College Football: Seven Storylines in the SEC heading into 2008

As we head into the 2008 season in the SEC, there are some big storylines that will look to play out on the fields all across the South. Even though there are many things we do know going into the season, here's a look at some questions that will need to be answered to determine how this SEC season plays out.

7. Can Phillip Fulmer stay off the hot seat in Knoxville?

The Tennessee coach has been on the hot seat for a few years now, but always seems to avoid it getting too hot. Last year, most people thought of Florida and Georgia as the best teams in the East, but it was Tennessee who surprisingly made it to Atlanta.

Fulmer took a ton of heat when the Vols didn't make a bowl game a couple of years ago, but he has rebounded enough to at least get the fans and boosters off his back.

However, with Georgia and Florida competing for a national title this year, the pressure will only get greater on Fulmer and Tennessee to produce. Getting blown out by your archrival Alabama doesn't help either.

6. How fast can Bobby Petrino make an impact at Arkansas?

Arkansas is coming off a Cotton Bowl appearance and had some good success under Houston Nutt in recent years. But now with Nutt gone, former Falcons coach Bobby Petrino comes in to take over the job, but without Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the backfield.

Petrino is regarded as one of the best offensive minds in college football and a good recruiter as well, but he has some rebuilding to do at Arkansas.

Returning starting quarterback Casey Dick hasn't been called upon to pass the ball much the past two years, so it will be interesting to see how Petrino can develop him and if Dick can effectively run his offense.

While the Hogs may struggle some this year with the transition from a power game to a pro-style passing attack, look for Michigan quarterback transfer Ryan Mallett to speed up the rebuilding process in 2009.

5. Can Nick Saban improve on last season, and can his freshman class make an early impact?

Saban is coming off a 7-6 season that had its ups and downs. He saw his team hang tough with Georgia and LSU, and destroy Tennessee. He also saw his team lose at Mississippi State and at home to Louisiana-Monroe.

There's little doubt that Saban has the program going in the right direction, but how fast will Alabama fans expect a turnaround? Most of the offense and defense return, but there were some key players lost.

That's where the freshmen will have to come in and contribute for this team to better their mark from last season. Expect some key newcomers to come and be factors, but how quickly and how effectively they can do that will decide how the Alabama season plays out.

4. Can Auburn overcome two new coordinators and make it to Atlanta?

Tommy Tuberville has never shied away from making changes in his coaching staff if they were needed. Auburn did this once before in 2002, bringing in Bobby Petrino and Gene Chizik as coordinators and won nine games. Not a bad duo.

But this season is more intriguing because of who the Tigers will be bringing in on the offensive side. Out with the Power I formation and in with the spread offense, it will be a vast difference in the way the Tigers attack on offense.

Rhoads will keep it relatively the same on defense, except for a few changes from man to zone in the secondary at times.

Can Auburn get situated in two new schemes and make it to Atlanta? We should know a lot more after the fourth game of the season, when Auburn takes on defending national champion LSU.

3. Will Les Miles be less or more without Ryan Perrilloux?

Les Miles might be one of the most underappreciated coaches in the nation, considering what he's done at LSU the past three years and the lack of respect he's received from SEC fans, and even some LSU fans in the process.

With Miles coming off a national title, it was looking good for the Bengal Tigers in '08, that is until Ryan Perrilloux got kicked off the team and left them searching for a new starting quarterback.

LSU has the talent across the board to win the SEC, but without a proven quarterback that Miles has been blessed with so far at LSU, we will see what kind of coach he really is and if he can overcome that and get back to the SEC championship.

2. Can Tim Tebow repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner?

History was made last year as Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. The Florida quarterback stormed on the scene doing things at the quarterback position that we just aren't used to seeing.

Tebow became the first quarterback ever to throw for and run for 20 touchdowns in one season and he looks to do more of the same this year. With a wealth of talent around him, don't look for Tebow's passing numbers to go down any from last year, but with some new running backs to help lighten the load, don't expect to see the big rushing numbers and touchdowns either.

If Tebow can win the Heisman again in 2008, he could be looking at a shot to become the only player in history to win the Heisman three times in 2009. But 2008 comes first, and don't be surprised if he does it again.

1. Can Mark Richt and the Dawgs handle that brutal schedule and the pressure of being the consensus pick to win the national title?

Pressure is a funny thing. It either makes you better, or it destroys you. Well Georgia better get used to it because they will have the pressure of being a title contender and a big bullseye on their back from day one.

The schedule Georgia has to play is brutal as well, with games at Arizona State, at home against Alabama and Tennessee, on the road at LSU, followed by the annual game against Florida, and a late season road game at Auburn. No problem, right?

Most people are picking the Dawgs to at the very least, land a spot in the national title game, and most are picking them to win it. Georgia hasn't been in this position yet under Richt of starting the season at the top and how they handle it will make the difference in a BCS title game appearance, or a two- or three-loss season.