So, which SEC East offense will be the best in 2013?

Georgia may be the obvious pick, but we all saw what happened to the Bulldogs’ defense in 2012, when they finished as underachievers. Could the offense have the same letdown?

There are way too many variables right now that we have to see play out during the season, but let’s take a look at the ceiling of each SEC East offense.

Florida Gators

Last year’s offense: 12th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Florida’s offensive line will be vastly improved, along with a more experienced and calmer Jeff Driskel. Quarterbacks make their biggest jump as a starter from year one to two, and some receivers will finally emerge, including freshmen, who can create separation. We know Florida will have a strong running game, and the overall offense will take a big step forward from offseason work.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: The running game aside, Florida needs too much help at receiver to be the East’s most explosive offense. Driskel may not make the progression everyone hopes, and currently, there are no go-to playmakers on offense, period. Also, the offense is also too conservative to be the East’s best.

Georgia Bulldogs

Last year’s offense: 3rd in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Georgia may have the best quarterback in the SEC in Aaron Murray, and the league’s best running back in Todd Gurley. Murray has five receivers to choose from, and the entire offensive line returns intact. The Bulldogs should score 40-plus points per game in 2013.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: The offensive line is slightly unsettled and was shuffled during spring, and it remains the biggest question mark heading into 2013. Star receiver Malcolm Mitchell and Michael Bennett both are recovering from surgery and certainly are question marks until they see game action. If it’s not Mitchell, who will stretch the field for Georgia?

Kentucky Wildcats

Last year’s offense: 13th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Neal Brown’s offense was electric at Texas Tech. They led the Big 12 in passing yardage, and Brown has three quarterbacks to choose from, along with four running backs who will all see carries, to make the Wildcats much better in 2013. The Air Raid offense has proven to come out of nowhere in years past. Will that prove true in 2013?

Why they won’t be the division’s best: While the offense will improve, the depth at receiver needed to run the Air Raid offense just isn’t there. The Cats have at the most four receivers who are difference makers, and it will take a few years of recruiting to build up the one position needed the catch 40-plus passes per game.

Missouri Tigers

Last year’s offense: 11th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Josh Henson takes over the reigns of the Mizzou offense, and a change in coordinators could be what kick starts last year’s struggling offense. A healthy Missouri offense could surprise the SEC East in 2013, led by a much better season by James Franklin, who happens to get running back Henry Josey back from injury. The Tigers will feature a strong receiving cast, too, headlined by Baby Lebron: Dorial Green-Beckham.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: Mizzou’s lack of offensive depth was exposed in 2012. How much more depth do they have this season? Also, former OC David Yost was handcuffed by all the injuries, and Missouri just may not have the talent to compete against the good SEC defenses yet. Besides, Franklin hasn’t proven anything in the SEC yet, and there’s a ton of pressure on Gary Pinkel this season.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Last year’s offense: 9th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: There’s nothing sexy about Carolina’s offense. It’s not high-flying and it doesn’t score 40 points per game, but it’s extremely balanced and productive. The two-quarterback monster adds to the running back tandem of Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds. Carolina’s offense will be much better than advertised, despite being Lattimore-less.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: One of the biggest question marks regarding the Carolina offense falls at receiver. Bruce Ellington is back, but outside of Ellington and Damiere Byrd there are questions. Carolina’s offensive line also allowed the second most sacks of any unit in the SEC last season, and that’s another major area of concern heading into 2013.

Tennessee Volunteers

Last year’s offense: 2nd in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Tennessee could have the best offensive line in the entire conference, and both running backs return, along with rapidly rising newcomer Alden Hill. The lack of a passing game will be overshadowed by one of the better running games in the SEC.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: Losing the big three of Tyler Bray, Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter is way too much talent to have the best offense in the division, and we haven’t even mentioned productive Zach Rogers yet. Yeah, I love the offensive line, but the passing game has way too many question marks right now.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Last year’s offense: 8th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: First-year Vandy starter at QB, Austyn Carta-Samuels, has previous starting experience at Wyoming and has a mess of talent around him in 2013. The offensive line is very solid, along with two of the best receivers in the league in Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd. RB Zac Stacy leaves a void, but Brian Kimbrow, Wesley Tate and Jerron Seymour will help fill the chasm collectively.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: Stacy was the team’s heart and soul at running back and has led the overachieving Commodores the last couple years. The Commodores are in great position to shock the East this season, but with Vandy, there’s always a talent gap question that shows up in certain games. Can this offense beat a top SEC defense? That’s what I want to see.

