The SEC once again holds the crown because NCAA football's toughest, deepest, conference from top to bottom. As usual, speed, specifically on the defensive side of the soccer, along with some excellent driven racing attacks; highlight this year's SEC preview. Big name head trainers and coordinators moreover are a normal theme.
It is interesting to note that first since the early piece of the century, the SEC East seems to be the harder of the two divisions, with 3 of the top 5 teams. This opinion, naturally, assumes Tennessee's resume the top 20, as well as the continued improvement of Miami and South Carolina under HC's Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier.
Overall, I have 3 SEC teams inside my preseason Top 10, with Auburn at #4, Miami at #7, and LSU at #9. Much is decided on Sept. 16th whenever Miami journeys to Knoxville, TN, and Auburn hosts LSU, each divisions might reduced to the cable once again.
Predictions:
West Champ: Auburn
East Champ
: Florida
Possible Sleepers (ATS value): Kentucky and Alabama
Power Rankings: (1-100)
Auburn 92 ----- Miami 92
LSU 90 --------- Tennessee 91
Alabama 85 --- Georgia 90
Arkansas 85 --- S.Carolina 85
Miss St. 76 ----- Kentucky 76
Ole Miss 76 ---- Vanderbilt 71
WEST:
Auburn: Tommy Tubberville has cemented himself because 1 of college football's right head trainers, leading the Tigers to a 21-3 report earlier times 3 seasons. Replacing 4 1st round picks from 2004's NFL pen, including 3 from the offensive backfield alone looked like a daunting task entering last season, but the Tigers were an overtime loss inside Baton Rouge away using their second consecutive undefeated SEC season. QB Zach Cox logged a 13/4 ratio after a nightmarish Game 1 loss to Georgia Tech, whilst RB Kenny Irons appears like first day NFL pen choose. A playmaker must appear from the Tigers wide receiving corps, but there are options.
On protection
, the Tigers have provided upwards more than 26 things merely once inside their last 26 games. There are some concerns marks because some players are changing position, plus they are a bit smallish at the linebacker and defensive end positions. However, the CB position is rock strong, as well as the position battles have been fierce this August. They have the SEC's right punter inside Sr. Kody Bliss.
The War Eagle were humiliated inside last year's pan game by an sentimental Wisconsin Badger team that they were miles before paper. Most upperclassmen reportedly utilized that performance because motivation this spring and summer. This a team that has earned 16 from 17 games inside college football's toughest conference, and out yarded teams by 119 ypg inside conference play. They play their 3 toughest competitors at Jordan-Hare stadium, including the matchup with LSU. These are typically my choose to win the West.
LSU: Whenever last enjoyed, the Bayou Boys were di
smantling the Miami Hurricanes 40-3 inside the Peach Bowl. Much like Auburn, this really is a team that has cemented its area amongst College Football's professional. Last year, I had LSU rated because the top team inside this conference, and another of my top 3 teams overall. Then Katrina came, taking the focus and follow time of the Tigers for the first piece of the growing season. Conditioning may have been an matter inside their come-from-ahead overtime loss to Tennessee early on. They team rebounded well to win the West, and destroyed the U inside the pan. The wise news is the fact that Les Miles great two ace coordinators welcome back what is the nation's deepest team. The recruiting of Nick Saben and today Miles has been top shelf and the program is at a point where they just reload. The only downer is the fact that I never think this year's starting 22 is because wise because last year's...YET.
LSU loses a ton on each lines, which may actually hurt them in
side their early matchup with a physical Auburn team. 3 of their defensive linemen were NFL pen choices in addition they drop 4 starters using their offensive line also. That defense was impossible to run on during the past year, permitting only 92 ypg. That will not be the case shock as to, but the secondary led by possibly the nation's right defensive player FS Laron Landry, is among one of the conference's top two along with Tennessee.
