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SEC Unfiltered
2026 SEC Football PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS ft. Brett Ciancia, "Pick Six Previews" | Chewing Clock EXTRA
00:32:15
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- [00:00]
A
You know, college football season is officially here when Brett Ciacia of Pick six Previews joins me on the airwaves. I don't know, what is this, Brett? Year five, Year six, Something of that nature. We've been doing this together for a while this time of year, getting ready for the season. And we look ahead yet again, 2026 college football season just around the corner. I have in my hands here, Brett, the latest edition of Pick six Previews, the best college football preseason magazine for my money's worth. SEC unfiltered and chewing clock. Part of the production of this great product this year. Brad, I appreciate you taking the time, my friend, and congratulations of another fantastic edition of your magazine being released. Really excited to talk about that in college football and everything else in general, man. Appreciate it.
- [00:46]
B
Thanks, Chris. Thanks for having me. Yeah. Five years at least doing our annual show, this one. I mean, I can't wait because there's so many storylines that break down in the SEC this year, you know, biggest coaching carousel ever. So many playoff contenders. I count eight of them at least that could push for a playoff spot. But yeah, thanks for coming on board with the. The AD spot in there. Logo looks crisp as always. I hope it's going well for you guys. You guys are expanding every year we talk. So congrats on your end too.
- [01:12]
A
Yeah, Brett, I appreciate it, man. I want to start with this before we dive in, obviously the football stuff, because I want to give credit to you and the hard work you put in. If you look at your magazine, obviously Pick six previews all the numbers and it goes beyond just these teams. But you talk recruiting, you talk portal, you talk coaches, you talk the entire landscape, everything in between. Just give people an idea of the work that goes on, the hours and hours, countless hours behind the scenes that goes into the work to make this product a reality.
- [01:43]
B
Oh, well, thank you. I just call it a never ending research project because it's really just year round, never ending. It starts really the year prior during the fall. I mean, on fall Saturdays, I have four screens going for 14 hours, watching as much live as I can on Saturdays, Sundays, looking at the, you know, the condensed games, any kind of highlights I can get, game recaps. Monday, Tuesday, I'm putting together my stat package, Pick six plus, where I email out my picks, my updated projections to subscribers there. And then Wednesday, Thursday is some more writing, some radio, and then you do it again on Saturday. So that's the fall that kind of lays the foundation for the research in the winter and spring for the Preview magazine. I'm talking to head coaches, talking to coordinators, updating my numbers, my formulas, spring games if they have them, practice clips, anything I can get. It's every, you know, every detail I can find out there, I use. And you see it come to life on the pages there. I give you your numbers, but then also put it into a readable format, schemes X's and O's, player personnel. And I find that the more transfer activity that we have, the more valuable the product becomes. Because, you know, if you're a fan, you want to learn about your own team and then your. Your 12 opponents, too. So I think it's got everything you want in a preview magazine here.
- [02:55]
A
Yeah. Brett, you and I are gonna have to talk after the show because Pick six plus is something that I've seen it the last couple years but haven't pulled the trigger. I think this is gonna have to be the. The year I, I need the info and the intel, excuse me, and the numbers in my life as we go throughout this season. So that being said, man, again, I want to talk the SEC football season, college football as a whole, because obviously, again, you essentially, when you drop this magazine, make your picks, make your predictions, you give your thoughts on these teams. So I want to dive, Brett, right into it. Everyone seems to feel like. And I think this is going to be reflected at SEC media days when the predicted order of finish drops.
- [03:31]
B
And it's.
- [03:31]
A
It's Georgia and it's Texas and it's everyone else except for you because you have Oklahoma and a tie for second with Texas. And I believe, if I'm correct, you have Georgia and Oklahoma in the SEC title game, zero win on Oklahoma. For a moment, what was it for you about? The Sooners obviously went to the College Football Playoff a season ago. They returned a lot of that core nucleus, including their quarterback, John Matiere. But what was it about the Sooners for you that in your research you saw and said you felt confident that this was a team that could push for the SEC championship?
- [04:09]
B
Yeah, it starts on defense. That's Brent Venable's expertise. And last year he really put together a masterpiece. They finished number three in the country entry for me on defense. Last year, my opponent adjusted numbers, really just lived in the backfield. I have a thing in there called negative play rate. Looks at how frequently you're making tackles for loss or sacks. They were off the charts. It was like every other play or something. It was like 25% of the snaps were negative plays.
