Laner's College Football Pod
Laner's College Football Pod is the place for college football fanatics. Host Josh Lane provides a weekly episode with highlights from the previous week's games, storylines to follow, and his own hot takes!
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Laner's College Football Pod
SEC Schedule Predictions
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College football season is almost upon us!
Reagan and Laner discuss some of the schedules in the SEC and make predictions for some of the teams we expect to be towards the top of the conference.
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Welcome in to another edition of the LCFP, another off-season episode. But Reagan, every day that goes by is much, much closer to the season.
SPEAKER_00You know, we've got NFL football tomorrow, first Hall of Fame game. I am, you know, I'm not the biggest NFL guy, but man, it's gonna be so good. And you better believe I'm gonna be turning that television on to watch football again, man. It is football time, brother.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. It's Wednesday, August 5th. We're recording this. You can see both of our hats. As always, we're dialed in with DuckBuckco.com. Use code LCFP for 15% off. This is year two with DuckBuck, and we just want to express our gratitude for them. They're gonna be dropping some new stuff, and you better believe uh we will be sharing that on socials. We'll be rocking it all year on the pod. Reagan, this is an off-season episode, which it's been a pleasure to rip some of these lately. Go back, listen to it. We ranked our top five SEC coaches, our top five Big Ten coaches. We also had some fun the other night. Uh, share a little bit about that, Reagan.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man. Uh we did a schedule draft the other night, had a great time going back and forth. Um, you know, it's been really fun doing these offseason videos, a little more fun, but you know, I'm thinking it's time to go ahead and rip some schedules, man, and let's start putting some predictions, some pen to paper, brother. Let's do it. Um I'm gonna kick us off, man. I'm gonna start us with the team that's run the SEC for the better part of two decades, maybe not at the moment, but they've been the dynasty. Uh let's start with Alabama. Let's go through a couple of these early games, not much to comment on. ECU, East Carolina, W, uh, Kentucky at Kentucky. I got them as a win. Then home for FSU. I think it's gonna be ugly. I think uh FSU is gonna get Alabama's full attention. Uh, I've got FSU going down, Alabama picking up their third win. South Carolina at home, I got another win. Um then at Mississippi State, potential look-ahead spot, you know, right before that Georgia game. I do have a win though. Um going into what is one of the biggest games of the year, the Georgia game. And I am trying to put my homerism aside. I do think that Kirby um is kind of figuring out a little bit of this Alabama thing for him. I do think Alabama takes an L to Georgia, and then a game at Tennessee. The home team has won the last four, uh, maybe five, actually. I don't remember. Yeah, it was five because Alabama popped Tennessee before in 21. I think Bama goes down again two in a row. Then I think AM at home, they get right, and then they go on the road for a game that might make or break a playoff run. Um, I think they're gonna go to LSU, and I think they're gonna get LSU. Uh, Alabama's kind of owned that rivalry over the last decade or so. Um, I'm not down on LSU at all this year. I think LSU is gonna be a force, and I think that's gonna be a really, really good game. Um, then to Vanderbilt, I do have them picking up a win. Vandy, a little bit of a rebuild. Um, then you know you got your FCS Chattanooga game, and then the Iron Bowl. It's in it's in Tuscaloosa. Auburn has not been competitive, and I don't think they are this year. I got Alabama at 10-2, and sticking with my prediction, I've got Alabama in the playoffs again.
SPEAKER_01Wow. Any big thought on the year overall for Alabama?
