Thankfully, talking season will be over in less than two weeks.

After seven months of endless hype, including but not limited to projections, predictions and analysis, what could possibly go wrong with what we think we know about the SEC in 2015?

Parity is what makes college football great. Mississippi State, which wasn’t ranked in the preseason Top 25, moved to No. 1 midway through the season. Mizzou, written off as a one-year wonder, captured another East Division title thanks to the emergence of Markus Golden and Shane Ray, the eventual league player of the year.

Here are five 2015 SEC assumptions we could be wrong about this season:

5. Mississippi State will finish last in the West

Dan Mullen is getting used to this, being picked to finish at the bottom of the division and all. And it doesn’t bother him a bit. The offseason narrative has centered around personnel losses along the offensive line and a couple big names missing off the defense — elements that most project will lead to a disappointing finish this fall. But the Bulldogs have Dak Prescott, the team’s courageous leader and the SEC’s top returning quarterback. It’s hard to fathom Prescott finishing it out with a 6-6 senior season, but that’s what we’re picking (as are most).

4. Tennessee’s ready for the next step

Y’all buying into the Tennessee hype as much as we are? Going off an impressive bowl win over Iowa, several returning impact starters and added strength with an impressive 2015 signing class, the Vols have suddenly become a team to fear in the East Division — despite not winning more than seven games in a season in nearly a decade. Depth is the only issue that could cripple this year’s team if the Vols are ravaged by the injury bug. Joshua Dobbs and Jalen Hurd both have Heisman odds and Tennessee’s star-studded defense is a primary reason many of us feel the ceiling could be as many as 10 victories this season.

3. Jeremy Johnson is the heir apparent to Cam Newton

Auburn’s new quarterback, one of three Heisman frontrunners from the SEC, has received rave reviews as the next great quarterback on the Plains since a spectacular showing in Auburn’s spring game increased his buzz. It’s obvious why Johnson’s being compared to the former Heisman trophy winner. He stands tall in the pocket, has considerable strength and possesses similar poise from a passing standpoint. Given the fact Gus Malzahn’s given him the key to the Tigers’ up-tempo scheme and has showered him with praise, pressure’s on Johnson to perform. Auburn’s early-season schedule will determine Johnson’s overall value from the outset. A loss to Mississippi State or LSU in September weakens the intrigue surrounding the Tigers as a preseason SEC favorite and scales back Johnson’s new-found celebrity status just a bit.

2. Georgia takes the East

Assuming the Bulldogs are the most talented team on their side of the SEC, are we asking too much to expect a trip to Atlanta this season from Mark Richt and his staff? The schedule’s an obvious obstacle with the toughest cross-divisional slate of any team in the country, but most of us have overlooked other contests that could potentially prove fatal to title chances. South Carolina’s beaten Georgia four times in the last five years and comes to Athens in Week 3. A road trip to Knoxville followed up with a date against Mizzou won’t be easy.

There are minor concerns on offense thus far in fall practice, specifically which players will step up as wide receiver behind true No. 1 Malcolm Mitchell. Justin Scott-Wesley’s sidelined with a sprained knee, Isaiah McKenzie’s hamstring are an ongoing issue and Terry Godwin’s just a freshman. Per new OC Brian Schottenheimer, there’s no quarterback separation, either.

1. Alabama can withstand its quarterback issue

It’s Aug. 21 and the Crimson Tide are playing five quarterbacks at practice. A week away from ‘game week’ and Nick Saban’s yet to find a player he considers capable of taking the bull by the horns — as he so often says — and leading this offense. Is this an indictment of Jake Coker, a glimpse into a budding David Cornwell or does Alabama truly have a headache under center on its hands heading into the season?

Thanks to last season’s SEC Championship success with a first-year starter at quarterback who didn’t emerge until the final hour, very few national media members are buying into Alabama’s perceived weakness on offense. Lane Kiffin ‘coached up’ Blake Sims beautifully last fall to the tune of 3,487 yards passing and 28 touchdowns due in large part to Amari Cooper’s wizardry on the outside. Without a widely-known veteran back at receiver, some questions linger. SEC Network host Peter Burns is standing on his own here, but could be onto something if Alabama hiccups offensively: