I'm a Mizzou fan/alum, so I wanted to make that clear. I was born in Texas and most of my family is aTm alum, so they're sorta my team when they aren't playing Mizzou or affecting their conference standing.

Tht being said, I wanted to get y'alls take on how we will do in the SEC. People seem to think we're going to be thrown to the wolves, but I have to say I'm skeptical. People talk about those big defensive lineman and strong running games in the SEC, but I believe Mizzou and aTm have been pretty good against the run the past few years. Take out our teams getting torched by the pass happy big 12 teams year in and year out and you have a different situation on your hands.

I think Mizzou will turn many heads in the weak SEC East and once Sumlin gets up to speed I think aTm's Texas recruiting is going to stock aTm with some of the best talent in the SEC. Personally, I think the SEC is going to be in for a rude awakening, not because we're just so good, but I think we have high-quality programs, and we're being given zero credit. I actually had a co-worker from Tennessee tell me Mizzou was probably only going to beat Kentucky next year in conference games.

Mizzou should finish 2nd or 3rd in the East this year.

A&M should finish 3rd or 4th in the West this year.

Both teams will fare well in the SEC over time, imo.

My $0.02: I don't have any false hopes that we come in and run the show in the SEC, but I also don't understand people saying the only teams we have chances to beat are Vandy and Kentucky. We've played against several of the top SEC teams the last couple years and played decently. If both Mizzou and A&M continue to play good ball we should be in the top half of the SEC this year. Need to improve quite a bit to get to that elite level.

From the outside looking in I wouldn't call the SEC east weak. Florida is down but will still be fielding a good defense. South Carolina will be good as will Georgia. Kentucky and Vanderbilt should be wins but they still shock someone periodically. Y'all were never all that strong in the Big XII on a consistent basis and I don't see that changing in the SEC.

Georgia also year and year out is a good football team. Mizzou will finish 3rd or 4th in the east this year, but also wouldn't be shocked if they win it. Over time I think Mizzou's real strength will be in basketball and competing with Kentucky and Florida for SEC championships at some point.

Right now, the SEC is not a throwing league. Both schools come in with passing offenses. Texas A&M is not strong against the run and especially against SEC running games.

I believe MU has won four straight against the SEC running spread set. Both teams will force roster changes in their respective divisions, the same way that Houston did in the 80s and tech did in the 90s. It's up in the air how successful these offenses can be against top talent like LSU and Alabama. In the past teams like Houston have run up against teams like Miami and Michigan and not fared well with the offense.