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SEC East Champion: Tennessee Volunteers
While everyone and their brother is pining over the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators, the Tennessee Volunteers, who are the defending SEC East champions, have received little publicity going into the 2008 season. For the Vols to repeat as SEC East champs, they will have to improve on the 27.3 points per game they gave up in 2007. The Vols secondary is as good as any in the conference, with super-sophomore Eric Berry and Demetrice Morely back after a year off. Jonathan Crompton takes over at quarterback for the departed Eric Ainge. Crompton has some experience, with the most significant coming against LSU and Arkansas in 2006. By all accounts, Crompton has taken a liking to new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson’s offense. With weapons like RB Arian Foster and WR Lucas Taylor, Crompton may not have to do too much in order for Rocky Top to return to Atlanta.
What else will happen in the East?
Tim Tebow will win the Heisman again. I know, I know, that bandwagon is full. But seriously, if he stays healthy, how can he not win it again? His stats are just ridiculous. He probably won’t put up 55 total TD’s like he did last year, thanks to an improved running game and another year of Percy Harvin. But, he’ll be close. However, he won’t get the Gators to Atlanta, in part because of losses to LSU and Tennessee and a suspect defense.
Georgia will get scares from Central Michigan and South Carolina. Ok, ok, so it isn’t that much of a stretch for Georgia to get a scare from the Gamecocks. That game has been tight three of the last four seasons. But Central Michigan? Yes, the Chippewas will make it interesting. QB Dan Lefevour is legit, racking up 3,652 yards passing and 1,122 yards rushing for CMU last season. We saw what Troy could do to the Bulldog defense last year, and Central Michigan will do the same.
Vanderbilt will not go 0-8 in the SEC. The Commodores flirted with a bowl game just two years ago. That won’t happen this year, but the defense will be no slouch. D.J. Moore is not half-bad at CB, and if you’re not careful, he can turn around a bad pass for six pretty quick. When will that win be? Perhaps at Kentucky, who is entering the post-Andre Woodson era. But, don’t be surprised if they give South Carolina all they can handle in week 2. If all else fails on the offensive side of the ball, they will adopt Red Beaulieu’s offense from The Waterboy, and just kneel on it three times before punting and relying on the defense.
SEC West Champion: Auburn Tigers
While all the focus on Auburn is on new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and his version of the spread, Auburn will win the west based on something that Tommy Tuberville prides himself on…defense. Paul Rhoads enters the Auburn revolving door of coordinators to find the cupboard far from bare. Headlining his D are DE Sen’Derrick Marks, LB Tray Blackmon, CB Jerraud Powers and DE Antonio Coleman, all of whom are all-conference caliber. The loss of starting CB Aairon Savage, which is a position that the Tigers couldn’t afford an injury, does raise some doubts. But, not enough to prevent them from claiming my pre-season hypothetical SEC West title.
What else will happen in the West?
LSU will lose a tiebreaker to Auburn after dropping a game on the Plains in week four, and a home game to Georgia in late October. The Bengal Tigers still don’t have a QB set-in-stone. Granted, they are zeroing in on Andrew Hatch, and have three games, Appalachian State, Troy and North Texas, to find one before going to Auburn. But those three teams don’t have near the defensive talent that they will see when the come to Auburn. Georgia will come into Baton Rouge needing to win to keep pace in the tight SEC East race. LSU will fall after Les Miles decides to live dangerously and be the first coach in history to punt in overtime.
Ole Miss will make a bowl game and win 7 games: Memphis, Wake Forest, Samford, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Arkansas and ULM. Six of those wins will come before Halloween, keeping first-year coach Houston Nutt in the thick of the SEC West race well into the fall foliage. That will be more-than-enough to satisfy the folks in “The Grove,” who have been starving for success ever since the days of Eli Manning and David Cutcliffe.
SEC Champion: Auburn Tigers
Usually, I am pessimistic about my team, but not this year. Call me a homer if you will – and you probably will – but Auburn will combine the high-powered Tony Franklin offense with yet another top tier defense and ride the wave all the way to the Sugar Bowl.
Story Archive:
What Will Happen In The SEC – August 18, 2008
Bama Is Not Back – August 5, 2008
SEC Under-The-Radar Games – July 26, 2008
Enough With The Buckeyes – July 16, 2008
SEC Coaches: How Many Is Too Many? - July 8, 2008
New Coordinators No Problem For Auburn - July 1, 2008
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