Here it is, the best conference in all of college football. Some of the best traditions and best looking women are in SEC stadiums on Saturdays. The SEC is the only conference with multiple BCS Champs in LSU and Florida. The SEC leads in attendance and in ratings as this is a league now in its prime. I don’t know how long it will last, but it is going to be a helluva ride while it lasts.
SEC East
1. Florida Gators-You have to wonder if Urban Meyer made a deal with the devil. You win a national title, get all 11 starters back on defense and your all world QB back. Yep he had to, but damn Florida is GOOD. You name it, Florida is 3 deep at it and their 3rd team could whip the 1st team of almost any team not called USC or Texas. But the bullseye is on the Gators, who actually have a easier schedule this year than last. LSU (A VERY winnable game) is the only road test for the Gators who host everyone else. The only question will be can they keep it under 70 against the opening game opponent Charleston Southern, and just how bad is Tennessee going to get whipped 2 weeks later?
Player to watch: QB Tim Tebow-come on, you were expecting someone else? Really?
2. Georgia Bulldogs-This team is similar to the 2005 team. A 5th yr senior is operating the offense, the defense returns a bunch of starters and the home schedule is favorable. But the buzzsaw that is Florida looms in Jacksonville, and a surprising Vandy is also a road test. This team is good and talented, but is 2nd to Florida-like the rest of the conference.
Player to watch: QB Joe Cox
3. South Carolina Gamecocks-This is make or break for Steve Spurrier. The good news is Stephen Garcia stayed out of trouble and worked in the spring. The bad, he doesn’t have too much back on offense to help him out. There is a lot of young talent in Columbia, but they have to produce now. Still, this is Spurrier’s best team at SC, and the home schedule can favor a surprise in the East.
Player to watch: QB Stephen Garcia
4. Vanderbilt Commodores-Oh hell yeah! For the first time ever last year, Vanderbilt was ranked, beat a top 25 team, and won a bowl game for the 1st time since 1955. Despite losing last years starter at QB, this may be a better team than last years. With 17 starters back, Bobby Johnson returns his strongest team in Nashville. These can no longer be called the Commodes-these guys can play. And study every bit as well as anyone at an Ivy League school.
Player to watch: DE Steven Stone
5. Kentucky Wildcats-Don’t be upset, this isn’t a bad spot. UK can still go bowling and can keep on pulling off surprise wins. The good news is the home schedule brings in Florida and Bama. The tests on the road are Georgia, Carolina and Vandy. I don’t know who the QB will be-Mike Hartline (a very talented kid) or even moving Randall Cobb back to QB from the WR spot, but with 7 back on offense it looks like the fun will stay in Lexington.
Player to watch: QB/WR/ Do everything asked of him Randall Cobb
6. Tennessee Volunteers-Lane Kiffin’s bold boasts may fly on the West Coast, but down here that kind of talk leads to a whuppin. And there isn’t a shortage of people waiting to apply it. The Vols have a great DC in Monte Kiffin but without a solid QB or RB, the Vols will lose a lot in 2009. a 2-4 start is possible leading to the bulk of the SEC latter schedule but everyone has the Spet 19 game in Gainesville circled. One way or another it will be epic.
Player to watch: S Eric Berry
SEC West
1. LSU Tigers-Yes, but keep reading. LSU may be the sleeper in the SEC. Nobody thinks much of them, and yes they have some questions at QB, but have experience there where last year there was none. John Chavis comes in as DC to replace the miserable co DC’s of a year ago. Gary Crowton has the offense pulping on all cylinders, and despite a tough road schedule, LSU will win out in the West. But it isn’t going to be easy, and yes they have to share it with others, but I am giving LSU the nod to represent the West in Atlanta. GEAX TIGERS!! Okay, got that out of the way. Check out a motivational video for LSU on youtube-defy you. You’ll see what is motivating this team, and why. Plus they have 7 back on each side. Should be a hoot.
Player to watch: DE Rahim Alem
1. Ole Miss Rebels-Houston Nutt turned heads last year and surprised many with how well he did in Oxford. Now? He aint surprinsing nobody. Ole Miss has 8 back on each side of the ball, but the talent is not up to the level of Florida-whom they did beat, but it is history that may not be on the Rebels side. Ole Miss is the only team that hasn’t gone to Atlanta from the West, and hasn’t won a conference title since 1963. The Rebels play a soft schedule, but open the SEC with 2 straight road games against Carolina and Vandy. The Rebs could be 0-2 to start, but 5-3 wins the West
Player to watch: QB Jevan Snead
1. Alabama Crimson Tide-Last year someone asked me who would win the West and I said Bama, half jokingly. Boy did they surprise! Nick Saban has them back, but this is a readjusting year in Tuscaloosa. 4 starters back on offense, and 9 on defense. But 2 of those 4 back on offense are WR Julio Jones-who nobody can cover and RB Mark Ingram. Not bad. But given the new QB in Greg McElroy, and he played behind John Parker Wilson, don’t expect him to do too much, but he really doesn’t need to.
Player to watch: WR Julio Jones
4. Arkansas Razorbacks-Bobby Petrino may only be here another year (bad joke, sorry) but he may have the dark horse of the SEC. Former Michigan QB Ryan Mallet is the gunslinger for the Hogs, who will not be a run first team as they have been in the past. The defense is loaded with 10 starters back, 8 on offense. This can be a good year, but the Hogs are a year away from contention in the West.
Player to watch: QB Ryan Mallet
5. Auburn Tigers-Tommy Tuberville was shown out and Gene Chizik and his 5-19 record at Iowa State was brought in. While many wanted Turner Gill, Chizik has been here before, as the DC back in 2004. His staff is impressive-Gus Malzahn is the OC and the DC is Ted Roof, both of whom can recruit well. Auburn isn’t bad on defense (8 starters back) but the offense struggled with the spread, but should get some kinks worked out this year. But there is a question at QB, where it is a 3 horse race.
Player to watch: DE Antoine Carter
6. Mississippi St Bulldogs-Sly Croom is out, and Dan Mullin the former OC at Florida is in. This may be the most inexperienced team in the SEC, but they are talented. The good news is they will start 1-0, but the next 5 games should all be losses, with a chance to beat MTSU for homecoming. Last year they went 4-8 but this year could go 1-11. It’s going to be a long year in Stark Vegas.
Player to watch: RB Anthony Dixon
SEC Championship Game
LSU vs Florida
SEC Champion
Florida-they will beat us twice
No comments:
Post a Comment