West
1. Auburn Tigers
Schedule Strength: Tough
Key Losses: RB Tre Mason, FB Jay Prosch, LT Greg Robinson, and DE Dee Ford
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: QB Nick Marshall, RB Corey Grant, WR Sammie Coates, TE CJ Uzomah, C Reese Dismukes, DT Gabe Wright, ILB Kris Frost and FS Jermaine Whitehead
Summary: For a team that relies on the run so much they'll have a few growing pains replacing their top RB, FB, and LT there were such a big part of their success. Luckily they'll have their first four games to get it figured out before a brutal conference slate. However their offense is plug and play and the defense should be better than last year which could make them even better than last year. Although the injury to DE Carl Lawson is going to hurt.
2. Mississippi Rebels
Schedule Strength: Moderately Easy
Key Loss: WR Donte Moncrief
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: QB Bo Wallace, OLB Serderius Bryant and FS Cody Prewitt
Summary: There are a lot of factors that are setting up the Rebels to have a banner year. Besides Auburn the West is down from previous years. Ole Miss only lost one key player (Moncreif) from last year, while they return 9 starters on defense and their highly touted 2013 class has a year of experience under their belt. Then you look at their schedule and they get all the tough opponents at home and only get Tennessee and Vanderbilt from the East. Don't be surprised to see the Rebels making waves and challenging Auburn for the West.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Schedule Strength: Moderate
Key Losses: QB AJ McCarron, LT Cyrus Kouandjio, LB CJ Mosley, and S Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: RB TJ Yeldon, RB Kenyan Drake, WR Amari Cooper, WR Christion Jones, RT Austin Shepherd, LG Arie Kounandjio, C Ryan Kelly, DT Brandon Ivory, DT Darren Lake, OLB Denzel Devall, ILB Trey DePriest, and FS Landon Collins
Summary: It should be an interesting fall in Tuscaloosa. Not only are they coming off their first losing streak (two games) since 2008 but they'll have to replace record setting QB AJ McCarron and half of their defensive starters. It's still Alabama and their backups could probably win most conferences. However this inexperience could cost them traveling to Ole Miss or LSU while hosting arch rival Auburn. It should be a step back, but how far?
4. LSU Tigers
Schedule Strength: Moderately Tough
Key Losses: QB Zach Mettenberger, RB Jeremy Hill, WR Odell Beckham, WR Jarvis Landry, and DT Ego Furgeson
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: RB Kenny Hillard, TE Dillon Gordon, LT La'el Collins, LG Vadal Alexander, DE Jermauria Rasco, CB Jalen Collins, CB Jalen Mills, and SS Ronald Martin
Summary: The past four years the Tigers have won ten games and this year should be no different. But they have some serious questions about their QB situation. Is Anthony Jennings that guy? He did look good in the little he played when Mettenberger was injured. If they want to contend they'll need him to be that SEC player that comes out of nowhere. They'll still win a bunch of games, but won't be playing for anything important.
5. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Schedule Strength: Moderate
Key Loss: G Gabe Jackson
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: QB Dak Prescott, WR Jameon Lewis and LB Benardrick McKinney
Summary: Three straight wins at the end of last season helped save the season for Mississippi State and very well could have saved Dan Mullen's job. The Bulldogs are hoping that momentum can help carry through to this season. They have a manageable schedule and their 16 returning starters is the most in the conference. QB Dak Prescott is vastly underrated and his mastery of the offense could help them pull a few upsets.
6. Texas A&M Aggies
Schedule Strength: Moderately Tough
Key Losses: QB Johnny Manziel, WR Mike Evans, and LT Jake Matthews
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: RB Tra Carson, LT Cedric Ogbuehi, RT Germain Ifedi, LG Jarvis Harrison, C Mike Matthews, and CB Deshazor Everett
Summary: With Manziel and Evans gone doesn't mean that A&M is going to be awful. Sumlin has a system that is going to score points. Especially with the best offensive line in the nation. The big issue is their defense that was flat out horrible last year (26 points per game they gave up). They do return nine starters, but only have a single impact player (Everett). If their young players can live up to their recruiting hype they could make a run at 8 wins, but that's a lot to ask out of unproven players.
7. Arkansas Razorbacks
Schedule Strength: Tough
Key Losses: C Travis Swanson and DE Chris Smith
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: RB Jonathan Williams and DE Trey Flowers
Summary: Razorback fans have to hope year two of a drastic change in offensive and defensive schemes will produce more than three wins. But a lack the elite talent you need just to contend in this division isn't going to help. Arkansas wants to run the ball and has some backs to do so, but they still don't have the offensive lineman that Bielema is use to when he was at Wisconsin. With their schedule it's no stretch that they'll go winless in the conference for a second straight year.
East
1. Georgia Bulldogs
Schedule Strength: Moderately Tough
Key Losses: QB Aaron Murray, TE Arthur Lynch and S Josh Harvey-Clemmons
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: QB Hutson Mason, RB Todd Gurley, RB Keith Marshall, WR Malcolm Mitchell, TE Jay Rome, LT John Theus, C David Andrews, DE Ray Drew, DE Sterling Bailey, DT Mike Thornton, OLB Jordan Jenkins, OLB Leonard Floyd, ILB Ramik Wilson, and CB Damian Swann
Summary: Last year the story was about the talented offense and the young inexperienced defense. This year it's flipped. They still have a ton of talent on offense, but their young defense has grown up (8 returning starters). Keep an eye on redshirt sophomore OLB Leonard Floyd who could be special. Offensively they'll look to rely on their two elite backs to carry the load while QB Mason becomes more comfortable.