Photo Credit: Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE

We reviewed the SEC’s biggest hits by defenders in 2012, and I’m not only a sucker for big hits but for huge offensive plays, too. And there weren’t too many bigger plays than these five:

5. Ace Sanders’ slippery punt return against Missouri

4. AJ McCarron to TJ Yeldon

3. Cordarrelle Patterson houses it against NC State

2. Johnny Manziel’s Heisman moment against Bama

1. Jarvis Landry’s one-handed catch

All positions:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide Receivers
• Sack Masters
• Tacklers
• Interceptions
• The Kickers
• The Punters
• Kick Returners
• Punt Returners

Punting is a crucial and often overlooked aspect of college football. But the SEC coaches get it – in order to win SEC games, teams have to be very efficient and win the special teams battle. No one knows this more than Florida’s Will Muschamp, as field position, special teams and defense helped propel Florida to 11 wins.

The Gators’ Kyle Christy finished 29th in the country with 66 total punts, and he averaged 45.8 yards per punt, good for 5th in the country. Christy was an All-SEC performer and one of Florida’s best players in 2012. Alabama’s Cody Mandell finished second in the SEC among returners, averaging 44.28 yards per punt on 50 total attempts.

This is not a ranking, and it’s based on field goal percentage:

1. Kyle Christy, Florida
2012 stats: 66 punts, 45.8 yards per kick

2. Cody Mandell, Alabama
2012 stats: 50 punts, 44.28 yards per kick

3. Landon Foster, Kentucky
2012 stats: 61 punts, 42.9 yards per punt

4. Collin Barber, Georgia
2012 stats: 60 punts, 41.47 yards per punt

5. Baker Swedenburg, Mississippi State
2012 stats: 57 punts, 41.05 yards per punt

6. Steven Clark, Auburn
2012 stats: 70 punts, 39.76 yards per punt

7. Tyler Hull, South Carolina
2012 stats: 56 punts, 39.48 yards per punt

All stats based on CFBStats.com

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

What’s the big deal anyway?

If you’ve been living in a cave in the Deep South over the last few days, Florida OL coach Tim Davis, who has previously worked under Nick Saban for three years, jokingly called Saban ‘the devil himself’ during a Florida fan event.

“I’ve always wanted to work with (Florida coach) Will (Muschamp),” Davis said. “Will’s got a plan. Will coached under the devil himself for seven years. I only did three. He did seven. And his DNA is not any different than Nick.”

The apparently height-challenged Antichrist has been accused of being ‘the devil himself’, ‘Nicky Satan’ and the ‘Prince of Darkness’ all over the span of the last few months. It all stems from a play on words with Saban, and I’d venture to say championships have something to do with it, too. That’s it.

Then, ESPN’s Mark May called Davis a ‘classless backstabbing coward’ yesterday on the Mothership.

“I don’t know Tim Davis, but my opinion, he’s a classless backstabbing coward,” May said on ESPN. “You’re talking about a guy in Nick Saban that gave you an opportunity to coach. He gave you an opportunity to move up the coaching ranks, so you could support your family, put food on the table, clothes on their backs. Not for one year. He gave you the opportunity for three years on his staff.

“If you have a problem with Nick Saban, pick up the phone, put your big-boy pants on and man up and say ‘Coach, I got a problem with you and here’s why.’ You don’t go out in front of some group of friendly fans out there and say that about Nick Saban, a guy that gave you an opportunity to be a coach.”

Mark May apparently didn’t get the same tongue-in-cheek tone from Davis as 90 percent of the country did. What a radical and outlandish approach by Davis, trying to energize and stir up fans at rallying event. Saban probably takes it as a compliment. After all, if no one is gunning for you or talking about you, you’re irrelevant. And Saban certainly isn’t irrelevant.