SPEAKER_00Um, I'd really, really like to see Keelon. If I'm an Alabama fan, I'd love to see Keelon Russell start early. Very favorable early season schedule. I heard Pate the other night talking about where if you make that switch uh to Keelon after you can get away with that. It's kind of a fresh season. I I understand the logic. I would prefer to go in. It's the same thing with Tennessee this year. I would prefer to throw the young guy out there, um, see if he's the guy, quite frankly. And then if he's not, you know, obviously a totally different set of predictions here then. But um, you know, I'm a big throw him out. Let him get those reps early before the meat and potatoes of that four-game stretch. George at home at Tennessee, AM at home, then at LSU. Get those early reps. That's what I'd like to see.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Definitely a favorable schedule for Alabama, but a tough four-game stretch that will determine their season. Love it, Reagan. All right, let's move over to Austin, Texas, one of the newer SEC members, but one of the teams with massive preseason hopes. I'm gonna rip through this schedule pretty quickly. Texas State early, that's a W. Then they host Ohio State, year two, the back end of that home and home. I've got Ohio State going into Austin and winning that game, but Texas bouncing right back in week three, taking it to UTSA, beating the roadrunners. Then they go to the infamous game that you selected in our last episode for your scheduled draft, Texas at Tennessee, both who's the true orange, who's the true T school in the SEC. I've got Texas winning that one on the road. Then we go right into the Red River shootout, Texas and Oklahoma. Give me Texas winning that one as well, making that two years in a row. They'll then go on to get revenge against Florida at home. Then here's a tricky one. You got Ole Miss coming to town, Trinidad Shamblis in Austin. I think that Texas is actually going to get that one. They'll hold strong, they'll win, they'll host Mississippi State as well, and they'll go two weeks in a row defeating uh teams from the state of Mississippi. They'll go on to Missouri, travel up there to Columbia, and they'll get a win there. But then they'll head down to Death Valley and they will take a loss at LSU. I imagine that'll be a night game. I think Baton Rouge will be angry. It'll be a must-win spot for them. But then I got them bouncing back and beating Arkansas at home and finishing the year on Rivalry Week, a massive game that was a huge game for both these teams last year. Texas will beat Texas AM to finish the year 10-2 and make the playoffs.
SPEAKER_00So Big Brother gets another win. Um, quick thoughts, Ohio State game. That is a coin flip game for me.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00You know, that is a true coin flip game going into that for me as well. Um, I could see either uh gut reaction for me right now is I'd probably lean 51-49 to the home team, but I don't hate the prediction at all.
SPEAKER_01And with them with them losing early to Ohio State, they really got to run the table in the SEC. Yeah, I only have them dropping the one at LSU in SEC play.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um, moving right along, uh, my one of my favorite teams going into this year, um, Ole Miss, the uh fight in Trinidad Chamblisses. We're gonna rename uh the Georgia Tech fight in Hanes Kings to that. Um team I'm very high on. I'm gonna be abnormally high on compared to a lot of people talking uh ball this year. Um Louisville, week one. I've got them picking up a win. Uh Charlotte, week two, win. Game of the year. I've said it. I'm gonna keep saying it. I'm standing on this one. Give me old miss over LSU. Give us game day all day there, man. Whole nine yards. Um at Florida, another win. Uh at Vanderbilt, another win for counting these up. And then a sneaky one, Missouri. Again, like you said before, I wanted Missouri is gonna be Missouri is gonna pop somebody that they have no business popping. They are very good, man. They played, they played big in those big games. They've given Georgia nightmares during their dynasty their couple years in their championship run, man. Um, I have I have O'Miss picking up the win at Texas. I agree with you. I think they're gonna go in and they're gonna fight well. I think they're gonna lose. Auburn a win. I think Georgia's gonna get them. Um, I do think Georgia's gonna turn around and get them. Again, true coin flip game for me in Athens last year. Home team pulled it out. Kirby figured it out in the second half. Then the playoffs, Trinidad figured Kirby out in the second half. Yeah. Almost like, you know, the best of three. I can't wait for that game. I do think Georgia wins. I would not be shocked if they did win, though, at all. Uh finishing it up, Oklahoma, Wafford, and Miss State for the Egg Bowl. Win-win-win. I've got Oak, I've got Ole Miss 10 and 2 very much in the playoffs. And right there, I gotta see how the tiebreakers break out and everything. Very much alive for Atlanta in my mind.