- [04:32]
A
So unbelievable.
- [04:33]
B
And you bring a lot of that back I think 6 all SEC defenders are back. Defensive line is loaded again. You got David Stone at defensive tackle, Taylor Wine on the edge. Linebackers are tough. Secondary, they got it all on defense. So I know I have a championship caliber unit there. It's just really a gamble on the offense where I see a lot of second year bonuses happening. Where you have the coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, he's back for his second year. It's kind of a complex scheme so I like, I think a second year of the scheme will help. John Mateera second year in the sec. Remember he busted his hand for most of last season so he's back healthy another year in the sec and then the young offensive line too. This was a big part of it where last year there was a lot of true freshmen and red shirt freshmen that broke into their offensive line and they had some mixed results. But I think a second year under coach beaten bow. He's got a great track record sending especially tackles but all linemen to the pros. I think they're going to make major gains on offense. So championship defense and now I think a pretty, you know, a gamble but I like where we're at with the offense this year to make it a complete team.
- [05:34]
A
Brett, let's spend some time on Georgia because again you do pick them to win the SEC and I, I think it's the right pick because of what we've seen in the last couple of years, what Kirby Smart has built. Obviously again it's probably going to be one of those two teams, Georgia or Texas that gets picked by the media to win the league. Georgia certainly one of the best, the shortest odds if you want to win the national championship. They might be the SEC's best shot at ending that drought. But what do you like so much about Kirby Smarts Bulldogs going into this season?
- [06:03]
B
Yeah, well Georgia, you're defending SEC champs so you start there at quarterback. I get asked this a lot. They asked me if he's a liability gunner Stockton. I think he's a total asset. He's awesome for them and you know you hear the buzzwords a lot like clutch and winner but if you want an actual number to it, you look at just his fourth quarter stats. I think he was number one in the country in QB rating. Like he is so good in crunch time statistically to go for those buzzwords like that. So he's earned the titles. So I love Stockton at quarterback. Defense with Kirby Smart looks like maybe his best one since his national title years and that's a key Part of their program, the way they recruit so well, it's five stars everywhere, especially linebackers, just overflowing with five stars. Secondary's got a couple all Americans. It's legit. And I think eight of their nine on the three deep on the defensive line are back. So usually, you know, very veteran, high caliber players, NFL players on the defense. And if they needed any extra help, they get a schedule boost too. They actually drew the easiest schedule in the sec. They only played three of the top eight in the conference. So schedule goes their way. I love the defense. Stockton, now they're my pick to win the sec. If they want to go all the way and win a national title. I'm looking at that receiver room. That's my question mark. I want to see if somebody's going to step up there. It's been a couple years since they've had really an alpha dog on the, you know, on the outside. The true number one future first round type receiver. So they have guys on paper they're young but who's going to step up and really play into that role?
- [07:29]
A
Brett, I do want to jump to the Texas Longhorns. A lot of hype, a lot of excitement. Arch Manning back for another year at QB1. But it's more about what they added around him that I think fires people up via the portal cam. Coleman, Relik, Brown, Hollywood, Smothers. And then you bring in Will Muschamp on the defensive side to take what I think was already a an elite defense, you could argue and take it to another level again. You've got them in a tie for second with Oklahoma. Still have them having a really season making the College Football Playoff. But you know, I'll ask you, is some hesitation with Texas. Does it have to do with a much more difficult schedule? Does it have to do with a lack of belief in Steve Sarkeesian? Does it have to do with something with the roster? Is it a combination of all those? Where do you fall when it comes to Texas?
