1. Georgia- UGA fans are living high on the hog right now. The Dawgs are likely to be the AP number 1 team when the first poll comes out. they've got a lot of players returning from a team that went 11-2. they've got a star studded backfield of Stafford and Moreno. all iss good in the land of Athens. but when i look into my crystal ball i don't really see a National Championship. they've got one of the toughest schedules in the country that includes trips to Arizona State, LSU, Auburn, and Jacksonville to face the Gators. last season was a success for the team but they were a lot closer to having four losses than they were to being undefeated. it took Vandy fumbling as they were driving for a winning score and then UGA taking it down the field and kicking a game winning field goal to beat the Commodores. and it took overtime to beat Alabama. the Dawgs lost to a pretty average South Carolina team that always seems to play them close and then got completely blown out by Tennessee (something the Vols seem to do a lot of against Georgia). they're biggest wins were against Florida who had a banged up Quarterback and nothing you'd call a reliable secondary and then they manhandled Auburn in the second half once the Tigers forgot how to tackle. they closed out the year by destroying an overmatched and overrated Hawaii team who was really just happy to be in a BCS bowl game. so i think the number 2 ranking they ended up with was a little bit undeserving...regardless expectations have never been higher in the Bulldog Nation and anything less than the SEC title is gonna be viewed as a disappointment.
2. Florida- The Gators go into the 2008 season coming off a disappointing 2007. they lost to Auburn, LSU, and Georgia and got embarrassed by Michigan in the Capital One Bowl in a game that's score was much closer than the reality of the actual game was. The Gators have major issues with their secondary...notably that they don't know how to cover anyone. all their hopes rest on Mr. Heisman, Tim Tebow. by the end of the season last year Tebow was pretty banged up and Urban Meyer is just asking for trouble if Timmy keeps running the ball as much as he did last year. so if Florida can't find some resemblance of production from their backfield i don't see how they're gonna win the SEC east, much less find their way back to another title game.
3. Auburn- The Tigers started off the 2007 season with a pretty rough showing. they barely beat an average Kansas State team and then got embarrassed by South Florida and Mississippi State. if the Tigers hadn't pulled a huge upset win over Florida out of their ass and gotten another last second victory over Arkansas then things might have been dark and gloomy on the Plains. i wouldn't have been at all surprised if Tuberville would have bolted for Texas A&M or Arkansas following a 7-5 or 6-6 regular season leaving the Tigers completely and totally fucked. luckily they did pull off some last second heroics and despite getting crushed by the Dawgs and the Blackout fever they finished the season fairly strong. Auburn's main issues this season are who the fuck is gonna be quarterback and is this spread eagle thing gonna work or not? Auburn has been a power running team since the dawn of time, switching to a completely different philosophy is gonna create a since of dread for some Tiger fans. most teams that switch their offense generally struggle in the first couple of seasons...Auburn doesn't really have that luxury with LSU on a down year (hopefully) and with the Hydra of 4 and 5 star recruits that Saban is collecting for himself up in northern part of the state of Alabama. it's win now or else the Tigers could be left behind and my poor heart can't really handle that.
4. LSU- the defending champs are in a weird place right now. i mean on one hand they are completely and utterly loaded on both sides of the ball with future NFL talent. they've still got one of if not the best defenses in a conference built on defense. they've got speed galore. they've got a coach with balls made of brass. they've also got no idea who they're quarterback is gonna be. redshirt freshman or Harvard transfer...eh, who do you think will lose you more games? LSU still has the players to compete with Auburn for the West title. likely their yearly matchup will determine who is gonna be going to Atlanta at the end of the season, but LSU's chances of repeating as National Champs seem slim to none. maybe if they'd have kept Mike Vick Jr. on a shorter leash then things would be different. such is life.
5. Tennessee- the Vols are coming in to 08 much like they did in 07, under the radar. they've got a new QB and a new offensive coordinator, this could spell a bit of trouble. the positives are that they've got one of the best runningbacks in the whole league, a great offensive line, and some pretty good players on defense. this is gonna be a make or break year for Phil Fulmer. although he did win the East last season, it's been 10 years since the Vols actually won an SEC title. those pushpop orange wearing rednecks might be calling for blood if Tennessee finished with an 8 or 9 win season and another trip to the Outback bowl.
everyone else
Bama- still building. look out for the Tide next year. best case scenario 9 wins and a trip to the Cotton or Peach Bowl. i think Kenniebloggins will take it though.
South Carolina- another .500 season and it's probably goodbye for Spurrier who might be ready to utter the words, "I'm getting too old for this shit."
Ole' Miss- Houston Nutt is bringing crazy back. Ole' Miss has the talent to be a better team than they've been the last few years. don't expect another winless SEC season. i fully expect the Rebels to be bowl eligible and i'm predicting an upset of one of the West's big 3.
Kentucky- you guys had a good run. now it's back to reality and losing seasons. let's just hope your basketball team is better.
Mississippi State- another team who'll be crashing back to reality after a miracle 8 win season. no Croomings this year.
Arkansas- the Hawgs are about as talent depleted as you can be, no QB, no proven runningback, a new coach, a new scheme. expect a lot of losing for new Bobby Petrino in his first (and maybe only...just kidding) year at Arkansas.
Vanderbilt- the bowl-less streak continues.
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