Adams: SEC will be flexing its muscles again

Never mind that national champion Florida is losing nine members of its defense, including four NFL-bound juniors, or that LSU's All-SEC quarterback. JaMarcus Russell, decided not to stick around for his senior season.

Several of the early, early Top 25 polls for 2007 have both Florida and LSU in the top five. Don't expect that to change when the preseason football magazines hit the newsstands in late spring and early summer.

Florida's ranking is a tribute to the recruiting and player development of coach Urban Meyer and his staff. Despite all the losses on defense and the loss of a four-year starting quarterback, the perception is that Florida will replace its old stars with new ones. I wouldn't argue with that perception.

LSU is a different matter. No one is confusing coach Les Miles with Meyer. Despite back-to-back top-10 finishes, there's a perception LSU has under-achieved under Miles. I wouldn't argue with that perception, either.

But Miles, like Nick Saban before him, has recruited well. And LSU's 2007 team will reflect their salesmanship.

LSU lost Russell and offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, but it kept defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, who sought the head-coaching job at Minnesota, and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, who decided to return for his senior season.

With seven other defensive starters returning, LSU should be favored to win the SEC and contend for the national title as well.

Arkansas might suffer more than LSU from early losses to the NFL. All-SEC defensive end Jamal Anderson, who would have anchored the Razorback front seven, and Chris Houston, the team's best cover man, both elected not to return for their senior seasons.

Although Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden returns at tailback, the Razorbacks' passing game is barely adequate. The pending transfer of freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain and departure of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to Tulsa might improve team chemistry but that won't help the passing game.

Auburn is another West team in need of a passing upgrade. A rigorous conference schedule also will pose a challenge for a team likely to experience a drop-off in 2007.

Alabama might be headed in the opposite direction. Nine starters return on offense, and new coach Nick Saban should revitalize the defense. If Saban's first Alabama team follows his pattern at LSU, the Tide will pull off a major upset and suffer an unexpected defeat as well.

The East should be more balanced than ever. Florida will be the consensus favorite, but its heavy losses on defense offer hope to Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.

South Carolina is the most intriguing challenger to Florida. Despite losing third-year sophomore wide receiver Sidney Rice, the Gamecocks will field their most talented team under coach Steve Spurrier. They also will face their most formidable schedule.

But if they were good enough to play the national champions a one-point game in The Swamp, who's to say they couldn't upset Florida in Columbia this November?

No matter how the division races play out, the conference should be just as good as in 2006. It also should be more exciting. A league that prides itself on defense will return 10 of its 12 starting quarterbacks.

So look for the SEC to have more balance between offense and defense in 2007. It also should have more balance from top to bottom.

In 1999, a record seven SEC teams made the top 25. The conference might break that record next season.