A lot of love for UF from ESPN:
This morning we unveiled our 2016 SEC preseason power rankings. While there was some consensus on several teams, not all of our SEC staff agrees about everything. Given that, we offered our SEC reporters a chance to offer their two cents on the rankings:
Edward Aschoff
Team that should be ranked higher: Well, this is the exact set of power rankings that I submitted, so I think it's perfect. However, I think Texas A&M has a chance to be a better team than we've seen because of the addition of QB Trevor Knight and a defense that should be even better in John Chavis' second year.
Team that should be ranked lower: Again, this set is perfect, so there's no point in changing it. But if I had to knock a team down it would be LSU because I just have no clue what to expect from a team that ended last year with coaching drama that could easily creep back into this year and completely derail the season.
LSU can overtake Alabama if …: Brandon Harris and the Tigers' passing game develops into a more consistent threat and Leonard Fournette learns how to scale the crimson wall. The Tigers must also be better defensively on third downs, as LSU ranked eighth defending third downs last year (35.7 percent) and has allowed Alabama to convert at least 40 percent of its third downs in each of the last three meetings (all LSU losses).
Teams that will meet in Atlanta: While I think LSU is the SEC's most talented team, I'm going with Alabama to represent the West for the third straight year. On the Eastern side, while Tennessee is the overwhelming favorite, I'm picking Florida to repeat because I'm not sure how the Vols will handle all the pressure this fall, I think Florida still has the division's best defense, and the offense will be better with a more polished passing game under Luke Del Rio.
Sam Khan Jr.
Team that should be ranked higher:Arkansas. They have fewer question marks than a team like Georgia, who we have ranked sixth but has a new head coach and could potentially start a true freshman at quarterback. I think the Hogs, who annually show progress under Bret Bielema, are a couple of spots better than eighth at the moment.
Team that should be ranked lower: Ole Miss. I understand they have Chad Kelly, who at the moment is the SEC’s best quarterback, but they lost a significant amount of NFL talent that powered their runs the last two years and replacing that isn’t easy. Also, all those new faces on the offensive line, particularly at left tackle, raise concerns for me.
LSU can overtake Alabama if …: Brandon Harris can be more than just a guy at quarterback for the Tigers. LSU has the best running back in football (Leonard Fournette) and a pretty darn good one behind him (Derrius Guice). To keep Alabama from shutting them down, Harris has to take a big step forward and make opposing defenses respect him.
Teams that will meet in Atlanta: LSU and Tennessee. I think the Tigers finally break through this year and it’s hard to look at the SEC East and feel confident about anybody but the Vols, just from a pure talent standpoint.
Greg Ostendorf
Team that should be ranked higher: Until Tennessee proves it can beat Florida, I think the Gators should be ranked as the top team in the East. I also haven’t forgotten what Florida did to Ole Miss in the Swamp last fall, and I feel like Jim McElwain’s team could make a case for the No. 3 spot.
Team that should be ranked lower: I’m just not sold on Georgia this year. I like the Kirby Smart hire. I think he’ll eventually win at his alma mater. I just don’t think it will happen in Year 1, not with a true freshman potentially starting at quarterback. This will be a transition year for the Bulldogs.
LSU can overtake Alabama if …: The Tigers open up the offense. You can’t play into Alabama’s strength, and Alabama’s strength on defense is loading up the box and stopping the run. Not even Leonard Fournette can run on the Crimson Tide if they know what’s coming every play.
Teams that will meet in Atlanta: I want to be different. I want to take Tennessee and maybe LSU or Ole Miss. I’d love to go crazy and pick somebody like Texas A&M. But as of right now, I think it’s going to be Alabama and Florida in a repeat matchup of last year’s SEC championship game.
Alex Scarborough
Team that should be ranked higher: It's a small thing, but flip-flop No. 10 and 11. Because on a neutral field, I can see Vanderbilt beating Mississippi State. Whether it's Florida, Georgia or Tennessee, someone among the East's Big Three is going to get a scare from the Dores.
Team that should be ranked lower: Sorry, but for now I'm not buying Georgia as the sixth-best team in the league. Not when I'm pretty sure a freshman QB will start, I have no idea when both Nick Chubb and Sony Michelwill be healthy and there's a first-year coach trying to lead the charge.
