SEC Football Q&A: Who Will Win the Florida Quarterback Battle?

Every Thursday on The SEC Blog, we will feature questions from the Bleacher Report inbox, Twitter and e-mail. Do you have a question for next week's Q&A? Send it to SEC lead blogger Barrett Sallee via the B/R inbox, on Twitter @BarrettSallee or at [e-mail].

You've got SEC questions, and I've got SEC answers. Thank you everybody for your questions this week, and if I didn't get to them this week, they are still saved and will be used in the future.

And with that, we're off:

"

@BarrettSallee Who wins the Florida QB battle? How does Pease affect the decision instead of Weis?

— Josh.O (@Josh_Point_Ooh) June 21, 2012"

Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett exited spring practice tied atop the depth chart, but a lot of fears were calmed this spring by the play of both of the top contenders.

In the spring game, the two combined for six passing plays of more than 20 yards. For reference, the Gators only had 35 passing plays of more than 20 yards all of last season.

Driskel has more scrambling ability than Brissett, so if all things are equal in the passing game, I would imagine that new offensive coordinator Brent Pease would prefer Driskel. Moving the chains with a running quarterback won't be a big part of his game plan, but that could be the tiebreaker in this battle.

It's certainly a fluid situation, though, and I could see either of the two front-runners being successful in the SEC in 2012.

"

@BarrettSallee do u think scheduling tougher non-conference games will be more of a factor if the the "best 4" playoff model happens?

"

"— Reginelli (@s_reginelli) June 21, 2012"

This question was sent before the presidential oversight committee approved the new plan, but it's probably even more applicable today.

I think it depends on the conference and the perception at the time, which is cyclical. Perception is reality in college football, and right now, the SEC doesn't need to go nuts scheduling out-of-conference games.

The general method for most teams in the SEC is to have one established out-of-conference opponent, and then fill in the rest with former non-AQs and/or Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams. There's nothing wrong with that, as the week-in, week-out grind in the SEC is second to none in college football.

It's going to vary based on team, conference and perception. Whether it's specifically stated to be a factor or not, strength of schedule is going to factor into the decision-making of the selection committee.

"

@BarrettSallee Will #Vandy continue their rapid upswing under Coach James Franklin, or do they stagnate?

— Kevin Paul (@KevinJPaul) June 21, 2012"

On the recruiting trail, there's no doubt.

Franklin is relentless in the living rooms of prospects, and according to 247Sports.com, Vanderbilt's 2013 class is already ranked No. 15 in the most updated team rankings. That's quite impressive, and that momentum doesn't look like it's slowing down any time soon.

On the field, I still have my doubts.

Vanderbilt won six games last season, which is impressive considering it's Vanderbilt. But the Commodores were a few breaks away from posting a nine- or even a 10-win season.

Franklin gets Zac Stacy—one of the SEC's top running backs—back this season, and that will certainly help. If he can capitalize on the momentum generated on the recruiting trail and from last season's success, then I'll become a believer in Vanderbilt.

"

Do you think Bama RB #EddieLacy will lead the SEC in rushing this season?"@BarrettSallee: Today is #SEC Q&A day! Send those questions in!"

— BamaFan (@Mojo5491) June 28, 2012"

Not with Knile Davis and Marcus Lattimore in the SEC.

My colleague Michael Felder and I actually debated this topic this week.

Eddie Lacy may be a talented running back, but he's nowhere near as established as Trent Richardson was when he took over as the unquestioned every-down back.

Lacy has just 325 career rushing yards against SEC teams, while Richardson had 754 playing alongside Mark Ingram in 2009 and 2010. Plus, 572 of Lacy's 674 yards last season came after Alabama already had a lead of eight or more points.

I think that Alabama will use more of a by-committee approach this fall since Jalston Fowler, Dee Hart and T.J. Yeldon all can do slightly different things. That, coupled with the fact that A.J. McCarron is more established as a weapon at quarterback rather than a caretaker, will prevent Lacy from ascending to SEC-topping levels in 2012.

Follow @BarrettSallee