SEC Preview

There is little doubt the SEC is the premiere college football conference in the nation. Four Southeastern Conference teams have won BCS national championships, Tennessee in 1998, LSU in 2003 and 2007 and Florida in 2006. No other conference can claim more than two BCS national titles. The SEC also blows away everybody else with an 11-4 mark in all BCS bowl games.

Don't expect a change of course in 2008. Florida and Georgia are both capable of advancing to college football's ultimate showdown and don't count out the Bayou Bengals, despite some of the big losses they suffered in the NFL draft. Auburn looks strong with a revamped offense and Alabama should be improved with another year under head coach Nick Saban and quarterback John Porter Wilson's respective belts.

Here's a brief look at how the nation's premier conference shapes up going into the season.

WESTERN DIVISION

Auburn
Projected Record (9-3, 6-2)- Auburn could be a National Title sleeper and should be the best team in the West this season. The Tigers return 16 starters, including seven on a defensive unit that allowed just under 17 points per game. Coach Tommy Tuberville also will have an experienced running backs corps and an offensive line that goes from a weakness to a strength with five returning starters. Quarterback Kodi Burns has only attempted 26 passes but was a big-time recruit and could be an upgrade over last year's starter, Brandon Cox. Burns did rush for 231 yards last season. The Tigers get both LSU and Georgia at home, which bodes well for them in conference play. Their toughest non-conference clash will be at West Virginia on October 23rd.

LSU
Projected Record (9-3, 5-3)- A tougher schedule could portend a drop in the rankings for LSU-but don't count on much of a drop. Despite having just 12 starters back from last year's National Title team, the Tigers are loaded. While head coach Les Miles still has to sort out the unsettled quarterback situation, four starters are back on the offensive line as well as seven of the top eight pass catchers and four of the top five rushers from last season. Look for a big year from Terance Toliver, who averaged 24.9 yards per catch as a freshman. The Tigers defense will be among the best in the land once again despite the loss of Glenn Dorsey. LSU welcomes back nine of 10 veterans on the defensive line, including DT/DE Ricky Jean-Francois, who was the MVP in the BCS title game. The Tigers will play only four road games this season, and they are all conference games. They will travel to Auburn, Florida, South Carolina and Arkansas, so winning the SEC again may be a tall order.

Alabama
Projected Record (7-5, 4-4)- Alabama's 13 returning starters rank near the bottom of the conference pack, so the Tide is probably a year away from contending for the SEC-West crown, but they are still a bit more talented than the team's we have ranked beneath them in the West. The schedule is difficult, opening up against Clemson in Atlanta. In conference play, Alabama has to face UGA, Tennessee and LSU on the road. Quarterback John Porter Wilson will operate behind one of the conference's better offensive lines, but he has the unenviable task of working with his third offensive coordinator in the last four years.

Ole Miss
Projected Record (6-6, 4-4)- Houston Nutt takes over at Ole Miss and the Rebels should be improved at almost every position after going 3-9 last season. Ole Miss will need a lot of improvement after it failed to win a SEC game last year and Nutt is a fine coach who should field a more disciplined, competitive team this season with 16 total starters and a couple of big-time newcomers in the fold. Quarterback Jevan Sneed played eight games as a true freshman at Texas, throwing for 377 yards and rushing for 124 before transferring to Oxford. He is the best quarterback prospect at Ole Miss since Eli Manning and has the talent to be a difference maker in the SEC. A lot is also expected from blue-chip freshman running back Enrique Davis, who originally signed with Auburn. Virtually everybody is back on defense, so this team could surprise.

Mississippi State
Projected Record (6-6, 3-5)- Mississippi State used a horseshoe and a four-leaf clover to finish 4-4 in the conference in 2007 despite being outgained by 73.4 yards per game. Coach Sylvester Croom welcomes back 14 starters on what should be a more talented team. Sophomore quarterback Wesley Carroll, who threw for 1,392 yards with a 9-7 TD/Interception ratio, will be joined in the backfield by Anthony Dixon, a 1,000-yard rusher. Unfortunately, the offensive line is inexperienced and that could hurt them when they play the SEC heavyweights on their schedule. Defensively the Bulldogs have seven players with starting experience in the secondary, which should be there strength.

