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Vassallo: The Fans Speak Out
Over the past few weeks I have polled several die-hard SEC football fans to rank the conference top to bottom ignoring the two divisions.
Here is the consensus that these 12 mega fans concluded:
1. Alabama: According to the focus group, expect the elephants to stampede once more.
2. Auburn: Another banner year expected and we must face Nos. 1&2 on the road!
3. Ole Miss: Wow! Expectations are high placing the Rebs above all the east.
4. Georgia: The group thinks the Dogs will prevail on the eastern front.
5. LSU: The Tigers will be a difficult opponent, but at least it’s here.
6. Arkansas: Ditto. Five of the top six are from the west!
7. Tennessee: Predicted higher than in recent years.
8. Missouri: A big step down.
9. Texas A&M : Not a bright forecast being picked next to last in west.
10. South Carolina: The troubles continue.
11. Florida: Probably a good year to have the Gators on your schedule.
12. Mississippi State: Definitely no respect. Could they be this bad?
13. Kentucky: How many days to the start of basketball season?
14. Vandy: What a league for a private school to compete! No mercy for the Dores.
The focus group consisted of fans from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas. Because there were no individuals selecting from Alabama shows the respect the group has for the top two teams! Because I still have one game left to predict (MSU) on the Rebs’ season, I will not comment and give my thoughts. Although I will say that the 12th place prediction of MSU truly surprised me.
In conclusion, if the group is basically correct, the SEC West will continue to be the beast it has been. And if A&M and State are the easiest games in the west, then there is no rest for the weary…at least in 2015.
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | W, 63-51 |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | W, 73-66 |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | W, 77-65 |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | W, 74-64 |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | L, 81-84 |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | L, 62-63 |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | 8:00 PM ESPN2 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | 3:00 PM TBA |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |