SEC Preview - College Football News

SEC Preview
By Jeff Zell
Posted: 4:30 am PDT 2006-08-07

The SEC is considered arguably the premier conference in college football. Auburn and Florida are the highly regarded teams in the SEC and are the odds-on favorites to win the conference. Bettors may also want to watch South Carolina, as the Gamecocks continue their climb under Steve Spurrier. And expect Tennessee to bounce back from a subpar 2005 season. Here is a look at the teams by overall strength, not by division.

1) Auburn (9-3, 7-1)

Coach: Tommy Tuberville

Key Players Lost: Marcus McNeill (OL), Travis Williams (LB)

2006 Key Players: Kenny Irons (RB), Brandon Cox (QB), Will Herring (LB)

Key Games: vs. LSU (9/16), vs. UF (10/14), @ Bama (11/18)

Summary: The offense lost all its receivers and tight ends as well as two offensive linemen and is expected to improve from the 32.3 points it averaged in 2005. Cox is a junior and must play mistake-free if the Tigers are going to have the season they hope for. Auburn will use a few different sets to use their talented running backs. Returning for the majority of the work will be Irons, but look for playmaker Brad Lester to be a factor. Receiver Courtney Taylor was hampered by an ankle injury for the most of 2005 and hopes to revert back to 2004 form when he caught six touchdowns. The questions remain on defense, where the Tigers will have a new linebacker and three new defensive linemen. Herring converted to LB after being an All-SEC DB his junior year. Junior DE Quentin Groves can provide a quality pass rush coming off a six-sack season.

Prediction (11-1): The Heisman hype surrounds Irons; a lot of the nation is betting on the Tigers to make it to the national championship game (WagerWeb.com line to win national title: +2200). Having LB Tray Blackmon and LB Kevin Sears suspended for the early part of the season for off-the-field issues is definitely not good. The offense is talented, and Irons will be in New York for the Heisman ceremony when its all said and done. With a favorable road SEC schedule (South Carolina, Ole Miss, Miss. State, Alabama), is this the year Tuberville gets his Tigers to the big one?

2. Florida (9-3, 5-3)

Coach: Urban Meyer

Key Players Lost: Chad Jackson (WR), Jeremy Mincey (DE)

2006 Key Players: Chris Leak (QB), Brandon Siler (LB), Reggie Nelson (DB)

Key Games: @Tenn (9/16), @Auburn (10/14), @FSU (11/25)

Summary: 2006 marks the Gators' 100th season of college football, and Meyers second in Gainesville. Leak returns for his senior season with Heisman-sized expectations. Dallas Baker caught 52 balls last year, and Andre Caldwell is returning from a broken leg; both will be more than viable targets for Leak. Four offensive linemen are gone from 2005, leaving lots of inexperience up front to block for RBs Kestahn Moore, DeShawn Wynn and Markus Manson. The Gators defense is anchored by upperclassmen linebackers Siler and Earl Everett -- both multiple-year starters. The defensive line is speedy, has experience and should be strong. Cornerbacks Reggie Lewis is solid, and hard-hitting Nelson is a force to be reckoned with in the secondary.

Prediction (9-3): The Gators' tough schedule makes them a tough bet to win the SEC. Florida will face eight teams that made bowls in 2006, which is the toughest schedule in the SEC and toughest of those who finished in the top 25 of the 2005 rankings. Some have speculated that Meyers offense doesnt fit Leak. If Leak struggles, look for freshman Tim Tebow to come in and run Meyers spread offense. The offensive line from 2005 allowed 35 sacks -- there will be four new guys up front this year, so go where you want with that. The offense is what everyone talks about when it comes to Florida, but the defense is what will get this team near double-digit wins and could make it a national title contender (WagerWeb.com odds to win Fiesta Bowl: +$1000).

3) Georgia (10-3, 6-2)

Coach: Mark Richt

Key Players Lost: D.J. Shockley (QB), Leonard Pope (TE), Greg Blue (DB)

2006 Key Players: Quentin Moses (DE), Thomas Brown (RB)

Key Games: @SC (9/9), vs. Tenn (10/7), @ Aub (11/11)

Summary: Richt is heading into fall practice with four quarterbacks battling for the starting snaps. However, the running back position is clear-cut with Brown starting after leading the team in rushing a year ago. Georgia lost three offensive linemen, but has talented enough players who have learned behind the best pass-blocking line in the SEC from 2005. Georgia projects to start a pair of sophomores at receiver and first-year starter Martrez Milner at TE. Health was an issue on defense for the Bulldogs in 2005. The LB trio of Brandon Miller, Jarvis Jackson and Tony Taylor all have experience and must be able to stop the run better this year (144 yards per game in 2005). DE Moses was an opposing teams nightmare after 11.5 sacks and 20.5 TFL last season. The secondary loses three starters and will look for Tra Battle to step up and lead the unit.

