Saban leads Alabama to top of SEC West
While the Florida Gators are the class of the SEC East, and the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC Championship, Alabama will be out for some revenge in 2009 as the big favorite in the SEC West. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide rolled to through a perfect regular season schedule at 12-0 before the Gators topped them in the conference title tilt, and 'Bama looks to knock Florida from that top rung on the ladder this season.
It’s just like the old joke about how well kids do at school – there are those in the top half, and there are those that make the top half possible.
The SEC West has three very good football clubs at the head of the class. The other three were caught either staring out the window or eating paste last year. Those struggling teams should see some improvement in 2009, but let’s face it: Everyone’s in the shadow of the Florida Gators. The defending national champions from the East are 1-2 favorites for the SEC title. Well, somebody has to be the star pupil.
Let’s go straight to our 2009 SEC West preview in order of expected finish, including the betting odds for all six teams to win both the conference title and the BCS championship.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2, 15-1): The Tide didn’t lose a single game last year until the Gators wrestled away the SEC championship. Then Alabama lost the Sugar Bowl to the highly underrated (and also undefeated) Utah Utes. Still pretty impressive for Nick Saban’s second year in charge of the program.
It’ll be difficult to match their 9-5 ATS record, but the Tide are flying under the radar after replacing three-year starting QB John Parker Wilson with Greg McElroy (16-for-20 and two TD passes in parts of two seasons). This could actually be an upgrade.
2. Louisiana State Tigers (9-2, 20-1): Expectations are big for the former national champions going into 2009, after they “honked” 2008 at 8-5 SU and 3-9 ATS. Just about the only thing LSU was missing last year was a quarterback. They have one now in Jordan Jefferson, who played the final two games of the 2008 season as a freshman and looked like a winner during the spring session. Jefferson could even be good enough for the Tigers to be national title contenders. But first they have to face the Gators at home on Oct. 10.
3. Mississippi Rebels (9-2, 25-1): Ole Miss was a money machine last year at 9-4 SU and 9-3 ATS, beating Florida (-23) and LSU (-3) on the way to a Cotton Bowl victory over Texas Tech (-3.5). The Rebels finished the 2008 campaign atop the SEC West in Fremeau efficiency, No. 7 overall in the FBS and one spot ahead of Alabama. That makes Ole Miss one of the fashionable choices to win the division. The Rebs have a manageable schedule with both Alabama and LSU at home.
4. Arkansas Razorbacks (25-1, 75-1): This is Bobby Petrino’s second year in Little Rock. The transition pains were certainly felt in Year One at 5-7 SU and 5-6 ATS. Petrino may have sullied his reputation a bit with the Atlanta Falcons fiasco, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s one of the best college football coaches in the country. He’ll look a lot smarter now that Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett is ready to take over at quarterback. The Hawgs only have four road games this year, but holy mackinaw: Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and LSU.
5. Auburn Tigers (40-1, 150-1): The Tigers may have pulled the chute a bit abruptly on Tommy Tuberville after going 5-7 (2-9 ATS) last year. But that’s water under the bridge; Gene Chizik is the coach now, and he’s unproven at this level after two unproductive years at Iowa State. Chizik takes over a program in need of major repair on offense, although the Tigers might be pesky enough on defense with new co-ordinator Ted Roof to steal a few victories.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs (75-1, Field 40-1): The Bulldogs (4-8 SU, 4-7 ATS) scored an SEC-low 15.25 points last year, taking the under to a 7-4 record and costing coach Sylvester Croom his job. Dan Mullen was the offensive co-ordinator at Florida and QB guru to both Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. Now Mullen gets to work with Croom recruit Tyler Russell; how soon he’s able to take the starting job from senior Tyson Lee will determine if and when MSU gets out of the basement.
While the Florida Gators are the class of the SEC East, and the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC Championship, Alabama will be out for some revenge in 2009 as the big favorite in the SEC West. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide rolled to through a perfect regular season schedule at 12-0 before the Gators topped them in the conference title tilt, and 'Bama looks to knock Florida from that top rung on the ladder this season.
It’s just like the old joke about how well kids do at school – there are those in the top half, and there are those that make the top half possible.
The SEC West has three very good football clubs at the head of the class. The other three were caught either staring out the window or eating paste last year. Those struggling teams should see some improvement in 2009, but let’s face it: Everyone’s in the shadow of the Florida Gators. The defending national champions from the East are 1-2 favorites for the SEC title. Well, somebody has to be the star pupil.
Let’s go straight to our 2009 SEC West preview in order of expected finish, including the betting odds for all six teams to win both the conference title and the BCS championship.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2, 15-1): The Tide didn’t lose a single game last year until the Gators wrestled away the SEC championship. Then Alabama lost the Sugar Bowl to the highly underrated (and also undefeated) Utah Utes. Still pretty impressive for Nick Saban’s second year in charge of the program.
It’ll be difficult to match their 9-5 ATS record, but the Tide are flying under the radar after replacing three-year starting QB John Parker Wilson with Greg McElroy (16-for-20 and two TD passes in parts of two seasons). This could actually be an upgrade.
2. Louisiana State Tigers (9-2, 20-1): Expectations are big for the former national champions going into 2009, after they “honked” 2008 at 8-5 SU and 3-9 ATS. Just about the only thing LSU was missing last year was a quarterback. They have one now in Jordan Jefferson, who played the final two games of the 2008 season as a freshman and looked like a winner during the spring session. Jefferson could even be good enough for the Tigers to be national title contenders. But first they have to face the Gators at home on Oct. 10.
3. Mississippi Rebels (9-2, 25-1): Ole Miss was a money machine last year at 9-4 SU and 9-3 ATS, beating Florida (-23) and LSU (-3) on the way to a Cotton Bowl victory over Texas Tech (-3.5). The Rebels finished the 2008 campaign atop the SEC West in Fremeau efficiency, No. 7 overall in the FBS and one spot ahead of Alabama. That makes Ole Miss one of the fashionable choices to win the division. The Rebs have a manageable schedule with both Alabama and LSU at home.
4. Arkansas Razorbacks (25-1, 75-1): This is Bobby Petrino’s second year in Little Rock. The transition pains were certainly felt in Year One at 5-7 SU and 5-6 ATS. Petrino may have sullied his reputation a bit with the Atlanta Falcons fiasco, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s one of the best college football coaches in the country. He’ll look a lot smarter now that Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett is ready to take over at quarterback. The Hawgs only have four road games this year, but holy mackinaw: Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and LSU.
5. Auburn Tigers (40-1, 150-1): The Tigers may have pulled the chute a bit abruptly on Tommy Tuberville after going 5-7 (2-9 ATS) last year. But that’s water under the bridge; Gene Chizik is the coach now, and he’s unproven at this level after two unproductive years at Iowa State. Chizik takes over a program in need of major repair on offense, although the Tigers might be pesky enough on defense with new co-ordinator Ted Roof to steal a few victories.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs (75-1, Field 40-1): The Bulldogs (4-8 SU, 4-7 ATS) scored an SEC-low 15.25 points last year, taking the under to a 7-4 record and costing coach Sylvester Croom his job. Dan Mullen was the offensive co-ordinator at Florida and QB guru to both Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. Now Mullen gets to work with Croom recruit Tyler Russell; how soon he’s able to take the starting job from senior Tyson Lee will determine if and when MSU gets out of the basement.