If you are looking for the epitome of college football then you have found the perfect conference. The Southeastern Conference has won each of the last four national championships, and ever since the Bowl Championship Series began in 1998, the SEC has won 5 1/2 titles and is undefeated in the National Championship Game. The SEC will still be right there again this season, as Alabama returns mostly everyone and will be in strong defense of retaining what is rightfully theirs.
EAST DIVISION
1. Florida Gators (10-2, 6-2)
-The Gators lose one of their best players ever in Tim Tebow, but John Brantley is capable enough to fill Tebow's giant shoes. The important thing is that he does not have to do it alone, with a deep offensive line, good skill players, and a talented defense returning. The only roadblocks I see are a trip to Alabama and the home game against LSU that will always come down to the wire, but Urban Meyer has never had fewer than eight wins in a season, and he surely will not start now.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (7-5, 4-4)
-There are a lot of uncertainties with Georgia this season that could make them finish at the top of the East or in the middle. The Bulldog offensive line is an experienced one, but if A.J. Green faces discipline for hanging with an agent, the offense will falter, especially without an experienced quarterback. No LSU, Alabama, or Ole Miss on the schedule is definitely good news, but can Georgia take advantage of this?
3. South Carolina Gamecocks (6-6, 3-5)
-While with South Carolina, Steve Spurrier has seen fast starts turn into disastrous finishes, and this year will be the same case with the Ol' Ball Coach. It's not that he cannot coach anymore, it is just that South Carolina is not a prime state for prospects, much like Florida is. Stephen Garcia is a very underrated quarterback, but unless there's a couple of upsets here or there, the Gamecocks will be mediocre yet again.
4. Tennessee Volunteers (6-6, 3-5)
-OK, let's try this again...Tennessee has a new head coach! However, Derek Dooley has handled things a lot differently than his predecessor, Lane Kiffin. Dooley has been quiet, mostly because he RESPECTS the SEC (his dad, Vince, was a legendary coach at Georgia). Tennessee will once again dominate the games against their whipping boys, Vanderbilt and Kentucky, and they will score an upset just to get bowl eligible.
5. Kentucky Wildcats (5-7, 1-7)
-Longtime assistant Joker Phillips is entering his first year as head coach, and he is the second ever black head coach in SEC history. His team will be average, but its a 50/50 chance that it could extend the school's longest bowl streak to five. Expect a lot out of Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb, the two explosive players that will carry Kentucky as far as they can.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores (3-9, 0-8)
-2 months before the season began, head coach Bobby Johnson retired from Vanderbilt. The new head coach is Robbie Caldwell and this is his first ever head coaching job in any level. Couple that with a so-so line-up, a historically bad program, and being in the SEC, does not do wonders. At least the Commodore faithful are patient, and I do mean patient.
WEST DIVISION
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1, 7-1)
-Alabama is back to try to win at least one more title. Greg McElroy, Julio Jones, and Mark Ingram are there again to lead the offense, and minus key players like Rolando McClain and Terrence Cody, the defense is in tact. The only problem is that, six teams will play Alabama after their bye week. If Alabama is not careful, there may not be a repeat in Tuscaloosa.
2. Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2, 6-2)
-Arkansas has never had a Heisman trophy winner, but for the second time in five years they are definitely flirting in that direction. Before it was Darren McFadden, who finished in second place to Troy Smith and Tim Tebow, and now its Ryan Mallet. The Razorbacks have a talented offense, however, their defense is very suspect. They have a favorable schedule and might can upset Alabama, but in the end, Ole Miss, LSU, or even Auburn will be looking to do the same to them.
3. LSU Tigers (9-3, 5-3)
-Is this Les Miles' last year at LSU? One can only hope that the defense is slightly better than it was the last two years, and that theory will be put to the test against North Carolina and West Virginia. The Tigers will be in the mix in the West, but unless Alabama falls, there will be enough to save Miles' job, but still no West title. However, Jordan Jefferson is still improving.
4. Ole Miss Rebels (8-4, 4-4)
-In terms of transfer quarterbacks, Ole Miss has to be the luckiest school in quite some time. The team went three years after Eli Manning left, until Jevan Snead transfered from Texas. Snead, however, left early (and went undrafted in the process, he's now a free agent). Now, Jeremiah Masoli is the newest QB. He brings in a big-game presence to this team, but Ole Miss will once again have a let-down.
5. Auburn Tigers (8-4, 4-4)
-Gene Chizik surely made people forget about his 5-19 record at Iowa State with an Outback Bowl win over Northwestern last year. Auburn will still be in the middle of the pack in the West as they can upset a top-tier team in the division, but they can surely lose to one as well.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-7, 2-6)
-Head coach Dan Mullen has his team playing tough, but yet again they will fall just short of a bowl appearance. The Bulldogs need to upset one team, but facing Florida and Georgia will put a damper on those plans.
SEC TITLE GAME
Alabama d. Florida
10+ WIN TEAMS
Alabama
Arkansas
Floridia
BOWL TEAMS AND DESTINATION
Alabama- Sugar
Arkansas- Capital One
Florida- Outback
LSU- Cotton
Georgia- Chick-fil-A
Ole Miss- Gator
South Carolina- Liberty
Tennessee- Music City
Auburn- PapaJohns.com
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Mallet (QB from Arkansas)
-Last year, Mallet threw for 3627 yards and 30 touchdowns. This year, without a defense and four good receivers, look for those numbers to go to around 4000 yards and 35 touchdowns.
GAMES TO WATCH
1. SEC Championship Game (Dec. 4 in Atlanta)
2. Florida @ Alabama (Oct. 2)
3. Alabama @ Arkansas (Sept. 25)
4. Penn State @ Alabama (Sept. 11)
5. LSU v. North Carolina (Sept. 4 at Atlanta)
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