The SEC Mid-Season Breakdown

Here is a breakdown of the SEC at mid-season.  It features a team-by-team breakdown of the SEC as well as a look at the conference race by division.

This article is brought to you courtesy of SEC Sports Hub.

SEC East Overview

The SEC East has been as unpredictable in 2008 as any division in college football.  Most people expected National Championship contenders Florida and Georgia to be undefeated and atop the division.

Instead, both of the championship hopefuls find themselves with one loss already.  More startling still, they sit atop the SEC East tied with Vanderbilt.

The Commodores have shocked both the Southeastern Conference and the country by jumping out to a 5-1 start, with upset wins over South Carolina and Auburn.

Head coach Bobby Johnson seems to have his team poised to make their first post-season trip since 1985.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Knoxville is extremely terse.  New quarterback Jonathan Crompton had worlds of trouble and with Tennessee having a 2-4 record, he has been benched.

If the Volunteers don’t rebound during the second half of the season, head coach Phillip Fulmer might be forced out of Knoxville.

The Gamecocks struggled early on, dropping their second and third games to Vanderbilt and Georgia respectively.  However, Spurrier’s squad has quietly rolled up a 5-2 record and hung in the SEC East race.

Kentucky has struggled to replace some key starters from their talented team last year.  The Wildcats won four straight before dropping their first two SEC contests and they will rely on their defense to carry them as far as they can for the rest of the season.

The National Championship hopes of both Florida and Georgia are still alive and well, thanks to another upset-laden college football season in 2008. 

Their matchup in Jacksonville on Nov. 1 will be the most important matchup for the SEC East the rest of the way and will likely decide who will represent the East in the SEC Championship in 2008.

Florida Gators

The Gators got off to a hot start, riding their defense and special teams to a quick 3-0 start.  However, the offense was less than impressive throughout those three games and Florida ran into a tough matchup in Ole Miss.

The Rebels shocked the Gators, seemingly ending their SEC Championship hopes, but after Georgia lost to Alabama the same weekend, Florida found themselves still right in the hunt.

In the last two weeks, the Gators’ offense has exploded for 89 points behind the strong running of a few freshmen and the improved play of Heisman winner Tim Tebow.

After blowing out defending National Champion LSU, the Gators find themselves right back in the thick of the SEC and BCS National Championship races.

What Florida has to do to get to Atlanta

The Gators have a much easier row to hoe than the other mid-season favorite, Georgia.  Florida has only four remaining SEC games which include home games against Kentucky and South Carolina and a road trip to Vanderbilt.  Florida also plays Georgia in Jacksonville in a neutral site contest.

Barring upsets, that means Florida’s path to Atlanta is straight through Jacksonville.  If Florida can avenge their 2007 loss to the Bulldogs, they should be competing for their second SEC Championship in three years.

The defense will have to continue to play well and the offense cannot afford to regress to the conservative play-calling that had a hand in their loss to Ole Miss.

Staying healthy on the offensive line will be another big key for the Gators.

Best Offensive Player

QB Tim Tebow: The reigning Heisman winner has been less productive this season than his record breaking season last year, but he’s still getting the job done. 

He still has more total touchdowns than any player in the division and his passer rating is tops in the conference.  If he can continue to let the players around him make plays, he will have a championship caliber season.

Best Defensive Player

LB Brandon Spikes: He has been the motor for a much improved defense.  His leadership and presence in the middle makes the Gators a tough team to run on.  Spikes fuels the entire defense with his play and has the ability to make a game-changing play on every snap.

Best New Player

RB Jeffery Demps: The freshman leads the Gators in rushing and has been absolutely explosive over the last two weeks, turning in back-to-back 100+ yard performances. 

He also has four touchdown runs of 30+ yards, which is twice as many as the Gators had during the entire 2008 season.  His presence has made the going much easier for Tebow and fellow wide receiver Percy Harvin.

Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs had lofty expectations to live up to in the 2008 season.  After an embarrassing home loss to Alabama, Georgia is still in a good position to fulfill those expectations.

Georgia sits tied atop the SEC East with both Florida and Georgia.  The schedule won’t get any easier for the Bulldogs in the weeks to come, though.

A matchup with the upstart Commodores and then a tough trip to Baton Rouge to take on the defending National Champion Tigers still loom ahead of the highly anticipated matchup with the Gators in Jacksonville.

