By Loot, NCAA Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
2016 SEC Champion Futures
The SEC is still atop the heap in college football in terms of supremacy and 2016-17 should produce another handful of dangerous teams out the Southeastern Conference. Year in and year out, teams like Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Georgia, Ole Miss and others are near or at the top of the food chain. And since 2008, an SEC team has been crowned national champion in 6 of those 8 years, making the SEC conference race a sort of de facto national championship in itself.
Last season, Alabama won the CFP National Championship and is a co-favorite to repeat that feat in 2016-17. But for us contrarians out there, a number of compelling other choices exist. And let's not forget the structure of the SEC, which is split into two divisions, with a clear balance of power falling in the West division, with teams like ‘Bama, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Texas A&M. The East division is easier to win for teams like Georgia, Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee. A team that wins the East will still have to beat the best of the West, but it's easier to get to the title game. We've recently seen the best 4-5 teams in the conference come from the West, but the teams they have to outrun to get to that spot makes it very tough.
Alabama is the +140 favorite to repeat this season as SEC champions. The east division representative was Florida and they're getting robust odds at +1200. The West is again a hotly-contested concentration of some of the best teams in the country. Alabama certainly stands as the head of the class and they return a lot of talent with blue-chippers waiting in the wings. But the West is packed, with several teams looking for an upsurge in 2016, including Arkansas, Texas A&M, LSU, and the Mississippies.
Alabama will have their hands full with LSU and Ole Miss—that much is nearly certain. LSU had a strange end to the season, with rumors swirling that Les Miles was on his way out. Well, Miles will stay, adding some nice pieces, including what should be a good defensive coordinator in Dave Aranda. And game-changing running back Leonard Fournette is a Heisman frontrunner.
Ole Miss is in the hands of gun-slinging Chad Kelly, who was over 4000 yards in his first big-time college football action last season. The Rebels lost a handful of starters, key pieces like Laquon Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil. A tough schedule will test their mettle, but they can't be overlooked. And let's not forget, they were the only team to beat the National Champions last season, with their 43-37 win over the Crimson Tide.
Look for a shake-up in the East division. Florida has suffered some early departures, but one would be mistaken in questioning Jim McElwain after he turned the program around in his first season at the helm. Many are forecasting a return to top form for the Tennessee Volunteers, a team that has been surging markedly in the past few seasons. Joshua Dobbs, a true dual-threat quarterback and Jalen Hurd, along with an intact line, should have Tennessee right in the mix in the East. Kirby Smart left ‘Bama to take over Georgia and if Nick Chubb stays healthy, Georgia should be able to take advantage of a soft schedule.
Other than the teams discussed, there are any number of long-shots that could surprise. Missouri has a first-year coach and looks to be in rebuilding mode. Kentucky has been surging recently and might be able to put a few things together this season. Vanderbilt and South Carolina look to be hopeless candidates to win the East, much less the SEC.
DEPOSIT $100 AND GET $50 FREE AT ONE OF THE WEB'S OLDEST SPORTSBOOKS: BOVADA SPORTSBOOK
In the West, most people are focused on Alabama, Ole Miss, and LSU. We noticed how well Arkansas finished the season last year after a very difficult start. They lost a lot of pieces, but still are a team on the rise. Auburn has fallen off in the past few years and they will need a few guys to step up in a big way, particularly at the quarterback position. Texas A&M lost a lot, with some of their top players transferring. Maybe Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight will help. Mississippi State lost so many players that a great season is more or less being ruled out.
Here are the odds for teams to win the SEC in 2016:
SEC Champion – Georgia Dome – Atlanta, GA – December 3
29441 Alabama wins SEC Champ +140
29442 Field wins SEC Championship -180
LSU wins SEC Champ +400
Field wins SEC Championship -600
Tennessee wins SEC Champ +500
Field wins SEC Championship -900
Mississippi wins SEC Champ +700
Field wins SEC Championship -1500
Georgia wins SEC Champ +1000
Field wins SEC Championship -2000
Arkansas wins SEC Champ +1200
Field wins SEC Championship -2600
Florida wins SEC Champ +1200
Field wins SEC Championship -2600
