Month: February 2021

Updated 2021 Stanley Cup odds: Canadiens early surprise, Golden Knights, Avalanche lead pack

Looking at the updated NHL futures odds to win the 2021 Stanley Cup and noting some of the biggest movers.

Two and a half weeks into the 2021 NHL season and the Colorado Avalanche still are BetMGM’s overall favorite to lift the Stanley Cup, but they now share the same odds with the Vegas Golden Knights. Below, we look at the risers and fallers in the Stanley Cup odds heading into February.

As for the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, they’re managing with RW Nikita Kucherov out for the season and hold the third-best odds to win it all.

The biggest surprise early on has to be the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are 5-1-2 and jumped from a “long shot” into the “favorites” group. Their odds have dropped from +5000 to the current +1600.

The biggest disappointments? The Arizona Coyotes are +6600 after being +3500 before the season, and the Chicago Blackhawks, who are without C Jonathan Toews (out indefinitely with undisclosed illness) are +10000 after once being +4000.

2021 Stanley Cup odds: Favorites

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, Feb. 1, at 6:10 a.m. ET (Preseason odds from Sept. 29, 2020).

  • Colorado Avalanche (6-3-1) +700 ⬆️ from +800 preseason odds
  • Vegas Golden Knights (5-1-1) +700 ⬆️ from +1000
  • Tampa Bay Lightning (4-1-1) +800 ⬆️ from +1000
  • Toronto Maple Leafs (7-2-1) +1100 ⬆️ from +2200
  • Boston Bruins (5-1-2) +1400 ⬇️ from +1100
  • Philadelphia Flyers (7-2-1) +1400 ↔️
  • Montreal Canadiens (5-1-2) +1600 ⬆️ from +5000

Get some action on the 2021 Stanley Cup or any NHL matchup with a legal, online bet at BetMGM in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV. Risk-free first bet up to $500, paid in free bets. Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

2021 Stanley Cup odds: Contenders

  • Carolina Hurricanes (5-1-0) +2200 ↔️
  • New York Islanders (3-4-2) +2200 ↔️
  • Pittsburgh Penguins (5-3-1) +2200 ⬇️ from +1800
  • St. Louis Blues (6-2-1) +2200 ⬇️ from +1800
  • Washington Capitals (6-0-3) +2200 ⬇️ from +1800
  • Dallas Stars (4-1-1) +2800 ⬇️ from +2200
  • Edmonton Oilers (5-6-0) +2800 ↔️
  • Calgary Flames (3-3-1) +3000 ⬆️ from +3500
  • Nashville Predators (4-4-0) +3000 ↔️
  • New York Rangers (2-4-2) +3000 ↔️
  • Columbus Blue Jackets (4-3-3) +4000 ⬇️ from +3500
  • Florida Panthers (5-0-1) +4000 ↔️
  • Minnesota Wild (6-4-0) +4000 ⬆️ from +5000
  • Vancouver Canucks (6-5-0) +4000 ⬇️ from +3000

2021 Stanley Cup odds: Long shots

  • Buffalo Sabres (4-4-2) +5000 ↔️
  • New Jersey Devils (4-3-2) +5000 ↔️
  • Winnipeg Jets (5-3-0) +5000 ⬇️ from +4000
  • Arizona Coyotes (3-4-1) +6500 ⬇️ from +3500
  • San Jose Sharks (3-5-0) +6500 ⬇️ from +5000
  • Anaheim Ducks (3-5-2) +8000 ⬆️ from +10000
  • Los Angeles Kings (3-3-2) +8000 ⬇️ from +5000
  • Ottawa Senators (1-7-1) +8000 ⬇️ from +6500
  • Chicago Blackhawks (3-4-3) +10000 ⬇️ from +4000
  • Detroit Red Wings (2-6-2) +10000 ↔️

New to NHL futures betting?

The Avalanche and Golden Knights are co-favorites to win the Stanley Cup. A winning futures bet on either of them pays 7-1. In other words, a $10 winning bet profits $70, and a $100 winning ticket would profit $700. Each of their implied probabilities of winning the Cup is 12.50%.

