Can Tim Tebow win another Heisman Trophy and another national title and leave a legacy as the greatest college football player ever?
Will Houston Nutt and Mississippi live up to the pre-season buzz and crash the fraternity of Southeastern Conference big boys? Does Lane Kiffin coach as well as he talks?
Every SEC football season is a soap opera. The 2009 campaign figures to be especially rich in drama. (Predicted records in parentheses.)
SEC East
1. Florida (8-0, 12-0): With Tebow and all 11 starters back on defense, the Gators should be primed for something new: An unbeaten national championship season.
2. Georgia (7-1, 10-2): Better defense will help offset the loss of quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno.
3. South Carolina (4-4, 8-4): The Head Ball Coach might start finding ample heat beneath his seat if Carolina doesn't take a big step forward.
4. Kentucky (3-5, 6-6): Climbing the SEC East ladder is the next step for Rich Brooks' program to take.
5. Tennessee (1-7, 5-7): You will discern that I am not a believer in Kiffin.
5. Vanderbilt (1-7, 4-8). Yes, Vandy has 17 starters back from a bowl team and, no, I'm still not sold (though I think Bobby Johnson is one heck of a coach).
SEC West
1. Alabama (7-1, 11-1): Far more favorable league schedule than LSU tips the scale to the Men of Saban.
2. Louisiana State (6-2, 10-2): Back-to-back games with Georgia and Florida and road trips to Alabama and Mississippi will prevent most-talented team from winning West.
3. Mississippi (5-3, 9-3): Not convinced Ole Miss can handle the massive pre-season win-the-West hype it is getting.
4. Arkansas (3-5, 7-5): Bobby Petrino can put the Hogs at a bowl game in Year Two in Fayetteville.
4. Auburn (3-5, 7-5): One year after Tony Franklin and his spread passing attack were offed mid-season, Auburn has a new offensive coordinator in Gus Malzahn (formerly of Tulsa and Arkansas) who runs a spread passing attack.
6. Mississippi State (0-8, 2-10): Only 10 starters back from a 4-8 team does not suggest a promising start to the Dan Mullen era.
SEC Championship
Florida 27, Alabama 10. In a rematch of last season's great title game, the Gators should be better than a year ago and the Crimson Tide not as good.
SEC Bowl teams
National championship game: Florida
Sugar: Alabama
Capital One: Georgia
Cotton: LSU
Outback: Mississippi
Chick-fil-A: South Carolina
Music City: Auburn
Liberty: Arkansas
Independence: Kentucky
Papajohns.com: No other SEC team bowl-eligible