LSU can overtake Alabama if …: Brandon Harris throws for more than 25 touchdowns. That's more than his career total, and that kind of jump in production is what it will take for LSU's offense to become more dynamic, taking pressure off Leonard Fournette and the defense.
Teams that will meet in Atlanta: In a repeat of last season, I see Alabama and Florida in the Georgia Dome. The Tide will survive questions at quarterback with a strong defense and strong running game, and the Gators, while only minimally improved offensively, will be good enough to fend off Tennessee to win the East by the narrowest of margins.
This morning we unveiled our 2016 SEC preseason power rankings. While there was some consensus on several teams, not all of our SEC staff agrees about everything. Given that, we offered our SEC reporters a chance to offer their two cents on the rankings:
Edward Aschoff
Team that should be ranked higher: Well, this is the exact set of power rankings that I submitted, so I think it's perfect. However, I think Texas A&M has a chance to be a better team than we've seen because of the addition of QB Trevor Knight and a defense that should be even better in John Chavis' second year.
Team that should be ranked lower: Again, this set is perfect, so there's no point in changing it. But if I had to knock a team down it would be LSU because I just have no clue what to expect from a team that ended last year with coaching drama that could easily creep back into this year and completely derail the season.
LSU can overtake Alabama if …: Brandon Harris and the Tigers' passing game develops into a more consistent threat and Leonard Fournette learns how to scale the crimson wall. The Tigers must also be better defensively on third downs, as LSU ranked eighth defending third downs last year (35.7 percent) and has allowed Alabama to convert at least 40 percent of its third downs in each of the last three meetings (all LSU losses).
Sam Khan Jr.
Team that should be ranked higher:Arkansas. They have fewer question marks than a team like Georgia, who we have ranked sixth but has a new head coach and could potentially start a true freshman at quarterback. I think the Hogs, who annually show progress under Bret Bielema, are a couple of spots better than eighth at the moment.
Team that should be ranked lower: Ole Miss. I understand they have Chad Kelly, who at the moment is the SEC’s best quarterback, but they lost a significant amount of NFL talent that powered their runs the last two years and replacing that isn’t easy. Also, all those new faces on the offensive line, particularly at left tackle, raise concerns for me.
LSU can overtake Alabama if …: Brandon Harris can be more than just a guy at quarterback for the Tigers. LSU has the best running back in football (Leonard Fournette) and a pretty darn good one behind him (Derrius Guice). To keep Alabama from shutting them down, Harris has to take a big step forward and make opposing defenses respect him.
Greg Ostendorf
Team that should be ranked higher: Until Tennessee proves it can beat Florida, I think the Gators should be ranked as the top team in the East. I also haven’t forgotten what Florida did to Ole Miss in the Swamp last fall, and I feel like Jim McElwain’s team could make a case for the No. 3 spot.
Team that should be ranked lower: I’m just not sold on Georgia this year. I like the Kirby Smart hire. I think he’ll eventually win at his alma mater. I just don’t think it will happen in Year 1, not with a true freshman potentially starting at quarterback. This will be a transition year for the Bulldogs.
LSU can overtake Alabama if …: The Tigers open up the offense. You can’t play into Alabama’s strength, and Alabama’s strength on defense is loading up the box and stopping the run. Not even Leonard Fournette can run on the Crimson Tide if they know what’s coming every play.
Alex Scarborough
Team that should be ranked higher: It's a small thing, but flip-flop No. 10 and 11. Because on a neutral field, I can see Vanderbilt beating Mississippi State. Whether it's Florida, Georgia or Tennessee, someone among the East's Big Three is going to get a scare from the Dores.
Team that should be ranked lower: Sorry, but for now I'm not buying Georgia as the sixth-best team in the league. Not when I'm pretty sure a freshman QB will start, I have no idea when both Nick Chubb and Sony Michelwill be healthy and there's a first-year coach trying to lead the charge.
LSU can overtake Alabama if …: Brandon Harris throws for more than 25 touchdowns. That's more than his career total, and that kind of jump in production is what it will take for LSU's offense to become more dynamic, taking pressure off Leonard Fournette and the defense.
