"SOUTHEASTERN (No. 1)
College football’s premier power conference boasts the defending national champion, Florida, as well as four other teams in the A.P.’s top 13: Alabama, Louisiana State, Georgia and Mississippi. As deep as the league is, the story will be the Gators, winners of two of the last three national championships and a favorite to repeat in 2009. Tim Tebow dominates the headlines, but linebacker Brandon Spikes quarterbacks an aggressive defense that has plenty of experience. Florida’s stiffest challenge from within the East Division will come from Georgia, whose title hopes went unrealized in 2008. The Bulldogs hope less flash and more substance will yield another 10-win season and a potential B.C.S. berth. Lane Kiffin has achieved his goal of getting Tennessee back into the national conversation, but none of his bluster will matter come Saturday. The West is deep. Alabama enters Year 3 of the Nick Saban era looking to build upon last season’s success, which included a division title and a loss to Florida in the conference title game. Ole Miss is the trendy pick in the SEC, thanks to its upset of Florida, a strong finish to last season and quarterback Jevan Snead. L.S.U. should be very good, especially if the Tigers can improve upon the quarterback play that defined last season’s disappointing 8-5 record. Even teams out of the conference title hunt — like Arkansas, Auburn and South Carolina — have the potential to win nine games."
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