2009 SEC Preview and Predictions: Gators Are This Years Favorite.

(Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Last season was a surprising one to say the least, few people expected Bama to win the west,Auburn and Tennessee replacing two of the best coaches in their respective programs, Georgia coming up short on three occasions, and Ole Miss performing so well under the new leadership of Houston Nutt.

These events sure make this season one of the most anticipated seasons in the SEC in quite some time, we have five teams in the preseason top 25, and top 15 in most polls, three new coaches, and a match up of two SEC greats, Steve Spurrier, and Nick Saban.

The preview will be broken down in order of which teams will finish with the best overall record in coference play.

1. Florida Gators (8-0)

Face it, Superman, Tim Tebow, is returning, as well as all eleven of their defensive starters. The only starters missing will be speedsters Percy Harvin, and  Louis Murphy, and two o-linemen, Phil Trautwein, and Jason Watkins.

There is more than enough talent at skill positions to take the heat off Tebow even without Harvin and Murphy, and with the Pouncey twins returning their formidable o-line looks no less impenetrable.

They do play all 8 conference games in a row, with a break between Kentucky and LSU. They have two games that may worry fans, those being Georgia and LSU. Lets be honest Georgia couldn't beat Florida with Stafford and Marino so there is no way they beat the Gators without  them.

LSU is coming off a disappointing season, and will be breaking in a relatively new qb, however they will be playing Florida just one week after a trip to Athens to play the dawgs between the hedges yet even more of an advantage for the Gators.

With Tebow at the helm the Gators should be right on target for ye another SEC championship berth and in all probability a BCS championship.

2. Ole Miss Rebels (7-1)

The SEC west is  Houston Nutt's to lose. I believe he avoids the sophomore jinx as a coach and leads the rebels to an SEC championship berth. However to do so he must navigate the waters, between Alabama and LSU both of whom have their eyes on the championship berth. Whom better to steer a ship clear of Bama and LSU than junior qb Jevan Sneed.

Despite a slow start last season, Sneed finished the last 6 games looking like an all-American. The Rebel defense is back, and after proving themselves against Texas Tech, Greg Hardy and the gang appear to be ready to disrupt the status quot in the SEC west. 

There really isn't a conference game the rebs should lose, but with Bama and the Bayou Bengals to contend with a 7-1 record will do just fine.

3. Alabama Crimsontide (7-1)

Bama shouldn't face too many conference challenges, the only two games that should trouble the Tide are LSU and Mississippi. The way I see it Bama beats LSU, LSU beats Mississippi, and Mississippi beats Bama.

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