Saban in the hot seat

Saban led Michigan State to four bowl appearances in five seasons and guided LSU to the 2003 BCS National Championship. However, he was unable to make the Dolphins faithful forget about Don Shula in his two short seasons in South Florida.

Saban faces an even more daunting task at Alabama, where Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant’s teams won 14 Southeastern Conference championships and six national titles from 1958-82. Of the six coaches who have tried to fill the void left by one of college football’s greatest coaches, only Gene Stallings succeeded in bringing a national title back to Tuscaloosa.

Saban is reportedly receiving $32 million over eight years, and a rabid fan base wants to see results. If Saban cannot make Alabama what it once was, he will not finish out his contract and will be seen as the latest pretender to the throne.

Alabama Crimson Tide

n Head Coach: Nick Saban (91-42-1). n 2006 Record: 6-7 (2-6 SEC). n Key Returnees: QB John Parker Wilson, WR Keith Brown, WR D.J. Hall, C Antoine Caldwell, LG Justin Britt, LT Andre Smith, RG Marlon Davis, RT Chris Capps, K Jamie Christensen, DE Bobby Greenwood, DE Wallace Gilberry, LB Prince Hall, CB Simeon Castille, S Marcus Carter, P P.J. Fitzgerald. n Prediction: 7-5 (4-4 SEC).

QB John Parker Wilson, who threw three costly interceptions in last year’s 15-point loss at Florida, is one of nine returning offensive starters. Parker has two proven targets in D.J. Hall and Keith Brown, who combined for 106 receptions and 1,646 yards in 2006. The offensive line remains mostly intact, including freshman All-American tackle Andre Smith. The defense registered only 13 sacks last season and ranked seventh in the conference against the run. Although his team appears to be a year away from contending in the SEC West, Saban should lead the program to a NCAA-record 55th bowl appearance.

LSU Tigers

n Head Coach: Les Miles (50-25). n 2006 Record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC). n Key Returnees: RB Jacob Hester, RB Keiland Williams, WR Early Doucet, WR Brandon LaFell, TE Richard Dickson, C Brett Helms, LG Herman Johnson, LT Ciron Black, DT Glenn Dorsey, DT Charles Alexander, DE Tyson Jackson, LB Ali Highsmith, LB Darry Beckwith, LB Luke Sanders, CB Jonathan Zenon. n Prediction: 12-0 (8-0 SEC).

Ranked second in both preseason polls, the Tigers are expected to make the short trek to New Orleans to play for the BCS National Championship. Quarterback Matt Flynn, who won MVP honors in the 2005 Peach Bowl, takes over for JaMarcus Russell. Jacob Hester had a team-high 440 rushing yards and caught 35 passes for 269 yards, while Keiland Williams collected 107 of his 436 yards in a 41-14 Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame. Tackle Glenn Dorsey, a projected No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, leads one of the nation’s best defenses.

Arkansas Razorbacks

n Head Coach: Houston Nutt (103-66). n 2006 Record: 10-4 (7-1 SEC). n Key Returnees: QB Casey Dick, RB Darren McFadden, RB Peyton Hillis, RB Felix Jones, WR Marcus Monk, C Jonathan Luigs, RG Robert Felton, DE Ernest Mitchell, DE Antwain Robinson, LB Weston Dacus, FS Michael Grant, SS Matt Hewitt. n Prediction: 9-3 (5-3 SEC).

After rushing for 1,647 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2006, Darren McFadden enters the 2007 campaign as the man to beat in the Heisman Trophy race. With Mitch Mustain transferring to Southern California, the quarterbacking duties belong to Casey Dick. An unproven receiving corps will have to step up and help Dick, since top target Marcus Monk is expected to miss a couple of games with an injured knee. The defense took a hit with the losses of Sam Olajubutu, Randy Kelly and Jamaal Anderson. Defensive end Antwain Robinson, who had 68 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 2006, will have to put his off-field problems and a summer knee injury behind him.

Auburn Tigers

n Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville (96-49). n 2006 Record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC). n Key Returnees: QB Brandon Cox, RB Brad Lester, RB Carl Stewart, WR Rodgeriqus Smith, LT King Dunlap, NG Josh Thompson, DT Sen’Derrick Marks, DE Quentin Groves, LB Merrill Johnson, CB Jonathan Wilhite, FS Aairon Savage, SS Eric Brock. n Prediction: 9-3 (5-3 SEC).

Auburn beat a pair of BCS teams last season ‘ LSU and eventual national champion Florida ‘ but an inability to protect QB Brandon Cox relegated Tommy Tuberville’s squad to the Cotton Bowl. Cox was sacked five times in a 27-10 loss to Arkansas, and Georgia recorded three interceptions and four sacks in a 24-7 win over the Tigers. Things may be tougher this season for Cox and RB Brad Lester with the loss of four starters on the offensive line. DE Quentin Groves, a first-team All-SEC selection, needs 3.5 more sacks to set the school record.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

n Head Coach: Sylvester Croom (9-25). n 2006 Record: 3-9 (1-7 SEC). n Key Returnees: QB Michael Henig, RB Anthony Dixon, WR Tony Burks, WR Jamayel Smith, TE Eric Butler, TE Dezmond Sherrod, C Royce Blackledge, G Anthony Strauder, T Craig Jenkins, T Mike Brown, K Adam Carlson, DE Titus Brown, LB Gabe O’Neal, LB Jamar Chaney, FS/KR Derek Pegues. n Prediction: 4-8 (2-6 SEC).

This could be a make-or-break year for coach Sylvester Croom. The Bulldogs are again projected to finish at the bottom of the SEC West, but they have the potential to sneak into the bowl picture. A veteran offensive line will pave the way for sophomore RB Anthony Dixon, who rushed for 668 yards and nine touchdowns in the 2006. Limited by a twice-broken collarbone, quarterback Michael Henig threw for 1,201 yards in seven games last season. Derek Pegues is a ball-hawking safety and his kick returns could change the complexions of games.

Mississippi Rebels

n Head Coach: Ed Orgeron (7-16). n 2006 Record: 4-8 (2-6 SEC). n Key Returnees: QB/WR Brent Schaeffer, QB Seth Adams, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB Jason Cook, C Corey Actis, RG John Jerry, R Maurice Miller, LT Michael Oher, WR Mike Wallace, K Joshua Shene, DE Greg Hardy, DE Marcus Tillman, DT Peria Jerry. n Prediction: 4-8 (1-7 SEC).

Indiana transfer BenJarvus Green-Ellis became just the third back in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in 2006. Third-year head coach Ed Orgeron does not have much besides Green-Ellis on the offensive side of the ball. Brent Schaeffer spent two days at wide receiver earlier this summer before returning to quarterback, where he is currently battling Seth Adams for the starting job. Complicating matters for a struggling defense is the loss of linebacker Patrick Willis, who was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the 49ers.