QB Jamarcus Russell appears to have battled off Jr. Matt Flynn and RFr. Ryan Perriloux for the starting position and he could be 15-2 because a starter. The Daunte Culpepper clone has because big as arm because there is in college soccer and is surrounded by many weapons. Again, it is very a tribute to this program's depth and hope degree whenever a 15-2 QB must fend off challengers. This team absolutely has a quite good possiblity to win the west, the SEC, as well as a big pan game.
Alabama: Dan Shula is considered a step down
from his more esteemed conference alternative, but he did a fine job during the past year, and if the Tide remain a bit healthier last season this team might have earned the SEC. Recruiting has returned to a degree that fans inside Tuscaloosa are acquainted to, as well as the Tide seem like a safe bet for 7 wins and maybe even more, despite a brutal road schedule featuring Arkansas, Miami, LSU and Tennessee.
Alabama might have had the nation's top protection inside 2006, but the losses on that side of the ball are extremely thick. Don't expect a 24 yards-per-point effort again shock as to, because limited college soccer defenses are that efficient. DC Joe Kines might count on a couple of lockdown aspects because he attempts to change thick losses at LB and Safety. On offense, Alabama returns 9 starters and ought to be greatly improved, provided QB John Parker Wilson could play error complimentary. Reports on Wilson are wise therefore far, and if this means game time perf
ormance, the Tide may well not fall because far as many call them too. Special teams must boost also.
Arkansas: The Hogs endured B2B losing seasons for merely your third amount of time in their background earlier times two years, and are eager to resume a pan shock as to. 19 returning starters should undoubtedly aid, and their close overlook at LSU (17-19) to end last season is actually a signal of details to come. This team enabled merely 20 ppg in the event you take out their 70-17 loss at USC, a loss they might have a possiblity to avenge inside Week 1. Besides that tough LSU loss, Arkansas outrushed a physical Georgia team 216-52 losing by 3 inside Athens, outyarded South Carolina by over 2-1 inside another heartbreaking loss, and led at the half against Auburn. If all the returning talent continues to improve, a pan season could virtually undoubtedly be inside shop for the Hogs', because they have shown they could play with wise teams.
Question marks do loom yet, a
s well as the first is the QB position, where JR Robert Johnson regains his job, due primarily to the injury of SO Casey Dick . They have an unproven OC, Gus Malzahn, who has been hired to help land blue-chip QB Mitch Mustain inside Fayetteville. Malzahn was Mustain's high school graduation mentor, and ran a lot of shotgun spread at the prep degree, whilst the Hogs under HC Houston Nutt have been all about smash lips soccer, logging at minimum 187 ypr and 4.4 ypc all of the last 4 seasons, with those numbers much high last season. The status of future NFL RB Darren McFadden is moreover upwards inside the environment due to a cool injury. The wise news is the backfield is deep led by do-it-all FB Peyton Hillis. DC Reggie Herring's unit looks loaded after improving by fifty-five ypg during the past year. If Malzahn's schemes blend with Nutt's approach, the Razorbacks might surprise a lot of folks.
Mississippi State: This is the deepest roll that Sylvester Croom reac
hes function with at Starkville, because NCAA sanctions and many transfers plagued the Bulldogs the last couple of years. These are typically still a obvious notch under the top 4 inside this division, but get the nod over rival Ole Miss to avoid the West division basement due to 15 returning starters to the Rebels' 9 including a huge edge on each lines. MSU must find a replacement to do-it-all RB Norwood who had been 1 of college football's many underrated players during the past year and is ripping it upwards inside Atlanta Falcons camping.
Mississippi: HC Ed Orgeron is proverb all the appropriate details, and providing a lot of enthusiasm to the recruiting path, yet, it is very yet to be enjoyed if it might determine to wins at Oxford. He produces Dan Werner, past Miami Hurricanes OC to jumpstart an attack that averaged merely 279ypg and 13.5 ppg. Werner hopes boost on among the nation's worst racing attacks (73 ypg!), but it is very value noting that Miami endured
a appreciable drop off from earlier years the two season he ran the display at the U. His influence is aided by the SEC's many prolific newcomer, past Tenn QB Brett Schaffer. As wise because Schaffer could be, and early reports say he could be choosing upwards the offense quite well, Ole Miss desperately desires a teenage weapon or two to appear to help out.
