What else is there to talk about anyway? The state of Alabama has won the last four national championships in a row, right?

Finebaum’s new deal with ESPN and the SEC Network will relocate him out of the heart of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry and straight into ACC country in Charlotte, starting August 1st. And it will be interesting to see how a national platform gels with his personality and interests.

Nonetheless, he made his official debut on SportsCenter this morning, and here’s what he had to say:

Will Texas A&M beat Alabama two years in a row? “Texas A&M fans are very proud. They think they are going to beat Alabama again. I will go ahead and end the suspense. They’re not.”

Why Nick Saban is a boss: “Because he’s the smartest coach in college football — maybe in pro football as well, although he didn’t look that smart with the Dolphins. But he talks about a process, and it’s like a good NFL club. And he doesn’t look back. And he never takes his foot off the pedal.”

Talkin’ some Auburn football, too: “It’s hard to believe it’s only been two and a half, three years since the national championship and Cam Newton. But that’s what happened. Cam Newton is now in Charlotte, and Auburn hasn’t been able to recover. I think Gus Malzahn has done a very nice job. The recruiting was fantastic, and I think they will come back. I just don’t think it will be immediate.”

Why college football dominates the South: “First of all, in the South, it’s all we have. And I don’t mean there aren’t other things to do, although you could argue with that on a Saturday afternoon in Auburn or Tuscaloosa or Knoxville, Tenn. But it’s a cultural experience. We don’t have pro football, so we talk about college football 365 days a year. And we talk about it with great passion.”

Will Muschamp’s motto all offseason last year was “Win the fourth quarter”, and Florida definitely accomplished that last season.

Alabama was second with +71 difference in the fourth quarter, and they’ve been very good the last two years in that department.

Five teams who won 10 or more games led the SEC. The only other team that accomplished that feat and wasn’t in the top six was Texas A&M. They finished even on point differential for 2012, but you have to remember, Kevin Sumlin called off the dogs late in some games because of blowout leads.

Auburn and Kentucky finished last in the SEC, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone.

The chart below is a look at how the SEC stacked up against each other scoring in the fourth quarter. It includes overtime, too.

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Known for his quirky, up-tempo offense, Ole Miss knew they had their 37th head coach upon Archie Manning’s approval.

Many questioned the hire, and several others chuckled, pointing out that Freeze was a former high school girls’ basketball coach. But Freeze had compiled a 30-7 head coaching record in just three years’ time at Arkansas State and Lambuth, and he had assistant coaching experience at Ole Miss and Arkansas State.

And did Freeze ever silence naysayers in just his first season. In fact, he completely shut them up with a turnaround that was so sexy it made Kate Upton’s head turn.

The offensive numbers were swelling across the board, and the program’s enthusiasm spiked upon seeing just how impressive Freeze’s offense was in person and just how much his players loved playing for their new coach.

Check out the progression from a lifeless 2011 Houston Nutt-coached team to 2012 under Hugh Freeze:

A few things stand out to me about this chart. First, the plays per game were up because of the wrinkle of the hurry-up offense. More plays produced more than a two-touchdown increase in points per game and 143 more yards per game on average. Even Nick Saban admitted he didn’t like no-huddle offenses after he played the Rebels.

Secondly, the red zone numbers led the SEC. No, Ole Miss didn’t have the number of red zone attempts as Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee or Georgia, but they were more efficient than all of them, scoring over 91 percent of the time on 45 total attempts.

Freeze led a miraculous 2-10 turnaround to winning a bowl game and exiting the season with a 7-6 record. Let’s not forget that Ole Miss had Texas A&M, LSU and Vandy on the ropes in the closing minutes only to find a way to lose late. We’re nearly talking about a 10-win team.

So, what did Freeze do next?

He rode the wave of a momentous season and landed a top-five recruiting class across the country, including the nation’s unanimous overall No. 1 prospect in Robert Nkemdiche.

The Rebels return 10 starters on offense and nine starters on defense, and they get a shot in the talent arm with the incoming recruiting class.

Ole Miss football: what a difference a year made.

Photo Credit: Chuck Cook – US PRESSWIRE

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

Texas A&M is quickly pointed out as the favorite, but should Alabama be considered the main contender?

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 West offense.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Last year’s offense: 4th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Despite losing three O-line starters, Alabama’s offense will be back and better than ever. TJ Yeldon takes over the running back duties, and the most decorated QB in college football, AJ McCarron, will be throwing to what could be the best receiving cast of anyone in the country. This group is deep, talented and hungry to score every time they have the ball. Alabama could be the best and most balanced offense in the SEC.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: Although the skill position players return, losing three star O-linemen and the position coach could be a hindrance. Injuries also plagued the receiving corps last year, with Chris Black, Kenny Bell and DeAndrew White all returning from injuries. Without the nation’s top O-line, could AJ McCarron possibly be exposed?

