It’s time to put on our proverbial commissioner hats as head of the SEC — Securities and Exchange Commission. We’re not talking bull and bear markets, however, rather the Bulldogs and Tigers markets of the Southeastern Conference.

Every team feels like they have a shot to represent its division at the Georgia Dome for the SEC championship game. But reality often sets in quick when it comes to life in the SEC.

If we treat SEC teams as hypothetical stocks, here’s our look at which teams are trending up, heading south and running in place entering the season.

Alabama: +

It’s hard to imagine that a team such as Alabama can trend any further upward, given the Crimson Tide’s 12-2 record, 2014 SEC title and participation in the inaugural College Football Playoffs. Alabama trends upward thanks to its defense. The Crimson Tide’s front seven could be among the program’s most-dominant in the Nick Saban era. It’s the defense that transforms this Alabama squad from great like past teams to elite.

Arkansas: +

The Razorbacks came on strong down the stretch last year, winning four of their final six games, including pastings of LSU, Ole Miss and Texas. Arkansas boasts a potent running game — even without injured leading returner Jonathan Williams — set up by one of the top offensive lines in the conference. We like Arkansas to keep that momentum going into the 2015 season.

Auburn: <–>

Auburn makes a lateral move, trending neither up nor down. Gus Malzahn and Gene Chizik have built a program that routinely challenges for the SEC and beyond. A No. 6 ranking to start the season feels right for the Tigers. Several questions need to be answered before they trend up, most notably the play of new starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson.

Florida: +

Florida trends upward on the back of its defense and the promise of a new coach returning the Gators offense to previous heights. Will Muschamp left Jim McElwain a trove of talent on defense. If the new coach from Colorado State can get the Florida offense in gear, we like the Gators to shock a team or two in 2015.

Georgia: +

Will this be the year that Georgia finally gets over the hump and wins the SEC? The Bulldogs will bully teams this season with their defense and running games. If Georgia can get solid play from its quarterback, then look for the Bulldogs to challenge for its first SEC title since 2005.

Kentucky: +

Mark Stoops is quietly turning things around in Lexington for the Wildcats. Stoops improved Kentucky’s win total from two to five victories in his second year at the helm. The Wildcats are led by quarterback Patrick Towles, the second-leading returning passer in the SEC (2,718 yards). While we’re not sure that Kentucky is a bowl-worthy in 2015, Stoops definitely has the Wildcats program heading north.

LSU: <–>

LSU will have another stout defense in 2015. But questions on offense, including at quarterback where Brandon Harris appears to have edged out Anthony Jennings for the starting role, linger. If the sophomore quarterback can ignite some offense and the Tigers offensive line can gel and clear some room for running back Leonard Fournette, then LSU will return to past glory — especially with another lock-down secondary on defense. The Tigers could be a Fournette injury away from disaster.

Mississippi State: –

Last year was quite the ride for Mississippi State, who earned the program’s first No. 1 ranking in the AP and set the new mark for the fastest a team has gone from unranked to the poll’s top spot. Despite the quick success, the Bulldogs struggled down the stretch, dropping three of their final four games. The great news in Starkville is the return of quarterback Dak Prescott, who is expected to challenge for the Heisman Award. If Prescott can repeat his 3,449 passing season, then the Bulldogs will trend back upward.

Missouri:  –

Missouri should be strong once again and contend for its third-straight SEC East title. But questions remain for the Tigers, particularly along its defensive front, traditionally one of the program’s perennial strong suits. If Missouri can somehow replace the production they’ll lose without star defensive tackle Harold Brantley, who is out for the season after a gnarly car accident, they’ll pull off the three-peat. But until they do, we need some more convincing.

Ole Miss <–>

Like its cross-state rival in Starkville, Ole Miss saw its Cinderella-type first half of the 2015 season come crashing down in the final months, losing four of their last six games after starting the year undefeated. Ole Miss will be strong again, but a lack of a clear-cut starting quarterback between sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade and junior Chad Kelly is some cause for concern. Other than that, the Rebels should be strong once again, especially on defense.

South Carolina: –

The Gamecocks’ once-promising season went splat early on last year. South Carolina has a talented lineup, but is very young with close to 40 players who have never played a snap for head coach Steve Spurrier. A first-year quarterback (Connor Mitch) will take his share of lumps. How well the defense can cure the problems that plagued it last year will mean the difference of whether or not South Carolina can get back to double-digit wins.

Tennessee: +

The 2015 season is one of the more anticipated campaigns in recent years for Tennessee, who enters as a favorite among some experts to win the SEC East. With quarterback Josh Dobbs set to put his stamp on the program, the Vols should have one of the more productive rushing attacks in the conference to go along with one of the nation’s top pass-rushing duos of Derek Barnett and Curt Maggitt.

Texas A&M: –

The Aggies began 2014 with five consecutive wins before watching as their season imploded with five losses in the final eight games. Texas A&M has arguably the SEC’s best pass rusher in Myles Garrett, but plenty of issues remain. The Aggies defense was soft last year, if opponents got passed Garrett. If Texas A&M can get solid play from starting quarterback Kyle Allen, it could upset a few teams and perhaps even compete in the SEC West. But a lot has to fall into place first.

Vanderbilt:  –

The good news? Vanderbilt has a star in the making in running back Ralph Webb. The bad news is plenty of issues will prevent the Commodores from returning to the perennial nine wins they experienced under James Franklin. Simply not going defeated in conference play would be a good start in Nashville under second-year coach Derek Mason.