Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009

Closer look at SEC East teams

Head coach: Urban Meyer (44-9 in four seasons at Florida, 83-17 overall).

2008 record: 13-1 (7-1 SEC).

Players to watch: QB Tim Tebow (2,746 yards passing, 30 passing touchdowns, 673 yards rushing, 12 rushing touchdowns in 2008); LB Brandon Spikes (93 tackles, two sacks); KR/PR Brandon James (1,248 return yards); RB Chris Rainey (652 rushing yards, four touchdowns); RB Jeff Demps (605 rushing yards, seven touchdowns)

Game of the year: Oct. 10 at LSU. While the annual rivalry game against Georgia could be the key to winning the East for Florida, it will be the Gators’ game at Death Valley two weeks earlier that will be their first true test.

Meyer says: “Expectation as far as the season, our goals are always the same as it was in 2005, as it is in 2009, and that is we want to do everything we can to get to Atlanta. That’s our whole … we wake up every morning to try to achieve that goal.”

Ledger-Enquirer says: It’s hard to pick against the Gators, who return nearly every starter from last year’s national championship team and have a favorable schedule outside of dates against LSU and Georgia.

Schedule: Sept. 5 vs. Charleston Southern; Sept. 12 vs. Troy; Sept. 19 vs. Tennessee; Sept. 26 at Kentucky; Oct. 10 at LSU; Oct. 17 vs. Arkansas; Oct. 24 at Mississippi State; Oct. 31 vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville, Fla.); Nov. 7 vs. Vanderbilt; Nov. 14 at South Carolina; Nov. 21 vs. Florida International; Nov. 28 vs. Florida State.

Head coach: Rich Brooks (32-41 in six seasons at Kentucky, 123-150-4 overall).

2008 record: 7-6 (2-6 SEC).

Players to watch: LB Michael Johnson (93 tackles, 13 tackles for loss in 2008); CB Trevard Lindley (39 tackles, four interceptions); QB Mike Hartline (1,666 passing yards, nine touchdowns); WR Randall Cobb (316 rushing yards, 542 passing yards, 197 receiving yards, 11 combined touchdowns)

Game of the year: Sept. 26 vs. Florida. The good news is, Kentucky gets the Gators at home. The bad new is, it’s still the Gators. But Kentucky can gain a lot of respect with a strong early-season performance in this one.

Brooks says: “All I have to do is think back about three years ago, Andre’ Woodson’s sophomore season, what he accomplished his junior season, and it was significantly improved. I think Mark Hartline will see a lot of that same type of improvement.”

Ledger-Enquirer says: Brooks has done a nice job of turning things around at Kentucky, taking the Wildcats to three straight bowl victories, and in a weak SEC East, things look good for a fourth.

Schedule: Sept. 5 vs. Miami (Ohio) (in Cincinnati); Sept. 19 vs. Louisville; Sept. 26 vs. Florida; Oct. 3 vs. Alabama; Oct. 10 at South Carolina; Oct. 17 at Auburn; Oct. 24 vs. Louisiana-Monroe; Oct. 31 vs. Mississippi State; Nov. 7 vs. Eastern Kentucky; Nov. 14 at Vanderbilt; Nov. 21 at Georgia; Nov. 28 vs. Tennessee.

Head coach: Steve Spurrier (28-22 in four seasons at South Carolina, 170-62-2 overall).