I will be breaking down every team in the SEC West, and explore their strenghts and weaknesses. I have them listed below in the order I expect them to finish the 2008 season.
1. LSU Tigers
2007 Recap - 12-2(6-2) Defeated Ohio St. 38-24 in the BCS National Championship Game.
2008 Preview - The Tigers seemed to have all the weapons needed to defend their natioanl title. All that changed, however when Les Miles suspended Ryan Perilloux indefinitely. It still remains to be seen if Perilloux will sit out the season. If so, LSU is stuck with Andrew Hatch, Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson as possible replacements. Whoever will be slinging it, he will have the most talented corps of receivers in the SEC to throw to. Brandon LaFell, Terrance Tolliver, Chris Mitchell, Demetrius Byrd and Tindon Holliday all return at WR. Defensively, the Tigers were tasked with replacing All-American Glenn Dorsey on the defensive line. Marlon Favorite and Ricky Jean-Francois will pick up the slack up the middle while ends Kirsten Pittman and Tyson Jackson round out the line.
The Tigers will be playing 8 home games this year. Look for Death Valley to be a tremendous advantage for this LSU team. The 4 away games are extremely tough, however. LSU travels to Auburn, Florida, South Carolina and Arkansas.
Difference Maker - Keiland Williams RB. Williams provides a running threat to balance out with the passing game.
Biggest Game - Nov. 8 vs. Alabama. Nick Saban's Tide will be playing tough to try to de-throne the Tigers as the SEC West champs.
Intangible - Trindon Holliday's speed provides numerous mismatches on both offense and special teams. Look for the Tigers to run plays similar to Percy Harvin at Florida.
2. Auburn Tigers
2007 Recap - 9-4(5-3) Defeated Clemson 23-20 in the Peach Bowl.
2008 Preview - Aubrun is looking to replace long-time started Brandon Cox at QB. Kodi Burns and Chris Todd are the leading candidates heading into Spring. Kodi Burns is a big dual threat QB like Tim Tebow at Florida. We all know what happened when Tebow replaced long-time starter Chris Leak. This will be the first time in recent memory that Auburn does not have an established running back returning to carry the rock. The key to Auburn's offense this year may very well be TE Tommy Trott. Like Dicky Lyons of Kentucky, Trott just seems to always make plays when needed.
The Tigers play a tough Non-conference away game at West Virginia before opening up SEC play. Other key contests include home games vs. LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia as well as an away game against hated rival Alabama.
Difference Maker - Sen'Derrick Marks DT. The Auburn defense will be key to the team's succcess this year. Marks is the anchor of a tough D-Line.
Biggest Game - Sept. 20 vs. LSU. Early contest against defending champs could set the tone for the rest of the season.
Intangible - Tony Franklin turned Omar Haugabrook and Troy into an explosive spread offense. If Franklin is able to covert the Tigers from their traditional power sets, look for Kodi Burns to have a big year.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
2007 Recap - 7-6(4-4) Defeated Colorado 30-24 in the Independence Bowl.
2008 Preview - Nick Saban's Tide will be all about the running game this year. Alabama returns both Terry Grant and Glen Coffee to the backfield. Both players would be could full-time backs, and they will help to compliment each other nicely this season. John Parker Wilson returns at QB. Look for his trouble to continue this year as 'Bama does not have a solid receiving corps, even with the addition of Julio Jones. Alabama might have a drop-off defensively from last year's squad, which was nothing to brag about in of itself.
Alabama opens the season against Clemson in Atlanta. Hopefully, this year's neutral sight contest vs. an ACC team will turn out better than last year's trip to Jacksonville to face Florida St. This year's in-conference schedule is extremely difficult for Alabama. The Tide travel to Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU. This year's Iron Bowl vs. Auburn is in Tuscaloosa.
Difference Maker - Terry Grant. With the absence of a true passing game, Grant will be the go-to guy on the ground.
Biggest Game - Sept. 27 at Georgia. Early contest vs. SEC power that could set the tone for the rest of the season.
Intangible- Javier Arenas in the return game could break a few games open this season for the Tide. Also, Arenas went to my high school alma mater so he's pretty much the man.