Arkansas
Projected Record (5-7, 2-6)- Bobby Petrino had a great run at Louisville before heading for the pros for one ill-fated season with the Falcons. He inherits just 11 starters at Arkansas and must replace star running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones as well as five of the top six tacklers. Petrino plans to switch from a run-based offense and fill the air with footballs. Unfortunately for impatient Razorbacks fans, that takes time and an SEC schedule can be very unforgiving.

EASTERN DIVISION

Florida
Projected Record (10-2, 6-2)- Florida returns 16 starters from last year's 9-4 squad, including Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. The Gators skill positions and the defense as well are loaded with speed. Kestahn Moore led the running backs last year with 580 yards (5.6 per carry) and he will be joined by USC transfer Emmanuel Moody, who rumbled for 459 yards for the Trojans as a true freshman. The schedule should work in favor of the Gators as they play just three true conference road games with their battle against Georgia coming in Jacksonville. The Gators are loaded and may be as strong as they were in 2006 when they won the mythical National Championship. This could be a story book season in Gainesville as Tebow looks to equal Archie Griffin and win his second straight Heisman Trophy while the Gators as a team try to win their second title in three seasons.

Georgia
Projected Record (9-3, 6-2)- Georgia is on top in more than a few pre-season polls and for good reason. The Dogs arguably have the best defense in the SEC and the offense is in good hands with quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno back in the fold. There are problems for the Bulldogs, though. Georgia plays the third-toughest schedule in the NCAA with games at Auburn, LSU and South Carolina as well as a non-conference trip to Arizona State and battling Florida in Jacksonville. While head coach Mark Richt is 25-4 on the road and 9-2 versus ranked teams, the Bulldogs figure to lose at least one of those games, especially since they've lost so many players in the preseason including starting left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who is out for the season. Georgia is a very talented team, but there schedule and depth issues will probably keep them from a National Championship.

South Carolina
Projected Record (8-4, 5-3)- The old ball coach Steve Spurrier should no longer be hurting for a quarterback following the lifting of Stephen Garcia's suspension. The Gamecocks could be in big trouble if they are forced to play either Chris Smelley or Tommy Beecher, who combined to throw eight picks in the spring game. Garcia was a touted recruit and if he has his head on straight could be a big-time player. Aside from the quarterback situation, South Carolina does have 17 returning starters. Six of the top eight linebackers return and the Gamecocks could have one of the top defenses in the land. The kicking game should also be strong with senior Ryan Succop handling both kicking and punting duties. South Carolina could also benefit from an easier schedule than most of their SEC rivals. If they can find a stable quarterback, South Carolina could challenge Florida and Georgia.

Tennessee
Projected Record (8-4, 4-4)- Tennessee won the East last year despite being outgained by 32.7 yards per game. The Volunteers are counting on junior Jonathan Crompton to replace quarterback Erik Ainge. Crompton threw just 12 passes in 2007, but he did compile 401 yard passing in '06 with a 4-2 TD/interception ratio. Crompton will be handing the ball to Arian Foster, one of the best tailbacks in the conference, who spurned NFL gold. Tennessee will be banking on one of the top offensive lines in the SEC and an experienced defensive line to win games in the trenches. Their first game is on the road at UCLA who looks to be rebuilding. The Vols better come away with a strong performance or it could be a long season in Knoxville.

Kentucky
Projected Record (5-7, 2-6)- Kentucky should be in rebuilding mode after losing quarterback Andre Woodson, as well as its top running back and three of its four top receivers. The Wildcats do have 17 of 22 defensive players back from their bowl two-deep but after allowing almost 30 points per game, that might not be a good thing. Junior quarterback Curtis Polley will likely incorporate more running into the position. The Wildcats are coming off back to back 8-5 seasons but they don't have the talent to make it three years in a row. Their non-conference schedule is easy but they will struggle to find wins in the SEC.

Vanderbilt
Projected Record (2-10, 1-7)- Vanderbilt is rebuilding once again with only nine returning starters, fewest in the conference. It's entirely possible the Commodores won't win a conference game with just nine seniors on the squad and 32 juniors. The offensive line is a problem area and the linebackers are less experienced and less talented but, to be honest, that statement can be made about virtually every position on the roster except quarterback where both of last season's top signal callers are back in Mackenzi Adams and Chris Nickson. .

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