Guest Post: 2012 SEC College Football Preview

2012 SEC College Football Preview Alabama The Big Question: Can Alabama reload after losing more players to the draft than any other SEC team? Alabama lost a league-highest eight players to the NFL draft this year, and losing eight players plus those that were undrafted is difficult for any team to overcome. Arkansas The Big Question: Will the team be able to function cohesively in the aftermath of the Petrino scandal? Bobby Petrino's scandalous and highly-publicized exit from Arkansas has left the program in turmoil. So Coach John L. Smith must try to get the Razorbacks to play as a team. Auburn The Big Question: Will Auburn be able to achieve any sort of defensive improvement? Auburn's defensive coaching personnel has been overhauled in the off-season, so the new coaches will have to try to turn Auburn's defense around. Florida The Big Question: Will the Gators' new offensive coordinator be able to field a better offense than Charlie Weiss? The Weiss era has come to an end, and the Gators have hired Brent Pease to replace him. Quarterback John Brantley is gone, and Pease must choose his replacement from a trio of sophomores. Georgia The Big Question: Will the Bulldogs be able to pull it all together? The Bulldogs have the pieces in place for a good season, but will they be able to play a full game when it matters? Kentucky The Big Question: Will Kentucky be able to build on the momentum gained from last year's historic defeat of Tennessee? Kentucky defeated Tennessee for the first time in a quarter century, so can they turn that into positive momentum going forward? They will have to replace three offensive lineman and defensive workhorse Danny Trevathan. LSU The Big Question: Will LSU be able to overcome last season's heartbreaking conclusion? LSU had a perfect regular season last year but ended the season with a loss to Alabama in the Title Game. The Tigers must also break in a new quarterback since Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson are gone. Mississippi State The Big Question: Can Dan Mullen succeed in his efforts to turn things around in Starkville? Mullen's past couple of teams have fared better than many Mississippi State teams, but how well will the Bulldogs fare without quarterback Chris Relf? Missouri The Big Question: How good is wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham? Dorial Green-Beckham is arguably the best true freshman wide receiver in the country, and if he is as good as advertised, then Missouri could be special. Ole Miss The Big Question: Can new coach Hugh Freeze bring new life to Oxford? Ole Miss often fields one of the worst teams in the SEC, so Coach Freeze has his work cut out for him. South Carolina The Big Question: Will South Carolina's playmakers be able to step up in 2012? Star running back Marcus Lattimore suffered a season-ending injury last year, so will he be able to function at full strength? The Gamecocks must also replace receiver Alshon Jeffery. Tennessee The Big Question: Will Coach Derek Dooley's staff changes make a difference? New coaching faces abound at Tennessee; will the new running backs coach be able to overcome the loss of Tauren Poole? Texas A&M The Big Question: Will the Aggies be able to handle so much change? Breaking in a new coach, new conference, and new quarterback is difficult when only one is the case, much less all three. Vanderbilt The Big Question: Can quarterback Jordan Rodgers be an effective leader? Coach James Franklin is trying to instill confidence in this perennial last-place team, and Rodgers must play well for the Commodores to succeed. By Don Phan - Just another sports enthusiast.