A few days ago, Will Muschamp vowed to end Georgia’s two-game winning streak, and UGA OC Mike Bobo assured fans the Bulldogs would be ready for South Carolina.

Many boosters and fans don’t want to hear about the Xs and Os of college football. Hell, many can’t tell you the difference between a center and a guard. Especially at fan rallies and events, they just want to hear about how they’re going to be able to brag at the water cooler on Monday mornings come fall, not how you have the best pulling guard in the conference.

Simple tongue-in-cheek statements meant to rally crowds shouldn’t be taken so seriously.

What Davis, Muschamp, Bobo and Franklin said was meant to rally and rile up home crowds – nothing more, nothing less. It’s funny and entertaining and gives us something to talk about in May, when college football is essentially dead to the world.

As long as coaches don’t pose any death threats or attack the SEC, we’re all good. Intra-conference shots are allowed and welcomed.

After all, isn’t it a coach’s job to rally fan bases?

Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey/CFA-pr via USA TODAY Sports

So, which SEC East defense will be the best in 2013?

There are way too many variables right now that we have to see play out during fall camp and on into the season, but let’s take a look at the ceiling (and the floor) of each SEC East defense.

Florida Gators

Last year’s defense: 2nd in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Will Muschamp will always put a great product on the field, and while the Gators lost two first-round picks and five other starters, it’s important to note that Florida’s depth chart is loaded. The return of Ronald Powell only helps cement one of the SEC’s best defensive lines. Buck LB Dante Fowler is a budding superstar, and MLB Antonio Morrison is one of the best LBs in the SEC. Not to mention, Florida has two lockdown corners in Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson.

Why they could be the division’s worst: Let’s face it: Florida’s not going to be the East’s worst defense. But they could certainly have a down year. The four key losses are DT Sharrif Floyd, MLB Jon Bostic, S Matt Elam and coordinator Dan Quinn, who went back to the NFL. The line will be solid and deep, but inexperience abounds at linebacker and safety, leaving too big of a hole for unproven players to plug. Florida could also have a tough time forcing turnovers, something the team lived and died on last year.

Georgia Bulldogs

Last year’s defense: 6th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Nothing is better than a group of young, talented and super hungry underclassmen. Last year’s defense screamed selfish, and players were particularly worried about their NFL dreams, but this group is super talented and ready to prove everyone wrong. Jordan Jenkins could be the SEC’s best rush OLB, while safeties Josh Harvey-Clemons and Tray Matthews are ready to be young superstars. The run defense can’t get any worse than last season’s, and Georgia, collectively, will be better than everyone thinks.

Why they could be the division’s worst: Replacing eight starters is no cakewalk in the SEC. When teams live and die on their defensive performance, the inexperience could catch up with the defense in a hurry. Let’s face it: Todd Grantham may not even be the coach we all thought, as he couldn’t coach one of the most talented defenses – on paper – in UGA history. In fact, Grantham’s defenses have given up virtually the same amount of points per game as Willie Martinez’s.

Kentucky Wildcats

Last year’s defense: 11th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Mark Stoops and DC DJ Eliot are great defensive minds and great leaders, and they will transform a Kentucky defense led by book-ends Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith. Avery Williamson will become one of the SEC’s better linebackers this season, and the Wildcats could shock the East.

Why they could be the division’s worst: Stoops and company just don’t have the horses they need to compete right now. Yeah, the first team is veteran-laid and is a solid group, but to compete in the SEC it takes stacked depth charts along the trenches, something the Wildcats just don’t have. Kentucky finished 10th in run defense last season, and that has to improve.

Missouri Tigers

Last year’s defense: 10th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Mizzou surprised its first year on defense, something few expected to actually happen. The Tigers will win up front, led by talented DE Kony Ealy and stout LB Andrew Wilson. The front seven should pretty be strong against the run.

