As of now, the end of spring practice, here are the outlooks The Advocate has for the top six in the SEC:

BAMA
Alabama will almost certainly start as the preseason No. 1 in the polls and immediately will face a pair of tough and tougher tests against Virginia Tech in Atlanta and at Texas A&M. But despite O-line and secondary issues, Bama’s biggest obstacle to another national championship is Bama. If the Tide can get past A&M and LSU on Nov. 9 in Tuscaloosa, Bama will be in Atlanta.

LSU
The schedule is daunting, starting with the Cowboys Classic against TCU and continuing with road games at Georgia, Ole Miss and Alabama. Home games with Florida and Texas A&M will also tell whether the Tigers can again contend in the SEC West. At this point, the call is for 9-3 and the Cotton Bowl.

TEXAS A&M
(With Alabama and @LSU on their schedule) the Aggies would probably do well to match last year’s win total (11 wins)

GEORGIA
Weighing its talent, experience and motivation, Georgia looks like the team to beat in the East.

SOUTH CAROLINA
If the Gamecocks all heal properly this offseason and settle the QB situation — even if that means using two QBs as Spurrier so often has done in the past — they will be as capable as anyone of winning the East and going to the SEC title game.

FLORIDA
expect UF to take a step back and finish behind South Carolina and Georgia in the East.

I would say that looking at schedules, Bama has easiest road to the championship game (thank you SEC office), so they should be the odds on favorite, LSU gets Ga, Fla, bama, texas a&m, I'm guessing the writer thinks we'll lose 3 of those 4. I don't think so. 10-2 looks more likely, depending on injuries, game breaks, and such

I'm seeing a repeat.

No, I'm not saying a repeat in the sense you first thought.

If you recall, the "talking points" about the Bama defense recently was "how can a team continue to have that success replacing so many players on defense." Very, very few talked about how much experience was returning that weren't named starters but many of whom had started close to half of the games the previous season.

It's my suspicion we'll see those "talking points" continue but this summer they'll be focused on how many defensive players have moved on from the Tiger defense. And, once again, very few will mention the talent and experience still on campus in Baton Rouge.

One thing that catches my eye in those capsules is South Carolina. Mentioned is the QB situation ignoring the point that UofSC has been successful the last few years primarily based on the success of their power running game.

Mike Davis, who is replacing Lattimore, is a talented back. But, he's not the same style of runner. If Lattimore couldn't make it through his time healthy in Columbia how can one expect Davis to do so? Small note to add...this was a team that was 13th out of 14 teams in rushing offense last season.

Defense has been a mainstay at UofSC and no mention of them replacing their entire two deep at linebacker and their starting SPUR?

Another thing that seems like it would be of note. UofSC were third in the conference in FG attempts last season and the two they have competing for the job aren't any better than the kicker they lost.

OK, another note:

I'm sure you've heard "don't let that team hang around at the end." With UGA, it really won't hurt you. That's a team that is 1-6 in close games the last three years when the games are decided by four points or less. And, yet again, Murray's win percentage against top ranked teams is just dreadful. Horrid.

It'll all work itself out as long as Bama gets the easiest schedule. No worries.

Guess we should just pack it in now and not play.

Amazing that a 9-3 record is so disappointing in our eyes today. When you think about where TIGER football was years ago this is truly a great time to be a TIGER!! I say 11-1 and BAMA can sux that TIGER D!@K!!

It's actually the opposite, this is the kind of stuff that you like your players to hear, the kind of stuff you want to post on their lockers and say: "you see this, this is what your own local newspaper is saying," etc

When it comes to packing it in and not giving 150%, the stuff you don't want your team to hear is how great they are, how they're going to go 14-0, yada, yada

That's why you see Saban blowing up on the press at press conferences, chewing them out for writing off whoever Bama's next opponent is, no matter how lowly of a team it is

A big thing is injuries, not just for us, but just about anybody. losing 3 OL, starting RB, K Alexander going out, it's really amazing how well last years team did.

The old saying is true, to win a championship, you have to have good luck with injuries, and some good breaks along the way

Right. Like the referees & schedulers in your back pocket. That tends to present the ocassional break or two along the way.

I believe LSU will have to rely on its Offense this season. I certainly can see us getting into some offensive shootouts this year vs trying to let the Defense keep us in it. Don't get me wrong, I think our defense is long on talent, but short on experience at some key positions. Until they come into their own, I think wheter we are 9-3 or 11-1 will be determined by our Offense this year. In a year where a lot of pundits are talking about the lack of experience on LSU's Defense, they are not talking about the returning experiene on Offense. Correct me if I am wrong, but we return 9 starters on Offense and LSU should have one of the better OL's in the SEC this season. We should have 7 returning OL with lots of experience to fill 5 spots. Offense should be a strongpoint of this team.