Missouri and Texas A&M Outlook in SEC [77 Days of Summer]

Missouri and Texas A&M both left the Big-12 in favor of the SEC.  For a while the Big-12 looked like it would be sustainable, such as during the talks of Texas, Oklahoma among others moving to the PAC-12.  When Texas was able to make its own television network that it would keep the money for and schools like Kansas who would have nowhere to go if the Big-12 fell through shelled out privileges it seemed Texas A&M was going to leave the conference out of principle.  I’m also surprised that Missouri was able to get in to the SEC as they don’t have a big market but do have a good football and basketball team.  Regardless, it provides for some exciting storylines heading in to the next season of college football.

Texas A&M goes to join the SEC West with LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Ole Miss.  Have fun in the group of death (#EURO2012) Aggies.  The Aggie get Florida, Arkansas, LSU, and seceding member Missouri all at home.  They are traveling to Mississippi, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Alabama.  The tough par really starts October 27^th when they have three road games in a row at Auburn, Miss St., and Alabama.

Missouri goes to join the SEC East and its members of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky.  The SEC East has been down in recent years and every team has questions, which is why I think Missouri will have a much better assimilation in to the SEC.  Luckily the first three games of the season are at home for the Tigers and they get a tune up with SE Louisiana before getting Georgia and Arizona State (Don’t screw it up Sparky).  Then they travel to South Carolina and UCF before hosting Vanderbilt and Alabama.  They go to the Swamp, Neyland stadium, and Texas A&M.  Their schedule is incredibly manageable and could get eight or nine wins.

In the last seven years the Tigers have averaged over thirty points a game five times (the two other years were 29 points a game).  However, they gave up over 23 points a game five of those years also.  Texas A&M averaged over 30 points their last three seasons but have given up over 25 points a game in five of their last seven seasons.  Both these teams will be case studies on Big-12 offense against SEC defense.   You can only take so much from bowl games so I’m very interested to see how well both the offense and the defense of these two teams fair.

Texas A&M has Kevin Sumlin coming in from Houston who just finished coaching Case Keenum to every quarterback record in college football.  It is an air raid attack and may not be the best matchup for a conference that bases its defense on speed.  Especially with defensive lines that get to the quarterback so fast this could be a bad look.  Missouri is a spread offense but was much more balanced last year between the run and the pass than previous years.  I really like quarterback James Franklin who completed over  63% of his passes last year while throwing 21 touchdowns with only 11 picks.  He also rushed for 15 touchdowns and was a 1000-yard rusher along with running back Henry Josey.

The biggest benefit both teams will have moving to the SEC is the money because when the SEC makes a network and agrees to a new TV deal, there is going to be a lot of money to go around.  It’s the best conference in the country and has a flair all its own.  The level of competition is going to obviously be higher and will make for some exciting football this upcoming season.

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