Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009

Closer look at SEC West teams

Head coach: Bobby Petrino (5-7 in one season at Arkansas, 46-16 overall).

2008 record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC).

Players to watch: TE D.J. Williams (61 receptions for 723 yards in 2008); DE Adrian Davis (43 tackles, five sacks); RB Michael Smith (1,072 rushing yards, eight touchdowns); QB Ryan Mallett.

Game of the year: Sept. 26 at Alabama. Arkansas is a sleeper team in the SEC this year, but an early test in Tuscaloosa, Ala., should be a swing game to determine whether the Razorbacks are a smart pick or merely a trendy one.

Petrino says: “I really believe that we’ll be a much better football team this year than we were a year ago. We’ve worked extremely hard on having a good attitude and a tremendous work ethic. I feel like our team chemistry is where it needs to be to have a chance to be a special football team.”

Ledger-Enquirer says: Arkansas returns tons of talent on offense and could be one of the most explosive teams in the SEC, but the defense was brutal a year ago and will need to take a big step forward for the Razorbacks to have a shot in the competitive SEC West.

Schedule: Sept. 5 vs. Missouri State; Sept. 19 vs. Georgia; Sept. 26 at Alabama; Oct. 3 vs. Texas A&M (in Arlington, Texas); Oct. 10 vs. Auburn; Oct. 17 at Florida; Oct. 24 at Mississippi; Oct. 31 vs. Eastern Michigan; Nov. 7 vs. South Carolina; Nov. 14 vs. Troy; Nov. 21 vs. Mississippi State (in Little Rock, Ark.); Nov. 28 at LSU.

Head coach: Les Miles (42-11 in four seasons at LSU, 70-32 overall).

2008 record: 8-5 (3-5 SEC).

Players to watch: RB Charles Scott (1,174 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns in 2008); WR Brandon LaFell (929 receiving yards, eight touchdowns); OT Ciron Black; DE Rahim Alem (11.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks); QB Jordan Jefferson (282 passing yards, two touchdowns).

Game of the year: Nov. 7 at Alabama. LSU has some tough early tests against the best of the East, but it’s this November showdown against Alabama that could decide the SEC West.

Miles says: “Eight victories and a bowl win was not enough. Our football team’s a little more wanting, a little bit more ambitious.”

Ledger-Enquirer says: LSU has a potentially explosive offense behind Jefferson, but the defense needs to replace some solid players from a unit that struggled in 2008.

Schedule: Sept. 5 at Washington; Sept. 12 vs. Vanderbilt; Sept. 19 vs. Louisiana Lafayette; Sept. 26 at Mississippi State; Oct. 3 at Georgia; Oct. 10 vs. Florida; Oct. 24 vs. Auburn; Oct. 31 vs. Tulane; Nov. 7 at Alabama; Nov. 14 vs. Louisiana Tech; Nov. 21 at Mississippi; Nov. 28 vs. Arkansas.

Head coach: Houston Nutt (9-4 in one season at Ole Miss, 120-74 overall).

2008 record: 9-4 (5-3 SEC).

Players to watch: QB Jevan Snead (2,762 passing yards, 26 touchdowns in 2008); DE Greg Hardy (8.5 sacks); OT John Jerry; RB Dexter McCluster (655 rushing yards, 625 receiving yards, seven total touchdowns).

Game of the year: Nov. 21 vs. LSU. Ole Miss gets its toughest opponents at home this year, which means the Rebels should be in contention for a West title when they host LSU in late November.