- [08:13]
B
Well, I guess for my predictions I always weigh last year's results pretty heavily too. I mean that's a key part of it. I think it's really important to understand what happened the year prior to and then look forward. And when you look at Texas last year they Only finished number 22 in my game grader formula that accounts for opponent strength, yardage, margin, scoring margins, really how dominant the team was. So they were only number 22 there last year. You look back a lot of close games, a lot of punt returns that went their way and flipped these crazy comeback wins for them against some of the teams on the bottom of the conference like at Kentucky, Mississippi State. So I was not impressed with them too much last year. I know they came on strong at the end. The A and M win was, was pretty notable. Obviously going into Kyle field snapping their 110 run. So they really came on strong at the end. But so a lower starting point than I have Oklahoma and some of the other SEC teams. But I do like what they did with the Portal. I mean it might have been the best class in the country. You look at the running back duo, Hollywood Smothers from NC State, Relique Brown, Arizona State, both all conference caliber players. And then of course Cam Coleman. I mean this is a team changer, not just a receiver changer. Like this changes the whole team. Because now who are you going to double? I mean you have, I would call it Jeremiah Smith number one, maybe Malachi Tony, the number one slot guy. But number two has to be Cam Coleman. I mean in the whole landscape of college football at receivers. So who are you going to double? You double him then. Ryan Wingo is wide open, a five star. So I really think they added some pieces for Arch Manning there and Arch himself, he developed as the season went on. So you know back and forth on this. They came in low last year but I really like a lot of the pieces of the team this year. One question I have is offensive line where actually my O line run push metric, they were number 80 in consecutive seasons, exactly the same number. So above below average there. You want to see at least a top 40 out of them to push for a playoff or a national title.
- [10:02]
A
Brett, I want to jump to the Alabama Crimson Tide because you've got them in a tie for seventh. I'll admit that I've cheated a little bit because I've already heard some of your comments on Bama and some of the skepticism around Caitlin Deborah's group this year. Again you got him in a tie for seventh and I would assume that means missing the College of Football playoff, not even hitting double digit wins. It's a big year for Caitlin Deborah. Got the extension back in April so I don't know if hot seats the right word, but there is a lot of competitive pressure on them and high expectations after the way that they finish the 2025 season. Got questions on the offense. Who's going to be QB1? Is it Keelan, Russell, Austin Mack and Ryan Coleman? Williams bounce back. Can they run the football? You're not a believer in Alabama? Talk to me about the Crimson Tide and why that's the case.
- [10:50]
B
Well, I was a believer last year, 2025 and they were one of my picks there on pick six plus for the win totals. They think they were nine and a half. We went over end up going six and one and win totals and that was one of them. But I say that I bring that up because I was keeping a really close eye on Alabama last year and they kept barely surviving. Now they won the games, but they were really like skating on thin ice. I think their slogan was unbreakable or something. And they were. I mean they were really clutched in the fourth quarter. But all that to say low margins, victory. They ended up finishing 14th in my game. Grader last year, if you watch that Rose Bowl, I mean that did not look like an Alabama football team. They couldn't run the ball, couldn't stop the run, got overwhelmed by Indiana. So we come into 2026 now. It's the most question marks I've ever seen on an Alabama roster. I've been doing this in 15 years now and not even quarterback. I think both guys are good. You go elsewhere. It's really offensive line for me. They've really failed to get any kind of run push last year. In fact, in the postseason they average under a yard a carry. It was just embarrassing. Actually if you look too, it's the worst rushing offense in Alabama school history. So that is. They have a lot of work to do in the trenches. Defensive line, they lost some starters to the portal. You never used to see that it would be Bama plucking starters from other schools, not letting their guys go. So, so many questions on this roster. I love the secondary. I'll give you some pros. I love the secondary. They recruit really well. That hasn't changed. It's still a top five recruiting program, but tough schedule. I have them down there in 8th in the SEC right there, 16th nationally. I never, never thought I'd say it, but there they are.
- [12:21]
A
Certainly different times in Tuscaloosa. Brett, let's move to Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers. We've gone this far somehow without talking about him. But I. I'm very curious to get your take on this because I'm sure you've been keeping an eye on the SEC many days happening obviously this week at the time of us speaking. And when he was hired it was understood to be okay. You know, there's a lot to fix here from the Brian Kelly tenure. Then they start to add pieces via the portal and spend all this money and the expectations just start to rise. College football playoff or bus starts to float out there, right? This week we have heard analysts go out there with a straight face and say that it is national title or bust for Lane Kiffin in year number one. Give me your take on the fit. Lane Kiffin at LSU and the year one expectations. Are you one of the belief? Is it playoff or bust? Is it national title or bust? What do you make of the LSU Tigers in year one under Lane Kiffin?
