SEC West Preview: Part I

Well, it took me long enough, but here she is: my SEC West preview. Chock full of insight, tidbits, and BS. While we’ve watched several three-way cage matches in the East over the years (Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee), the West will showcase one of their own featuring Bama, LSU, and Ole Miss. Only one team can punch its ticket for Atlanta, and this year’s battle will not lack excitement.

#1 LSU Tigers

I know Ole Miss is the popular pick, but we’ll get to them soon enough. While Houston Nutt and the Rebs have been touring the media as a sex upstart, Les Miles has been assembling another deep and talented roster… Tiger fans have been thinking about a late season loss in Death Valley… And the Tigers themselves have embraced a new offensive leader in Jordan Jefferson. Add those ingredients and you’ve got the perfect recipe for Cajun Upset Stew. Jefferson showed flashes in the Chick-fil-a against Georgia Tech while earning offensive MVP honors. Now he has the chance to prove himself against a full SEC slate. In Miles’ typically dramatic fashion, this LSU team will feature upsets, disappointments, and drama for fourteen long weeks.

The Schedule: LSU faces a typical SEC gauntlet hosting Florida and traveling to Ole Miss and Georgia. Even though they play four games in September, the Tigers’ season doesn’t really start until they meet Georgia and Florida in consecutive October Saturdays. November is no kinder with road trips to Bama and Oxford. If the Tigers can survive this schedule with one loss or less, they’ll get the BCS title game they deserve.
The Result: 11-1

This Tigers’ squad is all about revenge and they won’t forget a 30 pointing thrashing at the hands of the Gators in 2008. Florida will face LSU in Death Valley (most definitely at night, where the Tigers are 21 of their last 22) and LSU fans will have their revenge toppling a #1 rank rival. However, while this young team is flying high they’ll lose a heartbreaker to Bama on the road. And with a title shot on the line, they revenge an ugly 2008 loss to Ole Miss.

The Postseason: While the Tigers get revenge during the regular season, the Gators will get the last laugh in this year’s SEC Championship Game and the Tigers will make the short but familiar trip to the Sugar Bowl.

#2 Alabama Crimson Tide

In Nick Saban’s third year at the helm, he’ll have this Bama team looking like a signature Saban squad. A tenacious defense will provide the back bone for this team while a strong running game and a few big plays by standout WR Julio Jones help an inexperienced QB. While Saban won’t lead this team to the promise land, he will give fans a lot to look forward to in 2010.

The Schedule: Even though they’ll face two top ten teams on the raod, Bama’s schedule isn’t too bad. But that will not be enough to allow an unproven QB to survive the rugged SEC unscathed. Their defense will certainly keep them in games, but won’y be able to win them all for a QB with 11 career attempts. While I don’t usually bet against Saban with this much time to prepare, he can’t protect his young QB against a loaded VaTech defense in his first career start.

The Result: 10-2

As I mentioned, Bama won’t slip past Va Tech in the season opener, and they don’t have the talent to get wins against both Ole Miss and LSU. They’ll take a loss as they’re still learning against Ole Miss and pull out a tough late season win against LSU at home.

The Postseason: Bama will finish a rocky year with a solid record and take high hopes into the Outback Bowl.

#3 Ole Miss Rebels

As a chic top ten pick, Houston Nutt and the Rebels are riding high in Oxford right now. Jevan Snead has dark horse Heisman hopes after a strong Cotton Bowl upset of Texas Tech. But I’ve seen too many late season collapses at the hands of Houston Nutt. While the Rebs do have a favorable schedule (ranked 77th), they’ll spend many weeks with a bulls eye on their back. Can they stand the pressure? Snead’s completion percentage was only 56% with 13 INT to boot in 2008. He’ll have to show more poise in 2009 to fulfill his Heisman chatter.

The Schedule: Like many other teams, Ole Miss won’t be tested until October when they host Bama. Other than that they only need to worry about LSU in November. But it may just be the team that they don’t worry about (Tennessee) that ruins their title aspirations. Remember I’m calling for UT to walk into Oxford and play spoiler in a shocking upset.

The Result: 10-2

Ole Miss’ losses will prove costly as they’ll end up taking one too many conference defeats and lose a tie-breaker to rival Bama. A successful season for any Rebels team, but it will prove disappointing considering their high expectations.

The Postseason: After spending so many weeks in the national spotlight, the Rebs will accept an eager invitation from the Capital One Bowl.