Weeks 1 And 2
Winning And Loving It:
Here it is college football fans -- only weeks before kick-off and fans are already talkin' about a possible repeat of a national championship for the Florida Gators. Can the Gators repeat? Or will they even compete for the Eastern Division of the SEC? What about LSU who some feel could have a legitimate shot at the top spot? And even more bizarre is the buzz about Vanderbilt, who some believe may be fielding the most talented team that school has seen in years! Let's break it down for you in the SEC College Football Preview in this fresh edition of Bosco's Beat, the official source for SEC Fans who want to be in the know! That's what I'm sayin'!
Cream Of The Crop: There will automatically be argument that Florida should be a good bet to repeat as SEC Champs, but most pre-season publications pick LSU to represent the SEC. Lindy's, Athlon, FoxSports and Rivals-dot-com all have the Tigers in their Top 3 with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution picking them at number 6. The 2007 Sugar Bowl champs kick off the third season under Les Miles with a road trip to Mississippi State on August 30th. A favorable schedule includes home games against Florida, Auburn and Arkansas. An early test could come September 8th as the Tigers host non-conference Virginia Tech. Player to watch: Senior QB Matt Flynn who replaces JaMarcus Russell, taken as the number 1 pick in the NFL Draft......It's general consensus among those in the know that the Florida Gators should be a legitimate Top 10 team with the Gators ranking in pre-season polls from the Number 11 spot (Lindy's) to Number 4 (FoxSports). The Gators will lose most of their defensive starters but will most likely get their 20th consecutive winning season under the leadership of starting QB Tim Tebow. A 15 game home streak is likely to continue with early games against Western Kentucky and Troy, but the Tennessee Vols come calling on Sept. 15th as the Gators' first test. Away games at LSU and South Carolina are probably the biggest challenges on an otherwise easy schedule which includes home games against Auburn and Florida State.
Representin': Returning QB Brandon Cox, among 10 upperclassmen on Auburn's offense is one reason why the Tigers could compete for a spot atop the Western Division of the SEC, but a tough road schedule (at Florida, Arkansas, LSU and Georgia) could derail those hopes. Pre-season polls put Auburn as high as No. 14 (AJC, Rivals.com, FoxSports) and as low as No. 23 (Lindys), probably due to the 'road hazards' the Tigers will face. All four of these road teams were at one time or another in the Top 10 during the 2006 season, but Auburn comes into the season with an SEC best 11-and-1 road mark over the last three years......Positives for the Georgia Bulldogs include the return of Groza Award and All-America candidate Brandon Coutu for placekicking duties and two strong defensive ends, Marcus Howard and Rod Battle, replacing Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson who left for the NFL. But bad news for the Dogs include a slew of arrests and suspensions during the off-season. Those suspensions are likely to come during the first game of the season against an upstart Oklahoma State team that could be a scary one for the Dogs. Key games for the Dogs include at home versus South Carolina, at Knoxville and versus Auburn in Athens......Tennessee gets leadership back at the quarterback spot with the return of Eric Ainge who was the bright spot in what Vol fans would consider a down year with four losses and a humiliating defeat at the hands of Penn State in the Outback Bowl. Thanks to Ainge, Tennessee ended the 2006 season number 2 in the SEC in passing offense, 12th in the NCAA. Four losses on offense include two big names, wide receivers Jayson Swain and Robert Meachem. Key away games for the Vols include visits to the Cal Bears out west, a scary trip to Gainesville, Florida and at T-Town to face Nick Saban and Alabama. Mark Bradley of the AJC has UT losing at Kentucky and Fulmer getting fired. But I wouldn't believe all that!.....Arkansas lost talented QB Mitch Mustain and got a nasty fan-driven storm in its place, so some analysts say the 'Hogs could be a disappointment from last year's runner-ups in the SEC Championship Game. The good news is they get talented TB Darren McFadden back as a junior and 2006 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. The Hogs open with what I believe will be a scary visit from Troy. Then comes an early bye to get ready for September 15th's road trip to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama. A brutal November schedule will determine perhaps the fate of head-coach Houston Nutt with a visit from South Carolina, a trip to Knoxville and a trip to Baton Rouge.....South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier believes his 'Cocks could contend for an eastern division title, but of course he'd have to beat three premiere teams in the league- Tennessee, Georgia and Florida and that's a tall order! But USC's running game is improved and nearly all the defensive unit will be back with the exception of corner Fred Bennett. South Carolina opens with a visit from UL Lafayette, but travels the next week to Georgia for a September 8th matchup and its first big test. Other key games include road trips to LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas.....Imagine the possibilities of how huge the Alabama - Florida State game is gonna be on September 29th. Both storied programs are expected to turn around and this is a key year for both. Legendary Bobby Bowden's 'Noles are being called the surprise team of the league coming into the season. After staff shake-ups, there's an awful lot of expectations here. Even more is expected of coaching guru Nick Saban, sent in to roll the tide from two conference wins all season into a restoration of national prominence. Now, which team of the two do you think has more expectations? After season opener Western Carolina and a road trip to Vandy, UA hosts Arkansas and Georgia back-to-back before heading to Florida to play FSU.
