Preliminary Power Rankings for 2010 SEC Football
This article is an attempt to combine teams in the SEC on levels according to expectations and ability for the 2010 season.
This is not a full prediction and any comments or suggestions will be considered and used in my SEC pre-season predictions.
I would ask that each reader look hard and make good, intuitive suggestions. I will include some of the suggestions and predictions in my upcoming pre-season articles. Each reader is invited to comment on each team, not just their own.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Level One: Contenders
Alabama
They must be considered the favorite much as Florida was last season. Until a team beats the best, they cannot be the best. Alabama is facing a lot of change in the upcoming year.
They lose the majority of their defensive line and their defensive secondary. They will have little problem keeping up the level of play with their linebackers. They also lose much of their offensive line.
2009 Final Statistics are available at this site:
LSU
They must be considered a major contender. They will face little change this year. They should return better and ready to play ball.
They lose some defensive linemen and a few other defensive players. Replacements are already in place. They lose the majority of their running backs, but have recruited well for this position.
2009 Final Statistics are available at this site:
Level Two: Ready to Contend
Georgia
They must be considered ready to contend this year. 2010 can not be considered a rebuilding year for this team. Georgia will expect results and improvement this year.
They are losing key players on their defensive and offensive line. They have recruited well and have all of the players to fill these gaps. They lose a senior quarterback, but gain a more talented redshirt freshman.
2009 final statistics are available at this site:
Arkansas
They must be considered ready to contend this year. They have a returning veteran quarterback and the entire team is young. Hog fans are looking for some real signs of the future this season.
They lose very little as the third year under the current coaching staff approaches. They are not have as much success recruiting this year. This is primarily due to the young nature of this team. There will not be many starting spots vacated.
2009 final statistics are available at this site:
Auburn
They must be considered ready to contend this year. They return the majority of their team. They have recruited better than anyone expected. Auburn fans are expecting a return to contention this season.
They lose their starting quarterback, running back, and a few other positions. Players were already in place to fill these gaps. With added experience and upgraded talent all over the team one would expect Auburn to see huge improvement.
2009 final statistics are available at this site:
Level Three: One Year Away
Florida
The end of the "Tim Tebow Era" also ended one of the most successful runs in NCAA football history. With the head coach taking a sabbatical, and the team losing so many key parts, this will be a rebuilding year for the Gators.
They lose the entire core or the offense and defense this year. They also have the talent of several top ten recruiting classes to fill the gaps.
While it will be a rebuilding year for the Gators, they will be a good team this year. If all the pieces come together well, they could even contend for the Eastern Division of the SEC once again.
2009 final statistics are available at this site:
Tennessee
They were better in 2009 under a new head coach. They have recruited as well as can be expected and are making progress.
There were simply too many gaps to fill so soon. With one more year of recruiting they should have all the right pieces.
They lose their starting running back and quarterback. They lose key elements of their offensive and defensive line as well as their defensive backfield. They have recruited replacements, time will tell how they pan out.
2009 final statistics are available at this site:
Mississippi State
They were much improved in 2009 under the guidance of their new head coach. Mississippi State fans can look forward to more strides forward in 2010. This was a team that needed a total rebuild. This will be Year Two of that three-year process.
They lose some key parts of the team this year. The consensus is that they have recruited well and many of these positions will be upgraded in 2010. Running Back may be the exception to this general statement. Mississippi State could use a good running back in this recruiting class.
2009 final statistics are available at this site:
Level Four: Little Positive Change Expected
Vanderbilt
This team had a dismal 2009 season. Recruiting has not gone all that well, and little improvement is expected this year. Vanderbilt fans are growing impatient and are ready to return to respectability.
South Carolina
This team seems to be caught up in a perpetual plane of mediocrity. They have accomplished about the same success for several seasons in a row now. I see no reason that this would change for 2010.
Kentucky
This team is bringing in a new head coach. He has been part of the system. I am in a "wait and see" mode with them for now. Kentucky had a good year in 2009 and it will be hard for them to duplicate while getting accustomed to the change.
Ole Miss
This seems to be a team that is bailing water at a slower rate than the leak is allowing in. Recruiting is not going well at all. Talent levels are falling at every position. I see a big step back for this team in 2010.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