SPEAKER_01Wow. Okay, it's getting crowded with these SEC playoff teams. If all goes according to our predictions so far, we've got three for three, all three at 10 and 2. Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss. Uh, we let's see if that continues here with Oklahoma. All right.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, the depth of the SEC isn't the depth is not questioned in the SEC. It's the top tier, the the Big Ten zoning that top level right now.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Absolutely. Now, Oklahoma last year in the playoffs. If you if you uh remembered us talking earlier this offseason when we did some over-unders based on uh this past season, I had Oklahoma at the under. So let me show you why. I got them defeating UTEP week one. Uh Michigan, they go up to Ann Arbor, and I believe Oklahoma will get a win on the road in the big house. They'll then host New Mexico, they'll beat the Lobos, then they'll go to Georgia. That's where they'll take their first loss in Athens, putting them at 3-1, and immediately turn around. Look at this two-game stretch. You got to go on the road to Georgia, and then you turn around, you get a buy in there, but then your very next matchup is the Red River shootout. I've got them dropping their second game. So they're at 3-2, five games into this, but they'll bounce back, beat Kentucky at home, they'll go on the road, they'll beat Mississippi State, they'll then host South Carolina, they'll beat the Game Cox, they will go to Florida in the swamp. I like this matchup here, Reagan. What is John Sumerall going to give us in year one? I got Oklahoma winning on the road in a hostile environment. I trust John Mathir to come through big time in that one. But then Ole Miss, Trinidad Shamless comes to town, and I believe this could be a Heisman game for Trinidad Shamless, and Ole Miss, the rebels will get a win on the road. And um, then they'll host Texas AM, they'll win that one, and they will close the year against Missouri, and I've got them winning that one, but that puts Oklahoma at 9-3 and outside the playoff bubble, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_00Still a fringe team, though. Definitely you never know with how all the other teams are gonna be, how many nine-win teams are gonna get in this year or not.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely, and man, they have a tough schedule early. You got a road game at Michigan, and then you gotta face, you gotta go at Georgia and then Red River shootout. This could be a two-and-three team five five games in very easily.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Uh moving along, LSU coached by the most hated man in college football, potentially, maybe. Um, the LSU Tigers. I think they start hot. I think they're gonna get a win against Clemson. I think Clemson is reeling as a program, and I don't like to say that. I like Dabo. I know Dabo is a very, very controversial guy, outspoken Christian, love love Dabo and everything that he stands on. Um, LA Tech win uh at all miss. I already said it. They're taking an L. Um, they turn around at home. I don't want to just pick a bunch of wins and pick on you know all the favorites. I think AM is gonna pop them. Wow. I do. I think they're gonna drop two. I think that this team is gonna take some time to gel. I don't think that we've seen a lot of evidence. Again, put Indiana in its own bucket. We haven't seen a mercenary team really gel very quickly. Again, if you want to pick Texas Tech out in the Big 12, uh that's just a different level of competition for you know that conference. Um McNeese, I think they're gonna get right at Kentucky, another win. Mississippi State, another win at Auburn, tough game. Auburn, never an easy out. If Auburn picks up a couple early season wins, you never know. Um as of right now, I think LSU's gonna get them. And then uh at home for Bama, gonna stick right with my earlier prediction, what I said before. I think LSU takes their third loss of the year. Then they get Texas at home, and I think they're gonna pick up a fourth loss. Um then at Tennessee, I think they're gonna win. And then they finish up at Arkansas, and I think they're gonna they're gonna pick up another win. And I think that LSU is gonna finish eight and four. I don't think that that's unrealistic. I don't think that that's you know, they're over-under going into the seasons, eight and a half, if I'm not mistaken, I believe. I think they're a slight under. You could absolutely convince me that they beat AM and that they're sitting at nine and three in that hodgepodge of teams that are gonna be sitting there with potentially an Oklahoma, potentially a bunch of other nine-win teams vying for, oh, our resume is stronger. We should be at the top. Um, I think it's gonna take some time. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I like it. It's gonna be interesting to see what they do year one. Sam Levitt's health is gotta be one of the big factors this year as well.
SPEAKER_00It's one of the big question marks going into the season, man. Yeah, you're right.
SPEAKER_01You're absolutely team chemistry as well, and how quickly can they get things going? Tough schedule to year one, but uh LSU, definitely a wildcard team. Very hard to predict, so I appreciate you taking that one. This school, I think, is very easy to pick. So I'm going with Georgia, the Bulldogs. They've dominated the SEC uh last five-year rolling period. Uh, they've been the standard in the conference. Tennessee state right off the bat, easy dub, Western Kentucky, Georgia's 2-0. They play their first SEC game in Fayetteville. They're gonna go on the road and beat Arkansas. Then they'll host Oklahoma. Very big game. They'll win that one. You already heard me call Oklahoma losing that one. Georgia will win that one. They'll start the year 4-0. They'll host Vandy and win, and they will be cruising into Tuscaloosa 5-0, where they will get a win on the road in Bryant Denny Stadium.
SPEAKER_00We're predicting two 5-0 teams going into that game, by the way.
