If you listed the SEC's biggest rivalries, you would start with Auburn vs. Alabama. You would quickly add Tennessee-Florida, Tennessee-Alabama, Georgia-Florida, Auburn-Georgia, Ole Miss-Mississippi State, LSU-Ole Miss and Georgia-Tennessee.

And your list still wouldn't include what likely will be the game of the year in the SEC.

NEWS SENTINEL ALL-SEC TEAM

OFFENSE QB — David Greene, Georgia RB — Carnell Williams, Auburn RB — Justin Vincent, LSU FB — Daccus Turman, South Carolina WR — Reggie Brown, Georgia WR — Skyler Green, LSU WR — Fred Gibson, Georgia TE — Cooper Wallace, Auburn OT — Andrew Whitworth, LSU OT — Michael Munoz, Tennessee OG — Marques Johnson, Ole Miss OG — Max Jean-Giles, Georgia C — Ben Wilkerson, LSU

DEFENSE DE — David Pollack, Georgia DE — Marcus Spears, LSU DT — Kyle Williams, LSU DT — Ronald Fields, Mississippi State LB — Kevin Simon, UT LB — Odell Thurman, Georgia LB — Channing Crowder, Florida CB — Corey Webster, LSU CB — Travis Daniels, LSU S — Thomas Davis, Georgia S — LaRon Landry, LSU

SPECIAL TEAMS K — Jonathan Nichols, Ole Miss P — Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee

Georgia vs. LSU suddenly has become the hottest matchup in the SEC.

It was a long time coming. They played each other only 22 times before last year and didn't play at all from 1954 through 1977. Look at all they missed.

Georgia never played against LSU Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon or All-Americans Jimmy Taylor, Tommy Casanova and Bert Jones. LSU never played against Georgia Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker or All-Americans Bill Stanfill, Jake Scott or Champ Bailey.

When they did meet, the games rarely carried great significance. Until last year, Georgia had played only three LSU teams that finished in the top 10. Until last year, LSU had played only one Georgia team that finished in the top 10.

But the series took a serious turn last year. After going so many years without playing at all, Georgia and LSU played two big games in 2003. LSU beat the Bulldogs twice, including the SEC championship game, on the way to a national title; Georgia finished in the top 10 despite losing twice to the Tigers.

Both teams return many of their key players and are consensus preseason top-10 picks. So this season's matchup in Athens on Oct. 2 could be just as important as last year's regular-season game in Baton Rouge.

And the likely rematch in Atlanta will be even more important.

East

Georgia (10-2, 7-1 SEC): The Bulldogs won the East last year with an all-new offensive line that suffered from injuries as well as inexperience. This team will be deeper and more balanced on offense, and possibly just as good on defense if it new starters come through in the secondary.

Tennessee (9-2, 6-2): The Vols will have to break in a new starting quarterback but will be improved everywhere else on offense. Although they lost three starters in the secondary, they should be stronger at linebacker and in the defensive line.

Florida (7-4, 5-3): Quarterback Chris Leak will make the Gators competitive against everybody on their schedule, but they suffered too many losses on defense to keep up with Georgia and Tennessee.

South Carolina (7-4, 5-3): With head coach Lou Holtz taking more control of the offense, the Gamecocks should at least run the ball better. But the stretch run that will again cause problems for South Carolina, which plays three of its last four games against Tennessee, Florida and Clemson.

Kentucky (4-7, 2-6): Defensive coordinator Mike Archer made the most of a modestly talented defense last year. The defense should be improved this season but not enough to overcome a lackluster offense.

Vanderbilt (3-8, 1-7): The Commodores will return almost all of their starters. Don't they always?

West

LSU (11-1, 7-1): The defense will miss All-American tackle Chad Lavalais and end Marquise Hill, but this team's depth of talent is still far above the competition in the West.

Auburn (8-3, 5-3): The Tigers lost big at linebacker and in the defensive line, but the return of running back Carnell Williams and an easier schedule will make for a better record.

Alabama (6-5, 4-4): The Tide will bounce back from a nine-loss season and qualify for a bowl game if it can keep quarterback Brodie Croyle healthy.

Arkansas (5-6, 3-5): The Razorbacks will have to rebuild their offensive line and their secondary against a schedule that includes Texas outside the conference and Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in the East.

Ole Miss (5-6, 3-5): The Rebels won't realize how good quarterback Eli Manning was until this year.

Mississippi State (4-7, 1-7): The Bulldogs should be improved under first-year coach Sylvester Croom, but they're still the worst of the West.