COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY 25
The Favorite
Alabama is the slight favorite over the Georgia Bulldogs
here as the Tide return much of their starting defense and
key pieces of their offense. Georgia lost key members in
their secondary, defensive line and wide receiver core.
You can almost guarantee a Kirby Smart versus Nick
Saban matchup in the SEC Championship game, but
there’s a reason they still play all twelve games.
The Forgotten
Ever since Barry Odom took the reins from Gary Pinkel
at Missouri, they have made one bowl appearance and
amassed an 11-14 overall record with a 6-10 conference
mark. If Odom does not reach the .500 mark in
conference play and a bowl game, he is most likely
out as the Tigers head coach.
The Dark Horse
The reigning SEC West champs, Auburn Tigers return a
stout front seven that will help mask the uncertainty in
the secondary. Although they lost both of their star backs
in Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway who combined
for just under 1,700 yards, the formula for a Gus Malzahn
offense is simple: allow a quarterback who can make plays
with his feet and through the air to keep defenses off balance.
Jarrett Stidham checks both of those boxes and just
happens to possess one of the best arms in the country.
They face Georgia and Alabama in back to back weeks.
Win one of those, and Auburn could very well be back in
the SEC championship game.
On the Hot Seat
Ed Orgeron. The Tigers posted a 9-4 record with a third
place SEC West finish in 2017, and while that is a fine
season, the Bayou Bengals’ faithful grow weary of nine
win seasons if they seem to be the ceiling for a team
playing in a state loaded with talent. Coach O needs to
show that he is building the LSU program back to the
same level as Alabama and Georgia. If fans feel that
ascension, O will stick.