SPEAKER_01Wow. Which would be incredible. You know, potentially. Oh gosh. If they're both 5-0, it's absolutely a top 10 matchup, probably a top five matchup. It's been the game of the year the last several years. It's been phenomenal. And not something that historically has been a regular season matchup year over year, but the conference has kind of forced this into a regular season rivalry, and it's been a real treat for us.
SPEAKER_00It has been. I they'd have to be dumb not to.
SPEAKER_01And and this is where Georgia has a tough stretch, and you see back-to-back-to-back rivalries starting to stack up here. And so they go on the road, they beat Alabama, then they have a two-week stretch with some rivals. They're going to host Auburn, and then they're going to go uh down the road to the Mercedes-Benz and somewhat host Florida. So dumb. We talked about this in our last episode. Total miss. That game should be played in Athens. But they're going to win both of those games. And Georgia fans are going to be loving that. They're going to beat Alabama, uh, their newer rival, uh, but then they're going to beat their two historic rivals, Auburn and Florida. Then they'll hope, then they'll go on the road to Ole Miss. Ole Miss will host them, and that is where I have Georgia losing their first game of the year. Trinidad and Co. get the win, and that's a historic win. Probably a field storming for Ole Miss. Uh, it'll be electric there. Hottie Tadi. But then they'll turn back around, they'll host Missouri, and they will win that one. They'll go on the road and beat South Carolina, and they'll finish out the year winning yet another rivalry game and beating Georgia Tech, going 3-0 on the year against their rivals, finishing the year 11-1, playing in the SEC championship game in a playoff lock. That's what I have for my Georgia outlook, Reagan. What do you think?
SPEAKER_00A couple of sneaky games that are gonna fly under the radar. I said it before. Missouri gives Georgia fits every time they play them, even when Georgia was far more talented than they are going into this year, uh, 21 and 22. Go look those games up, man. They were classics. Um even going back to 2016, uh Jacob Eason's first year starting way back. Phenomenal game. Um, that one, and then watch out, watch out, watch out for that Florida game. Atlanta, the Mercedes-bins has been the house of horrors for Georgia. It's true. It has been. And Florida does not matter who's their head coach, it doesn't matter what their record is. Look at last year when Billy Napier was a dead man walking. Florida led that game for the majority of that game. And so a couple of those sneaky games, obviously the big ones, the Oklahomas, the Bamas, those stand out. But you know, where I'm honestly as a Georgia fan, where I'm more looking and wanting us to focus in and make sure, can't afford a slip-up, can't afford an unseen, unforeseen loss. Georgia hasn't had an unforeseen loss since 2019. South Carolina, I believe, was the last time somebody came out of nowhere to really beat us. But those are a couple of my thoughts.
SPEAKER_01Look, man, you mentioned South Carolina. I hate to say this because I think it's outrageous. I think it's outrageous that these words will even come out of my mouth, but that's just the reality of modern college football. Shane Beamer might be fighting for his life at the end of the year.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And they might be fighting for bowl eligibility. He might be fighting for his job, and you got to go to Williams Bryce late in the year. I mean, even that's scary. Like that it's you escape.
SPEAKER_00That's right. Um, one other thing that stands out where's Tennessee on the schedule? SEC, get it together.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah, that's amazing. Get it together. Okay, here's a here's a bizarre pull. Since we're done, since we're done, we'll we'll we'll belabor this point. Okay, we'll go a little further here. Here's a bizarre scenario. I don't know if we've ever seen this before. I would never be able to do the research on this. Let's say Aaron Philo is the quarterback at Florida. Georgia Tech transfer, Georgia Tech also uh offensive coordinator has moved to Florida. Georgia now could be facing these two guys two years in a row on both being rivalry games for Georgia on two different teams. That's a wild one. I don't know if I explained that very well, but Georgia having both Georgia Tech and Florida as rivals, and now potentially facing a former Georgia Tech player on Florida. Very interesting dynamic, you know, that they would go into that game having the same rival just on a different team.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, man. We're uh we're gonna keep ripping these SEC and we're gonna make our way to the Big Ten here next. Uh, we're gonna hopefully get Howie on here and rip some Big Ten schedules here very soon. I know he has he has an issue with both of our prediction on Indiana. So uh looking forward to hearing his thoughts. We love you, Howie, man. Looking forward to it.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely. Thanks again for tuning in. We'll see ya.