- [13:19]
B
Well, I think maybe the expression is getting overused. I mean, when you think of an or bust, I mean the bust side of it means it was a failure, right? So they're saying national title or this first year is a failure. I find that hard to believe. There are very few teams in the country where that's really at stake, especially a transition season like they have here at lsu. With that said, he's known as the portal king. If anybody can do this, it's him. He brought 51 transfers into LSU this year. Number one transfer hall in America. And, and these are real prospects too. If you look at the mock NFL draft for 2027. I know we're really early on this, but looking consensus wise, they have the number one projected pro picks, so there's serious talent there. It's a matter of how well he can get it up to speed and meshed and all those buzzwords, you know, locker room fit, culture, how fast he can do it overnight. It's going to be tough. But if you look at the key positions in football, you think quarterback, left tackle, like pass protection and then an edge rusher. He signed the number one ranked at all three of those spots. He signed Sam Levitt a quarterback, Jordan Seaton from Colorado at left tackle. And then bringing Prince Will over from Ole Miss on the edge, so their star power all over the place. But now to call it national title or bust. And maybe that media days is going too long down there. Maybe it's too many days together, right? No, it's a good, it's a good clip, but I think it's more like nine wins are bust, eight wins are bust. You know, I think that's the safe range and. But if you get nine or eight wins, nine wins, you're definitely in playoff discussion. So that's where I think they'll be. I, I grappled with this one where to put them. I ended up putting them one spot outside of the playoff bracket. I have them at 12th nationally, which of course with the G5 stealing a spot, that means they're the last team out. So it's a tough road, a tough schedule and they play Ole Miss and A and M both in September while they're still getting this new team all gelled together. So that's going to be tough for them.
- [15:07]
A
Speaking of Lane Kiffin's old team, Brett, the Ole Miss Rebels, you've got hottie Toddy finishing one spot ahead. LSU and in the College Football Playoff, obviously Trinidad Chambliss, Kwon Lacey are both back, arguably the best duo in all of college football. Some new on the defensive side and you got to replace over 3,000 yards receiving on the offensive side. And of course there is a new head coach, Pete Golding, who took over and did some incredible things at the end of that season beating Georgia. Ole Miss was right there, went away from the appearing in the national title game. But you believe the transition will go smoothly and you believe obviously in Trinidad Chambers. Kawan Lacey, talk to me about Ole Miss and why you felt confident they will be a College Football Playoff team this season.
- [15:53]
B
Yeah, well, normally with a coaching change I'm a little skeptical and but, but this time around I got to already see how they're going to play for Pete Golding. We saw the whole playoff run together with them and they played motivated football. They were able to tune out all the off the field drama, maybe some of the most off the field we've ever seen. So that was impressive. And then a lot of that core is back. You talking my number one all American quarterback pick this year is Trinidad Chambliss and then the number one running back, Kewan Lacey. So I know what I have there. The interior of the offensive line is back intact. And then the question with Ole Miss was always going to be defense when you pair it with Kiffin, his offense, but the defense this time around, Pete Golding, he said he put a lot more of his funding into the defensive side of the transfer portal. They went out and signed eight four star transfers. And if you follow this stuff, that's off the charts. I mean that is unbelievable talent that he's been able to bring into the defensive side. So I think you have a complete balanced team. A winner, a quarterback. The guy's incredible. And then lastly, I was a little worried for a possible scheme change on offense because I love the Kiffin system. Obviously it clicked for Chambliss and all his his team here, but they hired John David Baker, who was a former Kiffin guy and he was quoted saying they kept the offense 90% the same as it was under Lane Giffen. So I feel good about all my questions were answered right. So I have them back in the bracket and I don't think many others do. So maybe that's somewhat of a hot take, but I feel confident with Ole Miss this year.