Heisman candidate Knowshon Moreno has lived up to the expectations, single-handedly carrying Georgia at times.  But his job seems to get tougher every week.

The Bulldogs lost their top offensive lineman against Tennessee last week when Vince Vance went down with an ACL injury.  Things have gone from bad to worse on an offensive line that already had questions entering the season.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has looked good, but still hasn’t been as productive as many expected him to be.  His receivers have underperformed somewhat, but they are showing strong signs of improvement, and freshman A.J. Green looks to be a future superstar at receiver for the Bulldogs.

In any case, Georgia is still in great shape to make a run at the SEC and BCS Championship, but they will have to stay injury-free and play well in some key games.

To read the rest of the Georgia Bulldogs mid-season breakdown, click here.

Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats got off to a great start to the 2008 season, going 4-0 with a suffocating defense.

However, SEC play has been rough on Kentucky, who have now dropped their first two conference games.  The good news for Kentucky is that they were competitive in both games, one of which was against No. 2 Alabama, who only beat Kentucky 17-14.

If we’ve learned anything about Kentucky so far this season, it’s that their defense is good enough to keep them competitive in every game.  Their offense is about as inconsistent as they come, much to the dismay of Wildcat fans.

With their top weapon on offense, wide receiver Dicky Lyons Jr., now out for the season, Kentucky still has a long way to go on offense.

Defensively, this might be the best unit that has ever played at Kentucky.  It all starts up front with defensive tackle Myron Pryor on the defensive line.  Pryor has been a one man wrecking crew and his play has elevated the play of the entire defense.

The secondary has been the beneficiary of the defensive line’s pressure, forcing turnovers and severely limiting opposing passing attacks.

The Wildcats have a big hole to dig out of if they expect to compete for the East, starting with an 0-2 conference record.

To read the rest of the Kentucky Wildcats mid-season breakdown, click here.

South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks got off to a very slow start, to the point where fans were questioning legendary coach Steve Spurrier’s ability.

However, South Carolina has quietly built up a respectable 5-2 record and put themselves right back into contention in the SEC East.

The Gamecocks still play LSU and Florida, but they finally seem to have found some rhythm offensively as wide receiver Jason Barnes has looked phenomenal over the past few weeks and new starting quarterback Stephen Garcia seems to have all the tools necessary to lead the Gamecocks to some wins.

The defense is performing as well as ever and seems to have fixed the run defense that plagued them throughout last season.

With Spurrier on the sideline, the Gamecocks should be able to stay in every game they play.  If they can pull off an upset or two, South Carolina can make a surprise appearance in Atlanta.

Injuries will be key to the rest of the season and if South Carolina can stay healthy, Spurrier can take them to new heights as a program.

To read the rest of the South Carolina Gamecocks mid-season breakdown, click here.

Tennessee Volunteers

After winning the SEC East in 2007 and returning a good number of starters on both sides of the ball, Tennessee was supposed to be a viable darkhorse candidate in the East this year.

Instead, the Volunteers are off to their worst start in over two decades, opening the season up with a loss to an awful UCLA team and falling to 2-4 since.

Quarterback Jonathan Crompton has struggled so much that he has been benched in favor of Nick Stephens.

The Volunteers have already been soundly beaten by two of their biggest rivals in the SEC in Florida and Georgia.

In fact, Tennessee’s season has been so bad that there are growing whispers that coach Phillip Fulmer, one of the longest tenured coaches in college football, might be pushed out the door.

With an 0-3 conference mark, Tennessee’s goal at this point in the season should shift to simply making a bowl and trying to gain some momentum heading into the 2008 season.

The offense is finally showing signs of life with Stephens under center and wide receiver Gerald Jones is a phenomenal up and coming playmaker.

Defensively, Eric Berry is as good a safety as there is in the country and he has led an average Tennessee defense that is also showing signs of improvement.

To read the rest of the Tennessee Volunteers mid-season breakdown, click here.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt shocked the college football world by rolling off to a 5-0 start and jumping all the way up to #13 in the AP Poll.

Despite a loss to Mississippi State last week, the Commodores still find themselves ranked nationally and sitting atop the SEC East, tied with favorites Florida and Georgia.

While the Commodores have been less than impressive statistically, they have benefited from a terrific turnover ratio and smart play.

Coach Bobby Johnson has put Vanderbilt in a position to win every game, which is something that has Vanderbilt close to bowl eligibility only halfway through the season.