Prediction (9-3): Georgia has two SEC titles in the past four years due in part to strong QB play from past stars David Greene and Shockley. This year, it's up for grabs. Many have projected senior Joe Tereshinski as the starter, but look for true freshman and top recruit Matthew Stafford to earn the spot. The secondary will have a significant drop-off, but the rest of the defense should be just as good as last year. An early road SEC game against South Carolina and a late roadie with Auburn will decide if Georgia will be a 10-win team in 2006.

4) LSU (11-2, 7-1)

Coach: Les Miles

Key Players Lost: Claude Wroten (DT), Joseph Addai (RB)

2006 Key Players: JaMarcus Russell (QB), LaRon Landry (FS), Alley Broussard (RB) Key Games: @ Auburn (9/16), @ UF (10/7), @ Tenn (11/4)

Summary: LSU has three talented guys that could play under center, but it has to be Russell all year for the Tigers to have a great season. The running back job is in question as Broussard and Justin Vincent will be battling for the job after both suffered ACL injuries in 2005. Top receiver Dwayne Bowe caught touchdown passes in eight straight games in 2005, and, along with WRs Craig Davis and Early Doucet, will be tough for opposing defenses to stop. LSU will have to replace three starters on the offensive line. FS Landry was a first-team All SEC performer and will lead one of the best secondaries in the nation. The defensive line lost three starters, but DT Glenn Dorsey lost some weight and is a real threat to opposing quarterbacks. The linebackers will be inexperienced after losing two starters.

Prediction (9-3): LSU lost 11 starters and seven players to the NFL from the 11-2 team that won the Peach Bowl. Throw in the fact the Tigers play an insanely tough road schedule in 2006 (Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas) and you may find this team struggle in 2006. Russell must forget about the quality quarterbacks behind him and play with no fear. The defense must find a way to shut down some of the talented running backs of the SEC.

5) Tennessee (5-6, 3-5)

Coach: Phil Fulmer

Key Players Lost: Rick Clausen (QB), Jason Allen (FS), Omar Gaither (LB)

2006 Key Players: Arian Foster (RB), Jonathan Hefney (FS), Erik Ainge (QB)

Key Games: vs. Cal (9/2), vs. UF (9/16), @ UGA (10/7)

Summary: Fulmer is on the hot seat after Tennessee missed going to a bowl for the first time since 1988. Ainge will be under center and will have viable size and speed to throw to with WRs Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain. One bright spot from last year was the emergence of Foster, who finished the final five games with 100-yard efforts. OL Arron Sears is the only lineman returning, but hell be up for many awards come winter. FS Hefney is the returning leader in tackles (65) and will anchor a secondary that, because of injuries in 2005, has all four starters returning in 2006. The three starting linebackers on the depth chart had a combined 35 tackles in 2005, and three of the starting front four are gone.

Prediction (8-4): Tennessee will not have an awful season like last year. Ainge must regain his confidence and prove hes a leader. Foster is a dark-horse for the Heisman, and the receivers have the size and skills to be good. Right out of the gates the Volunteers must regain respect as they host Cal. If its any consolation, UT gets to host both Florida and LSU in 2006.

6) South Carolina (7-5, 5-3)

Coach: Steve Spurrier

Key Players Lost: Johnathan Joseph (CB), Ko Simpson (S)

2006 Key Players: Blake Mitchell (QB), Sidney Rice (WR), Fred Bennett (CB)

Key Games: vs. Aub (9/28), @ FL (11/11), @ Clem. (11/25)

Summary: Any team under Spurrier is going to get hype, and this South Carolina team deserves it. Mitchell has his favorite target in sophomore Rice to throw to (70 catches in 2005) and will need to cut down on interceptions (13) in 2006. RB Mike Davis is also a sophomore and finished 2005 with a bang with back-to-back 100-yard games. The offensive line can only improve from last year as JuCo transfer Clarence Bailey (6-7, 320) adds to the unit. The defense should be solid, anchored by a secondary with a ton of depth including Bennett as a lock-down corner. LB Marvin Sapp won the defensive MVP for spring practices and has secured a starting spot along with juniors Jasper Brinkley and Cody Wells. With the exception of junior Jordin Lindsey, the defensive line is inexperienced.

