The Future of the SEC This Year: Simulating the 2012 Season

Want to know how the SEC will turn out week-by-week before it happens? Don't we all. So we hooked up the closest thing college football fans have to a time machine and will simulate each week of the season using EA's NCAA Football '13. Here's how Week 1 turned out.

We've got more than your average share of clunker games this week -- that FCS Southeast gets around -- but also some brand-name marquee matchups, from Auburn and Clemson in the Georgia Dome to Michigan and Alabama out west. Oh, and we've also got at least one conference contest this week.

SCORES

AUBURN 59, CLEMSON 20
Apparently, Dana Holgorsen became Auburn's offensive coordinator when no one was looking. The Tigers destroy the, um, Tigers in a 59-20 annihilation featuring a 21-point fourth quarter. Auburn rushes for 303 yards and five touchdowns as it gains 491 yards in total offense and holds Clemson to just 290. The SEC Tigers convert 78 percent of their third downs.

MICHIGAN 35, ALABAMA 17
The Crimson Tide's bid to defend their national championship gets off to a rocky start, and the surprise culprit is the defense. Michigan generates 501 yards of total offense, including 375 yards passing(!) and five scoring strikes. The Wolverines also throw three interceptions, which makes the defensive performance arguably look better than it should. Michigan limits Alabama's rushing attack to 111 yards on 30 carries.

SOUTH CAROLINA 21, VANDERBILT 20
South Carolina fans across the country are treated for cardiac arrest after the Gamecocks rally from a 13-0 second-quarter deficit to get past the already-scary game against the Commodores in Nashville. The Gamecocks need to start this S. Jack fellow at quarterback post-haste: He goes 17-of-31 for 295 yards and all three touchdowns in the win. M. Everett, who I'm assuming is "not Marcus Lattimore," rushes for 115 yards on 23 carries. South Carolina outgains Vanderbilt 445-321.

TENNESSEE 27, N.C. STATE 24
The Vols rally for 20 points in the second half to edge the Wolfpack and start the season 1-0. But it's an ugly win; N.C. State outgains Tennessee 380-293 and the Volunteers are 17-of-37 passing. Still, it's better than the alternative.

OTHER SCORES:
Kentucky 37, Louisville 26
Texas A&M 37, Louisiana Tech 3
Missouri 45, FCS Southeast (Southeastern Louisiana) 10
Arkansas 68, FCS Southeast (Jacksonville State) 3
Georgia 56, Buffalo 3
Ole Miss 50, FCS Southeast (Central Arkansas) 14
Mississippi State 51, FCS Southeast (Jackson State) 3
LSU 45, North Texas 7
Florida 20, Bowling Green 0

CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Since South Carolina and Vanderbilt are the only ones to have played a conference game, this seems early.

TOP 25

1 Southern Cal
2 LSU
3 Oregon
4 Oklahoma
5 Georgia
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7 Arkansas
9 Alabama
11 South Carolina
19 Auburn
25 Florida

ORV: Mississippi State (would be 30), Texas A&M (would be 31), Missouri (would be 32)

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This post was sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 13. Check out the video for the game below.

EA SPORTS NCAA Football 13 TV: "Son" (via EASPORTS)