It’s a new year, but the top two teams in the SEC (and the nation for that matter) are the same. Alabama and Florida are 1-2 again, and are both popular picks to be in the BCS title game behind their terrorizing defenses. In all likelihood, these two teams will meet in Atlanta again for the SEC Championship Game, and the winner will punch their ticket to Pasadena, Calif., for the BCS Championship Game. However, below these two teams, the league is very bunched together. No team has emerged as the clear third best team in the conference, and upsets abound (except for ‘Bama and UF) and high scoring affairs early in the season have dominated the conference. Lately, though, defenses have begun to take over again. Why is that not surprising? Hopefully the second half of the season will bring us just as much drama (and a few Florida losses).
Offensive MVP: A week ago, it would have been a toss up. But after his performance last week, Alabama RB Mark Ingram seperated himself from the pack. The sophomore has ran for 905 yards, tops in the SEC, and eight TD’s, while maintaining a 6.7 yards per carry average. He has also caught three more TD’s. Ingram should be on top of everyone’s Heisman list. As the schedule gets tougher, ‘Bama will probably turn to their run game more and more, and that is great news for Ingram.
Defensive MVP: Tennessee’s Eric Berry is not only the best defensive player in the conference this year, but also one of the best of all time. He has amassed 50 tackles, and while he has only one interception on the year, that has more to do with the fact that offenses avoid throwing at him than his not playing well. He also has one fumble recovery. Berry’s presence on the field changes games.
Biggest Surprise: Auburn. They may not be back to the top of the conference yet, but the turnaround already under new coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has been evident. The Tigers offense was anemic to say the least last year, but through seven games this year ranks second in the SEC with 34.9 points per game. They struggled the last two weeks, being blown out by Arkansas and dropping one they shouldn’t have to Kentucky, but it’s obvious that Auburn is headed in the right direction again. If QB Chris Todd can step up, Auburn can make some splashes over the second half of the season. A big game against rival #9 LSU looms Saturday, and after that the Tigers still have match-ups with Georgia and Alabama.
Biggest Disappointment: Mississippi has been disappointing, but I really didn’t buy in to them being the 4th best team in the land before the season started anyway. To me, the most disappointing team has been Georgia. Their defense has totally forgotten how to tackle and seems to get run through each week, and once again the Bulldogs lead the league in penalties with 9.2 per game. Their total of 65 penalties is 13 more than the next team, Arkansas. I really thought Georgia was going to be a contender this year, but it’s obvious I was wrong. They still have the best WR in the conference (and maybe the nation) in A.J. Green, who is a close second to Ingram in the Offensive MVP award. Green leads the SEC with 41 catches (13 more than the next player) and 682 yards (199 more than the next player). A win over #1 Florida in two weeks would go a long way in easing the pain for ‘Dawgs fans.
Best Game: Arkansas at Florida. The Gators escaped 23-20 on a last second field goal against an unranked Razorback team that almost pulled off the upset in The Swamp behind QB Ryan Mallett. Florida got a few calls in its favor at the end of the game, and it made a difference. The conference overall has had some stellar games, from South Carolina at Georgia in Week 2 (a 41-37 shootout win for UGA) to Georgia at Arkansas in Week 3 (a 52-41 come from behind win for the ‘Dawgs) to LSU at Georgia in Week 5 (LSU escaped from Athens with a 20-13 victory on a TD run with 46 seconds left). I apologize for each game containing UGA, but they have been in three of the best four games in the conference this year.
Best Coach: Nick Saban, Alabama and Gene Chizik, Auburn. Auburn’s turnaround behind Chizik was highlighted above, but the Crimson Tide and Nick Saban are rolling along in what very well could have been a rebuilding year. After losing QB John Parker Wilson and RB Glen Coffee to graduation, ‘Bama was supposed to finish behind Ole Miss in the SEC West. Instead, new QB Greg McElroy and RB Ingram have been great, and though the passing attack has struggled in the last two weeks, the Tide has found ways to win. Saban is doing an incredible job in Tuscaloosa, and ‘Bama may be at the top for a long time. And by the way…they dominated Ole Miss 22-3 in Week 6. This team may come home after the season with a national championship.
Coming Thursday: Nick’s Picks, Week 8
Coming Next Week: World Series Preview