Prediction (8-4): Spurrier has some type of aura around him that wherever he goes, he wins. It may be that he intimidates other coaches, or intimidates his players to play better; whatever it is, it works. The Gamecocks get Georgia, Auburn and Tennessee all at home while having to go to Florida and Clemson late in the season. Mitchell must be a star for this team to even sniff double-digit victories.

7) Alabama (10-2, 6-2)

Coach: Mike Shula

Key Players Lost: Brodie Croyle (QB), DeMeco Ryans (LB), Roman Harper (S)

2006 Key Players: Kenneth Darby (RB), Ramzee Robinson (DB), Juwan Simpson (LB)

Key Games: @FL (9/30), at LSU (11/11), vs. Auburn (11/18)

Summary: Croyle will be missed, but heir to the throne is sophomore John Parker Wilson, who broke a ton of Alabama high school records. Wilson is speedier than Croyle, but his accuracy will be the tell-all factor to the Crimson Tide passing game. Wideouts Keith Brown and D.J. Hall are sufficient targets, but not as good as Tyrone Prothro could be. Prothro expects a middle of the season return from last seasons devastating injury. The star of the offense will be RB Darby, who is looking for his third consecutive 1,000-yard season behind an offensive line in which all five starters have experience. The defense will miss two stud linebackers from a year ago, and leading-returning tackler Simpson was arrested recently with possession of marijuana. The defensive line should be fine, but the secondary lost three starters from last year who combined for 114 career starts. Robinson is a lock-down corner who is expected to step up.

Prediction (7-5): The Tide rolled to double-digit wins without an offense last year. With a new quarterback, it can only get improve; however, the defense wont be the same from a year ago. With the arrest of the star linebacker, the defense has many questions. With the tough SEC schedule, dont expect the same magic from the Tide this year.

8) Arkansas (4-7, 2-6)

Coach: Houston Nutt

Key Players Lost: Vickiel Vaughn (S)

2006 Key Players: Darren McFadden (RB), Sam Olajubutu (LB), Mitch Mustain (QB)

Key Games: vs. USC (9/2), @ Auburn (10/7), vs. LSU (11/25)

Summary: Lots of depth on the offensive line (16 guys on scholarship), but the running game took a fatal hit when sophomore McFadden broke his toe in a bar fight and is likely to miss several weeks. Arkansas will miss his great speed and toughness. Kick returner/RB Felix Jones will fill in. True freshman Mustain could be thrown into the SEC fire, and to help him with the transition Nutt hired Mustains high school coach to his staff. Receiver Marcus Monk caught seven touchdowns in 2005 and is the most viable receiving target. The defense is much improved from 2005. Olajubutu provides great leadership at LB -- and is surrounded by a defensive line with experience. The secondary, anchored by Randy Kelly, is expected to be one of the best in the SEC

Prediction (6-6): Dealing with an injury to McFadden, who was a first team All-SEC performer as a freshman will surely affect the season. Last year, Nutt played 17 freshmen. The best thing about playing freshmen is that they become sophomores. The Razorbacks could surprise a lot of teams the second half of the season.

9) Ole Miss (3-8, 1-7)

Coach: Ed Orgeron

Key Players Lost: Micheal Spurlock (QB)

2006 Key Players: Patrick Willis (LB), Brent Schaeffer (QB), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB)

Key Games: vs. UGA (9/30), @ Arkansas (10/21), vs. Miss St (11/25)

Summary: Ed Orgeron replaced his offensive coordinator and offensive line coach with two former Miami assistants to aid the Rebels from a third straight losing season. Orgeron also went out and recruited him a starting QB and RB. Schaeffer transferred from Tennessee after his freshman year and is a scrambler with a quality arm, while Green-Ellis came from Indiana after rushing from 1,732 yards in two seasons. The only receiver who has made a collegiate catch would be their tight end, Robert Lane, who caught just 17 balls in 2005. The offensive line allowed 27 sacks last year, thus the reason for a new offensive line coach. The pass defense ranked 14th in the nation in 2005 and will have three starters returning. The defensive line lost three starters, and the linebackers have the luxury of Willis returning for his senior season. Willis recorded 124 tackles in 2005 and is one of the best linebackers in the nation.

