SEC WEST 2008: Two Tigers fighting for one Title

This year’s SEC West Division figures to be a battle between the Tigers of LSU and the Tigers of Auburn for first place. Alabama is extremely young, but also extremely talented, and could easily sneak into the upper echelon of the division this year. And Sylvester Croom has MSU’s program heading in the right direction. On the other hand, Arkansas, with new coach Bobby Petrino, seems destined for a huge fall after losing RB’s Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to early entry in the NFL draft. And Ex-Arkansas head ball coach Houston Nutt begins his next coaching stint with Ole Miss. All of these dynamics should make the SEC West of 2008 just as exciting as it was in 2007. Our predictions are as follows for one half of the best conference in college football.

1) LSU Tigers (7-1, 5-0 Division) – The 2007 National Champs have a brutal schedule set up for themselves in 2008. The game that could well decide the West takes place on September 20, when the Tigers visit Auburn for a clash of SEC titans. Doubts abound for this iteration of LSU’s football program, including a huge question mark at quarterback. However, while the Tigers return only 5 defensive starters from 2007’s unit, depth and massive athleticism on the defensive side of the football, particularly on the D-Line, should make LSU the NUMBER ONE defense in major college football. Ricky Jean-Francois anchors the middle of the defensive line, bookended by two experienced seniors in Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman. LSU also loses its other primary skill players on offense: Jacob Hester and Early Doucet are gone to the NFL, while Matt Flynn graduated and Ryan Perrilloux was somewhat mysteriously kicked off the team (only in that no specific reason was provided, although none was necessary judging from Perrilloux’s checkered past). After these key losses, the LSU offense returns seven other starters, and should have an outstanding offensive line in 2008. Andrew Hatch comes in at QB, and while Hatch doesn’t have any big-game experience, he does have all the tools to be successful in an offense that should provide him with plenty of weapons. The Tigers use the strength of their offensive and defensive fronts to win seven games in the SEC, including at Auburn and vs. Georgia, the nation’s most talented team, losing only at Florida. Another trip to the title game is not out of the question here, although this team is not as good as last year’s squad.

2) Auburn (6-2, 3-2 Division) – Auburn is in a somewhat similar situation to LSU. The Tigers return 7 defensive starters and 8 offensive starters, but will have to break in a new quarterback in an offense that has significantly less support than does LSU. To date, no decision has been reached on who that QB will be though. At this point it seems likely that both sophomore Kodi Burns and JC transfer Chris Todd will see game action as the Tigers begin to implement the spread offense in 2008. Burns is officially listed at #1 on the depth chart, but the always negative “OR” appears right next to it. The defense should be great, but the offense will struggle, keeping 2008’s Auburn squad in the same hole that the last few have been. The Tigers fall just short of the other Tigers, but compete for a BCS slot nonetheless.

3) Alabama (5-3, 3-2 Division) – One of the more intriguing teams in the SEC this year, the Crimson Tide feature head coach Nick Saban, in this writer’s opinion the best coach in a talent-laden SEC. He compares favorably to Les Miles, Steve Spurrier, and Mark Richt, and has more ability to alter his gameplans and adjust than does Urban Meyer. The Crimson Tide return senior QB John Parker Wilson, and have a favorable SEC schedule, avoiding Florida and South Carolina in the non-divisional schedule. Difficult trips at LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia will trip up the Tide, but Saban will lead them to victory between the Hedges against Auburn. Frosh WR Julio Jones should be a sensation, and Alabama will come out of 2008 as one of the favorites to lead the conference in 2009.

4) Mississippi State (4-4, 2-3 Division) – The Bulldogs return sophomore QB Wesley Carroll and junior RB Anthony Dixon to the fold in 2008. This squad will continue to improve, benefitting from added experience, and, as almost all SEC programs can boast, under the leadership of the more the competent Sylvester Croom. The Bulldogs also drew well in the non-divisional schedule, facing Vandy and Kentucky at home while travelling to Tennessee in the middle of the season. Losses to LSU, Auburn, Alabama, and Tennessee make the Bulldogs middle-of-the-SEC, but this is another program that is rapidly improving and will return its key players in 2009. Another bowl is in store for now, but watch out in ’09, they might have a shot at the top of the SEC West.

5) Arkansas (1-7, 1-4 Division) – Bobby Petrino begins his SEC stint with a whimper as he enters a beaten down, limited-talent-in-the-cupboard Razorbacks program. Gone are the days where the ‘Hogs will run with no QB and McFadden and Jones in the backfield. They do get Ole Miss at home though, propelling them to a just-above-last-place finish.

6) Mississippi (1-7, 0-5 Division) – The Rebels of Ole Miss are better than this record, and probably better than the Razorbacks team they will likely lose to. Houston Nutt has some talent, and it’s young talent. Two talented freshman QB’s might see some action this season, and should help the Rebels build for the future. For now, not much hope for a bowl game, as they face off against Florida and South Carolina in the non-divisional games. A lone win versus Vanderbilt in the conference leaves Rebels fans waiting for 2009.

I'll refrain from making any predictions about the potential LSU vs. Georgia/Florida conference title matchup until my compatriot has posted his thoughts on the top two teams in the SEC East. Suffice it to say that while Mizzou-Oklahoma has the makings of a great one in the Big 12, it pales in comparison to the electricity, environment, hype, and level of football action we should see out of the SEC Title game.