On the other end of the spectrum, if the Blackhawks or Red Wings were to shock the world as +10000 long shots, a winning ticket would pay 100-1. That’s a win probability of 0.99%.

Get some action on the 2020-21 Stanley Cup by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1369]

‘Basically an opposite-field event’: Phoenix Open Monday qualifier is loaded

There are 157 golfers in the Monday qualifier for the Phoenix Open who have combined for more than 6,700 PGA Tour starts.

[jwplayer tSyjWRdh-9JtFt04J]

“It’s basically an opposite-field event.”

Those are the words of one of the better follows on golf Twitter, acaseofthegolf1, aka Monday Q info, whose real name is Ryan French.

The guru of PGA Tour Monday qualifiers is totally right about the Waste Management Phoenix Open Monday qualifier. The event, which currently lists 157 golfers, will determine the final spots in the Phoenix Open. Many Tour events have about 75 golfers in their Monday events.

All Tour stops have four spots open for those who can survive the rigors of Monday qualifying, but those attempting to get in the Phoenix Open will have a higher bar to clear. It’s the only Tour event with only three Monday spots available.

With that many golfers and the fact that the final groups aren’t teeing off until 2:35 p.m. local time at McCormick Ranch Golf Club’s Pine Course in Scottsdale, it’ll actually spill over into Tuesday before we learn the names of those three lucky golfers.

But before we can even get to the qualifier, there were eight pre-qualifiers around the Phoenix area last week. Each of those started with 78 golfers, so the rough math means that about 800 golfers started the process of earning one of those coveted final three spots in the Phoenix Open.

That’s a huge number of golfers trying to get into a Tour event, says French, but he points out several factors led to such a high turnout. Many of the golfers in the qualifier are members of the Korn Ferry Tour. They have status that gets them right to Monday and without a KFT event last week or this week, many decided ‘Why not?’ when it came to getting in the mix. Further, countless pro golfers live in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and so it’s an easy drive with no need to spend money on a hotel for them.

According to French’s math, there are over 6,700 career PGA Tour starts in this Monday qualifier. Taking a look at the list, several names jump out.

Aaron Baddeley

When he won the 2007 Phoenix Open, Baddeley was the first to cash a first-place check for more than $1 million at the event. This year, the Scottsdale resident finds himself in the qualifier. He’s currently 193rd on the Money List after making $39,270 and missing the cut seven of nine times this season, including the Farmers Insurance Open.

Billy Mayfair

The Phoenix native was 14-for-14 cuts made in 2020 on the PGA Tour Champions but hasn’t played a PGA Tour event since 2016. He hasn’t played the Phoenix Open since 2012.

Andy Olgetree

The low amateur at the November Masters, Ogletree is playing in the same group with Mayfair on Monday. John Augenstein, the man Ogletree out-dueled to win the 2019 U.S. Amateur, is in the Phoenix Open field on a sponsor exemption but Ogletree is looking to play his way into the field.

MJ Daffue

The South African is no stranger to Mondays. During one stretch last year, Daffue earned a spot into a tournament field in nine of 14 Monday qualifiers between the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.

Jared du Toit

Monday qualified into the Farmers but missed the cut by two shots, so he drove over from San Diego and he’s back to Monday again this week. Ten months ago, he shot the first 59 in Outlaw Tour (Arizona mini tour) history.

Akshay Bhatia

Built great rapport with Phil Mickelson during a practice round at the American Express in La Quinta, California, two weeks ago. Bhatia skipped college, choosing instead to just turn pro out of high school. He’s made two of 11 PGA Tour cuts, both of them this season.

Ricky Barnes, Ted Purdy, Charlie Beljan

Some of the locals once again seeking to play their hometown tournament. Both Barnes and Purdy were born in Phoenix and both played at the University of Arizona. Barnes is 3-for-3 cuts made this season and posted at Top 25 the season opening Safeway Open. He last played the Phoenix Open in 2018. Purdy, who turns 48 in August, hasn’t made a Tour cut in 14 months. Beljan, who was born and lives in nearby Mesa, Arizona, famously won a PGA Tour event while battling high blood pressure, an increased heart rate and numbness in his arms after suffering what he said was an “anxiety or panic attack that kind of spun out of control” after 36 holes at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in 2012.

