Mark's SEC West Forecast

An extension of my SEC picks, as promised:

1.

Alabama: A returning Heisman trophy winner, an undefeated QB and a horde of talent will be too much for Arkansas to overtake, and the Tide will roll back into Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game for a third straight year. The defense will need to replace eight starters (not counting Hightower), but another highly rated recruiting class and defensive whiz Nick Saban should allow Alabama to stay atop the league.

2.

Yet another step in the Bobby Petrino world-takeover will vault the Hogs into national prominence behind the arm of Ryan Mallett and the offensive genius of Petrino. Expectations are sky high, and anything less than 9-3 will be viewed as a disappointment in God's country. A tough road game between the hedges in Athens against Georgia and a home tilt against the defending national champions will tell this season's tale. I expect a split in those two and I'm starting to lean more toward 10-2 than 9-3. The Kool-Aid tastes delicious!

3.

I'm definitely not drinking the Herbstreit beverage, so I certainly won't be going nuts by picking Auburn to be any higher than third. The gimmicky offense and suspect defense haven't changed, and lest we forget, the head coach is still a nobody. No more words should be wasted on the Tigers with an identity crisis. Can anyone explain how a Tigers team cries War EAGLE? I don't care for the story so spare me.

4.

LSU is always super-athletic and talented, as they seem to always recruit well. The talent had better win out over coaching, however, because the Mad Hatter Les Miles is a moron. If they can out-play his ineptitude they have a shot, but 4th (at best 3rd) is where they'll end up.

5.

Jeremiah Masoli's on-again off-again eligibility aside, the QB Killa will work his magic this year and there will no doubt be hundreds of smoke draws, fullback dump-offs to the flats, and one-man routes from offensive (insert sarcasm) mastermind Houston Dale Nutt. The addition of Masoli could re-arrange this list as Auburn, LSU and Ole Miss could easily switch places, but this is my prediction. May be wishful thinking, but here's hoping they don't win a game.

6.

Dan Mullen will have the Bulldogs out of the cellar very soon, but it won't be this year. All-everything RB Anthony Dixon is gone, and there just is not enough talent to equate to enough wins to pull the 'Dogs out of the doldrums.

Mark's SEC East forecast

It's about that time! Football kicks off the real deal Thursday as fall practices and pre-season NFL gives way to a little college football action. I'm sure we will talk up the games and of course the Razorbacks, but we'll start with the SEC Eastern division. West will be forecast tomorrow, stay tuned (and I'm sure Brad and Shawn will disagree!)

6. Vanderbilt:

The new coach may have made some waves---as well as a few fans--- with his good ole boy routine at SEC media days, but he has lost his best running back to injury and returns a 2-10 team that won no conference games in 2009. Expect more of the same in '10.

5. Tennessee:

Derek Dooley's Vols will look a lot different that Lane Kiffin's squad, as highly touted running back Bryce Brown has bolted for Kansas State and several others have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Eventually, I'm sure Dooley will field a quality team, but this year, they won't get to .500.

4. Kentucky:

Is there a theme developing? The bottom three teams all breaking in new coaches means growing pains and lots of L's. Joker Phillips will struggle through the SEC, although they have a favorable road schedule, with trips to Gainesville, Oxford, Starkville and Knoxville. Not to say they will win any of those, but they do get Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt at home.

3. South Carolina:

Too many people are picking the Gamecocks as SEC favorites for my liking. So let's look at this logically. Who is their QB? Stephen Garcia. Coach Spurrier doesn't even like him! How about their offensive line? Spurrier bad-mouthed them at SEC media days as well, worried they wouldn't be up to the job either. What about their stud player? Alshon Jeffery aside, Weslye Saunders may be the best target SC has, and he has lied his way into the doghouse too, earning an indefinite suspension. What part of this team is appealing?

2. Georgia:

I am not overly excited about the Bulldogs this season (as a Hog fan, that is impossible anyway) because they are once again breaking in a new QB. Last year Arkansas got a first-hand look at Joe Cox, as they made him look like Peyton Manning in Fayetteville. I'm not predicting the Ark-Georgia game here, but lets just say I don't expect another 50-point outburst from the 'Dogs against the Hogs. They are here based mostly on attrition. I don't like anyone else already mentioned to be better, so an 8-4 or 9-3 Georgia team will land at #2 in 2010.

1. Florida:

And the Gator train keeps on rolling. I have little doubt in my mind about this one. Florida may be better this year than last, as crazy as this sounds. Tim Tebow is a college legend, but Urban Meyer's system was almost totally shaped around his talents---and shortcomings---during his tenure. Insert John Brantley, after waiting his turn Brantley is ready to take the reigns and roll, and there are several reasons I think they won't miss a beat. For all the reasons I don't like South Carolina, I like Florida. Brantley's skills will be utilized in Meyer's system, the offensive line is loaded with blue-chip talent (like everywhere else. When you sign a top-3 class every year, it tends to be that way) and the next wave of skill players are itching for their chance. Youth should not be a problem, besides, we've seen this before. Tebow and Percy Harvin didn't have much of an impact their freshmen year, did they? I see absolutely no way the Gators fail to return to Atlanta this year for the SEC championship game, even if their October 2 trip to Tuscaloosa results in a loss. It will be their only one until the SEC-CG, and we will cross that bridge when we get there.

Can't give away all the predictions yet, so stay tuned!