[FreakNasty]

http://www.getsportsinfo.com/index.asp?p...ege/080107

Nothing says football quite like the SEC East. The defending national champion Florida Gators lose nine starters on defense, but shouldn’t lose any skill on offense with an enhanced role for Tim Tebow and do everything Percy Harvin. Tennessee should contend for the title with a senior quarterback, and Georgia looks to bounce back from a modest 2006 campaign with a more experienced Matthew Stafford under center. The basement of the SEC East should be improved this season as well, as Kentucky bring back a talented offense from an eight win season in 2006 and Vanderbilt returns an amazing 18 starters. Four teams have legitimate opportunities to win the division, and all six have a real chance to play in a bowl game.

[B][SIZE=4]SEC East Preview[/SIZE][/B]

[B]Offensive Rankings
[/B]1. Kentucky (7 returning starters)
2. Tennessee (6 returning starters)
3. Florida (6 returning starters)
4. South Carolina (7 returning starters)
5. Georgia (7 returning starters)
6. Vanderbilt (10 returning starters)
65 percent return

[B]Defense Rankings
[/B]1. Vanderbilt (8 returning starters)
2. Georgia (4 returning starters)
3. South Carolina (10 returning starters)
4. Tennessee (5 returning starters)
5. Florida (2 returning starters)
6. Kentucky (8 returning starters)
56 percent return

[B]1st team All-SEC East Offense
[/B]QB Andre Woodson (Kentucky)
RB LaMarcus Coker (Tennessee)
RB Cory Boyd (South Carolina)
WR Keenan Burton (Kentucky)
WR Andre Caldwell (Florida)
TE Jacob Tamme (Kentucky)
C Josh McNeil (Tennessee)
G Jim Tartt (Florida)
G Jacques McClendon (Tennessee)
T Chris Williams (Vanderbilt)
T Phil Tratwein (Florida)
1st team All-SEC East Defense
DL Derrick Harvey (Florida)
DL Theo Harrocks (Vanderbilt)
DL Myron Pryor (Kentucky)
DL Curtis Gatewood (Vanderbilt)
LB Jonathan Goff (Vanderbilt)
LB Jasper Brinkley (Vanderbilt)
LB Jerod Mayo (Tennessee)
CB Bryan Evans (Georgia)
CB Trevard Lindley (Kentucky)
S Jonathan Hefney (Tennessee)
S Reshard Langford (Vanderbilt)

[B]Breakdown by team
[/B]Tennessee 5
Vanderbilt 5
Kentucky 5
Florida 4
South Carolina 2
Georgia 1
Projected Order of Finish

[B][SIZE=4]Florida
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 13-1 (won national championship_
Head Coach: Urban Meyer (3rd season)

[B]Returning Leaders:[/B]
Passing: Tim Tebow (22-33 358 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Tim Tebow (89 att, 478 att, 8 TD)
Receiving: Andre Caldwell (57 rec, 577 yards, 6 TD)
Tackles: Tony Joiner (59)
Sacks: Derrick Harvey (11)
Interceptions: Tony Joiner (2)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Western Kentucky (W)
Sept. 8 Troy (W)
Sept. 15 Tennessee (W)
Sept. 22 at Mississippi (W)
Sept. 29 Auburn (W)
Oct. 6 at LSU (L)
Oct. 20 at Kentucky (W)
Oct. 27 Georgia (W)
Nov. 3 Vanderbilt (W)
Nov. 10 at South Carolina (L)
Nov. 17 Florida Atlantic (W)
Nov. 24 Florida State (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]:10-2 overall (6-2 SEC)
6 “swing” games
Notes: UF only returns two starters on defense, but so did Ohio State last season… Tim Tebow has to be more than a one trick pony this season, and he should be…. While relatively young, they are very athletic and this is the first year Meyer’s offense will be completely utilized…

[B][SIZE=4]Tennessee
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 9-4 (lost to Penn State in Outback Bowl)
Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer (16th season)

[B]Returning Leaders[/B]:
Passing: Erik Ainge (233-348, 2989 yards, 19 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: LaMarcus Coker (108 att, 717 yards, 5 TD)
Receiving: Chris Brown (31 rec, 239 yards, 1 TD)
Tackles: Jonathan Hefney (96)
Sacks: Jerod Mayo (5)
Interceptions: Jonathan Hefney (5)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 at Cal (W)
Sept. 8 Southern Mississippi (W)
Sept. 15 at Florida (L)
Sept. 22 Arkansas State (W)
Oct. 6 Georgia (W)
Oct. 13 at Mississippi State (W)
Oct. 20 at Alabama (L)
Oct. 27 South Carolina (W)
Nov. 3 ULL (W)
Nov. 10 Arkansas (W)
Nov. 17 Vandy (W)
Nov. 24 Kentucky (W)

Projected Record: 10-2 overall (6-2 SEC)
6 “swing” games
Notes: Personally a huge fan of Lamarcus Coker, averaged over six yards a carry last season… Tennessee has perhaps the best safety in football with Hefney, had nearly 100 tackles last season…. The 10 win prediction is based on Ainge’s health, if he isn’t 100 percent, Crompton will be solid but they will not play as well…

[B][SIZE=4]Georgia
[/SIZE][/B]Last season: 9-4 (beat Virginia Tech in Peach Bowl)
Head Coach: Mark Richt (7th season)

