Like so many SEC football seasons, this one hasn't gone according to form.

You can see it in the standings, where Tennessee and Auburn likely are likely headed for the SEC championship game instead of preseason picks Georgia and LSU. You also will see it in the postseason all-conference teams, if the voters are paying attention.

Statistics indicate that the postseason All-SEC teams, as voted on by the coaches and media, should be significantly different from the preseason ones.

For example, take UT punter Dustin Colquitt, who was a consensus All-American last year. He ranks sixth in the SEC in punting with a 42-yard average, compared to 45.3 last season.

For another example, take UT defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona, a junior college transfer who understandably received no preseason recognition. In the second half of his first college season, he has become a dominant player, as evidenced by his five tackles for losses against Notre Dame on Saturday.

Mahelona leads the SEC with 16.5 tackles for losses, five more than UT defensive end Parys Haralson and five and a half more than Georgia All-American defensive end David Pollack, who ranks third.

Like Pollack, Mahelona now commands special attention. When opponents analyze UT's defense, their first question should be: "How do we control No. 55?"

There have been plenty of other surprises in the SEC, good and bad.

Once regarded as the weak link of the Auburn offense, quarterback Jason Campbell leads the SEC in pass efficiency. He's the biggest reason Auburn has risen from a top-20 team in preseason to No. 3 in the country.

But he's not the only reason. First-year starter Stanley McClover and redshirt freshman Quentin Groves have given the Tigers a pair of playmakers at defensive end. Groves is tied with Pollack for the SEC lead in sacks with 7.5; McClover is third with 6.5.

On the flop side, remember LSU preseason All-American running back Justin Vincent, who was the MVP of both the SEC and national championship games last season? He's now LSU's third-string tailback. Vincent, who rushed for 201 yards in the SEC championship game, has gained only 238 yards in eight games.

LSU wide receiver Skyler Green, another popular all-conference pick in preseason, also has had a disappointing season. Green, who has been bothered by an ankle injury, has caught only 17 passes in six games.

Georgia linebacker Odell Thurman, a consensus All-SEC pick in preseason, was suspended for the first three games of the season. Since returning, he hasn't consistently played at last year's level.

LSU's Andrew Whitworth and UT's Michael Munoz were regarded as the best of a strong group of offensive tackles in preseason. But Whitworth was better last year, and Munoz has been bothered by injuries of late.

Conversely, Auburn's 6-foot-9, 340-pound Marcus McNeill has been playing like an All-American. Last season, McNeill was bothered by a back injury that caused him to miss two games and often prevented him from practicing.

UT's Jason Allen, who began the season as a cornerback, has become one of the league's top safeties. After eight games, he leads the SEC with 10.3 tackles per game.

UT linebacker Kevin Burnett, who is having a career year, is a leading candidate to make first-team All-SEC. He was a second-team pick last year and first-team, all-conference pick in preseason.

In addition to Burnett, Allen, Munoz, Haralson and Colquitt, UT's postseason honors candidates last week were offensive guard Cody Douglas and offensive tackle Arron Sears. Notice who's missing?

Mahelona wasn't included on last week's list of postseason honors candidates as released by the SEC. The candidates are submitted by the conference schools.

Publicist Bud Ford said UT submitted Mahelona's name, but it was inadvertently left off the list. In the press box Saturday, UT disseminated leaflets touting Mahelona for postseason honors.

Apparently, none of Alabama's candidates got left out. The Tide has nominated 15 players, including four offensive linemen and three linebackers, for postseason honors. Based on that, you would think Alabama is a top-10 team and in the running for the SEC championship.

The season hasn't been that surprising.

John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.