The Mouth of the South - SEC Preview

By Gary Lloyd
Love of Sports Correspondent

Yep, this is my sanctuary right here.

You know, a month away from the coin flip. The kickoff. The season.

SEC Football!

I get chills just writing that.

I also get chills during the pregame video shown before every Alabama home football game. Oh, how I can’t wait to be back in that stadium September 6th (2008’s first home game).

With the season approaching faster than a dog can raise its leg, it’s time for a quick and easy breakdown of college football’s top conference – the SEC.

Since I wasn’t at SEC Kickoff 2008 and have no media votes this season, this is my two cents.

SEC East

1. Florida Gators

Florida has a lot of question marks on the defensive side of the ball, specifically at the defensive tackle, linebacker and secondary positions. This team still has too much talent, though. The Gators will finish the season 10-2.

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia’s expectations are a bit higher than Florida’s, but their schedule is just nasty. Games at South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Kentucky and Auburn will surely mean some upsets in the making. The Bulldogs will take down Florida at home, but will finish 9-3.

3. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee has the skill players to take some heat off first-year starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton. The defense will be solid as always, so it’s just a matter of this Vols squad playing to its potential at all times. Like in 2007, UT could be the surprise of the conference and end up in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. However, I think they go 8-4.

4. South Carolina Gamecocks

Mike Davis will have a nice year running the ball, and Kenny McKinley will be one of the top receivers in the SEC. However, the Gamecocks just don’t have enough pieces to have a chance. The Cocks go 5-7.

5. Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats are coming off back-to-back 8-5 seasons behind the arm of Andre Woodson, the legs of Rafael Little and the hands of Steve Johnson. That trio is no longer a part of this squad, though, meaning inexperience is at a high level. Like South Carolina, Kentucky has some talent, just not enough to compete in this conference. UK will be a five-win football team at best.

6. Vanderbilt Commodores

Simply put, Vandy’s once again the worst team in the SEC. There’s really no doubt about it. Chris Nickson and Mackenzi Adams are solid quarterbacks, but there are no other legitimate pieces to this team. The Commodores will win just two, maybe three, games.

SEC West

1. Auburn Tigers

I anticipate the newly-added spread offense to improve for Auburn in 2008. Kodi Burns will still show his youth, but the defense will win some games for the Tigers. They’ll go on to play in the SEC Championship Game with a record of 9-3.

2. LSU Tigers

The Bayou Bengals lost a lot of leadership from last season’s national championship team. The defense will still be one of the best in the league, but the other side of the ball is what I’m concerned about. With quarterback Matt Flynn gone and Ryan Perrilloux now at Jacksonville State, time may be split between junior Andrew Hatch and redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee at the quarterback position. I look for LSU to finish at 8-4.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but if a few things go the Tide’s way, it could make a run at the West title. Home games against Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Auburn certainly help. Road games at Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU could decide the Tide’s fate in Nick Saban’s second year at the helm. They’ll finish at 8-4 as well, but will lose at LSU to finish third in the West.

4. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Wesley Carroll was a very pleasant surprise for the Bulldogs as a freshman last season, and he’ll be solid yet again. Anthony Dixon is a prototypical SEC back and should carry the load all season. However, MSU will come up just short in more than a few games, finishing the regular season at 7-5.

5. Ole Miss Rebels

Houston Nutt inherits a very young Rebel squad in his first season as head coach. Jevan Snead (former Texas QB) should develop into one of the better signal-callers in the SEC. Cordera Eason has next to no experience at running back, but he has All-SEC talent. This team’s still a year or two away, but a 5-7 record this season would be a step in the right direction.

6. Arkansas Razorbacks

Poor, poor Casey Dick. For the last couple seasons, he had one of the easiest jobs in college football: handing off to running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Well, with both of them now in the pros, it’s on his shoulders to deliver for first-year head coach Bobby Petrino. The Hogs bring up the rear of the SEC in 2008, going 4-8.

All-SEC First Team Offense

QB – Tim Tebow, Florida
RB – Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
RB – Arian Foster, Tennessee
WR – Percy Harvin, Florida
WR – Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia
TE – Cornelius Ingram, Florida
OL – Andre Smith, Alabama
OL – Michael Oher, Ole Miss
OL – Anthony Parker, Tennessee
OL – Herman Johnson, LSU
C – Antoine Caldwell, Alabama

All-SEC First Team Defense

DL – Greg Hardy, Ole Miss
DL – Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn
DL – Tyson Jackson, LSU
LB – Brandon Spikes, Florida
LB – Rico McCoy, Tennessee
LB – Rolando McClain, Alabama
LB – Darry Beckwith, LSU
DB – Eric Berry, Tennessee
DB – Derek Pegues, Mississippi State
DB – Rashad Johnson, Alabama
DB – Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina
DB – Jerraud Powers, Auburn

Offensive Player of the Year: Tim Tebow, Florida

Defensive Player of the Year: Eric Berry, Tennessee

Coach of the Year: Tommy Tuberville, Auburn - As much as it pains me to say it.

Maybe those predictions are too bland. Or maybe I bit off more than I can chew. Guess we’ll just have to kick back and let the season play out.

(Gary Lloyd’s Mouth of the South column appears in this same spot each and every Wednesday.)