Other notables

Some more recognizable names teeing it up on Monday: Rob Oppenheim, Seamus Power, Matt Every, Sam Triplett, Parker McLachlin, Alex Cejka, Michael Allen, Sangmoon Bae, JJ Spaun, Robert Garrigus, Anirban Lahiri, Grayson Murray, Justin Suh, Sahith Theegala and Joseph Bramlett.

One name that was on the list but will be taken off is Peter Malnati, who withdrew from the Monday qualifier. He finished 7 under, good for a tie for 10th.

Corey Conners was the last player to qualify on Monday and hoist the trophy on Sunday when he did so at the 2019 Valero Texas Open.

[lawrence-related id=778085390,778085282,778082716]

Updated Super Bowl LV odds: Bettors backing Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Breaking down the odds and lines for Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a look at line movement.

The Big Game is in sight as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs prepare to square off at Raymond James Stadium Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Super Bowl LV. The Chiefs (-3.5) remain favored for a second consecutive Super Bowl title. Below, we take a look at the updated Chiefs-Buccaneers Super Bowl odds and lines at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Also see: $2.3M bet placed on Buccaneers to cover

Chiefs vs. Buccaneers: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; last updated Monday at 5:08 a.m. ET. 

  • Money line: Chiefs -175 (bet $175 to win $100) / Buccaneers +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Bet now
  • Against the spread: Chiefs -3.5, -105 (bet $105 to win $100 / Buccaneers +3.5, -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Bet now
  • Total: 56.5, Over -110 (bet $110 to win $100) / Under -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Bet now

New to NFL betting?

The Chiefs have an implied win probability of 63.64% based on their -175 money line odds. Those odds can also be seen as a fraction of 4/7 or a decimal of 1.57. Kansas City will need to win by 4 or more points in order to cover the spread.

Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet online now!

The Buccaneers’ implied win probability is 40%. The +150 money line odds are expressed as a fraction of 3/2 and a decimal of 2.50. Tampa Bay covers the spread either by winning outright or losing by a field goal or less.

Super Bowl LV betting trends

The spread opened at 3.5 but dipped quickly to an even 3 points last week before going back 3.5 and holding steady. The total opened at 57.5 but has dropped by a point despite larger shares of tickets and the handle coming in on the Over.

In addition to a $2.3 million bet placed on the Buccaneers (+3.5) to cover, here are some of the other big bets placed at BetMGM:

  • $180,000 to win $100,000 on Chiefs (-180) money line
  • $115,000 to win $100,000 on Chiefs -3.5 (-115)
  • $110,000 to win $100,000 on Chiefs -3.5 (-110)

Despite the Chiefs opening at just +650 on the Super Bowl LV futures odds and receiving 34% of the betting handle, the Buccaneers, who opened at +1600 on the futures odds, represent twice as much liability for BetMGM. Tampa Bay was on 9% of futures tickets and received 11% of the handle through the season.

Also see:

Get some action on this NFL game or others by signing up and betting at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

10 heart-shaped treats to make Valentine’s Day tastier

Think outside of the heart-shaped boxes of chocolates with these other unique Valentine’s Day treats!

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that reminds us to show the people we love just how much we care about them, and one of the best ways to show affection is with food. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolates have become the customary way to say “I love you” for Valentine’s Day, but if you want to switch things up, here are a few other heart-shaped treats.

Aldi Valentine’s Day Cheese

[PHOTO_384598]

There’s nothing cheesy about the Aldi’s Valentine’s Day Cheese box. In an adorable package that says “you make me melt,” the Emporium Selection Valentine’s Day Cheese Box contains three cheeses. The assortment includes a classic mature cheddar, a raspberries and white chocolate cheese and a gin and rhubarb cheese.

It’s a gift that’s sure to delight and make for a fun evening of cheese pairings.

