2008 SEC Football Prediction- SouthEastern Conference

The SEC East is the class of the SEC and boasted some of the best teams in the country. This year all of the usual suspects are back and ready to make a run for the BCS Championship. The team that takes control of the conference and wins the SEC will have a good chance of being on the way to the BCS championship game.

Georgia Bulldogs: If there is any team in the SEC East with more pressure than the Bulldogs have let me know. They return eight starters on offense and nine starters on a terrorizing defense. The schedule is on the side of the dogs with an easy start and just one tough stretch at LSU before facing Florida. A split in that situation can easily net the bulldogs at least a share of the SEC title. Projected Finish: First in the East; 11-2

Tennessee Volunteers: The Volunteers have rebuilt and re-loaded and are ready to make an immediate impact this year. The schedule is not kind out the gate with tough games at UCLA, Georgia, and Auburn but the schedule ends on a softer note. The offense returns 10 starters to include the entire offensive line and senior running back Arian Foster. The defense has to step up and play better than last year and if they can do this the volunteers will have a shot. Projected Finish: Second in the East; 10-4

Florida Gators: The Gators always have no problem getting top shelf players for the upcoming year. Urban Meyer has a way with his kids and his quarterbacks as Tim Tebow decided to stay put even after getting the heisman award. Florida didn’t cut any corners with the schedule either taking on the cream of the crop; this may end up hurting them in the end. Projected Finish: Second in the East; 10-4

South Carolina Gamecocks: Steve Spurrier doesn’t remember the SEC being this hard to play in. After what looked like the start of a great season the gamecocks quickly collapsed and lost five straight to end the year. Many people point to last year’s injuries for the collapse but the way the schedule is set up they may just do it again. The final five games are against LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas, and on the road against Florida and Clemson. They will make a run but it won’t be enough in the SEC. Projected Finish: Fourth in the East; 8-5

Vanderbilt Commodores: Vanderbilt fans have plenty to be thankful for because Kentucky should save them from finishing dead last this year. Vanderbilt does have some quality quarterbacks at the helm, but the problem is the entire offensive line will need to be replaced and that will be a challenge for the young signal callers. While the rest of the SEC has improved, Vanderbilt has taken a step back and will look to rebuild. Projected Finish: Fifth in the East; 6-6

Kentucky Wildcats: This could be a tough year all around for the wildcats. Rich Brooks is in his lame duck season as he is going to turn the team over at the end of the year. They lost some quality starters starting with quarterback Andre Woodson, and big holes at WR, RB, and TE. With a tough schedule and Louisville waiting for a huge payback look for the Wildcats to fight for the cellar in the SEC. 7Projected Finish: Last in the East; 5-7