The Commodores have ridden a strong secondary and some phenomenal special teams play from D.J. Moore to their current ranking.

Their path to Atlanta won’t be an easy one, with games against Florida and Georgia still looming.  That said, the Commodores do control their own destiny.

To read the rest of the Vanderbilt Commodores mid-season breakdown, click here.

SEC West Overview

The SEC West has been an absolute slugfest so far, with four teams already having at least two conference losses.  Only unbeaten Alabama and one loss LSU have less than two conference losses.

The West was expected to be a two-team race between Auburn and LSU, but that prediction has certainly shifted now halfway through the season.

Auburn has already fired their new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and currently sit at the bottom of the SEC West standings with a 1-3 conference record.

LSU lost last weekend in a landslide victory at Florida and is hanging on for dear life in the conference race, as they still face several very talented teams down the stretch.

That leaves undefeated Alabama on top of the SEC West.  The Crimson Tide have done everything right this season, upending then No. 9 Clemson in the season opener and shocking No. 3 Georgia in Athens with a 31-0 first-half performance.

Alabama is in the thick of the conference and national championship picture and should remain the rest of the season.

Ole Miss has played pretty good football, but has been plagued by inconsistently. With more consistent play from quarterback Jevan Snead, the Rebels could still make some noise in the SEC West race.

Arkansas has had a rough transition with new head coach Bobby Petrino taking over, but the Razorbacks finally seem to be clicking after beating Auburn last week.

Mississippi State had lofty expectations after a surprising 2007 season, but have been the wrong end of a few close ones this year.  Coach Sylvester Croom and his team will fight the rest of the way to become bowl eligible.

Alabama is the clear favorite to win the West at the halfway point, but as the first half showed us, just about anything can happen.

Alabama Crimson Tide

The Crimson Tide are off to an impressive and improbable start to the 2008 season, rolling to a 6-0 record and a No. 2 national ranking.

Coach Nick Saban has his young team focused and playing well and it has showed in several times this season, namely in blowout victories of Clemson and Georgia.

With a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way, Alabama is seeking a return to Atlanta and possibly even Miami with a berth in the BCS National Championship Game.

Seemingly the only obstacle left for the Crimson Tide is an ominous trip to LSU’s Death Valley in a match that will likely pit Saban against the school he formerly led to a National Championship.

In all likelihood, Saban’s team will still be in the thick of the race for their own National Championship when they arrive to Baton Rouge.

Alabama has won with great play in the trenches on both sides of the ball.  They have played focused, fundamentally sound football and if they continue that type of play through the second half of the season, a trip to Atlanta is likely.

What Alabama has to do to get to Atlanta

The Crimson Tide are in phenomenal shape in the SEC West picture, with LSU the only team within striking distance of the title at this point.

Even then, LSU already has one loss and if they drop another game, it will make Alabama a shoe-in for the division title.  Should the Tigers lose, the Crimson Tide could even afford a loss to LSU and still make it to Atlanta. 

The Tide just have to keep playing fundamentally sound football and they should beat every team on their schedule.  They are tried and true and barring a superhuman effort from any one team, the Crimson Tide are more than capable of running the schedule.

Another thing that will be key to Alabama’s SEC Championship aspirations are injuries.  Alabama has quality across the board in the starting roles, but there is little depth behind them.

Should a key player go down on the defensive line or in another crucial position, Alabama could find themselves in trouble.

Best Offensive Player

RB Glenn Coffee: He has racked up the yardage this year for the Tide, breaking big runs and blowing by defenders.  He has single-handedly carried the team at times, securing a tough win against Kentucky a few weeks ago. 

He will continue to see plenty of carries the rest of the season, but he needs to cut down on his fumbles, which could prove costly against some of the better competition left on the schedule.

Best Defensive Player

DT Terrence Cody: His play on the interior of the defensive line has taken Alabama’s defense from an average unit to a phenomenal one.  He demands two blockers at all times and his commanding presence has allowed Saban’s 3-4 scheme to work to perfection.  He blows up runs through the middle and limits what opposing teams are able to do on offense with his massive playmaking ability.

Best New Player

WR Julio Jones: He has quickly become the top target at receiver for the Crimson Tide, as many fans expected prior to the season.  His big, athletic frame make him a great target, particularly in the end zone.  His route running is phenomenal and he has quickly developed into one of the biggest play-making threats in the SEC.