Why they could be the division’s worst: While I think the front seven can be very good, the secondary is worrisome, namely at corner. Kip Edwards is gone, and finding his replacement to form a solid duo with EJ Gaines is proving to be difficult – not to mention the Tigers arguably lost the SEC’s most talented DT in Sheldon Richardson. The loss of Edwards, Richardson, Brad Madison, Zaviar Gooden and Will Ebner is just way too much to overcome.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Last year’s defense: 4th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Headlined by Jadeveon Clowney, the one great thing Carolina has proven over the last couple years is they can flat out get to the quarterback. Clowney could rack up 16 or more sacks, making this defensive line – and the rest of the defense – the nastiest in the East.

Why they could be the division’s worst: Absent DJ Swearinger, the Gamecocks have no fearless leader. Swearinger was the heart and soul of the defense, and replacing him, along with four proven LBs and Spur, will be too much to be the top overall defense.

Tennessee Volunteers

Last year’s defense: 14th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Defensive coordinator John Jancek is bringing back the 4-3 to the Vols’ defense, which will instantly make them better. And his 11 starters are actually better than advertised, led by linebackers AJ Johnson and Curt Maggitt. The starting 11 has to stay healthy and Jacques Smith will have to have a big year as a pass rusher.

Why they could be the division’s worst: While the starting 11 is strong, there is little to no depth in the front seven. The secondary was one of the league’s worst, and the Vols were the SEC’s worst overall defense in 2012. Playing devil’s advocate: what makes you think they will improve in 2013? They couldn’t tackle air last season, and they were out of position 90 percent of the time.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Last year’s defense: 5th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Vandy’s defense is led by the talented and studly defensive secondary. This group finished third in the SEC last season, and they return three of four, including one of the SEC’s top cover corners in Andre Hal. The Commodores also built some depth at linebacker and along the defensive line this spring, looking for an improved top-five SEC defense overall.

Why they could be the division’s worst: While the secondary is much better than advertised, the defensive line has holes. Losing three veteran and stout starters is tough for any team to overcome, and the teeth of the defense at tackle has the biggest void of playmakers. SEC defensive strength starts in the trenches, and the Commodores are thin at the one position they need the most depth.

Photo Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports

He’s saying crazy things.

A major threat to any person of power is getting to that point where you are so powerful and so in control that people don’t tell you when you are making an ass of yourself. Nobody has the clout or the balls to check you. Instead, you are surrounded by sycophantic yes-men who make you believe that your crazy talk is not only logical but brilliant and needs to be said in public.  Bob Stoops has clearly reached that point.

Stoops doesn’t want you to believe the “propaganda” the media is pushing, telling you that the SEC is the best conference in college football. He’s decided to be the brave voice who finally gathers the courage to speak about this up against this injustice.

Stoops, attending his own Oklahoma football propaganda event called the Sooners Caravan at OU-Tulsa, needed to go public with his brilliant theory, and who is a better audience than a room full of adults who paid $30 and children who paid $15 just to be in his presence?  As the Tulsa World reported, Stoops told a Sooner obsessed crowd, “So they’ve had the best team in college football. They haven’t had the whole conference. Because, again, half of ‘em haven’t done much at all. I’m just asking you. You tell me.”

There is no gap between the SEC and the rest of college football according to Stoops. “Well, it depends on what gap you’re talking about,” Stoops said. “What are the bottom six doing?”

Because, you know, that’s how sane people judge things.

For example the media will call the Miami Heat the best team in basketball. They’ll point to Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. But if you look closer you’ll notice that Joel Anthony averaged .4 points per game! Rashard Lewis only played in 5 games! How can a team that has Joel Anthony and Rashard Lewis on it possibly claim to be the best team in basketball! Top-to-bottom, people! Myth Busted!

If you are the kind of clown who believes propaganda you might believe that Tom Hanks is a great actor. You’re more than smart enough to figure it out. You could look at “Forrest Gump,” “Philadelphia,” “Cast Away,” “Apollo 13,” “Big,” or “Splash,” or you could look at a little pile of dog crap called “The Ladykillers”. Tom Hanks is top-heavy. Myth Busted!