...And The Rest: You can put Rich Brooks' talented Kentucky squad at the top of the best of the rest, lead by QB Andre Woodson, who some call the best player to have ever played at UK. The QB's decision to come back to school for his senior year will spark an offense already loaded with power players like receiver Keenan Burton and versitile back Rafael Little. A big test for the 'Cats will come September 15th with a visit from state-rivals Louisville followed by a trip to Fayetteville to face the scrappy 'Hogs. Key home games include LSU and Florida in consecutive weeks and a visit from the 'Vols on November 24th.....Mississippi's got a little 'D goin under new defensive coordinator John Thompson and is getting praises from head coach Ed Orgeron. Some pretty big road-games will test that defense with trips to hated rivals Memphis, to Vandy, on the road to Athens, Georgia, at Auburn and at Mississippi State. Home games versus Florida and LSU are also in the mix. Just my two cents: Mississippi will upset one of the big boys, maybe Arkansas or Auburn. Hmmmm....They say Vandy could very well be the best 1-and-7 team in the south. That's the overall record versus the SEC from the 2006 season, losing to Alabama and Arkansas by a combined five points. And they made Michigan sweat a little for a whileas well. This season, talented QB Chris Nickson returns after throwing for more than 2,000 yards, running for another 694 during last season. The problem with Vandy is that between a trip to Auburn on October 6th and a trip I-40 eastbound to Knoxville on November 17, the 'Dores play Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. That's pretty tough for anyone, much less Vandy....The Mississippi State Bulldogs are expected by some sports pundits to be 3-and-9 by the end of the upcoming season. Strengths include a 'kickin' Special Teams unit, with Adam Cralson back in place to handle placekicking duties. And watch for junior college transfer Tony Burks who, on only 35 catches, totaled 850 yards and five touchdowns on the 2006 season. The weaknesses include a Defensive squad that has to replace six starters from last season. The schedule is brutal, season opener versus LSU followed two weeks later by a trip to Auburn. Other key games include visits from Tennessee, and trips to South Carolina and Arkansas.
Last Minute News: Alabama star cornerback Simeon Castille was arrested on Sunday, August 19th for disorderly conduct near an entertainment district in Tuscaloosa. Castille is the fourth high-profile Alabama football player arrested in the past two months.....Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom has announced the suspension of back-up QB Josh Riddell for what is believed to be a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.....South Carolina QB Blake Mitchell is appealing his suspension from the team due to missing summer school classes. The ol' ball coach says if the suspension sticks, back-ups Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher would see action against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 1st.....Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt says QB Casey Dick's little brother Nathan will back up his big bro this season.
News 'N Notes From 'Round The Nation: Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis says he has decided on a starting QB for the season opener against Georgia Tech, but won't say if it will be Evan Sharpley, Demetrius Jones or Jimmy Clausen.....Drew Weatherford gets the nod as starter over Xavier Lee as the FSU Noles open at Clemson on Sept. 3rd.