Pizza Hut Heart-Shaped Pizzas

[PHOTO_384599]

For those who want to share a “pizza” your heart, Pizza Hut has an option to order heart-shaped pizzas. From February 8 through February 14, you can upgrade your heart-shaped pizza with a Cheesy Crust Pizza.

To sweeten the deal, Pizza Hut also bundles their heart-shaped pies with either a Hershey’s Triple Chocolate Brownie or an Ultimate Hershey’s Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Le Chocolatier Chocolate Heart Smash Box

[PHOTO_384600]

This is the only heart you should break on Valentine’s Day. Le Chocolatier has a heart-shaped box made entirely of chocolate with delight treats inside including heart-shaped truffles, chocolate-dipped Oreos and chocolate-dipped pretzels.

The chocolate heart smash box comes in a variety of flavors with sweet little messages like “Love” and “Bae” made with, of course, chocolate.

Junior’s Heart-Shaped Cheesecake

Cheesecake in New York is so good that they’ve got their own style. New York-style cheesecake is a bit denser, creamier, and smoother than other styles of cheesecake, and Junior’s Cheesecake makes sure these quality desserts can be shipped nationwide through Goldbelly.

For Valentine’s Day, they’ve created a heart-shaped cheesecake that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. The white chocolate-flavored cheesecake is adorned with strawberry puree swirls, and a whipped white chocolate mousse. For chocolate lovers, Junior’s also has a chocolate-covered cheesecake. It’s a beautiful way to say “I love you” for Valentine’s Day.

Dale’s Heart-Shaped Fried Pies

[PHOTO_384601]

Is there anything better than pie? How about hand pies – portable, crispy crust in every bite, and coming in a wide range of flavors from savory to sweet. Dale’s Fried Pies from Knoxville, Tennessee sends their delicious pies nationwide. For Valentine’s Day, they’re offering heart-shaped fried hand pies.

The sweet treat comes in apple, strawberry or banana and Nutella.

The Bagel Nook Heart-Shaped Bagel

[PHOTO_384602]

The Bagel Nook has pushed the boundaries of bagels, reimagining them with unique small batch cream cheese flavors like Maple Bacon and Birthday Cake, and loaded them up with sugary sweets like Oreos and Fruity Pebbles. For Valentine’s Day, they’ve created a cute way to start the day with their pink swirled heart-shaped bagels.

Share a heart with your one true love, or spread the joy with these bagels by the dozen.

Chuao Chocolatier Heart-Shaped Hot Cocoa Bombs

[PHOTO_384629]

There’s still time to hop on the hot cocoa bomb craze that hit Instagram this winter. Chuao Chocolatier is offering heart-shaped hot cocoa bombs made with their Spicy Maya chocolate. Infused with cayenne and pasilla chile, this silky hot cocoa is sure to spice things up for your Valentine’s Day.

Angelina’s of Maryland Crab Stuffed Heart-Shaped Shrimp

Show your favorite seafood lover how much you care for them with this clever crab stuffed heart-shaped shrimp dish from Angelina’s of Maryland. Using two jumbo shrimp, they’ve arranged them into the shape of a heart and stuffed it with their famous Maryland blue crab cakes.

Harry & David Heart-Shaped Shortbread Cookies

[PHOTO_384603]

Cookies and chocolates are a classic Valentine’s Day gift, so if you’re going to pick a heart-shaped treat that’s tried and true, go with these gorgeous shortbread cookies and heart-shaped truffles from Harry & David.

The sandwiched shortbread cookies are filled with a tart, raspberry filling, and fashioned with small heart-shaped cutouts on top. The cookies are accompanied by gorgeous heart-shaped chocolate truffles that are rich and creamy.

Blue Owl Bakery Heart-Shaped Gooey Butter Cake

[PHOTO_384604]

Gooey butter cake is a popular treat in St. Louis and thanks to Blue Owl Bakery, everyone from coast to coast can enjoy this Midwestern dessert. For Valentine’s Day, you can get this golden, buttery cake with cream cheese filling in a cute heart-shape. Whether you’re from Missouri or not, anyone will feel special when given a heart-shaped version of this regional delight!

