The Hokie Guru (Govloop’s Bureaucrat on Sports)… The SEC College Football Preview!!

The Hokie Guru caught up on a movie last night… Something New…

You did what? With who? Well, can he?

It’s everything that it’s advertised… the Hokie Guru loved it… you need to see it.

Let’s get hyped up!!!!

Let’s get it started… with the Conference that’s won the last three national championships… the Southeastern Conference (SEC)…

The SEC has five teams in the AP top 25 (3 in the top ten; five in the top 15). Florda, Georga, Alabama, LSU, and Mississippi, the teams in the top 25, could likely win every other conference in America. As much as it pains the Hokie Guru to say it, we are talking about really, really good football here.

East

1.) Florida – This year, Florida got this most votes ever in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top 25. It was also kinda unanimous among the preaseason mags to pick Florida #1. Some think that Tim Tebow will be considered an all-time great quarterback. Others, like the Hokie Guru, think Tebow will FALL FLAT in the National Football League (Tebow’s not on Mel Kiper’s Big Board). To be sure, the Hokie Guru is picking the Gators to be in the national championship… and to win… but. c;mon, Urban Meyer… Charleston Southern for your opener? Florida International? Guys… if you have two losses this year, my vote goes to Penn State if they have one loss. You don’t play Alabama or Mississippi in the regular season (only in the SEC Championship game). In addition to having talent, it looks like the SEC is also setting the table for you. Nice.

2.) Georgia – The Georgia Bulldogs are almost the mirror image here of the Gators… take a gander at their schedule… The Bulldogs take on Oklahoma (ON THE ROAD) right out the gates and have the Arizona State University Sun Devils at home (they played them on the road last year)… their only layup would be Tennessee Tech on Homecoming (everyone needs a layup on Homecoming). Top that off by a road game to hated rival, Georgia Tech. Wuff. The Bulldogs will be battle tested by the game against Florida on HALLOWEEN. So, on top of the fact that the Florida/Georgia matchup is consider the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party (in Jacksonville, FL), it’s also on Halloween. The Hokie Guru thinks the beer trucks will be coming in from Milwaukee for this one. Ahh, but the Guru digresses. Georgia is a premier football program. Bulldogs Head Coach, Mark Richt, has won 82 games in 8 years. Georgia must replace quarterback, Matthew Stafford, who was the #1 pick in the NFL draft. The Bulldogs must also replace Knowshon Moreno, one of the top running backs in the draft. Can the Bulldogs get done by losing so much talent at the skill positions? CFN at the link above says that Georgia just might get it done by having a running back by committee approach and a game manager in senior Joe Cox (and an incredible offensive line)… and stud, AJ Green. It’s possible… expectations were huge last year for this team… and, at #13, the Bulldogs might fly under the radar and win the SEC… not the Guru’s first pick, but that game on Halloween seems like a good day to have a party… and if the Bulldogs win, they could have a special year.

3.) Tenneseee – The Tennesee Volunteers hired lightening bolt, Lane Kiffin, in the offseason and he’s basically stoked the rivalry with Florida again. Tsk, Tsk… and he got reprimanded. Kiffin will basically rely on a tough as nails defense (who doesn’t in the SEC) and a ball control power running game offense. The Vols are still in rebuilding mode and need about two years of recruiting classes to get back to national relevance again.

4.) South Carolina – The Hokie Guru loves Steve Spurrier, but is not sure he can ever get it done in Columbia. Most normal schools would be happy with a .500 record or better, but this is the SEC.

5.) Vanderbilt – Vandy has the greatest motivator in all of the SEC in head coach, Bobby Johnson… maybe gets more out of his players than any coach in the SEC… Vandy made a bowl game last year against BC… not sure if it happens this year.

6.) Kentucky – It must be harder than anything to coach football in Bluegrass country… past men’s basketball coaches include Rick Pitino and now John Calipari… football will always be 2nd fiddle there.

West

1.) Alabama – Nick Saban… perhaps the SEC’s best coach. Two #1 rated recruiting classes in a row (2008 and 2009). Were the problems fixed in last year’s meltdown vs. Utah? Look out for Nose Tackle, Terrence “Mountain” Cody, perhaps the best defensive lineman in America. The offensive line is the biggest question mark on this team, but the talent is there on the O side of the ball. On defense, the Crimson Tide might have the best linebackers in the country. We knew it would be a matter of time before Saban would get Alabama in the national picture… check out the SEC Championship game against Florida to find out if the Tide is all the way back.

2.) Mississippi – Welcome to big time status, Ole MissRebels. America is wondering whether you can get it done under the lights when it counts. Welcome to your biggest game in 40 years (The Guru will be in Blacksburg, VA for the Virginia Tech/Boston College game, but will have an eye on the scoreboard). The Hokie Guru thinks this is the Rebels time… they will beat Alabama at home… they will make the SEC Championship game… and at minimum, they will be in a Bowl Chamionship Series game… most likely the Sugar Bowl (which is in New Orleans… don’t kid yourself… bowl officials like to fill the seats and Oxford, MS is a stone’s throw from New Orleans). All eyes are on Javan Snead… the best QB Ole Miss has had since Eli Manning. Head Coach, Houston Nutt, came into a program last year that was STOCKED with talent. The Rebels will be loaded on the defensive line. The schedule is very favorable with Arkansas, Tennesee, and Alabama all at home… on your calender, circle the date with South Carolina… a great Thursday night matchup… win that one and we could see special things from Ole Miss this year.

3.) LSU – The SEC West is loaded. How fun… the LSU Tigers, the Guru’s third best team in the SEC West, would win any other conference in America… such is life in the SEC. The Tigers have the talent to beat anyone in the SEC (and anyone in America). Remember this name by the end of the season… LSU QB, Jordan Jefferson. He might not be one of the best QBs in the country, but he has the skills be a good game manager… and that’s one you need in the SEC. With tough as nails linebackers and defensive lineman, the Tigers will be in every game.

4.) Arkansas – I know very little about Arkansas, but I do agree with Sporting News that they have the best transfer in the SEC in former Michigan quarterback, Ryan Mallett.

5.) Auburn – The Tigers are in rebuilding mode, but made an incredible hire in offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn.

6.) Mississippi State – I don’t know what to say here. How about a quote from the web site? Mississippi State University forms part of a cohesive town-university community with the growing agricultural-commercial-industrial town of Starkville. Located in the eastern part of north-central Mississippi, it is 125 miles northeast of Jackson and 23 miles west of Columbus; it is served by Highways 82,12 and 25 and by feeder air service through the Golden Triangle Regional Airport 14 miles east.

Have a great weekend… Pac 10 preview later today… our week 1 picks on Sunday. If you didn’t see our other previews, the Big 10 11 is here, the Big 12 is here, the Big East Least is here, the Atlantic Coast Conference is here, and our best of the non-BCS is here.