With LSU winning the BCS National Championship Game in 2007, the SEC West now has two coaches that have won National Championships and another that has gone undefeated. 

With the amount of talented players in the division, that means that 2008 is likely to be a knock-down, drag-out affair between these six teams - LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and last but not least, Arkansas.

While the division is probably realistically only a three horse race, any one of the six could deal a devastating blow to another’s chances of gaining a trip to Atlanta.  In this division, the axiom is true: any team can beat any other team on any given Saturday.

LSU and Auburn will enter the 2008 season as the favorites to win the SEC West.  While Alabama will be talked about as a contender, the Crimson Tide are probably more likely to decide the ultimate winner, rather than win it themselves.  While Coach Nick Saban has amassed a wealth of talent in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide are probably still at least a year away from winning the SEC West. That means that the two Tigers will likely battle for the top spot in the division and a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game.

LSU and Auburn will face off in a contest which may up being the West's decider on September 27th. 

But there could be upsets. Sylvester Croom and Houston Nutt both have talented teams in Mississippi.  Arkansas might be the darkhorse of the division, with new coach Bobby Petrino sure to revitalize an offense that now lacks two first round NFL Draft choices from 2007 (Darren McFadden and Felix Jones).  And Alabama should find themselves capable of winning every game they play and injuries could determine just how far the Tide go in the 2008 season. And if we have learned anything from the 2007 season, it is to expect the unexpected.