SEC Preview: Alabama Beats Florida ... Twice

By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season

Perfect evidence backing the claim that great teams reload — they don't rebuild — can be found in Gainesville and Tuscaloosa, where three of the last four national championship trophies call home.

Florida and Alabama look poised to meet again in the SEC championship game, possibly with yet another BCS title game appearance at stake.

The Gators usher in the John Brantley era after Tim Tebow's departure. Florida also will be breaking in some new faces on defense after the 2008 national championship unit returned its entire two-deep lineup for last year's team that finished 13-1.

Alabama lost some key personnel on defense as well, but the Tide, for the first time in many years, will win games on offense in 2010. Quarterback Greg McElroy hasn't lost a start in a hundred years, and 'Bama also brings back reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. He's currently nursing a gimpy knee, which means star sophomore Trent Richardson will carry the load; the Tide offense shouldn't miss a beat, especially with junior wideout Julio Jones expected to finally break out this year.

Georgia and Auburn seem to be everyone's darlings to pull surprises in the East and West, respectively. Florida and Georgia renew their cocktail-party rivalry in Jacksonville on Oct. 30 in a key SEC East tilt. Auburn plays all of its toughest games at home this year until its annual season finale against Alabama. This year's Iron Bowl is in Tuscaloosa, where some think the West Division crown might be on the line on Nov. 26.

Steve Spurrier should have another interesting season at South Carolina. The big struggle for him the last couple of years has been trying to get consistent quarterback play, but junior Stephen Garcia was effective in Thursday's season-opening win over Southern Mississippi.

Tennessee begins a new season with a new coach for the third straight year. All signs seem to point to a successful career for Derek Dooley there, but it might be a minute before he can stabilize that program.

With quadruple-threat Randall Cobb wearing blue-and-white, Kentucky will have a chance to win many games, but the Wildcats are probably a 7-5 or 6-6 squad under new coach Joker Phillips.

Vanderbilt also has a new coach in Robbie Caldwell. He stole the show at SEC Media Days, but jokes and likability don't win football games.

After Alabama and Auburn, Arkansas and LSU could stir things up some in the West. Ryan Mallett and his receivers will keep scoreboard operators busy, but Bobby Petrino has rarely been known as a coach who cares much about defense. And it's impossible to read an LSU preview story this year and not see the words "hot" and "seat" used before coach Les Miles' name. The Tigers must contend and win 10 games this year.

Mississippi will get a boost from Jeremiah Masoli, who in the time you've spent reading this sentence, was ruled eligible, then ineligible, then eligible again by the NCAA.

Mississippi State shouldn't be a factor, but get familiar with that cowbell because Dan Mullen has the Bulldogs headed in the right direction.

Predicted Order Of Finish:

East
Florida
Georgia
South Carolina
Tennessee
Kentucky
Vanderbilt

West
Alabama
Auburn
LSU
Arkansas
Mississippi
Mississippi State

Interesting Storylines: With Alabama's Ingram on the shelf, let's see if Richardson can live up to the hype; I'd love it if Masoli can make enough of a difference at Ole Miss to make the Rebels matter in an already crowded SEC West; does Florida seem like it's flying a little under the national radar?

One Game You Can't Miss: Florida at Alabama, Oct. 2

Conference Championship Game: Alabama over Florida