Here is how I believe the SEC will play out this upcoming college football season.
East
1. South Carolina Gamecocks, 10-2 (7-1)
After some years of struggling, Steve Spurrier finally has the Gamecocks a yearly contender for the SEC East Championship and for the SEC Title. This year should be no different. QB Stephen Garcia is back and so is ultra talented RB Marcus Lattimore. If Garcia can stay out of trouble and limit turnovers the Gamecocks will find their way back into the SEC Title Game, and maybe have a chance to win it.
2. Florida Gators, 7-5 (4-4)
Florida struggled in their first year in the post Tebow era, but that was understandable since they had pro style QB John Brantley trying to run a spread running attack. Now that Charlie Weis is now the OC the offense will be built around the stengths of Brantley. On defense HC Will Muschamp will bring some attitude back to a team that seemed to loose that the past couple of years. I'd watch out for Ronald Powell who Muschamp could use much like he did with Brian Orakpo and Sergio Kindle.
3. Georgia Bulldogs, 7-5 (4-4)
A lot of people are higher on Georgia than I am, but I'm just not seeing it. They'll really miss what AJ Green did for their offense and with Caleb King being ineligible will put a lot of pressure on true freshman Isaiah Crowell. However their defense will be strong and Aaron Murray is a very good quarterback. They could surprise me, but I think a 7 or 8 wins is all they will get.
4. Tennessee Volunteers, 6-6 (2-6)
There were a lot of qustion marks about Tennessee last year leading up to the season and after starting the season at 2-6 it was looking like a lost season. However QB Tyler Bray emerged and the Vounteers rallied to win their final four games against the SEC celler dwellers. I have a feeling this year might be very similar. They'll struggle against the top level teams and have a chance against the Vanderbilt'\s and the Mississippi's. However if Tyler Bray can elevate his game they could surprise a few teams and finish with better than two or three wins.
5. Kentucky Wildcats, 6-6 (2-6)
Kentucky finished last season with two wins in the confernece and I don't see them winning more than that this year. Last year they were blessed with two talented offensive weapons in Derek Locke and Randall Cobb. Both are gone and that leaves them without many other options. I would not be surprised if they went winless in confernce play either.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores, 5-7 (2-6)
After going hard after Gus Malzahn to be their head coach they ended up getting James Franklin who was the OC at Maryland. Now Vanderbilt is not a destination job by any means, but the Franklin hired is a dud in my opinion. He was the OC but Maryland's offenses where not anything to brag about. And he'll be coaching in the toughest conference in the NCAA and against some of the best defenses in all of college football. Its an uphill battle and they have a long way to go.
West
1. Alabama Crimson Tide, 12-0 (8-0)
Its crzay how talented the SEC is when Alabama last year had a veteran QB and three first round picks and all the rest of that talent and lost three conference games. This year should be different. The Crimson Tide are loaded on defense and are going to make it very difficult for teams to score on them. The real question mark will be at quarterback. They have Phillip Sims and AJ McCarron battling out at quarterback, but look for the Tide to rely on Trent Richardson to carry the early load till whoever wins the QB race gets more comfortable. But none the less the Tide will be the team to beat and have a great shot to make it back to the National Title game for the second time in three years.
2. LSU Tigers, 10-2 (7-1)
The Bayou Bangles might be one of the most talented teams in all of college football but their success will all be dependent on how well Jordan Jefferson plays at quarterback. Jefferson is very talented, but often makes bone headed decisions that really costs the team. If he can improve his decision making the Tigers will be a National Title contender. But if he doesn't, all will be for not and they'll find themselves back in the Cotton Bowl. No pressure huh?
3. Arkansas Razorbacks, 9-3 (6-3)
Its too bad that the Razorbacks aren't in the SEC East where they would be the favorite to win the division. However they are in the West where 4 out of the 6 teams have a legit shot to win the division (instead of one in the East). Arkansas took a big jump last year finishing with a 10-3 record and a birth in their first BCS Bowl. The good thing is that they return all their skill position players but they have to replace some key starters along the offensive line. They also lost QB Ryan Mallett, but replace him with Taylor Wilson who might not have the physical talents of Mallett, but is a much better decision maker which better suits the offense. The key will be the defense. Bobby Petrino is known for his offenses, but not for his defenses. If they can stop the likes of Alabama and LSU they'll have a shot to win the divison, but that might be too hard of an accomplishment.
4. Mississippi State Bulldogs, 8-4 (4-4)
Mississippi State hit a home run hire when they got Dan Mullen from Florida. Mullen has turned the Bulldogs from SEC West bottom dweller to a 9 win team last year. They are lead by QB Chris Relf who has done a good job running Mullen's spread offense. They have to replace some key linebackers, but the Bulldogs should find themselves in that 8 to 9 win category. But just like Arkansas its too bad they play in the West and not the East where they would contend for a division title rather than having to challenge Alabama and LSU for the West Title.
5. Auburn Tigers, 6-6 (3-5)
You don't see teams win the National Title and they go .500 or wose the next year, but that could very well happen this year. Last year Auburn had the best offensive player in the country in Cam Newton and the most dominant defensive player in Nick Fairley. Those two players elevated a medicore team into a National Title. Both are gone and the Tigers are going to feel it. But Gene Chizik and company are hoping the experience they got last year and the young talent they brought in will allow them to make it to a bowl game. But It will be a long season in Tiger country.
6. Mississippi Rebels, 3-9 (0-8)
I bet Ole Miss fans were wishing that the University didn't fire David Cuttcliff who had the Rebels as a constant 9 win team and yearly bowl appearances. However after they have fired him they had to endure the Ed Orgeron era and now Houston Nutt. Nutt has had one good year (with Orgeron's players) but has struggled since. This year shouldn't be any different. The Rebels don't have the talent and its going to show. They'll be lucky to win a game in conference and Nutt will probably be goon in two or three years.
Offensive Player of the Year: Trent Richardson RB Alabama
Defensive Player of the Year: Devin Taylor DE South Carolina
Freshman of the Year: Isaiah Crowell RB Georgia
Coach of the Year: Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
All SEC Team
QB: Taylor Wilson, Arkansas
RB: Trent Richardson, Alabama
RB: Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina
WR: Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
WR: Greg Childs, Arkansas
TE: Phillip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn
T: Cordy Glenn, Georgia
G: Larry Warford, Kentucky
C: William Vlachos, Alabama
G: Josh Dworaczyk, LSU
T: DJ Fulker, Alabama
DE: Devin Taylor, South Carolina
DT: Jaye Howard, Florida
DT: Josh Chapman, Alabama
DE: Ronald Powell, Florida
LB: Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
LB: Jerry Franklin, Arkansas
LB: Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
CB: Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
S: Robert Lester, Alabama
S: Mark Barron, Alabama
CB: Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
K: Blair Walsh, Georgia
P: Drew Butler, Georgia
KR/PR: Joe Adams, Arkansas
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