- [17:17]
A
Brett, I want to zero in on the Texas A and M Aggies. This almost feels like a team that maybe being forgotten is too strong or were, but we're maybe not talking about enough. It feels like as a team that went to the College Football Playoff a season ago returns their starting quarterback, there are some holes and there are some question marks. Right. The offensive line is largely revamped. You lose Casey Concepcion at wide receiver. Some key pieces you got to replace on the defensive side, but it feels like the floor is pretty high with this program. You got them finishing 6. Just talk about Texas A and M, how you see them factoring in the SEC race and some things you like, some things maybe you're questionable about when it comes to A M. Yeah, well,
- [17:58]
B
similar to Ole Miss, how I said it, where they answered all my questions, A and M really answered my, my offseason questions because right away I looked at line of scrimmage and if you think of 5o line, 4d line, you got nine linemen. They lost seven starting linemen combined, so I was worried there. Now they backloaded really well from the portal at those spots. They brought in Anto Saka from Northwestern who's drawing top 10 pick, NFL grades. He's an all American candidate there. And then four starters off other SEC offensive lines. So, you know, will it all gel quick enough? We'll see. But they are a veteran, you know, veteran, proven players coming to the lines of scrimmage. You lose Concepcion, they. They picked off Isaiah Horton from Alabama, starter. I think he led them in touchdowns last year. So they answered my questions. Marcel Reed, I think he was solid last year, 110 start. I know he had a couple of bad passes in the fourth quarter against Texas, but the whole body of work was solid for him. Now, my question for A and M, it's out of their control, but it's more of a schedule question because if you look back at last year, they ended up facing seven of the bottom eight of the sec, a very favorable draw and, you know, credit where it's due. They won all of them but seven of the bottom eight. Now you get five of the top eight. So it flips from, you know, bottom seven to five of the top eight. Way, way tougher path this year. So I think they're going to take some Losses here looking like a 9 and 3 or maybe 8 and 4 and but hey again they're 6 in the SEC but that's 13th there on the big board. So this conference is so top heavy. I have eight, eight playoff contending teams from the sec.
- [19:29]
A
Brett, switching gears a little bit. There is a slew of new head coaches in the sec. The coaching carousel was absolutely crazy after last season. I'm going to leave out for the sake of the exercise Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding, because I think those are two little bit different scenarios if you will. The first year head coach you are highest on at his new spot. Again we've got for example John Sumrall at Florida, Alex Goelish over at Auburn, Ryan Silverfield over in Arkansas, et cetera, et cetera. Your your thoughts on the first year head coach. Maybe you're buying the most stock in to make some noise in year one.
- [20:07]
B
Yeah, well I got to give you two but, but really a top 25 dark horse I have is Auburn with with coach Goelish coming in. And I love when coaches do this where if they're taking over a program and they identify that one side of the ball is strong, they try and keep that side intact. And that's what he did here. He kept DJ Durkin their coordinator and that that allowed them to retain a lot of their starters. They're bringing back an all American with Xavier Atkins there at linebacker to build around I think six starters back, maybe five but enough continuity on that side. So I like that. And then he's basically picking up his offense from USF and dropping it into Auburn. A top five passing attack last year. Brown at quarterback is like whole receiving room is coming. There's five receivers, multiple linemen. So I think if you can get that top five offense paired with Durkin's defense, I think you have a real sleeper team here. Auburn's been been better than the record has showed the last couple years. A lot of close losses. I know Auburn fans don't want to hear that but maybe you find a silver lining that they are a solid program. And then real quick I'll give you a second one kind of A1A1B but with will Stein I was able to talk to him on the phone this year. I really like his attitude now. I'm not calling for any kind of breakthrough, you know, playoff run or anything but I like that he's no excuses. You know people were telling him he couldn't get it done here. He says no excuses. He goes out, he signs a top 10 transfer class and a lot of that is around the offensive line. And you think of Kentucky's best teams, it was that big blue wall, they called it their offensive line and right overnight it looks like he's got that wall built. So I like what he's doing. It might take a couple years, but really like the guy and I think they're going to do well.
- [21:38]
A
Brett, a team that jumped out to me in your predicted order of finish, this is one, ironically enough and I think it's because of the success last year that I'm glad to see it. A lot of spunk, a lot of excitement. So of course there'll be a lot of pushback if you're, if you're calling for a, a down season or a step back. And that being the team that's in the city that I live in of Nashville, the Vanderbilt Commodores, you've got them finishing 15th overall in the SEC. Certainly that is a far cry away from the 10 win season they had a season ago. I'm actually with you, Brett. I think it is a, a step back and I don't think that's a hot take because Vandy, I would almost guarantee it is not winning 10 games again and you replace a player that, I mean one of the most important players, if not the most important player to his team in Diego Pavia, I'm sure you don't get to ask to talk about them very much. So let's spend a moment on the Vanderbilt Commodore is just how big of a step back do you think they take this season? And I mean I would assume a big one seeing as you've got them in our 15.