Arkansas Razorbacks

Last year’s offense: 6th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Bret Bielema and Jim Chaney have a veteran and very physical offensive line as the staple of the offense. Not only that, but RB Jonathan Williams is set to be a major factor as a breakout player, and incoming freshman Alex Collins could have a Gurley or Yeldon-type season. QB Brandon Allen will evolve as a passer, something he didn’t show in limited time last season.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: Arkansas’ offense scored 35 touchdowns in 2012, and only 13 return. In fact, it’s the lowest percentage of returners for offensive firepower in the SEC at 37.1 percent. Losing Tyler Wilson, Cobi Hamilton, Dennis Johnson and Knile Davis is loads of talent.

Auburn Tigers

Last year’s offense: 14th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Auburn brought back Gus Malzahn not because of his head coaching experience, but because he runs one of the slickest offenses in the country. Malzahn could field a bunch of cheerleaders and score 28 point per game. Auburn has recruited well, but they just have yet to develop them. Malzahn could be that guy.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: QBs Kiehl Frazier and Jonathan Wallace have not proven they can run an offense, regardless if its Malzahn’s or not. Besides, the Tigers have few proven receivers and not enough depth to make big plays downfield. I’m not worried about the running game; it’s the passing game that needs all the attention and focus of offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.

LSU Tigers

Last year’s offense: 10th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Les Miles hired Cam Cameron to make his offense more explosive. Cameron is known for developing QBs, and that bodes well for an improved Zach Mettenberger. The rushing attack will be strong as ever, and WRs Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham could rise up NFL big boards in 2013.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: A potent passing game could once again hold back Mettenberger and the LSU offense from scoring many points. Besides, the O-line has a few holes that need plugging, and the offense’s best player in Jeremy Hill is currently suspended. Hill may not even return this fall because of legal issues.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Last year’s offense: 7th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: The base offense for Dan Mullen returns with QB Tyler Russell, depth along the O-line and a deep RB corps. The weathered veteran Russell could close out his career on the highest of notes and continuing the excellent efficiency he portrayed throughout 2013. The running game will be strong with the three-headed monster of LaDarius Perkins, Josh Robinson and Nick Griffin, too.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: MSU lost nearly its entire receiving corps. Of the 28 TD receptions in 2012, only seven return, and the offense’s best playmaker in Chad Bumphis is gone. The offense was too lethargic down the stretch last season to be very optimistic to start 2013.

Ole Miss Rebels

Last year’s offense: 5th in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Hugh Freeze brought a different attitude to the Rebels’ attack. Ole Miss’ hurry-up offense scored 15.4 more points and ran a total of 189 more plays than in 2011. The offense returns 10 starters, including its top passer, pass catcher and rusher. The Rebels could have the SEC’s top WR in Donte Moncrief in 2013. This offense is back and we’ll see the difference a year makes this fall.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: As good as Bo Wallace was at certain times, he was a rollercoaster throughout the season. His 17 INTs have to improve if the Rebels want to even accomplish last year’s win total of seven. Defenses will be ready for Freeze’s no-huddle offense this year now they have seen it and have had an offseason to study it.

Texas A&M Aggies

Last year’s offense: 1st in SEC
Why they could be the division’s best: Oh, I don’t know. The Aggies return some guy named Johnny Manziel, who took the SEC and college football by storm and made history nearly every game. The Aggies led the SEC in scoring offense at 44.5 points per game and led the SEC in total offense, averaging over 558 yards per game. ESPN’s Andre Ware said Kevin Sumlin would change the SEC, but no one knew the effect his offense would have in the first season. The RBs are ultra talented, and the Aggies have one of the best WRs in the country in Mike Evans. I could go on and on about this offense.

Why they won’t be the division’s best: Losing tackle Luke Joeckel and center Patrick Lewis are big-time losses. Couple that with losing three proven receivers in Ryan Swope, Uzoma Nwachukwu and Thomas Johnson, and only Mike Evans stands out as a returner. Besides, won’t defenses be more ready to defend Manziel now that they’ve had an offseason to prepare and watch film?

Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

According to Dawgs247, Mark Richt said Flournoy-Smith has been talking with Georgia Military College about transferring and then returning after the season.

The offense is set with Arthur Lynch and Jay Rome as the top two tight ends, and incoming freshman Jordan Davis will immediately be used for depth.

