Predicting the feeling of every SEC fan base in January

It’s a simple prediction: How will every SEC fan feel about their team following the 2017 season?

We’ve come up with one word to summarize what the majority of each team’s fans might be experiencing come January.

Alabama: Redemption

The unusual disappointment that Crimson Tide fans felt in late winter and spring will soon be replaced by relief and justification of Nick Saban’s recent contract extension. Despite the NFL departures and loss to Clemson, the Crimson Tide still have the best roster and the best coach in America. What’s more, this time they have the added motivation of losing their last game.

The recent baseline of an SEC title, playoff berth and national championship appearance should be met. Because the foundation of the track record of four consecutive SEC titles, and four national titles since 2009 hasn’t changed.

Arkansas: Restlessness

Devwah Whaley steps into the large shoes of Rawleigh Williams III, who retired from football, but the Razorbacks struggle to find traction in Bret Bielema’s fifth season as they again miss the nine-win mark.

Running back is just one area where depth is a concern, and making it through the SEC West gauntlet will be difficult.

With a change in defensive coordinators, the defense should have plenty of questions, particularly given the key returnees on offense, which was the better unit last year.

Auburn: Optimism

Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham lives up to the hype and eases quarterback concerns for Gus Malzahn. Another big question is answering questions, and finding playmakers along the defensive line.

It might be a year late from Malzahn’s lofty prediction of some of the best years the program’s had, but the Tigers have a lot of the ingredients to replicate the 2010 and 2013 seasons.

This might be a pivotal season for Malzahn, but the Tigers will deliver some coaching equity and silence some of the critics to buy him some more time on the Plains.

Florida: Irritation

Jim McElwain will have much more to worry about in the months ahead besides pictures of another man on a boat with a shark. For starters, quarterback will be an issue even after Feleipe Franks appeared in the spring to settle the position battle and ease concerns as the 10th starting quarterback since Tim Tebow.

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McElwain has used four quarterbacks in 27 games and the offensive-minded coach is looking to settle a position that’s long been a source of concern.

Beyond the roster, Florida has several tough and tricky non-conference games, including Michigan in Arlington, Texas, Northern Colorado, UAB and Florida State.

While Florida has pounced on the chance to control the East while rival programs have been down, that ends this season as Florida falls behind Georgia and Tennessee.

Georgia: Relief

The angst over the quarterback competition, or lack thereof, quickly dissipates as the upgraded offensive line depth and a full season for Jacob Eason leads to early positives for the Bulldogs. The offensive firepower also includes the return of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel and the presumed expanded roles in the passing game of tight ends like Isaac Nauta.

While Kirby Smart might try to downplay the talent and experience of 10 or 11 starters returning, depending on the formation, the defense shouldn’t have many holes, especially facing a manageable home schedule.

Kentucky: Content

There are fewer questions surrounding the program than in recent years, and Mark Stoops appears to have turned a corner in some aspects after an end-of-season roadblock stunted the program growth for a couple of years.

Winning seven games and earning a bowl berth is not exactly crowded company at Kentucky, but that’s where Stephen Johnson found himself at the end of last season.

Given the end-of-season disappointments before 2016, the program has stabilized under Stoops, and areas like depth fueled by recruiting dividends out of Ohio appear to be bearing fruit. While the Wildcats aren’t a threat to challenge for a trip to Atlanta, they do appear more in line with the kinds of teams that consistently make a low to mid-tier bowl berth.

LSU: Hungry

One of the more interesting coaches and one of the more high profile coordinator hires are each on the same campus, and the biggest question remains: Can an Ed Orgeron-led team win more than Les Miles, especially over SEC West rivals. The underlying narrative is how much the offense will change given it still has an elite feature back in Derrius Guice.

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Beating Alabama and finding consistent quarterback play from Danny Etling will dictate the success of this season with the spotlight squarely on OC Matt Canada.

Mississippi State: Anxious

The newly signed contract extension for Dan Mullen will leave many wondering what will come next for the coach that’s average a little more than seven wins per season. The extension takes Mullen and the Bulldogs through 2021 after he’s produced a 61-44 record in eight seasons in Starkville, including 5-2 in bowl games.

Mullen ranks third in Mississippi State history in coaching victories, as he’s 14 from supplanting all-time leader Jackie Sherrill.

The Bulldogs behind quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and a veteran secondary have the makings for a signature victory even after Mullen has made going to a bowl game a reality for a program-record seven consecutive years.

Missouri: Progress

That’s what they hope the Tigers deliver following a disappointing campaign in Barry Odom’s first season.

The Tigers missed a bowl berth after they started 2-7, but closed with two wins in the final three games. While Odom is the lowest-paid coach in the SEC, and new basketball coach Cuonzo Martin makes the most on campus, Missouri raising funds to build a football facility in the south end zone at Memorial Stadium.

On the field, Missouri has just one quarterback Drew Lock who has taken a snap in a Division I game. Nate Brown and Justin Smith have recovered from surgeries last year, and redshirt freshman tight end Albert Okwuegbunam is expected to have a big year.

Ole Miss: Frustration

Coming off a 5-7 season, and with a mostly new staff without a chance at the postseason, Hugh Freeze is battling the perennially tough SEC West and NCAA sanctions.

The optimism centers on Shea Patterson at quarterback, who looks to be one of the top passers in the SEC at easily over 3,000 yards.

With the cloud of NCAA trouble, it’ll be tough for the fan base and the players to drum up emotion to get excited about every game this season.

South Carolina: Excitement

Four returning starters on the offensive line to protect Jake Bentley and a stable of versatile running backs who have a variety of experience should produce far more trips to the end zone than last season. The offense shouldn’t have much trouble moving the ball behind the likes of receiver Bryan Edwards, running back Rico Dowdle and receiver Deebo Samuel.

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Safety Jaylin Dickerson, an early enrollee, and linebacker Skai Moore, who returns from a neck injury, are two key players on a solid defense.

Put it all together and the Gamecocks are an easy dark horse to threaten for the SEC East championship.

Tennessee: Impatience

Back-to-back nine-win seasons have simply left Big Orange Country looking for more, especially without a clear-cut favorite in the SEC East. Another high-profile offensive coordinator, Larry Scott, will work with Quinten Dormady or Jarrett Guarantano at quarterback.

Those new faces should get some time to develop and adjust to working together, but it doesn’t excuse the sentiment of some that Tennessee should have won the SEC East one of the last two seasons.

Texas A&M: Restlessness

The Aggies have one of the best backfields around, and Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford will look to pick up where they left off last season, which will be a huge priority for Kevin Sumlin.

Nick Starkel seems to lead the quarterback competition, but it also appears to it could easily continue up to the season opener at UCLA. Kellen Mond and Jake Hubenak each showed flashes in the spring, and they all have a dependable weapon in Christian Kirk.

Whoever emerges will be charged with taking the next step for the program to rise above an 8-5 record that’s been a consistent theme since Johnny Manziel.

While only coaching legend R.C. Slocum is the only one historically ahead of Sumlin in winning percentage, the Aggies seem stuck in neutral when compared to the SEC West.

Vanderbilt: Hopeful

Derek Mason made his first bowl game last year, and now has his most experienced team since he came to Vanderbilt four years ago.

Kyle Shurmur gets better every day. His 2,409 passing yards were the most ever by a Vanderbilt sophomore quarterback. But even beyond that, Shurmur’s play was noticeably better for most of the second half of the season, and that rise should continue.

Vanderbilt’s all-time rushing leader Ralph Webb is back, and Shurmur will have loads of receivers. The defense is a concern following the NFL departure of Zach Cunningham, but the Commodores have capable experienced players in the secondary.