- [22:35]
B
Yeah, well, first off, I want to congratulate Vandy and Coach Lee. I mean it was incredible what they pulled off last year. They've actually finished number one in my offense ranking. I never thought I'd say that about Vanderbilt, but it was not just Diego. It was a lot of pieces around them and, and they do have some players back. But I'm worried about the Diego Pavia effect where this guy did so much for his team. Like you just mentioned, so many plays where the line broke down and he's going off script, scrambling, very creative with the ball. He can run it himself. He just did so much for Vanderbilt and might have been covering up some other, you know, positional issues. It's such a big deal that I was, you know, talking either coordinators or looking at local media across the country. Several coordinators out there studied Pavia tape this year, this offside off season to try and find out how he's so good off script to try and get their own quarterbacks to follow suit. I know Nebraska was one of these. Dana Holgerson was studying the Pavia tape all, all off season. So he wasn't just the Heisman candidate. He was like a transcendental kind of figure for them. So I know they brought in a five star to replace him and I know that Jared Curtis will be good eventually, but just the, the kind of player that Pavia was able to create and, and razzle dazzle, I think that's going to be a major loss for them. So if you look at talent ratings, they were dead last in the five, five year high school rankings, dead last in the transfer portal and, and dead last in mock NFL draft picks. So you know, talent wise, I think there is a step back from last year's performance. I, I want them to perform well. I hope they bounce back, but I think it's going to be a reloading season.
- [24:06]
A
Brett, was there one pick for you or a team for you in your predicted order of finish that you most wrestled with that you even right now you're like I could have put him here. I could have put him a spot or two higher or even a spot or two lower. Like was there one team or like that you really struggled to kind of nail down in regards to kind of defining what you think they're going to be this season?
- [24:29]
B
Yeah, well, from the SEC it's got to be lsu. I mean this is the most volatile team in terms of outcomes that you could find this season. They could go 16 and oh now here I go. Here's your, here's your clips, right. They could go 16 and oh, they could go 5 and 7. I mean there are so many outcomes possible here. You're talking. Your quarterback has still a lingering injury with Sam Levitt. But just that aside, there's so many moving parts to transition year, tough schedule, front loaded schedule. So I didn't know what to do with LSU quite honestly. And on a bigger scale I was really going back and forth between them and USC for the final playoff spot and it came down to this. I try to think of it just on a conference scope where I think the SEC and the Big Ten are going to split the bids this year. 4, 4. Last year of course it was the SEC with five to the Big Ten. 3. I think that evens out this year because of the nine game schedule. I, I think that it's just math. It's another round of games against each other. So your 10 and 2 resumes from last year going to look like a lot of nine and threes this year. And I can already hear the debate starting about nine and three are nine and three versus year nine and three. But I think they'll keep it simple and go four and four, you know, the four best big tens, the four best secs and that's where I cut it off at. So. But I went back and forth on LSU a lot because I can just see so many different outcomes happening.
- [25:44]
A
Brett, you do an incredible, incredible amount of research and go as in depth on these teams, rosters, programs as anyone who does this or is in this business. So I ask you, was there a team sticking with the sec? Was there one that from doing your research you found yourself higher on than you expected and was there one that you from doing your research you found yourself lower on than you expected when you originally started your research on the season?
- [26:09]
B
Yeah, higher for me, I'm higher on Tennessee after the research process and a team where last year they got a lot of off season headlines with the Nico drama and, and they came out, they beat their unranked teams but came up small against the ranked teams. It was kind of a quiet 8 and 4 and, and then when they got ran off the field by Vanderbilt, it just seemed like a disappointing season. So I think that they're kind of in the shadows. No one's talking about Tennessee, but when I look at them, they bring back eight starters on their offense that put up 40 points a game. The defense, they made arguably the coordinator hire of the whole cycle by bringing Jim Knowles in. He's a guy who built defenses at Duke, at Oklahoma State, Ohio State for a national title and then brought some staff and some players with him from Penn State as well. So you know, you got Hypo's offense, Jim Knowles defense, four linemen back on the offensive line, a trio of like five star caliber receivers. The only question is a quarterback. But if you're telling me the only question with Tennessee is their quarterback, I'll take Josh Hyfle every time. And you think back to last year, they brought in Aguilar in like June with no spring ball and he got him up to speed right away. He finished number two in the SEC in QB ratings. So I think whoever wins this job is going to be phenomenal. And yeah, so not even on my radar. I got him all the way up to 15th in the country, seventh in the SEC. I think they're a sleeper team team
- [27:26]
A
that you were lower on was there one that for you that you were kind of surprised at how low you were on them?