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

Steph Curry praises Klay Thompson’s performance as Warriors’ sideline reporter vs. Pistons

After Klay Thompson served as the Warriors sideline reporter for their win over the Pistons, Steph Curry chimed in on social media with a grade.

During the Golden State Warriors’ 118-91 blowout victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night, the broadcast team welcomed a new face to the booth.

For the third quarter, Klay Thompson sat behind the microphone to serve as Golden State’s sideline reporter. The five-time All-Star shooting guard joined former Warriors Kelenna Azubuike and Golden State play-by-play broadcast Bob Fitzgerald.

The Warriors responded with Thompson on the call, outscoring the Pistons 30-23 in the third quarter. Thompson’s fellow Splash Brother Steph Curry was especially locked in during the third period. Powered by a trio of triples, Curry exploded for 15 points in the third quarter on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. The two-time Most Valuable Player added four rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Via @NBCSWarriors on Twitter:

 

Along with calling the third quarter, Thompson hosted his backcourt partner for a postgame interview. After the game, Curry chimed in on social media, awarding Thompson with an “A+” grade for his performance in the booth.

Via @StephenCurry30 on Twitter:

Curry finished the tilt against the Pistons with a game-high 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field with seven assists, five boards and two steals in 30 minutes.

[lawrence-related id=34395,34401]

[listicle id=33868]

[vertical-gallery id=33163]

Steve Clifford reacts to ‘dangerous’ play by Kyle Lowry on Aaron Gordon

Magic head coach Steve Clifford took issue with an apparent dangerous play by Kyle Lowry on Aaron Gordon.

TAMPA, Fla. — Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon on Sunday was given a flagrant-1 foul after offering a shoulder check to Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry in transition.

The play was viewed by many as retaliation on Lowry from a previous incident during the bubble, in which Gordon was injured.

On that play, Lowry gave Gordon a hard foul on a layup attempt, but the Magic forward inadvertently injured his hamstring and missed the rest of his time in the bubble. Gordon is still dealing with the effects of that injury, and only recently had his minutes restriction lifted.

However, the retribution may have been from a play that occurred in the second quarter on Sunday.

After dishing a behind-the-back pass to teammate Nikola Vucevic, Gordon went into position to crash the glass on a potential missed shot. Lowry was there to box him out, but appeared to make a gesture right into Gordon’s knee.

Gordon would briefly exit the game following the play to have his knee examined in the locker room. He eventually returned, and was declared to have suffered a hyperextended knee.

Magic head coach Steve Clifford took issue with the play by Lowry.

“We’re actually lucky, by the way, that [Aaron] didn’t get hurt worse in the first half with his knee with the Kyle Lowry, whatever you want to call it, block-out of the ball,” Clifford said. “He hit him right in the knee, man. It’s a dangerous play. A guy could get hurt badly. The officials saw it at halftime, they told me. But again, you could hurt somebody badly doing that.”

Lowry took exception with the retaliation shot by Gordon, and had to be held back by teammates following the incident.

The two players did not have another issue the rest of the game, but the Magic and Raptors will meet again Tuesday in Orlando.

Gordon later suffered a left ankle injury in the third quarter and was ruled out of returning to the game by the Magic. Since he was injured, he did not speak to the media after the game and his status on Tuesday is still to be determined.

The NBA reviews every technical and flagrant foul issued, and has the authority to further discipline Gordon while they can also retroactively assess Lowry with a technical foul or possible fine, upon review.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=27183,26854,26654]

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=G4hZdCwLJP-1133112-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on

[listicle id=26778]

Highlighting Klay Thompson’s performance as sideline reporter vs. Pistons

During the third quarter of the Warriors’ win over the Pistons, Klay Thompson stepped behind the mic to serve as the team’s sideline reporter.

After dropping an ugly loss on the road to the Phoenix Suns, the Golden State Warriors bounced back on Saturday night with a blowout win over the Detroit Pistons, 118-91.

