SEC Football: Breaking Down the SEC Teams in ESPN's 'CFB Live' Top 25

It seems like just yesterday that Alabama hoisted the crystal football in New Orleans, but we are nearly halfway through the offseason already. So what does that mean? Time for preseason rankings.

ESPN's "College Football Live" released its Top 25 on Tuesday. As expected, SEC teams litter the top of the rankings. Were those teams ranked appropriately?

My colleague Michael Felder over at "Your Best 11" attacked this from the national angle, and Adam Jacobi over at the "Big Ten Blog" tackled it from the Big Ten perspective. Here's my take on the SEC teams in the list:

No. 2 LSU Tigers: Ranked Too Low

Maybe it's because of SEC fatigue and maybe it's because Alabama and LSU are going to split SEC votes. No matter the reason, it appears that USC will likely be the preseason No. 1. The true No. 1 should be LSU.

The Tigers return five starters on the offensive line, four studs at running back, Tyrann Mathieu—a Heisman Trophy finalist from a year ago—at cornerback and one of the most athletic defensive lines in the country. LSU ran the regular-season table en route to the SEC championship, and did so without a functional quarterback. Zach Mettenberger is much better than just "functional." He's got a cannon for an arm, and the threat of the downfield pass might be all that LSU needs to win the BCS championship.

No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide: Ranked Appropriately 

Alabama is one of the most interesting teams in the preseason rankings. Head coach Nick Saban has built that program to a point where it really doesn't rebuild anymore; it simply reloads. 

In the SEC West, that's still a tough task. Alabama is in a similar situation to where it was in 2010, when it came in as defending national champions but full of holes on defense. You don't replace guys like Courtney Upshaw, Dont'a Hightower, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, DeQuan Menzie and Josh Chapman without some growing pains—I don't care how many stars the guys backing them up had or how they've looked in practice.

How Saban and Co. minimize those growing pains will be what makes the difference in Alabama having a legitimate national title team, or just (ho-hum) another 10-win season.

No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs: Ranked Too High

Georgia had a solid season in 2011 when it reeled off 10 straight wins and captured the SEC East title for the first time since 2005. But was it the best team in the division? That was the question last season when South Carolina swept the SEC East but missed out on Atlanta, and it will be the same in 2012. 

The reason? For the second straight season Georgia won't play Alabama, Arkansas or LSU out of the SEC West. South Carolina, on the other hand, will play at LSU and vs. Arkansas.

The Bulldogs are replacing three starters on the offensive line, have all sorts of depth issues in the secondary and were forced to move Malcolm Mitchell—their best offensive weapon from a year ago—to cornerback this spring.

Georgia's preseason ranking will be interesting this year because we will see if voters rank based on where they think teams will finish or the merits of the team at any given time. The No. 6 team in the country is a legitimate national title contender, but Georgia has too many questions to be considered a legitimate contender at this point in time.

No. 8 South Carolina Gamecocks: Ranked Appropriately 

People forget just how good Connor Shaw was late last season. He threw for for more than 200 yards in each of South Carolina's final three games, and averaged 80 rushing yards per game over that stretch. Losing Alshon Jeffery will hurt, but the combination of Shaw and a healthy Marcus Lattimore sounds like a defensive coordinator's worst nightmare.

Bookend defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor should make the impact of losing former assistant head coach in charge of defense Ellis Johnson minimal.

The Gamecocks will be a fringe national title contender. When you're on the fringe, all you need is a break or two to move into the middle of the conversation.

No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks: Ranked Too Low

It doesn't matter if it's Bobby Petrino, John L. Smith or John Daly calling the plays for the Razorbacks...Arkansas is a national title contender in 2012.

The Hogs have two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates in quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis. Petrino is known as being an offensive coach, but his brother Paul Petrino knows the system well. If there is a drop-off, it will be minimal.

Defense has been a problem in Fayetteville, but new defensive coordinator Paul Haynes is supposed to be the cure. His defense gave up 87 rushing yards to a Kansas State team that averaged 185 rushing yards per game in his debut in the Cotton Bowl. Tenarius Wright is a stud whether he lines up at defensive end or linebacker. Wright and the arrival of junior college transfer Austin Flynn should offset the losses of defensive ends Jake Bequette and Jerry Franklin.

No. 25 Florida Gators: Ranked Too High

Florida has the name value, but I just can't see how the Gators deserve to be ranked at this point.

What exactly did they do between January 1 and now to warrant any hype at all?

While the quarterback battle between Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel doesn't have Gator fans as concerned as they were before spring practice, it still hasn't been decided yet. 

The one thing that we did learn is that Mike Gillislee is slated to be the every-down running back in Gainesville. While the quarterback play has taken the majority of the criticism post-Tebow, the lack of a between-the-tackles running game is really what has held the Gators back during the last two seasons. 

Not Ranked but Could Be

Missouri may be better than Florida right now, and if the Tigers beat Georgia in Week 2, they will be in the mix for the SEC East championship. James Franklin is a stud at quarterback and will turn heads in the SEC in 2012. I don't necessarily think they should be in the Top 25, but the Tigers should be above Florida.

Auburn is a year older, has a better defensive coordinator and probably will be better on offense too. Former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn got a lot of hype, but he was remarkably predictable in 2011 and that was a big reason why Auburn's offense struggled. The Tigers will be dancing around that No. 25 spot when the AP and Coaches' Polls come out this summer.

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