This season has been a chaotic and unpredictable year for the SEC East. Of all the teams, Missouri currently reigns supreme with a 7-1 (3-1) record. At this point, only three teams have a legitimate shot to be crowned as the SEC East champion: Missouri, Georgia, and South Carolina. Florida is on the fringe, but are unlikely to contend considering how atrocious their offense is. Due to conference record, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky no longer have a chance to win the division.
Despite having to be without their starting quarterback James Franklin for the remainder of the season, Missouri is the current leader of the SEC East and certainly has enough talent to stay there. Maty Mauk has been a serviceable option at quarterback even though he is just a freshman. The rushing duo of Henry Josey and Russell Hansbrough has proven it can carry the load for the Missouri offense and support their limited passing attack. Defensively, Missouri may have the SEC’s most talented defensive line.
Kony Ealy, Shane Ray, and Michael Sam make for a lethal trio of pass rushers that can attack from anywhere on the defensive front. Missouri’s remaining schedule will be their downfall. Missouri must face four straight SEC opponents (Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and (12) Texas A&M) following their recent overtime loss to South Carolina. The streak of brutal matchups will push Missouri to their breaking point. By the time they get to the Ole Miss and Texas A&M games, they will be broken down and will lose both games.
The Georgia offense has been battered and beaten, but not defeated. Aaron Murray has had to conduct an offense with multiple wide receivers out due to injury, as well as on and off injuries to his running backs. Luckily, Todd Gurley is back from injury and will be able to put the Georgia offense on his back, if need be. Georgia’s struggles root from their young defense. G
eorgia lost nine of it’s 11 starters from 2012. This year’s defensive squad has been forced to learn on-field and it has cost Georgia. They have allowed roughly 33 points per game and have surrendered 40+ points on four occasions. The young squad is making mistakes that any young player would make, but the abundance of such young players allows veteran offenses to expose them. Already back in the race for the division, Georgia needs to win the rest of their games and South Carolina and Missouri to lose one or more. Although, with (11) Auburn in the way, Georgia’s hopes at a 2013 SEC title shot look slim.
Connor Shaw will officially return to the helm of South Carolina’s offense this week after only having played in the fourth quarter and overtime of the Missouri game. He may not have played much in that game, but he scored three touchdowns and conducted South Carolina’s comeback. Injuries have haunted him, but a case can be made for him as college football’s most improved player. His supporting running back Mike Davis is elite talent. Davis has smashed his way through SEC defenses for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns this year, but he has not yet hit his talent ceiling.
Davis is a true sophomore and has plenty of time to turn himself into an even scarier rushing threat. To compliment their high-powered offense is a superb defense. Jadeveon Clowney is still the overpowering, havoc wreaking monster that he was last year, despite the numbers not proving so. Teams have morphed their game plan to account for Clowney and remove him from every play possible. Clowney is not the only player worth noting though. Victor Hampton, Chaz Sutton, and Kelcy Quarles all have a place in the NFL, as well as a few younger players.
It is a three-headed race to the top, but only one can come away victorious. Missouri may hold the lead as of now, but in the end, South Carolina’s more balanced offensive attack and overall team will give them the edge and enable them to win the division. Once the SEC East title is theirs, South Carolina will have a chance to dethrone the champion of the West, which is more likely than not going to be (1) Alabama.