SEC West preview

Over the next few days, we here at SBF (both myself and our loyal SBF contributor Paul Mac) will be previewing the college football landscape. The last two days we covered the ACC. Today we move to the SEC West, with the SEC East coming tomorrow. Next week, we'll dive into the Pac10, Big12, Big Easy and the Big11. For more college football news and notes, head to http://chuckoliver.net

With no further ado, THE SEC WEST

Overall. This one is simple guys and gals. Alabama still rules the SEC West and ALL of college football for that matter. The offense lost a few linemen, but the Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram returns, along with Trent Richardson, UNDEFEATED QB Greg McElroy, the second-best WR in the game Julio Jones....Do I really need to continue? Ole Miss got a LOT better when Masoli agreed to walk-on and study to become a park ranger, and I think Auburn takes a step BACK this year. Sorry Gene Chizik.
PS, Arkansas is THIS YEAR'S 2009 Ole Miss (And 2008 Georgia), and LSU's Les Miles will be lucky to still have a job at the end of the year. (Though he might up and leave for Michigan. HAVE A GREAT DAY!)

Predicted order of finish:
1) Alabama. Loaded. Simply loaded. I don't care that the defense lost all but three starters. Hightower is back and Dareus (if he isn't suspended) will provide plenty. Oh and the new defensive secondary may even be better with Dre Kirkpatrick back there. I already mentioned the offensive STARS they have returning. And PS, watch out for freshman TE Brian Vogler. Yes, he's a Georgia kid, but he is a DARNED good TE that should flourish in Saban's offense. Throwin in another top recruiting class and they will RUN thru this schedule and be ready for the SEC Championship game YET AGAIN.

2) Ole Miss. I will let Paul Mac break down the Rebels. (For more from Paul Mac and his views on Ole Miss, go to http://chuckoliver.net) I know Ole Miss fans want to make the trip to the Georgia Dome for the SEC championship in early December. I don't think this is going to be that year.but they are going to be a lot better than some people think and Masoli makes them and the competition in the SEC west a lot more interesting. This may not be set up to be the year.on paper but they've got a lot more fire power than we thought just a few short weeks ago and outside of Alabama I think they can compete against anyone else in the SEC west and win. Another potential 9 win season and the Cotton Bowl doesn't sound too bad does it?

3) LSU. The Tigers have talent. Too much talent to finish below third in the West. The CBs are enough to write home about, especially Pat Patterson. The QB situation (is it Lee or Jefferson, likely Jefferson with Russell Shepard still getting some Wild Bengal snaps) will once again have a fleet of WR to throw the ball to in Rueben Randle and Chris Tolliver and several others. The defense will just cycle in another round of those crazy cajun boys (no disrespect meant) for another strong defense. Too bad Les Miles is a terrible coach.

4) Auburn. Seriously. Auburn takes a step back. I have ZERO ill will towards the Tigers, but I cannot buy into them being even as good as they were last year. I like Chizik and Gusgus, but Cam Newton at QB doesn't particularly scare me (unless my laptop is out unattended) and the running game with Fannin is good but not like it has been in recent years. The roster is loaded with Georgia-grown players (which is always fun, considering I covered a bunch of them for Score and 790), and the defense will likely play hard under Roof. How well? Not well enough.

5) Arkansas. This year's Ole Miss. I just am NOT buying the Hogs as being true contenders in the SEC West. Sorry. Nope. Not buying it. Ryan Mallet is a very good QB. Cannot move around, but still has a strong arm. The defense is going to kill them. It wasn't good last year and magically it is good this year? Really? Did Jamaal Anderson come back to play? (If he did, the defense just got worse). Do I think these guys can beat Georgia between the hedges? No. Just not buying it. They lose early and often this season. Suck it Petrino.

6) Miss State. One year away. WHo will play QB? How is the defense? Will they push their chips in to try and beat Georgia? Probably. Will they? NOPE. One year away. Sorry Mullen.