Hollywood elitists will tell you that the Coen Brothers are amazing filmmakers. Sure, “No Country For Old Men,” “The Big Lebowski,” “Fargo,” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” are all amazing films, but how can you say they are great when on their resume is a little pile of dog crap called “The Ladykillers?!?!?!?!?” The Coen Brothers cast Marlon Wayans in a movie. Marlon Wayans! Myth Busted!

Because that is how we determine greatness. We look straight to the bottom. Stoops style.

You can’t look at stuff like rankings because those only the rank the top 25. What about the bottom? Ignore Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Florida and LSU. Look at Vanderbilt! Oh, wait, they went 9-4 and won a bowl game and finished in the top 25… Ignore them!

Look to the bottom. Keep going past Ole Miss who won a bowl game, past Auburn who won a National Championship three years ago… Kentucky! Look at Kentucky! Kentucky is terrible. They went 0-8 in the SEC. They are a pathetic excuse for a football team. I feel bad for the poor bastard who has to coach that program. Who is coaching that program these days? Oh, it’s Mark Stoops… Oh… Well, then. At Christmas next year I’m sure Mark will love hearing Bob’s little theory about how overrated the SEC is after he plays Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia next season.

Big Game Bob hopes you keep your focus at the bottom on the pack in the SEC regular season. Don’t pay attention to bowl results. Ignore that the only time Oklahoma played an SEC team last season, Texas A&M, when they got smoked to the tune of 41-13. A&M tossed up 633 total yards on Bob Stoops’ defense. Ole Miss, one of those bottom six SEC teams, only gave up 481 total yards to A&M.

Ignore that Oklahoma played Notre Dame at home and lost 30-13, but when Alabama played Notre Dame on a neutral site, Alabama won 42-14.

Ignore National Champions.

Ignore the NFL. As the Tulsa World astutely points out, “as far as that bloated NFL Draft number – one-quarter of the total players drafted last week were from the SEC – it’s much the same way: 46 of the 63 came from the top half of the league. The other seven schools produced just 17 draft picks.” The bottom seven schools only produced 17 draft picks… only five fewer than the entire Big 12.

I wonder if Stoops started to second guess his hypothesis after Charlie Weis piped off in his support?  As offensive coordinator at Florida, Weis managed to lead the Gators to a 3-5 record in the SEC. As first year head coach at Kansas he lead the Jayhawks to a season opening win over San Diego State University before losing every other game. 0-9 in conference. He knows how to be terrible in both conferences.

Weis told ESPN.com, “I’m just sayin’, you look at the bottom of our league and the bottom of their league, just going based off the numbers, there’s validity in what he said.”

We are looking at the bottom of your league, Charlie. I’m just sayin’, you’re kind of hard to miss.

The most insane part of Stoops marching out as the debunker of the SEC Myth is that Oklahoma’s miserable resume against the SEC over the past decade is one of the biggest reasons why the SEC is so hyped. In 2003, LSU beat favored Oklahoma 21-14 to win the BCS National Championship. In 2008, Tim Tebow and Florida shut down the vaunted Oklahoma offense to win the BCS National Championship. And last year Texas A&M and Johnny Football demolished Oklahoma 41-13 in Dallas. Without Bob Stoops and Ohio State, I’m not sure the SEC Myth even exists.

Without Bob Stoops continually throwing up incredible regular seasons against Big 12 teams only to see embarrassing bowl losses to teams from other conferences, the Big 12 likely wouldn’t have the reputation of a second rate conference.

I question the mental state of Bob Stoops. How can a man with such a pathetic record in huge games against SEC teams possibly believe he should be the leader of the SEC Myth Busting Crusade?

I think he’s buying into the Bob Stoops Myth.

Several teams have questions regarding backup plans if their starters – namely Johnny Manziel, AJ McCarron and Jeff Driskel – get hurt this season.

So, what are the SEC’s plans for backup quarterbacks? Which SEC team has the best backup plan, and which team has the worst?

