SEC East Preview: Part I

The SEC is once again poised to stake its claim as the country’s toughest football conference. With perennial powerhouses Florida and LSU, up-and-coming contenders Georgia and Alabama, and popular upstart Ole Miss, it looks like the road to the BCS championship game runs through Atlanta and the SEC title game. On top of that, three teams (Tennessee, Miss State, and Auburn) get a fresh start with new coaching staffs. Add it all up, and you’re looking at another wild ride in Dixieland this fall.

Where do we come in? Well, in the coming days and weeks you can expect a break down for each SEC team complete with a full win/loss record, bowl predicitions, highlights and lowlights, and a few upset specials you won’t find anywhere else.

SEC East:

#1 Florida Gators

As the consensus preseason #1 in almost every national ranking, the Gators should be no surpise as my top pick in the SEC East. They return a ridiculous 18 starters and 53 lettermen. They’re lead by a star-studded cast: Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, and Emmanuel Moody just to name a few.

The Schedule: The scheduling gods have smiled on the Gators in 2009. They only have three legitimate tests - @ LSU, Georgia in Jacksonville, and FSU at home. Baring injuries or major upsets, only LSU stands in the way of an 12-0 season. Meyer lost in his only trip to Death Valley, but the Gators have a bye week leading up to the LSU match-up. And Meyer is 26-3 when his team has more than a week to prepare. Even considering all that, the Gators still face the 34th toughest schedule in 2009 (a testament to the strength of the SEC).

The Result: 11-1

The Gators' outstanding squad cannot escape Baton Rouge unscathed as the Tigers avenge a 30 point embarassment from 2008. Despite that, Florida romps through the remainder of the schedule and packs for a trip to Atlanta and the SEC championship game.

The Postseason: The Gators run roughshod through the SEC title game in preparation for the BCS title game.

#2 Georgia Bulldogs

After a successful but disappointing 2008, the Bulldogs are prepared to reload after losing two first round draft picks (Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno). Fifth-year senior Joe Cox takes over at quarterback with an improved (and hopefully healthier) offensive line. After showing flahes in 2008, Caleb Cox should make for a strong backfield in 2009. Mark Richt seems to do well under lowered expectations and the Dawgs only have three SEC road games (UT, Vandy, and Arkansas).

The Schedule: Despite an easy SEC road schedule, the Bulldogs still face the nation's 7th toughest sked. They face nonconference foes Okalhoma State and Georgia Tech on the road. But they should scoop up several conference wins against South Carolina, Tennessee, Vandy, Auburn, and Kentucky. But besting LSU in Baton Rouge and Florida in Jacksonville is a stretch.

The Result: 10-2

The Dawgs beat all the teams they're expected to and add strong victories at Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech; however, they can't get over the hump against the Gators and Tigers.

The Postseason: The Bulldogs cap a strong season at the Cotton Bowl.

#3 Tennessee Volunteers

After a controversial recruiting season, Lane Kiffin will welcome the chance to actually play some actual football... and actually win. Despite its miserable season, UT quietly put together the country's #3 defense. While not always successful, Jonathon Crompton does bring experience to the QB position. If the Vols can get consistent QB play to help team leaders Eric Berry and Rico McCoy, they should be enjoy a much improved team in 2009.

The Schedule: With the nation's ninth toughest schedule, improvement won't come easy. But UT's only nonconference test comes against UCLA at home. Plus, UT can still stack up wins against the lower rung of the SEC. Add in an upset or two and the Vols can bounce back with a strong 2009.

The Result: 9-3

Playing at Florida and at Alabama are two losses the Vols just can't escape. And while the Vols have both Georgia and UCLA at home, Kiffin can only expect to steal one of those high profile games. But the Vols will have one signature game to hang their hat on: you heard it here first, the Vols head into Oxford on November 14 to shock a top ten ranked team. Just like that Kiffin earns his pay and a few renditions of Rocky Top along the way.

The Postseason: The Vols make everyone's most improved list, but not a New Year's Day bowl. But Vols fans will be happy to spend New Year's in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-a Bowl.