Steph Curry led the Warriors with another impressive performance, scoring a game-high 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field with seven assists, five boards and two steals. The sharpshooting guard filled six triples on eight attempts from beyond the arc.

Andrew Wiggins continued his solid play, scoring 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field. Kelly Oubre Jr. rounded out Golden State’s victory against Detroit with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field with six rebounds in 27 minutes.

During the second-half at Chase Center, the broadcast team was joined by a special guest. While sidelined with a season-ending injury, Klay Thompson served as the sideline reporter for the entire third quarter against the Pistons.

Thompson provided updates on his injury, shared insight on his teammates, predicted the outcome of different shots and took the handles as play-by-play caller at times.

Via @NBCSWarriors on Twitter:

 

Before Thompson closed out the contest by interviewing Steph Curry during the postgame show, Thompson came to the defense of his teammates after Detroit’s Rodney McGruder had an exchange with Golden State’s bench.

Watch Thompson’s postgame interview with his fellow Splash Brother via @NBA on Twitter:

After getting a win while in the broadcast booth last season against the Chicago Bulls, Thompson is now a perfect 2-0 when serving as Golden State’s sideline reporter at Chase Center. If the Warriors find themselves amid a losing streak at home, Thompson should consider stepping behind the microphone.

[lawrence-related id=21154,19013,34395]

[vertical-gallery id=34361]

Could there be a Watt family reunion in Pittsburgh?

It isn’t realistic to think the Steelers would make a trade for J.J. Watt.

[jwplayer HErIhZjV-ThvAeFxT]

There’s almost no chance the Pittsburgh Steelers can work a trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. The cost is just going to be far too high. However, this doesn’t mean the Steelers can’t still work a trade with Houston to bring great delight to Steeler Nation.

According to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport, part of the Texans fire sale could include perennial All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt. With brothers T.J. and Derek already on the Steelers roster, it would be some impressive synergy if Pittsburgh could wrangle J.J. as well.

But do the Steelers need him? The easy answer is of course. Despite being only one year younger than Cam Heyward, Watt is still playing great football and would be a tremendous addition to the Steelers defensive line rotation with Heyward and Stephon Tuitt.

Unfortunately, trading for Watt this offseason is a luxury Pittsburgh just cannot afford. Between Watt’s salary cap hit and the value of this year’s draft, it’s hard to imaging the Steelers extending themselves for any player.

[vertical-gallery id=486326]

[listicle id=485885]

SEC Football Rankings: CFN 2021 Pre-Spring

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the SEC teams.

The pre-spring version of the CFN 2021 rankings with a first look at all the SEC teams.

[jwplayer uDq9fI2u]

2021 SEC Rankings: Pre-Spring

SEC East

1. Georgia Bulldogs

Why To Be Happy: There’s a nice group of players returning to set the foundation for what should be a stronger year. Start with JT Daniels settling the quarterback situation, continue with RB James Cook and OT Jamaree Salyer to go along with all the high-end receivers and defensive talents returning, and most the players are there to get to the College Football Playoff.

What To Work On: The offense has to be better in the bigger games. The defense was strong all season and will be again, but the O wasn’t consistent enough, especially against Alabama, Florida, and at least on the ground, against Cincinnati.

Bottom Line: Win the SEC East, Georgia. Considering all of the big replacements being made at Alabama, there’s no reason to shoot for anything less than a conference championship.
– 2021 Georgia Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Case Scenarios

2. Florida Gators

Why To Be Happy: The Gators might be losing a ton of the key 2020 parts, but several very, very nice prospects are coming in to ease the pain. Clemson RB Demarkcus Bowman was a huge recruit, as were Auburn DT Daquan Newkirk and LSU TE Arik Gilbert. Emory Jones adds more mobility to the quarterback position, and enough starters return on defense to be okay. However …

What To Work On: No, really, Kyle Pitts was Heisman-caliber good numbers-wise. Yes, part of the reason the Gators flopped against Oklahoma was the lack of the star receiver talent, and now TE Kyle Pitts and WRs Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes are gone.

