SEC Preview

[cubuffsman78]

SEC East
1. Georgia – 12-1 (8-1)
There wasn’t a team playing better than the Bulldogs at the end of last season. Knowshon Moreno and Matt Stafford are both Heisman contenders and Dannell Elerbe should be considered for the Bednarik, given to the top defensive player.

2. Florida – 11-1 (7-1)
Only Georgia probably stands between the Gators and a national championship bid. The Gators might have the most explosive offensive attack in the nation.

3. South Carolina – 7-5 (4-4)
Spurrier’s Gamecocks will once again fall victim to a rough SEC schedule. Not to mention, rival Clemson is a national championship contender.

4. Tennessee – 8-4 (4-4)
Volunteers hopes offensive depend on RB Arian Foster. Defensively, Ric o McCoy is close to an exact replica of Derrick Brooks.

5. Kentucky – 4-8 (1-7)
Kentucky graduated one of the best senior classes in its history. Now the Wildcats should return to their typical spot at the bottom of the conference.

6. Vanderbilt – 2-10 (0-8)
The Commodores have been able to surprise a superior SEC team a couple times in the past three seasons. However, this Vanderbilt squad simply doesn’t have the hosses to do it again.

Overall assessment: It all comes down to Georgia and Florida. The World’s Biggest Cocktail Party kicks off Nov. 1 to decide who wins the East. Both teams look to be evenly matched, but the game is in Athens. Advantage Georgia.

The drop off from Florida and Georgia to Tennessee and South Carolina is very significant.

SEC West

1. Auburn – 10-3 (7-2)
Very talented defensively, particularly on the front line. Installing a spread offense this season. Should help open up more big plays for the running game.

2. LSU – 9-3 (5-3)
Talk about QB problems. The inexperience at the position will cost LSU some wins in the SEC.

3. Alabama – 6-6 (3-5)
Not ready to say Saban has this team up with the conference’s elite, yet. Just not a big John Parker Wilson fan. Very overrated quarterback.

4. Mississippi – 7-5 (3-5)
Could easily see this team with nine wins. Ole Miss has two legit All-American caliber players in OT Michael Oher and DE Greg Hardy.

5. Mississippi St. – 6-6 (3-5)
Sylvester Croom gets this squad bowl eligible two years in a row. They’ll be carried by RB Anthony Dixon.

6. Arkansas – 5-7 (2-6)
Bobby Petrino likes to have a good passing game, but Nathan Dick has never proved to be a reliable QB. How do the Razorbacks replace Darren McFadden and Felix Jones? Going to be a long first season for the new coach.

Overall assessment: Auburn’s defense gives them a slight edge of LSU. Plus LSU has to visit Auburn this season.

Ole Miss should be taken as a serious sleeper within the SEC. The Rebels have a stellar OL and a very good DL. They’ll be tough in the trenches which is worth some wins. If Ole Miss can get some consistent play from a QB, then they’ll be a team to reckon with in the conference.

None of the teams in the West are on the level of Georgia and Florida, meaning the Gators/Bulldogs rivalry renewal is probably the true SEC title game.

[cubuffsman78]

All-SEC 1st Team

Offense

QB Tim Tebow Florida
Is there any doubt here? He put together one of the greatest seasons ever for a quarterback last year.

RB Arian Foster Tennessee
Could be the best senior RB in the country.

RB Knowshon Moreno Georgia
Could be the best RB, underclassman or upperclassman, in the country.

WR Percy Harvin Florida
Game breaking speed and ability. Has the "wow" factor.

WR Louis Murphy Florida
Overlooked because of Harvin, but a very talented compliment.

WR Mohamed Massoquoi Georgia
QB Matt Stafford's favorite target.

TE Cornelius Ingram Florida
Almost tested the NFL draft waters last year. Will benefit greatly from another season. Stretches the middle of the field very well.

OL Michael Oher Mississippi
Best OT in the country. Has Top 10 draft status heading into the season.

OL Herman Johnson LSU
Doesn't get much bigger than him. Has developed into a mauler at the point of attack.

