SHANE SHACKLEFORD: Autumn in the South Promises to be Special Once Again
Ah yes, my fellow college football fanatics the time has come once again to bust out the tailgate items, your favorite jersey, and the big screen TV and take in what is known as SEC football.
Drink it in, my friends. It always goes down smoothly.
I venture to say that 2022 in the Alliance Killer is chocked full of compelling storylines across the southeast. Every town will have its moment to either shine or dim.
Let’s take a look at those SEC schools and do a little predicting, shall we?
SEC WEST
(Predicted order of finish)
Alabama: Tide coach Nick Saban said by their accounts they had a down year in 2021. Oof.
PREDICTION: 12-0
1. Texas A&M: Aggie coach Jimbo Fisher has called down the thunder in Tuscaloosa. I have a feeling they are taking a trip behind the woodshed.
PREDICTION: 10-2
Arkansas: Sam Pittman has the Hogs on the brink of becoming an SEC West power.
LSU: While his Southern drawl needs, um, a southern drawl, no one disputes new LSU coach Brian Kelly can coach.
PREDICTION: 8-4
Ole Miss: Lane Kiffin. A microphone. Electricity. All that is needed for gold.
PREDICTION: 8-4
Mississippi State: If you don’t like Mike Leach and his takes on life, you’re missing the point.
PREDICTION: 7-5
Auburn: Raise your hand if you think coach Bryan Harsin survives as head coach in the land of Bo Jackson. Anyone?
PREDICTION: 5-7
SEC EAST
Georgia: Now we will find out how the Dawgs make the transition to the hunted from the hunter. Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
PREDICTION: 11-1
Kentucky: UK head man Mark Stoops has pulled the impossible- he has helped transform the Wildcat program to consistent relevance in the SEC.
PREDICTION: 10-2
Tennessee: It’ll be interesting how the SEC adjusts to Josh Heupel’s nuclear offense the second time around now that there’s the film on them out there.
PREDICTION: 9-3
South Carolina: Shane Beamer has the Gamecocks moving in the right direction. Now comes the hard part- the lack of surprise.
PREDICTION: 7-5
Florida: New head coach Billy Napier will rebuild the gator brand, but it’ll take a couple of years.
PREDICTION: 6-6
Missouri: Eli Drinkwitz has a star-studded class in Columbia. Will it translate to wins on the field?
PREDICTION: 6-6
Vanderbilt: I saw on my TV that coach Clark Lea said they believe they will be a championship team in Nashville. I bought a new TV after that. Has to be defective.
PREDICTION: 3-9
Future SEC members
TEXAS: The Longhorns Steve Sarkisian is amassing serious talent in Austin. Can he amass wins too is the question?
PREDICTION: 9-3
OKLAHOMA: New head coach Brent Venables has a year to prepare Norman for the SEC.
PREDICTION: 8-4
Shane Shackleford is a regional sports columnist from Speedwell, Tenn. He is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and the United States Basketball Writers of America. He has written and published his first book “Bounce: A Basketball Love Story” which can be found on Amazon currently and has another book project in the works. You can find Shane on KySportsStyle.com Magazine, A Sea of Blue, Go Big Blue Country The Mountain Advocate, Harlan County Sports, Middlesboro News, Claiborne Progress, and The Mountain Eagle. Contact Shane by email at coachshack50@gmail.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
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