2. South Carolina Gamecocks
Schedule Strength: Moderately Tough
Key Losses: WR Bruce Ellington and DE Jadeveon Clowney
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: RB Mike Davis, WR Shaq Roland, TE Jerell Adams, TE Rory Anderson, LT Corey Robinson, RT Brandon Shell, LG AJ Cann, DT JT Surratt and DT Phillip Dukes
Summary: The Gamecocks are use to losing top tier talent to the NFL Draft, so this year will be no different that most. Most will think that Clowney will have the toughest shoes to fill, but I think they'll miss Shaw more. Shaw wasn't an elite QB but he was a winner. Dylan Thompson has experience starting games but he isn't Shaw. Look for them to rely on stud RB Mike Davis and their offensive line to carry them. That will be key because they host Georgia week three in a game that should decide the Division.
3. Florida Gators
Schedule Strength: Moderate
Key Losses: G John Halapio, DT Dominique Easley, LB Ronald Powell, and CB Jaylen Watkins
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: QB Jeff Driskel, RB Matt Jones, WR Andre Debose, TE Clay Burton, LT DJ Humphries, RT Chaz Green, DE Dante Fowler, DT Leon Orr and OLB Antonio Morrison
Summary: This is a huge season for the Gators who have to show improvement after a horrid 4-8 season. Kurt Roper was hired from Duke to be their new offensive coordinator. Talent isn't a huge issue since they are stocked once again with players that NFL teams will covet. However it's the lack of elite talent at the skill position that holds this team back. The schedule breaks their way with the key games (South Carolina and Georgia) in the Swamp, but they also draw LSU and Alabama from the West. They really need QB Jeff Driskel to stay healthy and finally live up to his potential.
4. Missouri Tigers
Schedule Strength: Moderately Easy
Key Losses: WR Dorial Green-Beckham, OT Justin Britt, DE Kony Ealy DE Michael Sam and CB EJ Gaines
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: C Evan Boehm, DT Matt Hoch, DE Shane Ray, and DE Markus Golden
Summary: Last year's success came out of nowhere and unfortunately for Missouri fans it could end up going back away. The Tigers do bring back some talented players, however they lost a ton from last year. Their eight starters (on both sides) is the lowest in the SEC will make it tough to repeat. The only saving grace is their schedule is probably the easiest in the division. They might not be eight or nine wins good, but they should get there.
5. Vanderbilt Commodores
Schedule Strength: Moderate
Key Losses: WR Jordan Matthews, LT Wesley Johnson, and CB Dre Hal
Top Prospect for NFL Draft: LB Kyle Woestmann
Summary: What James Franklin was able to build at Vanderbilt is one of the best displays of coaching out there. I really liked the hire of Derek Mason from Stanford. He's not inheriting a ton of talent or many returning starters, but this program knows how to grind out wins and that should continue for at least this year. Their schedule sets up for them to get bowl eligible, but the real question will be whether they will get there.
6. Tennessee Volunteers
Schedule Strength: Brutal
Key Losses: RT Ju'Wuan James G Zach Fulton and DT Daniel McCullers
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: WR Pig Howard, ILB AJ Johnson and FS LaDerrell McNeil
Summary: Lack of talent and a awfully brutal schedule should continue their streak of seven losses. They lost their entire offensive line and don't have a difference maker at QB. They have a couple playmakers on defense, but it's not like they are potential first rounders. Schedule wise they get Utah State and Oklahoma who are both better and then getting Alabama and Ole Miss from the West. Four wins would be best case scenario in my opinion.
7. Kentucky Wildcats
Schedule Strength: Tough
Key Loss: S Avery Williamson
Top Prospects for NFL Draft: DE Alvin Dupree and DE Za'Darius Smith
Summary: The Wildcats are making some waves on the recruiting trail, but don't look for those gets to translate to wins on the field. Kentucky still has a LONG ways to go. Luckily they have an FCS team on their schedule because it wouldn't surprise me for that to be their only win. Atleast if you were to watch them play you can see some young talent and two potential DE draft picks.
Conference Championship
Auburn over Georgia
Coach of the Year: Hugh Freeze, Mississippi
Coordinator for Hire: Jeremy Pruitt, Georgia (Defensive Coordinator)
Coach on the Hotseat: Will Muschamp, Florida
Top 20 Prospects for the 2015 NFL Draft
1. Todd Gurley RB Georgia
2. Dante Fowler DE Florida
3. Landon Collins S Alabama
4. Benardrick McKinney ILB Mississippi State
5. Amari Cooper WR Alabama
6. Sammie Coates WR Auburn
7. Ray Drew DE Georgia
8. Mike Davis RB South Carolina
9. Alvin Dupree DE Kentucky
10. Cedric Ogbuehi LT Texas A&M
11. Dak Prescott QB Mississippi State
12. Jalen Mills CB LSU
13. Markus Golden DE Missouri
14. Jordan Jenkins OLB Georgia
15. La'el Collins OT LSU
16. Jalen Collins CB LSU
17. AJ Cann G South Carolina
18. Reese Dismukes C Auburn
19. Arie Kouandjio G Alabama
20. Damian Swann CB Georgia
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