Best backup plan: South Carolina

Skinny: Connor Shaw or Dylan Thompson? There’s been much debate about which player should start, all the while trying to stir up some sort of controversy. However, Steve Spurrier will start Shaw opening week, if he’s healthy, and Thompson should remain the best backup quarterback in the SEC. Thompson had ice water in his veins when he spelled Shaw throughout 2012, but Shaw remains the starter, for now. Spurrier sounds open to rotating quarterbacks this fall. Anyhow, if one gets hurt, the Gamecocks are in the best situation to plug the other in.

Worst backup plan: Florida

Skinny: Jeff Driskel returns as the starter. But after Driskel, things get really cloudy. Last year’s backup Jacoby Brissett transferred to NC State, leaving Tyler Murphy and Skyler Mornhinweg as the backups this spring. Neither have any relevant game experience. Florida does have true freshman Max Staver coming this summer, but he’ll join the line of zero experience, too. The Gators just better hope that Driskel stays healthy the entire season, but with a running quarterback, there will always be questions regarding his health. Florida is arguably in the worst situation if Driskel goes down.

Here’s the skinny on the rest of the SEC’s backup plans:

Alabama
Starter: AJ McCarron
Backup: Phillip Ely, Blake Sims or Alec Morris
Buzz: Phillip Ely and Blake Sims continue to battle for the Bama backup job. Sims was named the official backup for the spring game, but aside from McCarron, freshman Alec Morris looked the best out of any of the quarterbacks on A-Day.

Arkansas
Starter: Brandon Allen
Backup: AJ Derby
Buzz: Since backup Brandon Mitchell elected to transfer, AJ Derby jumps into the No. 2 slot. However, freshmen Austin Allen and Damon Mitchell could pass him up in fall camp.

Auburn
Starter: Kiehl Frazier or Jonathan Wallace
Buzz: Auburn will have five quarterbacks to choose from in fall camp. Returners Kiehl Frazier and Jonathan Wallace welcome newcomers Jeremy Johnson, Nick Marshall and Jason Smith. One of the newcomers could win the job, but Frazier should get the opening week nod.

Georgia
Starter: Aaron Murray
Backup: Hutson Mason
Buzz: If Aaron Murray were to get hurt, Hutson Mason would be the first off the bench. Mason hasn’t seen live bullets yet, but he’s a better option than Christian LeMay and Parker Welch exiting spring.

Kentucky
Starter: Jalen Whitlow, Patrick Towles or Max Smith
Buzz: Kentucky quarterbacks may battle the entire season and week to week for the starting job. Jalen Whitlow looks like the guy right now, with Max Smith right behind him. Patrick Towles could be third on the depth chart.

LSU
Starter: Zach Mettenberger
Backup: Stephen Rivers
Buzz: LSU hopes Zach Mettenberger has a big senior season, and backup Stephen Rivers is getting some great experience under new OC Cam Cameron. The Tigers will live and die with Mett in 2013, but they are in good hands for the future with Rivers.

Mississippi State
Starter: Tyler Russell
Backup: Dak Prescott
Buzz: Dan Mullen hopes Tyler Russell has a monster senior season, while prepping Dak Prescott to take over full time in 2014. Prescott fits more of what Mullen wants to do on offense, and he’ll be a solid option in 2014.

Missouri
Starter: James Franklin
Backup: Maty Mauk
Buzz: Maty Mauk had a strong spring, but it wasn’t enough to make Gary Pinkel replace James Franklin. I assume Franklin will be on a short leash come September, with Mauk waiting in the wings.

Ole Miss
Starter: Bo Wallace
Backup: Barry Brunetti or Maikhail Miller
Buzz: Bo Wallace returns from offseason shoulder surgery, and next to Florida, Ole Miss arguably has one of the worst backup plans in case Wallace goes down. Neither Brunetti nor Miller gave anyone comfort in a case of ‘what if’ regarding Wallace and the offense in 2013.

Tennessee
Starter: Justin Worley or Nathan Peterman
Buzz: Neither Justin Worley nor Nathan Peterman pulled away in the quarterback race this spring, leaving an ensuing battle in fall camp. But rest assured, neither may be the future for the Vols with Josh Dobbs and Riley Ferguson coming this summer.