Prediction (5-7): The next two years are bright for Orgerons team. Schaeffers ability to scramble will add a tough element for opposing teams to stop. The schedule has bowl-bound written all over it. Ole Miss starts with Memphis at home and has other non-conference games against Wake Forest, Missouri and Northwestern State. An SEC schedule which allows the Rebels to play Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky could mean a winning season.

10) Vanderbilt (5-6, 3-5)

Coach: Bobby Johnson

Key Players Lost: Jay Cutler (QB), Dustin Dunning (TE), Moses Osemwegie (LB)

2006 Key Players: Earl Bennett (WR), Reshard Langford (SS)

Key Games: @ Mich (9/2), vs. UF (11/4), vs. Tenn (11/18)

Summary: NFL-sized shoes to fill as Cutler graduated to the Sunday league. Expecting to replace him is sophomore Chris Nickson, who has great mobility and a good arm. Former fullback Cassen Jackson-Garrison will start the season at tailback as 2005 starter Jeff Jennings is questionable for the season opener from a knee injury last year. Bennett (79 catches in 2005) leads arguably the top receiving corps in the SEC. Three of the starting five offensive linemen are back in 2006. The defensive line can only improve from last year, but the linebackers will really take a hit losing Osemwegie. LBs Jonathan Goff and Marcus Buggs will try to pick up the slack. The secondary should be very good, led by three sophomores including Langford.

Prediction (5-7): Vanderbilt finished dead last in the SEC in sacks, and that was a problem. The Commodores will miss Cutler, as his playmaking and leadership kept them in many games in 2005. Nickson is a passer with just one completion to his credit in his career. Outside of games against Temple, Tennessee State and Duke, Vandy has all tough games. Starting at the Big House against Michigan is a good wake-up call to the season.

11) Kentucky (3-8, 2-6)

Coach: Rich Brooks

Key Players Lost: Muhammed Abdullah (LB)

2006 Key Players: Rafael Little (RB), Andre Woodson (QB), Wesley Woodyard (LB)

Key Games: vs. SC (10/7), vs. Vandy (11/11)

Summary: Fourteen starters return for Brooks in 2006. Brooks says there's a quarterback battle, but Woodson is the returning starter who completed nearly 58 percent of his passes in 2005. RB Little was a second-team All-SEC performer last year and offensive juggernaut for the Wildcats, leading them in both rushing yards (1,045) and receptions (46) but is being pushed by Alfonso Smith. Ten lettermen and six part-time starters return on the defensive line, and LB Woodyard is one of three starting backers returning. The secondary must improve from allowing 243 yards per game and 24 touchdown passes, both SEC worsts.

Prediction (4-8): This team was bad last year; however, the schedule is very tame to the Wildcats. In the SEC, Kentucky plays both Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and scheduled three winnable games in Texas State, Central Michigan and Louisiana-Monroe. Could Brooks pull a big upset and get his team to a bowl game? Highly unlikely.

12) Mississippi State (3-8, 1-7)

Coach: Sylvester Croom

Key Players Lost: Jerious Norwood (RB), Willie Evans (DE)

2006 Key Players: Quinton Culberson (LB)

Key Games: vs. SC (8/31), vs. WVU (10/7), vs. Ole Miss (11/25)

Summary: Nineteen starters return to Crooms rebuilding project. Croom is going with a new sophomore QB in Michael Henig, who threw five interceptions compared to just two touchdowns in 2005. All-SEC RB Norwood will be replaced by sophomore Brandon Thornton, who has good quickness. Theres a lot of youth and inexperience at the offensive line positions. The defense will miss Evans and the 15 sacks he provided the Bulldogs in 2005. Stepping up will have to be veterans Deljuan Robinson and Andrew Powell. Three linebackers with game experience return, led by Culberson who recorded 78 tackles in 2005. The secondary sits in limbo after Croom suspended two projected starters for simple assault of a police officer in the spring.

Prediction (2-10): The Bulldogs' rebuilding process still has a couple of years to go. As if the SEC schedule wasnt hard enough, Mississippi threw in a game against national championship contender West Virginia on Oct. 7. Moving last year's starting quarterback, Omarr Conner, to receiver will allow sophomore Henig to get much-needed live snaps. Unfortunately, right now Mississippi State is a SEC team that doesnt belong in the conference.

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