KSR Predicts the 2023 SEC Football Order of Finish

Next week hundreds of media members will flock to Nashville for SEC Media Days where each participating member will vote for a preseason all-conference team and predict the order of finish for the league in 2023. As Freddie Maggard will tell you, not every media member in attendance does their research. The results are far from perfect. That is why KSR is sharing our submissions before the rest of the SEC unveils their picks next Friday. Here’s how the SEC Football season will unfold in 2023, according to KSR’s Football Guys.

Nick Roush

SEC East

1. Georgia
2. Kentucky
3. Tennessee
4. Florida
5. South Carolina
6. Vanderbilt
7. Missouri

The SEC East feels like it’s Georgia, then a group of 3-4 that aren’t so far apart. Ultimately, I’m betting on Devin Leary over Joe Milton. I’m also expecting South Carolina and Missouri to slide, while Vanderbilt will be better than expected with a talented wide receiver group and a solid sophomore quarterback in AJ Swann. All they need is for the defense to take a leap in year three for Clark Lea.

SEC West

1. Alabama
2. Texas A&M
3. LSU
4. Arkansas
5. Ole Miss
6. Mississippi State
7. Auburn

The SEC West doesn’t feel so different. Even though LSU won the division a year ago, outside of their stars — Jayden Daniels, Harold Perkins and Brian Kelly — there’s not a lot of reliable returning production, particularly on defense. While I want the Bobby Petrino experiment to blow up in College Station, if it hits (as it usually does for a year or two before the implosion), the talent is there. Arkansas also has a chance to get that second spot in the SEC West with a more palatable schedule, but I don’t trust Sam Pittmanthat much. The rest of the division feels like it’s in a different class after Ole Miss took advantage of favorable schedule in 2022 and Auburn and Mississippi State rebuild with new coaches this fall.

SECChampion: Georgia

The Dawgs are head and shoulders above the rest of the SEC. The defense is reloaded, again, and there are so many offensive weapons that I could play quarterback and lead this team to an SEC title. As long as off-the-field issues don’t derail the season, Kirby Smart is running it back on his way to the CFB Playoff.

Freddie Maggard

SEC East

1. Georgia
2. Tennessee
3. Kentucky 
4. South Carolina 
5. Florida 
6. Missouri 
7. Vanderbilt 

The 2023 Georgia Bulldogs may not measure up to the back-to-back title winning squads of 2021 and 2022 respectively. My reasoning comes down to two losses from within the facility. Losing offensive play caller Todd Monken to the Ravens and legendary quarterback Stetson Bennett IV will sting. The duo combined for a couple of perfect seasons and an offense that morphed into more than just a safe, ball control operation that relied upon the defense to win game. 

UGA has the best roster in the East to go along with the most manageable overall schedule in the conference. Tennessee is just behind Georgia and will also face life after its star quarterback left Knoxville for the NFL. The winner of the Dawgs-Vols November 18 matchup could be the eventual East champ. 

The next two teams are similar and separated by a slight margin in terms of personnel and schedule. Kentucky vs. South Carolina has developed into quite the heated rivalry over the years. 2023 will be no different. The victor of the November contest could climb the East ladder while the loser may fall into the division’s third level that includes Florida and Missouri. Neither the Gators nor the Tigers have a quarterback that scares me which is not good in modern-day college football. 

Vanderbilt is my seventh place team. For the first time in a long time, this was not an easy, slam dunk decision which is a compliment to Clark Lea and staff.

SEC West

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Texas A&M 
4. Ole Miss
5. Arkansas
6. Mississippi State
7. Auburn

I must admit that I am much more familiar with the East than I am with the West. Alabama has been the overwhelming favorite in the division for quite some time. Not in 2023. While Saban has won titles with less than star-level quarterback play before, the SEC is a different animal than it was in 2009 or 2011. I’m going with LSU due to the fact that Brian Kelly has Jayden Daniels while Nick Saban’s quarterback situation remains murky. 

I’m going to regret this, but I’m going Texas A&M in the third slot. The Aggies’ roster is still extremely talented even after losing nearly 30 players to premature departures. Lane Kiffin’s squad was active in personnel acquisitions as well and the Ole Miss head coach is one of the top play callers in the nation. Arkansas and Mississippi State are similar in many ways. Schedule and the knack for pulling off surprising upsets have been their cup of tea. They both have quality QB’s which will help their cause. Auburn is my 7th place team. Hugh Freeze has worked the portal and built a good, not great, roster in a short amount of time. AU is a weird place due to a wobbly and meddling administration. It may take the former Ole Miss and Liberty coach time during his transition to the Plains. 

SEC Champion: Georgia 

There are holes or question marks about the Dawgs that haven’t existed in recent past. Regardless, Kirby Smart has constructed the best roster in the league. The best team is normally the squad with the top Jimmy’s and Joe’s. 

Hope you follow the KSR crew from SEC Media Days. My predictions and rankings will change 47 times before the mega-media event closes shop on Thursday. Welcome to football season. 

Adam Luckett

SEC East

1. Georgia
2. Tennessee
3. Kentucky
4. South Carolina
5. Missouri
6. Florida
7. Vanderbilt

Georgia is the clear top dog in a division with six top-35 teams entering the 2023 season. Kirby Smart again has one of the best rosters in college football thanks to elite high school recruiting and a pair of wide receiver transfers should make things easy for expected QB1 Carson Beck. The biggest question is the race for No. 2. I like Tennessee to make a run at another double-digit wins as Josh Heupel will likely have another top-10 offense. Kentucky and South Carolina will be in the mix. Missouri has a chance to get off to a fast start. Florida’s schedule could lead to a third consecutive losing season in Gainesville. Vanderbilt is still fighting uphill as Clark Lea enters year three of a long rebuild.

SEC West

1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Texas A&M
4. Arkansas
5. Ole Miss
6. Auburn
7. Mississippi State

I know Alabama has some real QB issues and two new play-callers. But the roster is the roster. Bama has a boatload of talent, avoids Georgia, and gets LSU at home. An undefeated regular season is on the table. LSU makes a run at 10-2 but I don’t believe this is a College Football Playoff team yet under Brian Kelly. I’m a sucker for Texas A&M’s roster every offseason and that is not changing. Bobby Petrino has some weapons on offense and the defensive line will be one of the best in college football. Arkansas and Ole Miss are neck-and-neck but a healthy KJ Jefferson gives the Hogs some more upward mobility. A tough first season could be ahead for Hugh Freeze on the Plains. I’m fading Mississippi State as first-time defensive head coaches have not faired well in this conference.

SEC Champion: Georgia

Georgia should have the best defense in college football. Georgia could have the best offensive line in college football. Georgia has the best tight end in college football. There are a plethora of high four-star and five-star prospects at wide receiver and tight end. Kirby Smart has a national title contender and the Dawgs bring home a consecutive conference title for the first time in the conference championship game era.