SEC
Alabama
Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 2-6
Pythagorean Record: 7.48-4.52
Grade: C
With all the Tide lost after last season’s 10-2 campaign, 6-6 is not that bad. The only game Bama lost that they should have probably won was the Mississippi State game. Unfortunately drew two of the SEC East’s strongest teams on the road (Florida and Tennessee) in their inter-division games. Should have held onto Shula for at least one more season.
Arkansas
Record: 10-3
Conference Record: 7-1
Pythagorean Record: 9.90-3.10
Grade: A
After two disappointing season’s Hogs rebounded under Nutt to have their best season since 1998. If the quarterback situation improves before next season, Arkansas could get back to the SEC Championship Game.
Auburn
Record: 10-2
Conference Record: 6-2
Pythagorean Record: 9.68-2.32
Grade: B+
Auburn defense did their part to help the Tigers win the SEC West. Offense did not. In conference play, they finished 7th in scoring and only broke 30 against Mississippi State.
Florida
Record: 12-1
Conference Record: 7-1
Pythagorean Record: 11.17-1.83
Grade: A-
Things couldn’t have gone much better for the Gators in Meyer’s second season. However, the offense did not improve as much as most (including me expected). Team averaged 28.6 points per game last season and 28.8 this season. Defense was the key holding opponents to 13.5 points per game versus 18.8 n 2005. Look to be living on borrowed time (5-0 in close games).
Georgia
Record: 8-4
Conference Record: 4-4
Pythagorean Record: 8.46-3.54
Grade: B
After losing to Kentucky in early November, every Georgia fan had nightmares of 6-6. Then the Dogs spanked Auburn and made Reggie Ball look like, well Reggie Ball to finish their ‘rebuilding’ year at 8-4.
Kentucky
Record: 7-5
Conference Record: 4-4
Pythagorean Record: 5.36-6.64
Grade: A
It’s a shame Kentucky’s best season in ages will probably end with a 7-6 record. Cats were oh so close to beating Tennessee and finishing second in the SEC East. Weirdest (and maybe the most entertaining) game of the season is probably Kentucky’s 2-point win over a terrible Louisiana-Monroe team (4-8).
LSU
Record: 10-2
Conference Record: 6-2
Pythagorean Record: 10.91-1.09
Grade: A-
Exhibit A for why college football needs a playoff. How good are the Tigers? Very hard to tell. They destroyed several teams, but lost to two of the stronger teams they played (Florida and Auburn) which were also on the road. Needed a last second touchdown pass to beat Tennessee (sans starting quarterback) on the road, and needed a historically bad performance by Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick to beat the Hogs away from Death Valley. Alas, the bowl game probably won’t shed much light on the subject as the Tigers should handle an overrated Notre Dame team in the Sugar Bowl.
Mississippi
Record: 4-8
Conference Record: 2-6
Pythagorean Record: 3.47-8.53
Grade: C-
Brent Schaeffer didn’t exactly make people forget Archie Manning in Oxford, completing only 47.1% of his passes. Rebs can point to the fact that they won two of their last four while taking LSU to overtime and playing Auburn within a touchdown (both on the road) in the two losses.
Mississippi State
Record: 3-9
Conference Record: 1-7
Pythagorean Record: 3.73-8.27
Grade: C-
Time may be running out for Sylvester Croom. A third straight 3-win season and a combined 4-20 record in conference play mean there has to be substantial improvement in Year 4 to justify keeping Croom around.
South Carolina
Record: 7-5
Conference Record: 3-5
Pythagorean Record: 8.52-3.48
Grade: B-
Mark it down, Gamecocks will be the next year’s Arkansas. The Cocks lost close games to elite teams (7 to Auburn, 7 to Tennessee, 6 to Arkansas, and 1 at Florida) and The OBC will have had his system in place for three seasons. Get on the band wagon now.
Tennessee
Record: 9-3
Conference Record: 5-3
Pythagorean Record: 8.70-3.30
Grade: B+
Cutcliffe returns and the offense improves and Ainge progresses. Coincidence? Not likely. Season may seem a tad below par after the opening shellacking of top-10 Cal, but the Bears were a little overrated.
Vanderbilt
Record: 4-8
Conference Record: 1-7
Pythagorean Record: 5.48-5.52
Grade: C
Vandy lost a first round draft pick and only lost one win off last year’s pace. Bobby Johnson is building something in Nashville. Vandy is much more competitive than when he first arrived. Vandy’s record in close games by season under Bobby Johnson:
2002: 1-4
2003: 0-2
2004: 0-5
2005: 4-4
2006: 1-4
One season the breaks will go their way and the ‘Dores will win 7 or 8 games.
Sun Belt
Arkansas State
Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 4-3
Pythagorean Record: 3.01-8.99
Grade: B
Two straight 6-win seasons and a victory over the eventual conference champions (Troy). Success not always measured in bowl games and national titles. Indians were 4-0 in close games so look for some regression in that area in 2007.
Florida Atlantic
Record: 5-7
Conference Record: 4-3
Pythagorean Record: 2.80-9.20
Grade: B+
After they got through the early non-conference slate (outscored 192-20 in first 4 games against Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and South Carolina) Owls played well under Schnellenberger. Vastly improved on last season’s 2-9 mark.
Florida International
Record: 0-12
Conference Record: 0-7
Pythagorean Record: 1.02-10.98
Grade: C-
Sweep the leg, swing the helmet. Slogan for the FIU Dojo. Panthers not as bad as their record (0-4) in close games.
Louisiana-Lafeyette
Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 3-4
Pythagorean Record: 4.76-7.24
Grade: C
Somewhat disappointing season for a team many pegged to win the Sun Belt. Did score a crucial non-conference upset against Houston.
Louisiana-Monroe
Record: 4-8
Conference Record: 3-4
Pythagorean Record: 5.87-6.13
Grade: C
Warhawks turned in on at season’s end winning 3 of 4 and losing to Kentucky by only 2. 9 starters back on offense and 6 on defense. Sun Belt champs in 2007?
Middle Tennessee State
Record: 7-5
Conference Record: 6-1
Pythagorean Record: 6.28-5.72
Grade: A-
Rick Stockstill did a fine job in his first season in Murfreesboro. Blue Raiders allowed the fewest 92 points in conference play (13.1 per game) and scored the most 204 (29.1 per game). Still didn’t win the conference.
North Texas
Record: 3-9
Conference Record: 2-5
Pythagorean Record: 2.00-10.00
Grade: C
Mean Green fallen on hard times since winning 4 straight Sun Belt titles from 2001-2004. Only scored 76 points in conference play (which was still 22 more than Florida International).
Troy
Record: 7-5
Conference Record: 6-1
Pythagorean Record: 5.54-6.46
Grade: A
The other Trojans will be enjoying the second bowl game in school history. In their six years of play in Division IA, Trojans have three winning seasons and only two losing seasons. This is their first conference title in Division IA.
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