But almost every team has talent and legitimate hopes of a banner season.
How will it all shake out? This is our first shot at it, so take it easy on us. Like most of you, we will know a lot more about every team in the conference by the time the weekend is through.
But if there is one thing I'm confident in, it's that an SEC team will compete in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Sorry if I'm not buying that two will make it. Maybe next season, when all these inexperienced quarterbacks are a year more mature, but not now.
CFB Playoff (Allstate Sugar Bowl): Alabama
Cotton Bowl, Jan. 1: South Carolina
Orange Bowl, Dec. 31: LSU
Birmingham Bowl, Jan. 3: Vanderbilt
TaxSlayer Bowl, Jan. 2: Florida
Outback Bowl, Jan. 1: Georgia
Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1: Auburn
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Dec. 30: Missouri
Belk Bowl, Dec. 30: Mississippi State
AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, Dec. 29: Texas A&M
AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Dec. 29: Ole Miss