Top 5 Ranks from Segrest

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Top 5 list for SEC

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Doug Segrest

News staff writer

Top 5 best teams

1. Tennessee. Loaded with talent, guided by a veteran coaching staff.

2. LSU. Great skill players. Less criticism may lead to more victories under Les Miles.

3. Auburn. Have Tigers reached the point where they're merely reloading?

4. Florida. Urban Meyer or Urban myth? Well know by Sept. 17, when Tennessee pays a visit.

5. Georgia. Streak of three straight 10-win seasons will come to an end.

Top 5 worst teams

1. Vanderbilt. Jay Cutlers a senior and talent around him has improved. But so has the rest of the league.

2. Kentucky. Wildcats offense should be more potent, but can Kentucky slow anyone down?

3. Mississippi State. Sly Crooms second edition will still bite someone along the way.

4. Ole Miss. Tough-talking coach Ed Orgeron will have to be entertaining to get through the year with a full head of hair.

5. Arkansas. Half a dozen programs could replace Matt Jones. Not the Razorbacks.

Top 5 coaches on the hot seat

1. Rich Brooks, Kentucky. True, its a basketball school. But UK fans long for success on the gridiron.

2. Houston Nutt, Arkansas. His flirtation with other schools leaves him on shaky ground, despite a recent contract extension.

3. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt. At some point, Bobby Johnson has to show some results.

4. Mike Shula, Alabama. We think he Is safe, but at Alabama you never know.

5. Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee. The Big Orange nation sniffs a national title. A letdown would turn up heat.

Top 5 changes

1. Instant replay. NCAA approves the rule. Early buzz is the system is fast and reliable.

2. Urban Meyer at Florida. Ron Zook recruited like a madman, but Gator fans wanted more. They think they have found it in the former Utah wunderkind.

3. 13-0 and no BCS title game berth? Auburn was short-changed last year. It wont happen to an SEC champ again unless Vanderbilt goes undefeated.

4. Juwan Garth becomes Juwan Simpson. Tide linebacker changes name, but not the way he tackles.

5. Lou Holtz regains his sense of humor. Its much easier to be funnier when youre on television.

Top 5 players

1. Chris Leak, Florida QB. He could be this years Alex Smith with Alex Smiths college coach.

2. Jesse Mahelona, Tennessee DL. Opponents cant double team Tennessees run-stopper, thanks to Parys Haralson on the end.

3. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama LB. The best of the Tides ready-for-prime-time linebacking corps.

4. Chad Jackson, Florida WR. With Gators spreading it out, look for Jackson to find the seams.

5. Brodie Croyle, Alabama QB. No player is more valuable to his team, especially in leadership.

Top 5 underrated players

1. Jerious Norwood, Mississippi State RB. The league premier running back.

2. Mike Degory, Florida C. Four-year Gator starter is Chris Leaks best insurance policy.

3. Joseph Addai, LSU RB. Played in the shadows of LSU teammates Alley Broussard and Justin Vincent. Nowpoised for an All-SEC year.

4. Charlie Peprah, Alabama DB. Most experienced Tide defensive back doesnt get the pub he deserves.

5. Tre Smith, Auburn RB. Auburns running back/return man is a gamer.

Top 5 non-conference games

1. Florida State at Florida, Nov. 26. For the 10th straight season, this season-ender tops them all.

2. Georgia Tech at Auburn, Sept. 3. Tigers put winning string on the line against the team that nearly ran Tommy Tuberville out of town.

3. Boise State at Georgia, Sept. 3. Hotshot Boise coach Dan Hawkins, brings his team between The Hedges.

4. Tennessee at Notre Dame, Nov. 5. Vols head to South Bend, where they have defeated better Irish teams before.

5. Arkansas at USC, Sept. 17. It will be a blowout, but you have to admire Frank Broyles scheduling moxie.

Top 5 conference games

1. Tennessee at LSU, Nov. 24. Battle of division favorites with everything at stake.

2. Auburn at Georgia, Nov. 12. SECs oldest rivalry features spoilers who want an Atlanta rematch.

3. Tennessee at Florida, Sept. 17. Whose bubble bursts first?

4. Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 19. Just because.

5. Florida at Alabama, Oct. 1. This would be a signature win for Mike Shula.

Top 5 subplots

1. Will Rich Brooks make it through the year? The natives are restless.

2. Can Brodie Croyle, Kenneth Darby and Tim Castille all stay healthy? Better question: When will there be peace in Iraq?

3. Will the real Tennessee quar??back step forward? Whether its Erik Ainge or Rick Clausen, will the backup remain a happy camper?

4. When will Ed Orgeron go Rambo on an official? Just kidding ... we hope.

5. ESPN breaks up broadcasting teammates Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried. Whats next? Stephen A. Smith doing sideline reports?

Top 5 things we'd like to see

1. Alabama and Auburn undefeated heading into the Iron Bowl. Imagine the circulation increase!

2. A playoff. Eight teams playing at neutral sites with most bowl games remaining intact.

3. Vanderbilt going to a bowl game. In our lifetime.

4. More success for Sylvester Croom. Nice guys don't finish first under NCAA sanctions, but improvement would be nice.

5. Keith Jackson broadcasting one last SEC game. From the Rose Bowl, no less.

[quietfan 233]

Surprized he doesn't list Auburn-LSU as a top 5 conference game. It will probably decide the West champ in Atlanta.

[Aubie7 0]

No Keith Jackson!! Ever! I hope he is never given the priviledge of calling an Auburn game.