Earlier this spring, Flournoy-Smith was arrested for falsely reporting a crime after he accused someone of stealing his books. UGA police launched an investigation and quickly determined the books were not in fact stolen, and he had already sold them for cash at a local buy-back bookstore.

Flournoy-Smith didn’t record a reception last season despite playing in eight games.

Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Why Alabama vs Texas A&M? Well, there’s really no two teams better setup for such an opportunity.

The three reasons why this can absolutely happen next season are:

1. Both teams will enter the season highly ranked
2. They meet early on September 14th
3. Both teams have very easy schedules

Let’s start with the first point. Both teams wrapped up last year on massive highs. Alabama of course smashed the Irish to take home another championship. The Aggies brought a Heisman trophy to College Station and crushed former Big 12 opponent Oklahoma. Both teams being ranked in the top five in the 2013 preseason polls is very likely.

The preseason rankings are key. When one of these teams lose to the other on September 14th, it means that the other won’t drop too far in the rankings.

The fact that the teams meet so early in the season allows the losing team to easily rebound in the rankings over the course of a long season.

Most importantly, both teams have extremely easy schedules. We have Alabama as the easiest schedule in the SEC, and Texas A&M with the second easiest. Like I said, it’s a perfect setup. Want to get more specific? Look at Alabama’s six games after playing the Aggies. Then, they get a bye week before playing the other tough game on their schedule (LSU). What do you know? The Aggies also have a bye week before playing LSU late in the season.

Both the Tide and the Aggies could easily run the table after playing each other in mid September. This is the most likely scenario where two SEC teams can play in the BCS Championship. Two teams from the same division that play each other early; due to being in the same division, they can’t play each other in the SEC Championship. Essentially the same situation with the Alabama vs LSU game two years ago.

As for fan pushback on another All-SEC championship game – or more importantly, voter pushback – the inclusion of Nick Saban and Johnny Manziel add an absolute level of “sex appeal” to the matchup that should help alleviate this anti-SEC attitude. An “instant classic” between the two teams on the 14th of September of course will help the cause.

Here’s the rundown of the SEC players included:

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
6. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
8. Benardrick McKinney, LB, Miss State
11. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas
13. Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss
20. Jay Prosch, FB, Auburn

The information on just how big of a freak Clowney really is certainly worth the read alone. Here’s an excerpt, via CBSSports:

The Tendo is an electronic power and speed analyzer (a speedometer of sorts) invented in Slovakia and has been around for about a decade in the U.S. strength and conditioning community.

“It measures velocity and power in meters per second,” explained Joe Connolly, the Gamecocks head football strength and conditioning coach. “It’ll give you a power number, and it’s expressed in watts. It takes into account body weight and different things. (Clowney) is in the 8000s and we’re talking repetitive numbers in the 8500-range, and there isn’t anybody on the team within 2000 of that.

“Clowney has a 8655w peak power reading. The closest number that a teammate has is a 6800w peak power reading. This differential is pretty vast. One major difference is JD can produce this kind of power repeatedly. Nobody else can do that.”

The article went on to explain it would not be surprising at all if Clowney registered a nasty 40-inch vertical while weighing in at 290 pounds in next year’s NFL Combine.

The term ‘freak’ is being redefined by Jadeveon Clowney.

Photo Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

Check out these way-too-early SEC bowl projections.

You can see all the games here, but here are the bowls that have SEC ties:

BCS National Championship
Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)
Monday, January 6, 2014
8:30 PM ET

BBVA Compass Bowl
Birmingham, AL
Saturday, January 4, 2014
1:00 PM ET

AT&T Cotton Bowl
Arlington, TX (Cowboys Stadium)
Friday, January 3, 2014
7:30 PM ET

Allstate Sugar Bowl
New Orleans, LA (Superdome)
Thursday, January 2, 2014
8:30 PM ET

Outback Bowl
Tampa, FL
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
1:00 PM ET

Capital One Bowl
Orlando, FL
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
1:00 PM ET

TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl
Jacksonville, FL
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
12:00 PM ET

Chick-fil-A Bowl
Atlanta, GA
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
8:00 PM ET

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Memphis, TN
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
4:00 PM ET

AdvoCare V100 Bowl
San Antonio, TX
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
12:30 PM ET

Music City Bowl
Nashville, TN
Monday, December 30, 2013
3:15 PM ET

Photo Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Here are the highlights of the rest of the schedule as it pertains to the SEC:

Alabama at Texas A&M
September 14th at 3:30 PM ET

SEC Doubleheader
October 19th at 12:00 PM ET and 3:30 PM ET

Georgia vs. Florida
November 2nd at 3:30 PM ET

SEC Doubleheader
November 9th at 3:30 PM ET and 8:00 PM ET

Arkansas at LSU
November 29th at 2:30 PM ET

SEC Championship
December 7th at 4:00 PM ET

It seems that Alabama and LSU are destined for the 8:00 PM ET kickoff time on November 9th.