Texas A&M
Starter: Johnny Manziel
Backup: Matt Davis or Matt Joeckel
Buzz: Johnny Manziel went from redshirt freshman to Heisman winner in 12 games, and his backup plan is still working itself out with Matt Davis and Matt Joeckel continuing battling it out. Last year’s backup Jameill Showers transferred.

Vanderbilt
Starter: Austyn Carta-Samuels
Backup: Patton Robinette
Buzz: Austyn Carta-Samuels continually pulled away from Patton Robinette this spring, as most thought he would, but Robinette is just one play away from taking over the Dores’ offense. ACS has more experience, while Robinette is probably more athletic. It’s a good problem to have if you’re James Franklin.

Photo Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

The most ridiculous part of Stoops’ comments was that he compared the bottom half of the SEC to the bottom half of the Big 12.

“So they’ve had the best team in college football,” Stoops said. “They haven’t had the whole conference. Because, again, half of ‘em haven’t done much at all. I’m just asking you. You tell me.

“It depends on who you want to listen to,” Stoops said. “Listen, they’ve had the best team in college football, meaning they’ve won the national championship. That doesn’t mean everything else is always the best.

“So you’re listening to a lot of propaganda that gets fed out to you,” he said. “You’re more than smart enough to figure it out. Again, you can look at the top two, three, four, five, six teams, and you can look at the bottom six, seven, eight, whatever they are. How well are they all doing?”

When is the last time you heard a college football fan arguing whether or not Kansas was better than Kentucky in football? Not only is it ridiculous, but it’s wrong. The bottom 5 teams of the SEC had more players drafted in this year’s NFL Draft than the bottom 5 teams in the Big 12.

Charlie Weis also recently weighed in and doubled-down on the idea that “our crappy teams are better than your crappy teams.” There are fewer signs that your conference is in shambles than arguing such a concept. Weis seemed to think that because the top teams in the SEC beat the bottom teams more frequently than the top teams in the Big 12 beat the bottom teams in the Big 12 is a sign that the Big 12 is better. No, the Big 12 bottom feeders are bad and the top teams aren’t very good at beating these bottom feeders.

The other talking point in college football which needs to be done away with is talking about how many teams in your conference made a bowl game. It’s time to acknowledge that fans of any decent football program do not care about bowl eligibility. Auburn fans aren’t hoping Gus Malzahn brings them back to bowl eligibility.

Members of the media also turn to the scheduling discussion to take shots at the SEC. You will frequently hear football analysts try to talk about how the SEC doesn’t play enough non-conference matchups.  Once again, critics selectively pick and choose to support their anti-SEC rhetoric.

Both LSU and Alabama, two of the most dominant SEC programs in recent years, have lined up marquee non-conference matchups every during each recent season (Alabama: Penn State (2010), Penn State (2011), Michigan (2012), Va Tech (2013); LSU: UNC & WVU (2010), Oregon & WVU (2011), Washington (2012), TCU (2013)). As such, critics will turn to a team like Florida and say they never play any non-conference games out of the state of Florida. Except that critics conveniently ignore that Florida has one of the most difficult annual non-conference games in the country in its annual battle with the Noles.

When the SEC started filling the majority of the top ten in the BCS rankings toward the end of the season last year, the anti-SEC folks started to blame the media for voting SEC teams high simply because they were playing other SEC teams that were ranked high. It was a “bubble” they argued. The SEC rankings were supposedly inflated and were inflating other SEC rankings. Then, the SEC went 4-0 against the ACC on a day in late November. Of course, the Alabama dismantling of Notre Dame was the biggest statement of all.

The Anti-SEC fever climaxed as a result of the Alabama-LSU BCS Championship Game at the end of the 2011 season. The anti-SEC masses turned to the trashing of the BCS and future playoff as the “fix” for the SEC’s dominance. They will be disappointed, however, because the post-season structure isn’t the reason why the SEC has dominated. The SEC has dominated because SEC teams have better players and coaches than the rest of the country. This will continue into the playoff era. As will the complaining from lesser conferences.