Bottom Line: The Gators are going to reload in a hurry and could be even more dangerous if the receivers rise up right away. However, going into spring football they look like they might be a step or two behind Georgia.
– 2021 Florida Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Case Scenarios

3. Missouri Tigers

Why To Be Happy: There were losses in the transfer portal, but the Tigers got plenty of wins. They might have lost star LB Nick Bolton to the NFL, but they picked up a very, very good safety-sized playmaker in Blaze Allredge from Rice. Plug him into the lineup, and with the return of tackles Kobie Whiteside and Markell Utsey for their senior-plus seasons, and now …

What To Work On: The defense has to be a whole lot stronger than it was at the end of the season. Solid at times, it couldn’t handle the bigger boys on the slate and then it all melted down over the last three games.

Bottom Line: RB Larry Rountree is gone, but almost everyone else is back on O, almost everyone is back on D, and head coach Eliah Drinkwitz had a year to get things in place. Mizzou is about to make a jump.
– 2021 Missouri Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Case Scenarios

4. Kentucky Wildcats

Why To Be Happy: QB Terry Wilson might be transferring out, but the offense might be more dynamic with either Joey Gatewood or Beau Allen under center. With leading receiver Josh Ali coming back the passing game should be solid, and …

What To Work On: Kentucky loses enough good players to matter. P Max Duffy, LB Jamin Davis and CB Kelvin Joseph are just a few who’ll be missed, the O and D lines need a slew of replacements, and …

Bottom Line: Kentucky will still be Kentucky. It’ll have its style on both sides that will work just enough to be a bother. There will be just enough missing to be a contender, but no one will grind harder or better.
– 2021 Kentucky Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Case Scenarios

5. Tennessee Volunteers

Why To Be Happy: Not everyone entered the transfer portal. The Vols were able to bring in Virginia Tech’s talented QB Hendon Hooker and … uhhhhh … Hooker is good. Getting Cade Mays back for the offensive line is terrific, and the defensive front returns enough veterans to be a potential plus.

What To Work On: The offense has got to start moving the ball better. It was a disaster on third downs and everything fell flat except against the weak and the sad. Also, the defense has got to start coming up with third down stops.

Bottom Line: Okay … so almost everyone is apparently entering the transfer portal, but that should change and possibly reverse now that things have settled a bit after hiring Josh Heupel. If nothing else, the offense is about to be a whole lot more fun. No matter what you think about the hire, Tennessee has a direction.
– 2021 Tennessee Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Case Scenarios

6. South Carolina Gamecocks

Why To Be Happy: The program is going to get time to grow and get the young parts working, starting with RB Kevin Harris and – most likely – QB Luke Doty behind an O line that might not be all that bad. The new coaching staff has been active on the transfer portal with a whole slew of reinforcements coming in.

What To Work On: Find a passing game right away. Harris is going to be options 1, 2 and 3, but being more dangerous down the field is a must for an offense that sputtered and coughed throughout the second half of the season. The offense needs a higher-octane identity.

Bottom Line: You wanted Will Muschamp gone. Done, now the rebuild begins under Shane Beamer. There’s going to be a “no one believes in us” factor with the Gamecocks for 2021 – the pressure is off. The starting 22 should be okay with a little more help.
– 2021 South Carolina Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Case Scenarios

7. Vanderbilt Commodores

Why To Be Happy: Yeah, a slew of Commodores are in the transfer portal, but most of the key ones didn’t play big roles in 2020 after being a bigger part of the 2019 team. Vandy went young, suffered through the problems, and now returns experienced in a few areas to hope for a quick improvement.

What To Work On: Scoring. The Commodores scored 21 points or fewer in eight of their nine games and 17 or fewer in seven of those. Go back to 2019 and the program has scores 17 or fewer in 13 of their last 17 games.

Bottom Line: New head coach Clark Lea has a massive task ahead of him with a total overhaul of a program that went 2-18 against FBS teams over the last two seasons.
– 2021 Vanderbilt Schedule Analysis, Best & Worst Case Scenarios

– 2021 Pre-Spring SEC West

2021 SEC West Rankings: Pre-Spring 8-14

Pages: Page 1, Page 2