Arkansas Razorbacks

The Razorbacks have had a difficult start to the season, barely skating by Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe before suffering blowouts at the hands of Alabama, Texas, and Florida.

Coach Bobby Petrino’s offense has developed slowly, but finally seems to be clicking after a big win at Auburn.

Running back Michael Smith has been phenomenal and the Arkansas offensive line is still just as good as the unit that opened holes for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones last season.

Defensively, the Razorbacks have a long way to go, but they have shown improvement.

Petrino hopes to get his team to a bowl this year and that will mean his team must win at least half of their remaining games.

He will have his work cut out for him against some of the better teams in the country.  Luckily for the Razorbacks, LSU is the only marquee team left on the schedule after having already faced Alabama, Texas and Florida.

If Petrino can indeed get Arkansas bowl eligible and receive a bowl bid, this season has to be considered a huge success for the Razorbacks.

To read the rest of the Arkansas Razorbacks mid-season breakdown, click here.

Auburn Tigers

The 2008 season can be described as a disaster for the Auburn Tigers so far.

After bringing in new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin to implement the spread, the Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 start heading into their highly anticipated matchup with LSU.

But Auburn lost to LSU and have since dropped two more SEC contests.  They now sit at the very bottom of the SEC West standings with a 1-3 conference record.

Tony Franklin has already been fired and Auburn seems to be headed for the SEC cellar.

The offense hasn’t been able to get anything accomplished and seems confused out on the field.

Auburn’s defense is staying on the field longer than they are accustomed to as a result of short, stalled drives by the offense .

If the Tigers hope to improve this season, they will need to get much better play from their quarterback and score some points on offense.

To read the rest of the Auburn Tigers mid-season breakdown, click here.

LSU Tigers

The Tigers entered the year with somewhat tempered expectations, but after starting 4-0 those expectations hit a peak. 

Fans in Baton Rouge were thinking repeat after securing a tough road win at Auburn.  However, after suffering a humiliating loss to Florida, Tiger fans are back on the planet earth.

The good news for Tiger fans is that there is plenty of potential on this team and they are still more than capable of winning the SEC West for the third time in four years.

The offense has been pretty good so far this season and the running ability of Charles Scott has been a pleasant surprise.

New quarterback Jarrett Lee has also stepped in and performed fairly well and is usually not a liability to the Tiger offense.

The defense still has plenty of questions to answer, on the other hand.  After surrendering 51 points to Florida, the secondary has some serious issues to deal with.

Inexperience has cost the Tigers and a relatively thin linebacking corps hasn’t improved matters at all.

The defensive line still isn’t getting the pressure they should for the amount of big-time playmakers they have and they will have to improve if they hope to win the SEC.

Les Miles’ coaching ability as a whole will be put to the test the rest of the way, with tough games against South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama still to come.

To read the rest of the LSU Tigers mid-season breakdown, click here.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

The Bulldogs entered the 2008 season with heightened expectations after a very successful 2007 campaign.

However, coach Sylvester Croom and his team have found the going rough in 2008 and have lost several tough matchups. 

Mississippi State currently sits near the bottom of the SEC West with a 1-2 conference record, but after upsetting No. 13 Vanderbilt last week, things seem to be on the rise for the Bulldogs.

They will win games this year the same way they did last year: by capitalizing on turnovers and establishing a strong running game.

Anthony Dixon hasn’t had quite the breakout season that many thought he would, but the Mississippi State running game is still very good.

With a little better play at quarterback, the Bulldogs could end up on the right side of some of their close games.

To read the rest of the Mississippi State Bulldogs mid-season breakdown, click here.

Ole Miss Rebels

The 2008 season has been a roller-coaster ride for Rebel fans, with big wins and disappointing losses.

One theme has remained constant throughout the season: as quarterback Jevan Snead goes, so too go the Ole Miss Rebels.

Snead led the Rebels to a 2-1 start and a near upset of Wake Forest on the road before having a disaster of a game against Vanderbilt.

He then went on to lead the Rebels to a shocking upset of then No. 4 Florida on the road.

To give credit to the rest of the Ole Miss team, Snead has plenty of weapons at his disposal and the defense has played well in crucial situations, excluding the last drive against Wake Forest.

The Rebels still have an outside shot at the SEC West title, but they will have to win out to get there.

Unless Houston Nutt is the most underrated coach in the country, that probably won’t happen.

To read the rest of the Ole Miss Rebels mid-season breakdown, click here.

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