For the Western part of the SEC,here is a brief summary of what to look for:
ALABAMA will be in a bit of an odd role, having to depend on their offense, which loses only 3 starters and returns QB McElroy and both RB's Ingram and Richardson, along with WR Jones. The defense loses 9 starters, and will have to be rebuilt, but that offense is very powerful. The schedule includes home games against Penn State and Florida, and trips to Arkansas, LSU, and Tennessee. Saban is already being talked about as the best coach in college football. We will see in 2010.
This is a bit of a longshot, but we really like ARKANSAS to show vast improvment this year. Bobby Petrino returns QB Mallett, the best in the SEC, along with 7 other starters on offense. The defense returns 7 starters, but will need a bit of help up front. Arkansas gets Alabama, LSU, and Mississippi at home. Only games at Georgia, Auburn, and South Carolina loom up as potential away road blocks. If this team can become a little more consistant, especially on defense, they will surprise some people.
Then there is the sad story which is LSU. Les Miles aparently finds panic mode in the last two minutes of games, becuase his clock management is amongst the worst in college football. Further adding to LSU's woes is the loss of 5 starters on offense, though they get both QB's back. The defense gets hit hard, losing 7 starters. The schedule includes an opener against North Carolina in Atlanta, and games at Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas. Miles has his work ahead of him this season. First up, learn clock management.
AUBURN got off to a red hot start at the beginning of last year, only to come crashing back to earth to drop 5 of it's last 7 games. Still, HC Chizik and OC Matzahn did a great job of rebuilding an offense left for dead in 2008. That offense returns nearly intact in 2010, so Auburn will score points. The defense loses only 3 starters but gave up a ton of points last season, including 7 games of 30 or more. The schedule is very doable, with 8 home games. Only a trip to Alabama looms as a huge road test. If Auburn can find the answer to their defensive woes, this team can jump up in a hurry in the SEC West.
By far, the biggest disappointment in the SEC last year was MISSISSIPPI. This team was touted as being Top 10 material, but ended up dropping 4 games. This year looms worse, as the Rebs lose QB Snead and 6 other starters on offense, as well as a lot of depth. The defense also gets hit hard by graduation, losing 6 starters. Houston Nutt has a major rebuilding job to do, and with a schedule that reverses and sees him going to 'Bama, Arkansas, LSU and Tennessee, another 4 loss season would be an accomplishment, though the rest of the schedule is not overly difficult.
MISSISSIPPI STATE surprised a few people on their way to a 5 win season last year. The good news is that the defense only loses 3 starters, and will have a lot of experience on it. The Bad news is that the offense loses 5 starters, and will have to find a new QB-RB tandem. The biggest problem is a murderous schedule that sees State going to Houston, LSU, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, and hosting Auburn and Georgia. A .500 season would be quite an accomplishment for 2nd year HC Mullen facing that schedule.
Next up: ACC Atlantic.
ALABAMA will be in a bit of an odd role, having to depend on their offense, which loses only 3 starters and returns QB McElroy and both RB's Ingram and Richardson, along with WR Jones. The defense loses 9 starters, and will have to be rebuilt, but that offense is very powerful. The schedule includes home games against Penn State and Florida, and trips to Arkansas, LSU, and Tennessee. Saban is already being talked about as the best coach in college football. We will see in 2010.
This is a bit of a longshot, but we really like ARKANSAS to show vast improvment this year. Bobby Petrino returns QB Mallett, the best in the SEC, along with 7 other starters on offense. The defense returns 7 starters, but will need a bit of help up front. Arkansas gets Alabama, LSU, and Mississippi at home. Only games at Georgia, Auburn, and South Carolina loom up as potential away road blocks. If this team can become a little more consistant, especially on defense, they will surprise some people.
Then there is the sad story which is LSU. Les Miles aparently finds panic mode in the last two minutes of games, becuase his clock management is amongst the worst in college football. Further adding to LSU's woes is the loss of 5 starters on offense, though they get both QB's back. The defense gets hit hard, losing 7 starters. The schedule includes an opener against North Carolina in Atlanta, and games at Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas. Miles has his work ahead of him this season. First up, learn clock management.
AUBURN got off to a red hot start at the beginning of last year, only to come crashing back to earth to drop 5 of it's last 7 games. Still, HC Chizik and OC Matzahn did a great job of rebuilding an offense left for dead in 2008. That offense returns nearly intact in 2010, so Auburn will score points. The defense loses only 3 starters but gave up a ton of points last season, including 7 games of 30 or more. The schedule is very doable, with 8 home games. Only a trip to Alabama looms as a huge road test. If Auburn can find the answer to their defensive woes, this team can jump up in a hurry in the SEC West.
By far, the biggest disappointment in the SEC last year was MISSISSIPPI. This team was touted as being Top 10 material, but ended up dropping 4 games. This year looms worse, as the Rebs lose QB Snead and 6 other starters on offense, as well as a lot of depth. The defense also gets hit hard by graduation, losing 6 starters. Houston Nutt has a major rebuilding job to do, and with a schedule that reverses and sees him going to 'Bama, Arkansas, LSU and Tennessee, another 4 loss season would be an accomplishment, though the rest of the schedule is not overly difficult.
MISSISSIPPI STATE surprised a few people on their way to a 5 win season last year. The good news is that the defense only loses 3 starters, and will have a lot of experience on it. The Bad news is that the offense loses 5 starters, and will have to find a new QB-RB tandem. The biggest problem is a murderous schedule that sees State going to Houston, LSU, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, and hosting Auburn and Georgia. A .500 season would be quite an accomplishment for 2nd year HC Mullen facing that schedule.
Next up: ACC Atlantic.