I can hear Uncle Verne Lundquist now, “Oh, wow! In your life, have you ever seen anything like that?”

Two of the biggest and freshest running backs in the country are soon-to-be sophomores in TJ Yeldon and Todd Gurley, who made instant splashes at Alabama and Georgia. It makes for such a debate that a head-to-head examination becomes quite fascinating when comparing these two. Each are similar in size, about 6-1, 220-230 pounds, and ready to eat your brown-bagged lunch, son.

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Yeldon or Gurley winds up hoisting the Stiff Arm trophy in New York this December.

But which running back is superior? Let’s check it out:

Athleticism & Versatility

TJ Yeldon’s smooth running style really overshadows his overall athleticism, but he’s so impressive, especially laterally and in the open field, for such a big cat. Yeldon gets to top speed very quickly and uses his x-ray vision to eat defenses alive at the second level. Yeldon has exceptional body control and can elude would-be tacklers in the open field given the thinnest crease through the line of scrimmage.

Todd Gurley is not only a superior running back, but also he could be the everyday kickoff returner, punt returner and, I venture to say, he could even excel at safety or linebacker. In fact, before last fall camp and before Isaiah Crowell was dismissed, Gurley was speculated to start his Georgia career at safety. That didn’t last long, once he started bouncing off and running through would-be tacklers in fall camp. Gurley even housed a 100-yard kickoff return against Buffalo in week one before being named the everyday starter. How’s that for being an athletic and versatile running back?

Advantage: Gurley

Instincts

Todd Gurley looks like an every-down SEC jumbo athlete excelling at running back, while TJ Yeldon looks so smooth when he glides up and down the field totin’ the rock.

It seemed like the more physical the defenses were, Gurley just kept bowing up. He has strong vision, and he made several linebackers look foolish trying to tackle him. Georgia’s line wasn’t dominant last season, and Gurley often found himself having to make a move or break a tackle earlier than Yeldon.

But to me, Yeldon looks much more natural at running back and just looks like he was born to play the position. He plays with a reckless abandon that other running backs envy and coaches eat up. It’s not that Gurley doesn’t launch his body into or run over tacklers like Yeldon, but Yeldon just looks more of a natural doing it. Yeldon glides in the open field, often making smooth cuts in and out of traffic. Yeldon exited the womb looking to make a move in the open field.

Advantage: Yeldon

Speed & Explosiveness

There’s track speed, and then there’s football speed. Yeldon and Gurley have both and pack a tremendous amount of speed and explosiveness into their superior athletic bodies. Gurley, however, has the most straight-line speed of the two, along with the most explosion in his first steps. Yeldon is very shifty in the open field and may possess more lateral quickness, but Gurley is the more explosive of the two.

Watch how Gurley starts this kick return relying more on his vision, and then he sees the crease and turns on the jets to explode through the hole. See ya!

Advantage: Gurley

Receiving threat

Based on such a small sample size, it’s hard to tell which running back is the better receiving threat. This is one aspect of the game that – for me – made Marcus Lattimore stand above the rest. He was so nasty in the receiving game; he was like a wide receiver out of the backfield and became another target for the quarterback and threat for the defense. That’s what Gurley and Yeldon have to strive to become to round out their overall games.

Gurley caught 16 passes for 117 yards and no touchdowns last season, while Yeldon caught 11 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown. Alabama’s offense is built more around the running back being a primary cog in the passing game. And once Yeldon caught screen passes, he was more elusive than Gurley in the open field.

Does this touchdown pass reception spring anyone’s memory? Watch him make a move on #6 Craig Loston.

Advantage: Yeldon

Conclusion

What coach wouldn’t want to build their football team around either TJ Yeldon or Todd Gurley for three years? Both players are absolutely worthy to be called the best two running backs in the country. If you’re making me choose which player to build my team around, it would be Todd Gurley. Simply knowing Gurley carried the ball 222 times and averaged 6.2 yards per carry as an 18-year-old in a man’s league is quite astonishing. And to do it behind one of the biggest question marks of an offensive line entering 2012 was even more remarkable. Gurley has proven he can carry a ground game. Yeldon hasn’t yet, but I don’t foresee that being an issue. It’s just that Gurley already has.

As designated workhorses in pro-style offenses, you truly couldn’t go wrong with either stud. But I’m taking Todd Gurley.

Photo Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports