2007 SEC Preview

Well here we are, the cream of the college football crop. Florida pulled the double dip, winning not only the SEC but National Title as well. In the BCS era, Tennessee, LSU and now Florida have won a national title. Auburn should have in 2004 going unbeaten that year. The West is clear, but it is the East that is not. Anyone can pull it off there, except Vanderbilt (Poor Vandy!). So how will it turn out this year?

Who’s New:

Nick Saban-Alabama

Who’s on the Hot Seat:

Nick Saban-Alabama
Sylvester Croom-Mississippi St
Houston Nutt-Arkansas
Phil Fulmer-Tennessee


East

6. Vanderbilt Commodores. Bobby Johnson has done a yeoman’s job at Vandy. This team has been competitive for the last few seasons, making some fans optimistic-and wanting more. On offense, WR Earl Bennet is the big play man, and QB Chris Nickson should get him the ball. The running game must improve, and having an experienced O-lin should help. The defense has always been good, and a place for NFL talent to develop. Don’t expect a coaching change, Vandy could do well enough to go 6-6, but if they only win a couple of games could Johnson be shown the door.

5. Florida Gators*. Yes, the mighty have fallen. This will be a rebuilding year for the Gators, but that is not a bad thing, really. Tim Tebow gets the nod at QB, along with 4 other starters on offense, highlighted by WR Andre Caldwell, and dual threat Percy Harvin (Triple threat if he lines up at QB). The defense-well you have 1 (not a typo) returning starter. You have players with game experience, but Safety Tony Joiner is the only one with starting experience. The Gators will get everyone’s best this year, but if this team manages more than 7 wins, it will be a miracle.

4. Tennessee Volunteers*. The Vols had chances last year, against Florida and LSU, and came up short. That cost them the East, but the problem this year is the talent that helped them so much a year ago is gone. Only 11 starters are back, so the Vols are young in a few key areas-WR, RB, DT, and Db’s. You need to have some veterans there to be of any use, and expect to win the East. The road schedule-Florida, and Kentucky will be a test of toughness. The Vols might win the East still, but to me, they have too many holes to fill to do that.

3. Kentucky Wildcats*. This was the surprise of the SEC a year ago, and the good news for the Cats are the following: 15 returning starters (the most of any East team), QB Andre Woodson is back, and the schedule is favorable (LSU, Florida and Tennessee are home games). The Cats big road tests are Georgia, Arkansas and S. Carolina, and that is tough to win the East, but the Cats have the best shot they ever have to get it done this year.

2. South Carolina Gamecocks*. Steve Spurrier is in his 3rd year with the Gamecocks, and there should be noticeable improvement. QB Blake Mitchell seems to have matured since last year, but gone is Sydney Rice, the best WR threat the Gamecocks had. The O-line is a question mark, and that could be a problem. On defense, the Gamecocks have 7 starters back, but younger players are pushing for playing time. I would not be surprised if they win the East-but road trips to Arkansas, LSU, Georgia, and Tennessee will be hard for them to get it done this year.

1. Georgia Bulldogs*. QB Matthew Stafford could write the novel ‘A tale of 2 seasons’. His first half was horrible, then he became the QB for the rest of the year, he was nothing short of spectacular. He is clearly the top guy for the Dawgs this year. The Georgia D is a HUGE concern, but should have enough gas in the tank to do well this year. Alabama and Tennessee are the only road games to worry about, and the big games are art home, so much like Florida last season, the Georgia Bulldogs have the schedule favorable to win the East.

West

6. Mississippi St Bulldogs. Sylvester Croom’s job is in jeopardy, but this is his best team, by far. The scheduling folks at ESPN are making them the first game of the year once again-Aug 30 vs LSU. The Bulldogs offense has only 1 question: Who will be the starting RB? But the defense, well, that is another story entirely. The Bulldogs have moved some players aroud, and to me the staff is not convinced they will be effective this year. But if State can hang with LSU in the opener, this team may have something in them to have a good year.

5. Ole Miss Rebels. Ed Orgeron has really recruited well at Ole Miss. But for the Rebels to end a 44 year drought since their last SEC title, they need to have a ton of things happen, blowing a 2 touchdown lead against LSU was a sore blow last year, but it showed how well this team can be. The Rebels defense has a HUGE question mark-only 4 players arte back. But the Rebels offense should be good, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis is back to shoulder the load, but the QB race is wide open b/t Brent Schaefer and Seth Adams, with Adams coming out on top after Spring ball. If Ole Miss can surprise some teams, which is likely, then they can move up, but the reality is last year’s team was much better, and this is another wash year.

4. Arkansas Razorbacks. Houston Nutt had a soap opera drama last year. Long and short of it-during the LSU game and the Capital One Bowl, he was texting a local reporter with whom he allegedly had an affair with. Then, his OC Gus Malzahn left for Tulsa, and super freshman Mitch Mustain, and some of his high school teammates transferred (Mustain is the heir to John David Booty at USC). This sounds like an episode of the Young and the Restless, but this is a major college football program. The good news is the offense still has RB’s Felix Jones and Derren McFadden, but the QB is still Casey Dick. New offensive coordinator David Lee must find a way to get the passing game going. On defense, the Hogs have too many ?’s, but should be competitive, despite the departures of the top players to the NFL. A bowl game is possible, though not very likely.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide*. Nick Saban returns to the SEC, where he made a big mark at LSU, and hopes to bring to Bama. The problem is, the expectations may be too much for him to overcome. First, he is getting paid $4 million a year to coach, next, over 92,000 people attended the Spring Game and third, the only success Bama has had since Bear left could not get the Bama faithful to lay off. Business wise-Nick Saban fits the SEC better than Rich Rodriguez would have. Major Applewhite is the new OC, Kevin Steele the new DC. On offense, John Parker Wilson is back at QB, and should benefit from the new offense, DJ Hall was the big play man for the Tide at WR. Replacing RB Kenneth Darby will be a huge problem, but one to overcome. On defense, the Tide will not be playing the 4-3 Saban used at Michigan St and LSU, but the 3-4 (the same scheme he used with the Dolphins). Alabama should win games they shouldn’t and lose games they should. But unlike his arrival at LSU, Saban is handicapped already. He has another powerhouse school in state in Auburn, as well as having to compete locally with Georgia and Tennessee to boot. He has already recruited against these schools, but he had the state of Louisiana to back him up-something he does not have at Alabama.

2. Auburn Tigers*. Look out, QB Brandon Cox has a chip on his shoulder, and that is bad news for teams who play Auburn this year. Feeling overlooked by the SEC, Cox was named the 3rd team QB in the SEC. The problem is-only 4 starters are back on offense, but Auburn has another weapon-Offensive coordinator Al Borges, who may be, sorry, IS the best OC in the land. The Auburn defense is talented, but has the stigma of breaking apart after the LSU game last year-but look, that was by far the most physically powerful game of last season. Auburn’s problem is the road-Arkansas, LSU, Florida and Georgia are on the road, and that could hurt them in 2007.

1. LSU Tigers*. Finally, LSU has things going for them. Last season, LSU was the only team to have all 4 of their road games against teams ranked in the top 10. If JaMarcus Russell was back, LSU would be everyone’s choice to win the whole thing-but they will not. Here is what the Tigers have-a reliable QB in Matt Flynn who has become the leader on this team. WR Early Doucet will grab the double team, but WR Brandon LaFell returns as does dual threat Trindon Holliday, who may be the fastest player in all off College Football. True Freshman WR Terrance Tolliver has wowed the LSU coaches so far in practice, and do not count out WR Jared Mitchell as well. The RB’s re led by FB/TB Jacob Hester, and RB Keiland Williams who ran wild in the Sugar Bowl, RS Freshman Richard Murphy and Sophomore RB Charles Scott are back, so the loss of RB Alley Broussard should not hurt too much, so new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton should be very happy. On defense, this is the true strength of the team-8 starters are back on a defense that led the country in a few categories last season. Bo Pelini, LSU’s defensive coordinator has done a terrific job, and the only concerns are safety, but the players-Craig Steltz and Curtis Taylor have a lot of playing time-since LSU blew out most of the competition last year. LSU head coach Les Miles has had to earn the trust and support of the LSU faithful-and solidified that on January 3rd this year when Nick Saban took the Bama job, and LSU blasted Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. The Tigers only question is the kicking game, and road traps at Kentucky and Alabama; and home traps against Virginia Tech, Auburn and South Carolina, as well as Florida.

2007 SEC Champs-LSU Tigers