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 Friday, December 13, 2002
Mark September 15 on your calendars
By Terry Bowden
Special to BCSfootball.com
Bowden's Weekly Chat Show
There's only one question about the Southeastern Conference this year that is not open for debate. That's who is the preseason favorite to win the league crown. As for everything else about the conference, it's going to be wide open.
|  | | Jabar Gaffney has two talented quarterbacks battling to throw to him. |
The Florida Gators are not only the prohibitive favorite to win the SEC, but they are picked by many as the favorite to win the national championship. If head coach Steve Spurrier can decide who the starting quarterback is going to be by the Tennessee game on Sept. 15, there is enough talent in The Swamp to sink the rest of the conference.
Speaking of talent, the entire conference is again loaded with future NFL stars. This past April, the SEC and the Big Ten each had 40 players drafted by the NFL -- more than any other conference. It's little wonder why the SEC is considered the most athletic league in America.
That tradition will continue in 2001 as Tennessee defensive tackle John Henderson is being penciled in by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. as the No. 1 player to be selected in the 2002 draft. Two other surefire first-round selections are South Carolina defensive end Kalimba Edwards and Florida DE Alex Brown. Needless to say, defense will rule this year in the SEC.
For the past decade, the Eastern Division has been a two-team race to the SEC Championship Game between Florida and Tennessee. They have had absolutely no competition from the rest of the division. This year will be no exception.
If Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen was a little more seasoned and the game wasn't being played in Gainesville, I might give the Vols a chance in this game. But he isn't and they aren't, so the Volunteers will have to settle for second.
The bigger battle in the East will be between Georgia and South Carolina for third place. Georgia had the most players drafted in the SEC this year, but couldn't win the big game. Thus, Jim Donnan is out and Mark Richt is in. The talent level is outstanding again this season, but putting in the FSU offense will be at least a two year proposition.
On the other hand, South Carolina is the only SEC team that had absolutely no one drafted this season. The difference is that Lou Holtz has always had a knack for winning the big game. This year, the Gamecocks will definitely have a few players who will be playing on Sundays in a few years, especially on defense. And, just as importantly, Holtz will not forget how to win the big game. Look for South Carolina to hold down the third spot in the East.
As for all you Kentucky and Vanderbilt fans, I wish I could tell you there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, I can't. At least, not in 2001. The only thing either team can hope for this year is to force the other into the SEC cellar.
For people who like suspense more than action-adventure, the Western Division is right down your alley. For the umpteenth year in a row, anybody can win this division. I know recruiting crazies hate to hear this, but what makes the West so unpredictable is that everybody usually has about the same amount of talent.
Thus, anybody can beat anybody.
|  | | The health of Rohan Davey is key to LSU's run for the West Division crown. |
Last year, no one in the West got through the SEC without three conference losses (Auburn's third loss came in the SEC Championship Game). This year we could very well see the same thing. It all ends up coming down to head-to-head competition and the winner is seldom determined until November. That's what I call suspense.
However, there's no mystery as to why I'm picking LSU to survive this tight race. The Tigers have 19 starters returning from last year's 8-4 team, including 10 on defense.
The most valuable of those returners is quarterback Rohan Davey. He has had a hard time staying healthy in the past and that is a must if the Bayou Bengals are to end up on top. Last year, he was healthy enough to play in only two games. The first was an improbable victory over Tennessee and the other was a come-from-behind bowl win over Georgia Tech.
The biggest obstacle for head coach Nick Saban is that LSU has the toughest schedule in the West. Not only do the Tigers have to play preseason favorite Florida, but they also have a road schedule that includes Tennessee, Mississippi State and Alabama.
Keep your eye on Sept. 15. This matchup with Auburn has always played a huge role in LSU's quest for the division championship.
Alabama and Mississippi State have the best chance of overtaking LSU for a chance to play Tennessee or Florida in Atlanta for the conference championship. Both of these teams play LSU at home, but the Crimson Tide's more favorable overall schedule gives them the nod for the runner-up position.
Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss should round out the division in that order even though they all could end up having the same record as LSU. Like I said, it all boils down to head-to-head competition.
Terry Bowden was the head coach at Salem College, Samford University and Auburn University. He is ABC's college football studio analyst and contributes regularly for BCSfootball.com.
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