Alabama-- There are 119 D-I football teams; Alabama's rank in last five years: 63-58-10-61-58; a 7-6 mark in Nick Saban's first season isn't what the natives had in mind. John Parker Wilson is a senior QB, and they have eight other returning starters on offense, but they're on third OC and QB coach in the last three seasons- they play Clemson, Arkansas, Georgia before Oct 1st, and then go to Tennessee, LSU after that. Tough schedule.

Arkansas-- Life after McFadden begins for Hog fans, who got a new coach when Bobby Petrino bolted NFL for Fayetteville. Petrino was 44-19 at Louisville; his brother Paul is OC; he was smart enough to hire two Hog alumnus as assistants. With the new offensive system, senior QB Dick was 33-49/404 passing in the spring game. When Hogs face Texas-Alabama-Florida Auburn back-to-back, Petrino might think he's back in the NFL.

Auburn-- Two new coordinators and new QB follow a 9-4 year for Tigers, who were out of top 15 last year for first time in last four seasons (22nd). But Auburn has beaten Alabama the last six years, and gone 5-1 bowling in those years, so they finish strong, sign of good coaching. JC QB Todd grew up with the new offense- he is the better passer, but mobile Burns can run, and has SEC experience. They're on 4th DC in last five years.

Florida-- Surprised that Gators' national title year was its only finish above 17th in last five years, despite 31 wins in last three seasons. Bringing in former Iowa State coach McCarney was a sign of Urban Meyer's unhappiness with the defense; Florida scored 42.5 ppg LY but went 9-4. USC transfer Moody will be asked to take some of onus off QB Tebow. Gators committed 7th-most penalties in country LY- that number has to drop.

Georgia-- Dawgs' rank the last five years: 9-6-8-15-6; when you see Mark Richt is 72-19 in six years in Athens, and see that 16 starters are back from LY's Sugar Bowl champs, then pressure is on for Georgia to win national title. As if SEC schedule isn't hard enough, Dawgs have an October game at Arizona State. Potential problem is that four sophomores may start on the OL. Junior QB Stafford faces schedule with nine '07 bowl teams.

Kentucky-- 66-year old Rich Brooks survived boating accident last week in Oregon; his Wildcats went 8-5 last two years, first time they've done that since 1976-77. Now they have to replace QB Woodson, who threw 71 TD passes last two years- they've got two QB's battling to be starter- both are more mobile than Woodson, but can they lead? Wildcats have best OL they've had under Brooks- look for them to run ball a lot more in 2008.

LSU-- Rank last five years: 1-12-5-8-1; Tigers' QB situation is a mess, with three QBs battling for job- only Hatch has thrown a pass in a game, with one completion. LSU does have four of its starters back on OL, but they lost six defensive starters, as well as DC Pellini, so they figure to regress on defense. They've got really good players on both lines, but with pair of new CBs and a new QB, expect Bayou Bengals to take a step back in 2008.

Ole Miss-- Rebels are only SEC West team to never play in the SEC title game, so they fired Ed Orgeron, an excellent recruiter who was overmatched as a head coach. Houston Nutt hired a former Ole Miss QB (Kent Austin) as his OC; Austin won CFL title in Saskatchewan LY as a head coach- that tells you what his alma mater means to him. Texas transfer Snead is ready for his debut as Rebels' QB, so the offense is ready to open up.

Mississippi State-- Bulldogs finished 39th in country last year, after failing to finish above 80th in four years before that. 8-5 in Starkville was cause for celebration, especially since they had won 11 games combined in previous four years. State won 10-7 in Liberty Bowl, have eight starters back on defense, but need to be more explosive on offense in order to keep their place in the meat grinder that is the SEC.

South Carolina-- We'll see how long Steve Spurrier gives up his play-calling; his son Steve Jr will start season calling them. Gamecocks have ten starters back on defense, so thats a good thing, but Carolina's QBs threw eight INTs in spring game, not so good. Georgia-LSU-Arkansas and Tennessee all are visiting Columbia- thats good. Four starters return on OL. How will this team respond to ending last season with five straight losses?

Tennessee-- David Cutcliffe is now head coach at Duke, so the Vols not only have a new OC, they had to replace three other offensive assistants. Phil Fulmer brought in an outsider, former Richmond HC Clawson to be OC. All four new aides are 40 or younger, so thats good. Eight starters are back on offense and seven on defense, but Vols have been poor stopping the run last two seasons, so new defensive linemen have to emerge.

Vanderbilt-- Its been 25 years since Commodores played in a bowl; they blew a 24-9 4th quarter lead in Knoxville LY, ending season with four losses in row. They lost eight of 11 offensive starters, including all five linemen and tight end, so no way is the blocking going to be as good. They also lost five of front seven on defense, so the bowl-less streak figures to reach 26. This is one team should have scheduled a I-AA opponent, but of course, they didn't. (Miami, OH-Duke-Rice-Wake Forest are their non-SEC opponents)
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