[B]Returning Leaders[/B]:
Passing: Matthew Stafford (135-256 1749 yards, 7 TD, 13 INT)
Rushing: Kregg Lumpkin (162 att, 853 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: Mohammed Massaquoi (30 rec, 366 yards, 2 TD)
Tackles: Kelin Johnson (60)
Sacks: Kelin Johnson (2.5)
Interceptions: Kelin Johnson (2)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Oklahoma State (W)
Sept. 8 South Carolina (W)
Sept. 15 Western Carolina (W)
Sept. 22 at Alabama (L)
Sept. 29 Mississippi (W)
Oct. 6 at Tennessee (L)
Oct. 13 at Vandy (W)
Oct. 27 Florida (L)
Nov. 3 Troy (W)
Nov. 10 Auburn (L)
Nov. 17 Kentucky (W)
Nov. 24 at Georgia Tech (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 8-4 overall (4-4 SEC)
6 “swing” games
Notes: A lot of people are calling for Georgia to win the SEC East,, but I don’t it this season… talented, but probably another year away (Stafford will continue to improve… Stafford vs. Tebow can be a fun little rivalry if they stay in school for three years, both very talented… Georgia can win up to 10 games, but I see them winning eight, which should be their basement level…

[B]South Carolina
[/B]Last season: 8-5 (beat Houston in Liberty Bowl)
Head Coach: Steve Spurrier (3rd season)

[B]Returning Leaders:[/B]
Passing: Blake Mitchell (135-202, 1789 yards, 10 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Cory Boyd (164 att, 846 yards, 8 TD)
Receiving: Kenny McKinley (51 rec, 880 yards, 5 TD)
Tackles: Jasper Brinkley (107)
Sacks: Casper Brinkley (7)
Interceptions: Stoney Woodson (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 ULL (W)
Sept. 8 at Georgia (L)
Sept. 15 South Carolina State (W)
Sept. 22 at LSU (L)
Sept. 29 Mississippi State (W)
Oct. 4 Kentucky (W)
Oct. 13 at North Carolina (W)
Oct. 20 Vanderbilt (W)
Oct. 27 at Tennessee (L)
Nov. 3 at Arkansas (L)
Nov. 10 Florida (W)
Nov. 24 Clemson (W)

Projected Record: 8-4 overall (4-4 SEC)
6 “swing” games
Notes: South Carolina has officially made it a four horse race in the SEC East, however they will annually have the highest “bust” factor because of the expectations that Spurrier brings… Boyd should have a huge year rushing and receiving….

[B][SIZE=4]Kentucky
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 8-5 (beat Clemson in Music City Bowl)
Head Coach: Rich Brooks (5th season)

[B]Returning Leaders[/B]:
Passing: Andre Woodson (264-419, 3515 yards, 31 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Rafael Little (140 att, 709 yards, 3 TD)
Receiving: Keenan Burton (77 rec, 1036 yards, 12 TD)
Tackles: Wesley Woodyard (117)
Sacks: Jeremy Jarmon (4)
Interceptions: Marcus McClinton (4)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Eastern Michigan (W)
Sept. 8 Kent. State(W)
Sept. 15 Louisville (L)
Sept. 22 at Arkansas (L)
Sept. 29 Florida Atlantic (W)
Oct. 4 at South Carolina (L)
Oct. 13 LSU (L)
Oct. 20 Florida (L)
Oct. 27 Mississippi State (W)
Nov. 10 Vanderbilt (W)
Nov. 17 at Georgia (L)
Nov. 24 Tennessee (L)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 5-7 overall (2-6 SEC)
4 “swing” games
Notes: UK had the best season in recent memory in 2006, but were still out gained by a hefty total in conference play… UK would be a stout contender to possibly win the east if the O-Line was better… they could sneak into a bowl, but wont win 8 again this season…

[B][SIZE=4]Vanderbilt
[/SIZE][/B]Last Season: 4-8 (no bowl)
Head Coach: Bobby Johnson (6th season)

[B]Returning Leaders[/B]:
Passing: Chris Nickson (160-292, 2085 yards, 15 TD, 13 INT)
Rushing: Chris Nickson (146 att, 827 yards)
Receiving: Earl Bennett (82 rec, 1146 yards, 6 TD)
Tackles: Jonathan Goff (93)
Sacks: Curtis Gatewood (7)
Interceptions: Langford/Spread (3)

[B]Schedule/Projected Results
[/B]Sept. 1 Richmond (W)
Sept. 8 Alabama (L)
Sept. 15 Mississippi (W)
Sept. 29 E Michigan (W)
Oct. 6 at Auburn (L)
Oct. 13 Georgia (L)
Oct. 20 at South Carolina (L)
Oct. 27 Miami OH (W)
Nov. 3 at Florida (L)
Nov. 10 Kentucky (L)
Nov. 17 at Tennessee (L)
Nov. 24 Wake Forest (W)

[B]Projected Record[/B]: 5-7 overall (1-7 SEC)
4 “swing” games
[B]Notes: [/B]It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Vandy becomes bowl eligible for the first time since 1982... They have big play threats with Nickson at QB, Bennett at WR and Goff at LB… If they played in the ACC, I’d call for them to have 7 or 8 wins….