But some of the ‘rivalries’ haven’t been rivalries in quite a while. For instance, Alabama and Tennessee is one of the greatest rivalries college football has to offer, but the Third Saturday in October isn’t what it once was and has been one-sided the last six years.

For 2013, I’m certainly stoked to watch the Egg Bowl, Florida-Tennessee, Auburn-Georgia and the Iron Bowl. And while they are historically some of the SEC’s best rivalries, many aren’t what they used to be.

Here are the five best rivalries for 2013:

5. Florida vs. LSU

Les Miles is tired of playing Florida every year, and he’s not afraid to voice his frustration with the league scheduling over it either. This is always one of the most physical, punishing games of the season, and even more so now with Will Muschamp trying to push around opponents. In the last 10 games, each team is .500, and no team has won more than two straight. This year, the Gators travel back to Baton Rouge after a punishing 14-6 win last year in The Swamp.

4. Alabama vs. Texas A&M

This would rank higher, but with such a short current SEC history, it’s tough to put this one higher than No. 4 this season. This is certainly one of the top ‘revenge’ games of 2013, because the Tide are looking to settle the score after the Aggies came into Bryant-Denny and ruined their perfect season – not to mention Nick Saban probably has a personal vendetta against Johnny Manziel. If you thought last year’s game was electrifying, 2013’s matchup features arguably the biggest game in college football.

3. South Carolina vs. Georgia

I don’t know why this rivalry doesn’t get more love. Back to the second-week staple, this game will give us the SEC East’s early-season favorite. Even though the Gamecocks have won three straight, this will be one of the best games of 2013. Steve Spurrier is like a kid in a candy store against Mark Richt and his beloved Bulldogs. This game is always physical, and Aaron Murray and Jadeveon Clowney will be playing their final game against one another…in the SEC.

2. Florida vs. Georgia

This game is always great. With the crowd pretty evenly split down the middle, fans fight in the parking lot before the game, and it typically features several intriguing inner-game storylines. These two teams hate each other, too, and both, along with South Carolina, are vying for an SEC Championship year after year. Last year’s turnover fest – nine combined – was downright ugly, but it became Florida’s only regular-season blemish. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is the SEC East’s biggest rivalry game.

1. LSU vs. Alabama

In short order, this game has become a classic, punishing rivalry. Last year’s last-minute Alabama victory only dumped more fire on the SEC’s hottest rivalry. Over the last 10 regular season games, LSU holds a 7-3 edge. But Alabama has won two straight dating back to 2011’s national championship game. This game always features future NFL-filled rosters and one of the biggest hype weeks of college football. LSU and Alabama are the same type of teams – powerful, fast and destined to hit each other in the mouth. What will 2013’s drudge match bring?

Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

All positions:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide Receivers
• Sack Masters
• Tacklers
• Interceptions
• The Kickers
• The Punters
• Kick Returners
• Punt Returners

The SEC said goodbye to some of its leading defenders who notched league-leading interceptions, including Darius Slay, Johnthan Banks and Matt Elam. Tennessee’s Byron Moore and Slay topped the SEC with five interceptions in 2012, and Moore returns to the Vols’ secondary, hoping to have a much better year this fall. Alabama’s HaHa Clinton-Dix and Georgia’s Damian Swann finished right behind Moore with four interceptions each in 2012.

This is not a ranking, and it’s based on the most interceptions:

1. Byron Moore, DB, Tennessee
2012 INTs: 5

3. HaHa Clinton-Dix, DB, Alabama
2012 INTs: 4

3. Damian Swann, DB, Georgia
2012 INTs: 4

10. Craig Loston, DB, LSU
2012 INTs: 3

10. Senquez Golson, DB, Ole Miss
2012 INTs: 3

10. Dehendret Collins, DB, Ole Miss
2012 INTs: 3

10. Jimmy Legree, DB, South Carolina
2012 INTs: 3

10. Nickoe Whitley, DB, Miss State
2012 INTs: 3

10. Denzel Nkemdiche, LB, Ole Miss
2012 INTs: 3

10. Jaylen Watkins, DB, Florida
2012 INTs: 3

All stats based on CFBStats.com

Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports