1. Alabama
2. South Carolina
3. Georgia
4. Florida
5. Arkansas
I think all 5 are top 20 teams next year. The only reason I don't say Florida is that they are currently overrated at #1, not nationally, but conferencely (?), if that's possible. LSU was probably better, and a couple others were at least as good. They squeeked through to win the SEC, any of 5 teams that did that could have whipped Ohio St. I think we're their first test next year, and I think they'll go into half time down by 2 scores blindsided by the recollection of how tough SEC football is ... we need to welcome urban back to reality this reality.
The problem with bringing Urban back to reality is that (a) he's still fooling almost everyone (us included) with that spread option, and (b) you can expect him to have that system tweaked to take advantage of Tebow's strength's by game day. Sorry, but Florida has the crystal football, and they're still #1.
I think #2 through #5 depend on how well we do against Florida.
- We get UGA in Knoxville, so maybe some crowd help and home field advantage against Stafford & Co.
- Personally, I think LSU was more luck than skill for Saban, and I think his stint with the Dolphins proved it. We'll see how he does in Bama.
- Will '07 be Arkansas, or "Arkanseeyalater" for Nutt & Co. So much upheaval in both the coaching staff, and the locker room, that it will be tough for Houston to get his team focused. Then again, we play them later on, so.....
- UK has momentum, which has been rarer than an Amish strip club for the past...oh...say twenty or so years. We'll see what they do with it.
- Do not, I repeat DO NOT overlook Cal. They're pride is still smoldering after that beating we gave them last year (fun to watch, wasn't it?). If we go out there thinking all we have to do is "control the line of scrimmage" to win, we might get surprised.
Bottom line? Beat Cal and UF, and the other "3 toughest" will depend on us, not them. Lose both games, and Vandy might be #4.
Go Vols.