[WorkHorse]

According to the Birmingham News' 65th annual spring SEC Football Preview, South Carolina and Alabama are the teams to beat, and meet in the December 3 SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

Western Division (with points)..........Eastern Division
1. Alabama (24)............................1. South Carolina (25)
2. LSU (22)..................................2. Florida (20)
3. Arkansas (16)...........................3. Georgia (18)
4. Auburn (13)..............................4. Tennessee (12)
5. Miss State (10).........................5. Kentucky (9)
6. Ole Miss (5)..............................6. Vanderbilt (6)

In the overall strength poll, Alabama ran away with the voting scoring 120 points. By leading the overall poll, the Tide is the preseason pick to win the SEC crown. LSU was runner-up with 107 points, while South Carolina was third with 95.

1. Alabama (120)
2. LSU (107)
3. South Carolina (95)
4. Arkansas (82)
5. Florida (79)
6. Georgia (74)
7. Miss State (65)
7. Auburn (65)
9. Tennessee (41)
10. Kentucky (29)
11. Ole Miss (21)
12. Vanderbilt (14)

Now, let's get the season started and see who win's this thing!

[Jasonal_98]

You know I'm biased, but I hope things pan out like this.

A little shocked to see Miss State picked 5th in the West. What does Auburn have that I'm missing?

[BigdaddyQH]

I sincerely doubt most of the validity of that preview. I agree that Alabama will win the West, and it will not be nearly as close as the preview indicates. Miss. State is NOT going to finish 5th in the West. In the East, Georgia and South Carolina should change places, even though the East is very weak this season. The SEc is an anomoly this season, having one of strongest, if not the strongest Divisions in the BCS, and also having one of the weakest, if not the weakest Division in the BCS. That is how good the West is, and how bad the East is.

[WorkHorse]

November 5 is the game. That's when LSU comes to Tuscaloosa.

Both teams could very easily be undefeated for this big one.

[BigdaddyQH]

LSU will have lost to Oregon, and possibly Miss. State. Alabama should be undefeated.

[Wrecktangle]

Since the SEC now owns the BCS, we need to be talking which SEC team will take the BCS this year.

Unfortunately, it will probably be Alabama.

BTW, BD, condolences on USC for 2004.

[WorkHorse]

Alabama and LSU both have open dates before they play each other.

A game that worries me is having to travel to Mississippi State after playing LSU.

[jwbama23]

WH, that game in Tuscaloosa this year is gonna be SICK! I may have to make the 8 hour journey to T-town for that one. I try to come up once a year. That should be a huge revenge game too.

[WorkHorse]

Two games Saban circles on the schedule every year. One is LSU...and the other is Auburn.

Both for obvious reasons. Bama will be ready, especially with an off week to prepare.

[valaub04]

You know I'm biased, but I hope things pan out like this.

A little shocked to see Miss State picked 5th in the West. What does Auburn have that I'm missing?

I think you have Alabama and LSU up top, Ole Miss at the bottom, and the other 3 could finish at any of the middle spots.

AU has a lot of good young talent and more coming in.... just didn't get many starts when the OL had 4 guys who had played together 3 years straight, upperclassmen at WR, DB, etc... Definitely a 7-5 up to 9-3 at best for AU. 2012 will be a year we can make another run for it all.

[WorkHorse]

I love your Offensive Coordinator...he's damn $1.3 million good.

He will earn it with his quarterbacks this year.

Too many holes to fill........seven wins to me would be good. Maybe eight.

[MoneyLineDawg]

I sincerely doubt most of the validity of that preview. I agree that Alabama will win the West, and it will not be nearly as close as the preview indicates. Miss. State is NOT going to finish 5th in the West. In the East, Georgia and South Carolina should change places, even though the East is very weak this season. The SEc is an anomoly this season, having one of strongest, if not the strongest Divisions in the BCS, and also having one of the weakest, if not the weakest Division in the BCS. That is how good the West is, and how bad the East is.

A) Why? SC was the better team last year, physically dominated them in their head to head matchup, and doesn't lose much at all. Garcia thing is way overblown. Georgia and SC always have classic games to open up SEC play, and the winner will have the fast track to ATL.

B) The weakest division in the BCS???? Just no.

[MoneyLineDawg]

I'm so torn on the West, but I'm going with LSU vs.SC for the SEC Championship

[WorkHorse]

MoneyDawg....you could be right about LSU. I tend to think Alabama will be there.

Miles is 67-17 in six seasons with two SEC West titles, an SEC title and a national title. He must replace entire kicking game from last year. He lost his leading rusher and leading tackler. He also lost that All-American cornerback who took away half the field last year.

His biggest problem is QB. LSU will run the ball with a lot of play-action passes. Much will depend on who and how the quarterback plays.

[alex81]

Yeah Alabama should win the West

[ZBOIZ]

Workhorse Alabama has to replace a QB ( which in it's own is HUGE!!)

They also have to replace probably one of the best RB the SEC has seen in a
while...

Not only Ingram but Julio Jones!! They used Julio in so many ways last year. People need to go back and look at tape, Alabama offense was a lot of motion with Julio to open other parts of the field. Now he's gone and I didn't even speak of his production as a receiver. He caused double teams and mismatch problems. That will be no more.

Say what you want but Alabama lost bigger pieces than LSU.

[jwbama23]

Workhorse Alabama has to replace a QB ( which in it's own is HUGE!!) They also have to replace probably one of the best RB the SEC has seen in a while... Not only Ingram but Julio Jones!! They used Julio in so many ways last year. People need to go back and look at tape, Alabama offense was a lot of motion with Julio to open other parts of the field. Now he's gone and I didn't even speak of his production as a receiver. He caused double teams and mismatch problems. That will be no more. Say what you want but Alabama lost bigger pieces than LSU.

OH Z, say what you want but Alabama's coach has forgot more about coaching in just the past 5 minutes that Leslie has ever known.

[redrum]

they r the fav i guess u have to say roll tide if ur a sec fan

[RPP]

Arkansas is my team in the west.

[NSN21]

The West is definitely brutal, but I've got Alabama taking it. Their defense looks awesome.

What a tough schedule Arkansas has. Road trips to both Baton Rouge & Tuscaloosa.

Any of those 3 teams could take it, but don't sleep on Dan Mullen's Bulldogs. I definitely don't have the nerve to call for that one, but I think it could happen if they catch some breaks.

[Frostware]

I could see them taken it, but unlikely.

[redrum]

I like bama out the west s.carolina out the east bama wins sec

[The Bet Master]

No way Auburn will finish above Mississippi State, I quit looking after I saw they were #5 in the west.

[goblue12]

Loving the value on Florida +600 to win the SEC.

[bornselling]

Western Division (with points)..........Eastern Division

[Hat McCulloch]

Alabama, LSU, Arkansas and then my "surprise" Miss State..the east is gonna be weak

[Ice House]

I think Alabama will win the SEC and go undefeated. They really only play a 2 game season. @ Florida and at home vs LSU.

Very soft schedule in my opinion. They don't even play South Carolina or any good out of conference opponents. I'm not hating , lots of schools have soft schedules. But yes they win the SEC quite easily if this new QB is atleast average.

[jwbama23]

I hardly call playing in the SEC West a 2 game schedule. We still play Arkansas, the up and coming Mississippi State, Ole Piss, and the Iron Bowl. While Ole Piss and Aubbie wont be as good this year they both play Alabama pretty tough even when they are not as good.

[Boscoe]

auburn at 31-1 ain't bad value in my opinion. malzahn is no joke.

[Superman455]

I think everyone is overlooking Miss State. They are going to be a solid team this year