Orgeron did boost the protection by 58 ypg and 3 ppg during the past year, and there are playmakers inside the rear 7. The query mark is upfront, where the Rebels' are both teenage and slim without returning starters and depth issues...Not a wise combination inside the physical SEC.
EAST:
Florida: The Gators probably are a little more skilled top to bottom than rival Tennessee, with less improvement required after a 9-3 2005 including a win inside the Outback Bowl over Iowa. Although Chris Leak struggled early on with Urban Meyer's offense, he still threw for 2639 yds, a 63% completion %, and an outst
anding 20-6 ratio. Look for big details from Leak because he puts a stamp on his excellent career inside Gainesville. The team improved greatly because expected under HC Urban Meyer's, but it stays to be enjoyed if Meyer's offense could achieve its raise resistant to the hard-hitting SEC defenses. Meyer prefers a more fluid QB for his offenses but must wait for upcoming season, and tailor the play phoning towards Leak's strengths another year. The WR corps is quite skilled, and quite deep even with the loss of Chad Jackson to the NFL.
On protection, the Gators improved fifty-five ypg last season, and present the best front 7's inside all of college soccer, led by OLB Earl Everett, and DT Marcus Thomas. The special teams were excellent during the past year under Meyer and all key components return. The big query marks for Miami are an inexperienced, and beat up offensive line, as well as the cornerback position. The O-Line has some talent to function with, but with
the loss of projected starter Avery Atkins for off-the field- causes, the CB matter is a manifest 1. Converted safety Reggie Nelson, the defense's right athlete, must step upwards if the Gators are to right Tennessee and Georgia inside the resurgent SEC East. The schedule is brutal, as well as a run at the National title will not be possible, but despite playing at Tennessee, I required talented Gators the slightest of nods to win this division.
Tennessee: Expecting a resume the norm inside Knoxville, noting that if it doesn't happen, Phillip Fulmer is trying to find function. Last year's 5-6 mark ended a streak of 16 straight pan appearances for UT, and feeling the heat, Fulmer changed 3 offensive assistants. The many heralded of these substitutions is OC David Cutcliffe, the past Ole Miss HC who held this same position at UT for 6 seasons inside the 90's. In all 6 of these seasons, his offenses averaged over 26 ppg inside the rugged SEC. It is value noting that
Fulmer is a first-rate 19-6 SU inside games decided by 3 things or less inside his career.
Talented JR QB Erik Ainge is supposedly choosing upwards Cutcliffe's offense automatically, regaining self-confidence after a sophomore slump, which was worsened by the musical QB act between he and Rick Clausen. Tennessee returns two future NFL OL upfront to help Ainge's influence, as well as the WR corps is talented but enigmatic at times.
Tennessee must replace 6 starters from a protection that was severely underrated last season. The 18ppg enabled is misleading because unit was on the field for long periods of time, and used down slightly because the entire year progressed. They lose a lot inside the front 7, but welcome back DT JT Mapu from a Mormon mission. Mapu started over some pretty skilled DT's and had a successful year inside 2003. He is ex-directory among the five returning starters. The secondary is the conference's right, and could afford DC John Chavis
the posh of taking more chances. The Vols were because devastated because any team inside the SEC by injuries last season, and with a little luck because section shock as to, and a skilled and hungry coaching staff and team, search for a big-time improvement from Ole' Rocky Top.
Georgia: Mark Richt answered fall camp's largest query earlier this week naming SR QB Joe Tereshinski his starting QB over skilled Freshmen Joe Cox and Matthew Stafford. Most thought Tereshinski was a fill-in player that would not commence at Georgia and he was minimal 3 skilled of the 3 individuals, though his function ethic, middle, and knowledge of the playbook cannot be questioned. It is interesting to find how Mark Richt and Neil Calloway's offense work without a big-time QB after David Greene and DJ Shockley held the reins inside Richt's first 5 seasons. The Dawgs have averaged at minimum 229 ypg transferring inside every season since Richt's introduction, and though there is ta
lent at the WR position, I'm not certain Tereshinski may give them that type of manufacturing.
