My personal most interesting, according to what I’m watching for – some already mentioned:
Miami – Cam Ward gives the Canes a star QB. The schedule is workable. I have the Hurricanes as a dark horse for the playoffs, but the coaching (Cristobal) is underwhelming.
Nebraska – At some point don’t the Huskers have to look better than they’ve been for the past half-decade? Losing openers to teams like Northwestern and Minnesota the past two seasons really took the spirits out of their seasons early on. This season it’s Vs Colorado that’s the early season tone setter.
Oklahoma – Venables & staff have recruited very well, which should start paying off. Problem is the Sooners’ schedule gets a stiff upgrade. Their SEC slate starts with Vs Tennessee, @ Auburn, Vs Texas.
Alabama – Not sure what to expect other then, starting this season, I can’t imagine that Crimson Tide defense will be as consistently lights out as they were under Saban. A defense that has afforded Alabama a competitiveness in rare losses for over a decade, but starting this season expect a few clearer cut losses we’re not used to witnessing from Bama.
North Carolina – Five seasons into his second stint as the Tar Heels head coach, Mack Brown has benefitted from the luxury of TWO future NFL QBs helming the backfield – Sam Howell and Drake Maye. Despite this, UNC has gone 38-27, losing to rivals, getting upset, and getting shelled in Bowls. Going into this season the QB position is facing a noticeable downgrade, though most publications rank UNC top 30 or 40. Mack Brown is 72, and I could see this being his last season, especially if the Tar Heels underwhelm. Good news for UNC is that their schedule is easy, facing only one preseason Top 25 opponent – Florida State.
Michigan – With all the turnover, I don’t see Michigan going better than 8-4, and what can’t help is their conference opponents playing for revenge.
LSU – Brian Kelly hired in a what should be a solid DC to fix LSU’s uncharacteristically awful defenses of the past few seasons, but this occurs right as the Tigers shed a lot of production on offense. Even when all their ducks are in a row, Brian Kelly’s teams don’t seem to be able to fully escape the chaotic factor that costs them a game or two against more disciplined, focused teams.
CBS Sports picks
LSU as the most overrated SEC team:
"The Tigers lost their top passer, top two rushers, top two receivers and offensive coordinator from a team that finished outside of the top 10 last season. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker will help improve the defense, but flipping playcallers on both sides of the ball and relying on a host of unproven options to take on starring roles makes it difficult to see LSU seriously landing in the College Football Playoff discussion like a preseason No. 13 ranking might assume."https://twitter.com/TomFornelli/status/1826293867148349733