4. Mississippi St. Bulldogs
2007 Recap - 8-5(4-4) Defeated UCF 10-3 in the Liberty Bowl.
2008 Preview - Mississippi St. was easily the surpirse of the SEC last season. Sylvester Croom's hard work has finally paid off for this program. Wesley Carroll was dubbed the QB of the future for the Bulldogs when he signed with the team. After taking over for oft-injured Chad Henig last year, Carroll is poised to be the full-time starter in his sophomore season. Carroll's main task this year will be handing the ball off to Anthony Dixon. The bruising runner may very well be the early candidate for top RB in the SEC. Hopefully, some wide receivers can emerge this Spring to add a little balance to the offense. The Bulldogs were extremely tough on D last season, as evident by their containing of Kevin Smith in the bowl game. All-SEC caliber Derek Pegues returns to lead the defensive backfield, as Cortez McCraney is back to anchor the line.
The Bulldogs travel to Atlanta to test out Paul Johnson's new offense at Georgia Tech early in the season. Within the conference, Mississippi St. travels to LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss, and host Auburn.
Difference Maker - Anthony Dixon. Even if Dixon garners all the attention form opposing defenses, look for him to have another solid year running the ball.
Biggest Game - Nov. 15 @ Alabama. The Tide were a suprise in the SEC for different reasons than MSU. If the Bulldogs could win in Tuscaloosa, it could mean a changing of the guard int the SEC West.
Intangible - Mississippi St.'s secondary play last year was incredible. Interceptions and pass break-ups were a common occurence in Starkville. If that play continues, the Bulldogs will once again be a force defensively.
5. Ole Miss Rebels
2007 Recap - 3-9(0-8)
2008 Preview - The Rebels look to be a drastically improved tea this year from last. The hiring of Houston Nutt was a serious upgrade at head coach. Nutt will be at the helm for the ushering in of the Jevan Snead era in Oxford. Snead, a former Texas Longhorn, adds an element to this Ole Miss team that has been missing since Eli Manning. A capable leader at the QB position. Snead will find plenty of lanes to throw through will All-SEC linemean Michael Oher up front to black for him. This will give Snead the time to find his talented receivers, Marshay Green and Mike Wallace. Ole Miss was very sound on defense last year. That trend should continue this year with All-SEC candidate Greg Hardy retuning to shore up the line. Dustin Monzon is back to lead a talented group in the secondary.
The Rebels non-conference slate is highlighted by a home game vs. Memphis and a road contest against Wake Forest. The SEC slate is pretty balanced for Ole Miss. They travel to Florida, Alabama and LSU, while they host both Auburn and South Carolina.
Difference Maker- Greg Hardy is a beast on the defensive line. The SEC is one of the lone conference where a d-lineman can change the outcome of an entire game. Hardy has the type of ability to do just that.
Biggest Game - Nov. 28 @ Mississippi St. The annual Egg Bowl match-up will provide the chance for Ole Miss to curb some of the momentum gained by their in-state rivals last season.
Intangible- Ed Orgeron was a tremendous recruiter who has left this program in good shape. Unfortunately Orgeron could not turn his off the field successes into on the field success. Houston Nutt brings the experience and coaching ability needed to field a competitive SEC football team. While fe people expect major results in year 1, look for the Rebels to have a say in who comes out of the West.
6. Arkansas Razorbacks
2007 Recap - 8-5(4-4) Lost to Missouri 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl
2008 Preview - Arkansas has taken severe criticism this off-season with their hiring of Bobby Petrino as head coach. Despite what would appear to be a total lack of character or morals on Petrino's behalf, the man can flat-out coach. The only problem for Petrino and the Razorbacks is that there is no one left to coach. Casey Dick returns as the starting QB. This is certainly not an up-lifting thought for Arkansas fans.Dick's main targets would be the un-proven Reggie Fish at WR and TE Ben Cleveland. There also is a major void in the backfield as Michael Smith attempts to replace Run-DMC and Felix Jones.The Razorbacks do return some talent on defense. Antwan Robinson is back to anchor the D-line. The secondary should be one of the best in the conference with Rashad Johnson and Shedrick Johnson.
The highlight of Arkansas' non-conference schedule is an away game against Texas. The Racorbacks also play former OC Gus Malzahn and Tulsa before kicking off SEC play. Arkansas will host Alabamas, Florida and LSU and travel to Auburn and South Carolina during conference play.
Difference Maker - Antwan Robinson DE. In a season where the Hogs don't have too much going for them offensively, Robinson and the D will need to step up in a huge way.
Biggest Game - Sept. 13 @ Texas. With no one expecting the Razorbacks to win, a victory would kick off the Bobby Petrino era in Fayetteville quite nicely.
Intangible - With so many questions on this team and somewhat low expectations, one of the few thing Arkansas has going for them is their schedule. With the exception of the Austin trip, Arkansas avoids any potentially disasterous road games.
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