By: Ryan Moreland (@ryanmoreland)
We now head to the best conference in the CFSL. The SEC has proven that it will be a slugfest and the first week of conference play lived up to that.
Auburn – The Tigers Are Still the Team To Beat
Auburn lost some talent last season and made a major change to the offense, but they are still the same Tigers. They opened the season with a close win over Michigan. Since then, no one has been able to stick around Auburn. Their average margin of victory over the last three games is over 31 points.
Now, some teams in the SEC could give them trouble. And, Auburn knows they are going to get everyone’s best, no matter who they play. But there is no doubt that as the only undefeated team in the conference, they are still THAT team.
Kentucky – The Defense is Elite
Kentucky has been a powerhouse in the league for quite some time and they have always had a great defense. Some wondered (myself included) if they would be able to keep up that level of play after a quiet offseason. Well, the Wildcats have answered that question emphatically. Kentucky has only allowed 21.8 points per game this season which is the 2nd best in the league. They are also second in yards allowed.
The Kentucky defense is on fire and prepared to lead them into the playoffs and beyond. Could we see another Wildcat championship this season?
Florida – The Gators are Back
The Gators have started the season 3-1, already surpassing their win total from last season. This was thanks to a fantastic offseason which saw them bring in a lot of talent. The difference this has made for their sophomore QB Jack Schmidt, is evident. Schmidt has 16 total touchdowns after four weeks in Season 21. That is one more than he had all of last season.
Florida looks like they could be a real contender in the SEC this season. They will have to prove themselves against some tough competition coming up, though. This week they head to Auburn, which promises to be the toughest test they have had all season.
Alabama – Turnovers Are Lethal
The Crimson Tide started the season 2-0 and looked great downing Miami and Oregon. Since then things have taken a downturn. Alabama has now dropped two straight games in losses to Texas and Kentucky. What changed? The Crimson Tide were bit by the turnover bug. Alabama had only three giveaways in their first two games. They have had five in the last two weeks. Not only have they turned it over, but they have made costly turnovers that have turned into quick scores for the other team.
The good news for Alabama is they still have a great roster and plenty of time to catch back up in the conference. The only thing they need to do is to take care of the football.
Tennessee – Sterling Verdugo Is Underrated
Too often in the CFSL (and in real life), we look at quarterbacks based on wins. This is an insane thing to do in the ultimate team sport and Verdugo is proof. While this season hasn’t been great for Tennessee (they are 1-3 currently) Sterling Verdugo has been great. He has 9 total touchdowns and only 3 interceptions, despite being outmatched in most games that he plays. He is completing nearly 70% of his passes as well.
If you haven’t gotten the chance to catch a Tennessee game, I would highly recommend it. Verdugo jumps off the screen as he consistently makes plays and can keep Tennessee in games, even when they are severely outmatched. In my opinion, he might be the most underrated player in the entire league.
Georgia – The Pass Rush is Elite
Georgia has stumbled out of the gates in Season 21. The Bulldogs are 1-3 currently after suffering a big loss to Auburn. However, their ability to make QBs uncomfortable is impressive. This was first pointed out by Cole Mantell last week in his SEC Blog. Right now, Georgia ranks second in team sacks in the CFSL, with 18. This charge has been led by the DE duo of Tode Danger and Cait Rylyn. The pair have combined for 10 sacks and 16 TFLs this season.
There is still time for Georgia to figure it out and get back on track as a team. And that challenge should be a little easier when they know they have one of the best pass rushes in the league.
