SEC Preview
With the Gators making an almost predetermined appearance in the SEC title game in 3 of the last 4 seasons, the SEC is anticipating a conference wide shakeup going into the 2010 season, particularly in the East where no team stands on confidently solid ground. Here’s a look at how the conference could play out over the course of the season, with the top spot undisputedly going to defending national champsAlabama (2009 conference record: 8-0) Returning not only a BCS Championship Trophy but a Heisman Trophy to further clutter the well-decorated shelves down in Tuscaloosa (actually the Heisman is the first of its variety for the Crimson Tide), Mark Ingram and company look to once again wreak havoc on opposing front lines trying to tackle the freight train style offense Alabama greases the tracks for up the middle. As long as quarterback Greg McElroy can manage to hand off the ball and throw the occasional long ball in the general direction Julio Jones (don’t worry, he’ll catch it), he should once again enjoy the easiest starting gig in quarterback history.Arkansas (2009: 3-5) It’s almost laughable that the Razorbacks are among the top billed team from historically the nation’s premiere conference, but so goes a down year for the SEC. The Razorback’s do feature Ryan Mallett, the top rated quarterback in the conference, who could prove to follow in the footsteps of former Bulldog Matt Stafford on his way to a lofty draft status.Georgia (2009: 4-4) Speaking of the Dawgs, the Athens faithful have less a sure thing at QB than even the Gators do, but the talent surrounding first-year signal caller Aaron Murray could be enough to beat any team not wearing crimson. With Washaun Ealey and Caleb King forming arguably the best emerging RB duo in the nation, not to mention A.J. Green split wide, even Brock Berlin could conceivably quarterback this bunch to a 9-win season.Darkhorses: Florida and Ole Miss, with the transfer acquisition of Oregon sendoff and Heisman candidate Jeremiah Masoli, lead a pack of potential contenders in what is sure to be a wide open race for second place in the conference standings.