The SEC, West this time

SEC West Preview

The Southeastern Conference as usual will be one of the, if not the best football conference in America this season. From top to bottom, this conference plays some of the best football in the land. Just look at the past several National Champions, and you can see just what we're talking about.

This week, I will look at the Western Division, next week, I'll take a look at the top heavy SEC East.

Auburn

Offense- This year brings a different look on the plains. Well, not just different, dramatically different. The Tigers bring in Spread Offense guru Tony Franklin to change what was already a pretty good team.

Gone is long-time starter QB Brandon Cox and in comes QB Kody Burns. Burns took some snaps late last season, including quite a few in the Tigers 23-20 victory in last seasons Chick-Fil A Bowl over a tough Clemson squad.

Other returnees include Senior Running Back Brad Lester and a whole host of offensive lineman. The key to this unit, this year will be how fast they pick up and cohesively run the new offense.

Defense- The defense is also sporting a new coordinator. Gone is longtime Coach Will Muschamp and in his place comes Paul Rhoades, the former Defensive Coordinator at Pitt.

As always, this defense is full of standouts, such as Defensive Lineman Sen'derick Marks. It's a veteran unit that will again be only as good as the adjustment to a new coordinator makes them.

Outlook- The Tigers, I feel will be the team to beat in the SEC West. Though they certainly will have a hard time getting to Atlanta, I think they will be successful. Tommy Tuberville is a smart coach who knows what needs to be done to survive the usual viscous schedule. Look for the Tigers to be a 10-2 team and be playing in Atlanta come the beginning of September. (Prediction 1st in the West, 10-2 overall)

LSU Tigers-

Offfense- This part of the Bayou Bengals looks to be the biggest question mark. Gone is Ryan Perriloux, who had he learned how to behave, would have been the starter on a team that may have contended for another national title. The probable starter now, Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch, though true freshman Jordan Jefferson is certainly waiting in the wings.

Also gone from this team, Jacob Hester and wide receiver Early Doucet, both huge contributors on the National Championship team. The cupboard in Baton Rouge is hardly bare. Running Back Keiland Williams is back, along with receivers Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd.

Defense- The D in de tiger stadium will be just fine. Coach Les Miles still has a gumbo bucket full of defenders on whom to count on this season to carry the team. Gone of course is Glenn Dorsey, along with Safety Craig Steltz and Linebacker Ali Highsmith. Returning for the Tigers is Dorsey's counterpart, Ricky Jean-Francois and Linebacker Darry Beckwith.

Outlook- As always, this will be a very good team. At this point, there are enough question marks to wonder if this will be a great team. A lot of there success hinges on the battle at Quarterback. So goes the QB, so go the Tigers (Prediction- 2nd in the West, 9-3 overall)

Mississippi State Bulldogs-

Offense- Few teams grew more over the course of the 2007 season than Sylvester Croom's Bulldogs. All of a sudden this became a very dangerous team. Now Sophomore Quarterback Wesley Carroll seemed to figure things out last year as the season drew on. With a full year under his belt and the extra big Running Back Anthony Dixon to hand off to, this looks to be a year where Miss. State will not be able to surprise anybody.

Defense- On defense, Senior Derick Pegues and Linebacker Jamar Chaney headline a blue collar, hard hitting unit. This group much like the Offense was grossly underrated last season and thus the Bulldogs shocked quite a few teams. This was a young unit last season, look for them to improve even more this year

Outlook- I like this team. I like where Coach Croom has them going. Beating Auburn and Alabama last season did wonders for this groups confidence. Look for them to do well this year and again reach a bowl game. (Prediction 8-4, 3rd in the SEC West)

Alabama Crimson Tide-

Offense- This should be a good starting unit, the only question will be depth. Quarterback John Parker Wilson is in his 3rd year as a starter, should be a good SEC quarterback. He has the arm, but hasn't had the success that many thought he would. Running Back Terry Grant provides Wilson with a great run option and all the folks in Tuscaloosa have been raving about incoming Freshman Julio Jones at Wide Receiver. If Jones is half as good as the hype than this offense should not have too much to worry about

Defense- The D is another story. This group has been hit hard with offseason legal problems. That combined with the lack of depth mean one thing. This could be trouble.

Outlook- I'm not sure anyone really knows what to expect from this team, this season. Any team coached by Nick Saban will probably be good, but we don't know how good. The probation and loss of scholorships the past few years has really begun to hurt the Tide. It will take everything Saban has to coax a Bowl Game out of this bunch. (Prediciton 7-5, 4th in the SEC West)

Ole Miss Rebels-

Offense- This team also is a very intriguing one for 2008. In comes Texas transfer Jevan Snead and out goes the chaos that has passed for the QB position in Oxford. Snead has the ability to put up big numbers and open up a lot of options for a team that has been offensive in many ways for the past several years.

Defense- The "D" may be a bit shakier this year for incoming coach Houston Nutt, but that won't last for long. With defenders like Jamarca Sanford holding things down, the hope is that these guys will keep the Rebels in ballgames.

Outlook- This is another up and coming team in the SEC. With Coach Nutt, they may not be great "this" season, but as he puts his players in place, they will only get better in the seasons to come. (Prediction 6-6, 5th in the SEC West)

Arkansas Razorbacks-

Offense- No team in the SEC was hurt more by graduation than this bunch. Gone is All-World Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis and Marcus Monk. Returning however is Casey Dick at QB and new Coach Bobby Petrino has to find someone who can make plays for Dick and the Razorbacks to be successful

Defense- On defense this team will be OK, but not spectacular. Defense has never been a strong point on a Bobby Petrino team and don't expect this group to change that. The good thing they have going for them is they are young and will get better as the season goes.

Outlook- Don't expect much from these guys in 2008. Everything for them was geared for 2007 and it didn't work out the way they hoped. With a new coach comes a lot of rebuilding, if Petrino sticks around (big "IF"), they will get better, but don't expect anything for the next 2 years. (Prediction 3-9, last in the SEC West)

Overall- The teams here are all for the most part young and will improve. I don't feel any of them will walk away the winner in Atlanta in December, but during the 2008 season, you don't want any part of the top 3 teams in the West.