- [27:31]
B
I guess Vanderbilt in Kentucky, you know, Arkansas was my clear last place pick. I think there's, it's a textbook rebuild for him. It's going to take a couple cycles to get the talent up to, up to speed. But Vanderbilt, I mean as I went through it, I was thinking, you know, head to head, would they beat so and so I had them all the way down to 15th. Same with Kentucky where we talked earlier about Will Stein, his great transfer class. And after I talked to him, I was, you know, I was really thinking highly of them and I still am. I think I might have in my top 40, still close to the top 40 board. But when you look within the SEC, it's so hyper competitive that that only ranks out at 14th. I mean it's, it's, it's really tough to, to move up the ladder here in this conference. So yeah, those are two I was a little bit lower on than I thought going in again, Alabama, I mean just ever putting Alabama eighth in the sec, I feel a little, I don't know, I feel a little exposed with that bet. We'll see what happens. But I like where we are, where we have it this year with them down at eighth.
- [28:28]
A
Brad Siancia, pick six previews for my money's worth. The best in the business. Brett, One final thing. Again, looking at the College Football Playoff picture that you have LA here you've got Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. So four SEC teams making the College Football Playoff. I guess I should ask you the question that everybody's asking, whether it be at SEC media days or just all throughout the off season as the SEC looks to get back to the mountaintop. It has been a long four years since that last national title and even appearance in the national title game. Your confidence level that this is the year the SEC gets it done.
- [29:12]
B
I would say low, actually. I mean I think the SEC is still the strongest conference if you're talking complete conference, the most playoff contenders. And then you look at talent, the most five stars, the most NFL draft picks, all that's there. But in terms of the very upper, upper echelon national title winning caliber teams, I have four teams ahead of Georgia, I have Oregon and Ohio State from the Big Ten. I've got Notre Dame up there and I've got Miami. What they showed me in January was, was unbelievable. So I don't think this is the year to break through, but they're going to have plenty of representation in the bracket, but I think that upper upper tier is still the big ten. And, and now you have a transcendent Miami that just seems to have woken up as a, as a dynasty program. So it's going to get tough once you get to the January bracket.
- [29:56]
A
Well, Brett, I hope you're wrong, but I hear where you're coming from. Certainly it's SEC's got a lot to prove when it comes to the upper echelon and hoisting that trophy. Brett Ciancia Pick six previews Again, someone I'm grateful to call a friend and someone I'm grateful to have this conversation with essentially every single year this time of year. Brett, once again let folks know again I've got mine. Like I said, cannot say enough good things. Pick six previews. This is my college football bible essentially, Brett. I mean this is what I go to all the time, whether it be preseason, all throughout the season. Let folks know how they can get theirs.
- [30:33]
B
Absolutely. Well, hey, appreciate the praise. I think it's our fifth straight year. We got to come on mid season and see how these predictions shook out. I mean it's, I would agree, always fascinating once we kick this season off. But yeah, thanks so much. It's only available online at pick6previews.com that's all spelled out. Pick6previews.com we have the digital copy. We have the hard copies coming off the printing press and shipping them out. If you buy the hard copy, I email you the digital right away. That way for those couple days where it's being shipped, you get access right away you can start reading. And then we have the in season product pick six plus where every Tuesday it's going to hit your email inbox with my new projections, stats, everything you love from the magazine, but basically weekly against the spread picks, everything you want. So that's all the options there. There's samples, testimonials, everything on there. Pick six previews.com Brett, you're the man.
- [31:18]
A
I appreciate you taking the time. I will definitely take you up on that. We'll do this mid season. We'll catch back up and keep up the great work, my friend. Appreciate you taking the time.
- [31:26]
B
Thank you. Sounds good.
- [31:42]
A
Sa.
- [32:13]
B
My.