Alabama (4 GAMES)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: D+
The Tide has played four below or slightly average teams (MTSU, Southern Miss, USC and Arkansas)

OFFENSE (6th SEC Stats): C
The Tide offense has been very balanced and effective thus far. First big test against a good defense comes against Florida. BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: QB Brodie Croyle, WR Tyrone Prothro

DEFENSE (2nd SEC Stats): B
The pass defense has been superb and the run defense ain’t as bad as it looked against Arkansas BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: LB DeMeco Ryans

SPECIAL TEAMS: C
About average

AUBURN (4 games)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: D+
The Tigers have faced only one halfway decent team (Georgia Tech)

OFFENSE (3rd SEC Stats): C
After a mistake-plagued start in game one, the offense has feasted on three below-average defenses. BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: TB Kenny Irons

DEFENSE (4th SEC Stats): C
The defensive stats are good but they have come against below-average offenses. BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: DB Will Herring

SPECIAL TEAMS: A- One of the best in the SEC.

ARKANSAS (4 games)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: B+
The Hogs have faced two great teams (Southern Cal and Alabama), one surprise team (Vanderbilt) and one cream puff (SW Missouri State)

OFFENSE (5th SEC Stats): C-
The ground game can explode at any time because of the stable of good running backs, but the offense in nothing more than a dud. BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: TB Darren McFadden

DEFENSE (10th SEC Stats): C-
The stats are somewhat skewed by the big numbers Southern Cal hung on the Hogs. The defense ain’t great but it is somewhere around average. BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: LB Sam Olajabutu

SPECIAL TEAMS: C
a little above average

LSU (2 games)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: A-
Facing a decent Arizona State team on the road and a wounded Tennessee team is not the ideal way to open a season

OFFENSE (7th SEC Stats): C
The Tiger offense is balanced and can put points up. BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: TB Joseph Addai

DEFENSE (10th SEC Stats): D+
The pass defense is bad…very bad…receivers are open all over the field. Run defense is above average BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: LB Cameron Vaughn

SPECIAL TEAMS: C-
Good in some areas, poor in othersbr>
MSU (4 games)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: C
Georgia and Auburn were ranked teams, while Murray State and Tulane are below average

OFFENSE (11th SEC Stats): D
Croom hasn’t been able to improve the offense nearly as much as he has the defense. BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: TB Jerious Norwood

DEFENSE (6th SEC Stats): C
Croom has done a good job improving the defense…plays the pass and run about the same (average) which is a dramatic improvement. BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: LB Quinten Culberson

SPECIAL TEAMS: C>br>
average

OLE MISS (3 games)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: C
The Rebels have faced three teams (Memphis, Vanderbilt, and Wyoming) that are basically average teams

OFFENSE (10th SEC Stats): C-
The Rebels are equally below average passing and running. BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: TB Mico McSwain

DEFENSE (8th SEC Stats): C-
Opposing offenses are having success both passing and running against the Reb defense BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO DATE: LB Kelvin Robinson

SPECIAL TEAMS: C
average