The law fast of Brown, Ware, and Lumpkin all return at tailback might do their right to take the onus off of their new QB, because Georgia will be the number one racing offense inside this side of the SEC, despite 3 new starters on the OL. Each of the Bulldog tailbacks bring anything different to the table, and each has got the talent to commence on 90% of the teams inside the country. The unique teams are constantly a strength under Richt, and each experts, K Brandon Coutu, and P Gordon Ely- Kelso are now being stated because All-American individuals. On protection, the front 7 is strong despite being shredded by inside the Sugar Bowl by the speed way of West Virginia. The secondary, yet, loses 3 NFL pen choices, and that is a influence for concern if someone doesn't step upwards for an early September 9th date at South Carolina. The schedule is quite manageable because Georgia
avoids LSU, Arkansas, and Alabama from the West. Despite big NFL losses the last two seasons, the Dawgs have a severe shot to resume their 4th SEC title game inside 5 seasons. The key is the development of Tereshinski as well as the offensive line.
South Carolina: The Old Ballcoach, Steve Spurrier loved great achievement inside his first year inside Columbia, as well as the SEC's top teams better create space. A blown-game loss inside the Independence pan would never place a damper on Spurriers' debut, because he led the surprising Gamecocks' to victories over Miami and Tennessee, the two teams that Stevil might promote out to beat every and every season. QB Blake Mitchell leads a bevy of returning offensive talent, and this really is his second year inside Spurrier's techniques. The WR corps, led by Super Soph. Sydney Rice, rivals FL and LSU because the conference's right.
What separates South Carolina from the Big 3 inside this division is a deficienc
y of playmakers on protection. They must replace a 1st as well as a 4th round NFL pen choose inside the secondary, and all 3 starting linebackers are gone also. The Cocks received some games inside thrilling fashion last season, and must always create their own fortunate bounces because the Big 3 inside this division remain a little more talented. Only a fool would count Spurrier out, though.
Kentucky: No team inside CFB has been more snake-bitten health-wise the last two seasons than the Wildcats, who have lost nearly 150 games due to injuries to their two deep because time frame. If healthy, Rich Brooks' bunch returns 15 starters and experienced reserves, including a nice group of playmakers on offense led by improving QB Andre Woodson and RB Rafael Little, who's a risk operating, obtaining, and returning. Little led the SEC inside all-purpose yards during the past year, and he and skilled backup Tony Dixon might run behind 4 returning OL starters.
Defensively, th
e Wildcats have a prolonged approach to go, nonetheless they do return some damaged players, led by their right DL Lamar Mills, who played inside merely 1 game during the past year. The only method they can go is over here because they enabled 34ppg and 4.9ypr inside 2005. They possess a quality DC inside Mike Archer and improvement is expected.
If UK could boost on a -9 turnover ratio, this team could fight for a .400 season. The coaching staff is littered with big names, in addition they draw each Mississippi universities from the West. With a little luck, the Wildcats could become pan qualified inside 2006.
Vanderbilt: No player inside CFB is more difficult to put shock as to than Jay Cutler, as well as the Commodores absolutely do not get to ease their technique inside to existence without him, opening upwards at Michigan and Alabama. Expect more of a focus on power running as 3 returning OL starters as well as a couple of 225 lb. RBs lead how.
Unlike their confer
ence competitors, Vandy really has educational practices, so that they regularly are minimal skilled team inside the conference. This often shows upwards on unique teams, and late inside the growing season on protection. They don't have Cutler to compensate for this difference anymore, though early ratings on Nickson are OK. He has a good OL to play behind, thus respectability may be possible on that side of the ball. The good news is the fact that sophomore K Bryant Hahnfeldt appears to have returned smoothly from an ACL endured during the past year. Looks like another prolonged year inside Nashville.
Brooks College prep![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1){kind=small}