OL Jonathan Luigs Arkansas
Best of a talented group of centers in the SEC.

OL Anthony Parker Tennessee
Tennessee has a good reputation of producing good OGs.

OL Jamon Meredith South Carolina
One of the biggest keys to the Gamecocks' pending offensive success.

K Ryan Succop South Carolina

Defense

DE Eric Norwood South Carolina
Some scouts think he's an OLB at the next level. Big compliment for a 270-pound DE.

DT Jeff Owens Georgia
A backfield disruptor with great penetrating ability.

DT Sen'Darrick Marks Auburn
Key piece in Auburn's abilities defensively.

DE Greg Hardy Mississippi
All-American potential. He's a relentless pass rusher.

LB Rico McCoy Tennessee
Best OLB in the country? Yes.

LB Dannell Elerbe Georgia
Always around the ball.

LB Darry Beckwith LSU
Full season at MLB will help production.

LB Rennie Curran Georgia
Sky is the limit for freshman All-American.

CB D.J. Moore Vanderbilt
Only Commodore on the team.

S Derek Peques Mississippi St.
Best player on an underrated defense.

S Eric Berry Tennessee
Great potential. Time to live up to it.

CB Jerrell Norton Arkansas
One of the only playmakers Petrino inherited.

P Justin Sparks Mississippi

[cubuffsman78]

All-SEC 2nd Team

Offense

QB Matthew Stafford Georgia
Improvement from freshman to sophomore year was astounding. High expectations for junior campaign.
RB Anthony Dixon Mississippi St.
Key to MSU's offense and chances of making second consecutive bowl game.

RB Brad Lester Auburn
Running lanes will be bigger with spread offense.

WR Demetrius Byrd LSU
LSU WRs receive a lot of hype. Who is going to throw him the ball, though?

WR Kenny McKinley South Carolina
Classic run 'n gun wideout.

WR Brandon LaFell LSU
Ball gets spread around in Baton Rouge.

TE Jared Cook South Carolina
Ability to stretch the field and makes for bad matchups against LBs and safeties.

OL Andre Smith Florida

OL John Jerry Mississippi
Overlooked because of Oher, but has tons of ability.

OL Antoine Caldwell Alabama
Not far behind Luigs. One of several Rimington candidates in the SEC.

OL Mitch Petrus Arkansas

OL Ciron Black LSU

K Leigh Tiffin Alabama

Defense

DE Tyson Jackson LSU
It's time to live up to expectations for Jackson. Great size and ability, but work ethic and production is lacking.

DT Geno Atkins Georgia
Makes great interior DL duo along with Owens.

DT Peria Jerry Mississippi
Compliments Hardy well on the Ole Miss DL.

DE Antonio Coleman Auburn
Pass rushing specialist keeps QBs uncomfortable.

LB Brandon Spikes Florida
Having Spikes on the second team speaks volumes about the talent of LBs in the SEC.

LB Rolando McClain Alabama
If Bama ends up contending for the SEC, it will be because of its defense. McClain was an instant starter as a freshman and is an incredible physical speciman.

LB Chris Evans Auburn

CB Trevard Lindley Kentucky

S Rashad Johnson Alabama

S Emanuel Cook South Carolina

CB Captain Munnerlyn South Carolina

P Tim Masthay Kentucky

[cubuffsman78]

I actually have to amend my All-SEC teams due to the season-ending injury suffered by Florida TE Cornelius Ingram. Ingram completely tore his ACL and is out for the year.

Ingram considered turning pro following last season, but elected to return for his senior season. The Gators had spent a big part of the spring and summer putting in a two-tight end package that would feature both Ingram and sophomore Aaron Hernandez.

Ingram has already used his redshirt status, but could still petition the NCAA for a sixth year due to the injury. He'd probably receive the extra year. It's a request that's rarely turned down by the NCAA. However, Urban Meyer has hinted that Ingram will test the NFL waters instead.

His injury moves South Carolina's Jared Cook up to the first team and I'd honestly put Ingram's replacement Hernandez on the second team. There's not a lot of great options at TE within the conference now that Ingram is gone.