SEC East will be a three-team battle again

Missouri has been to the SEC title game the past two seasons, but this year the Georgia Bulldogs want to stop the Tigers’ streak.
While Georgia may be the favorite to get to Atlanta by most preview magazines, the Bulldogs will face plenty of competition from Florida, Missouri and Tennessee.
Florida has a new head coach with Jim McElwain and it may take until next year for the Gators to finish at the top of the SEC East.
Butch Jones has helped the Volunteers become a force again, while Gary Pinkel’s Missouri team has plenty of reasons to feel like they can grab a three-peat trip to the championship game.
1. Georgia
2014 Record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
Returning Starters: Offense – 6, Defense – 6
Nick Chubb - enough said.
Chubb (5-10, 220) pounds) led the Bulldogs and was second in the SEC with 1,547 rushing yards; he tied for the league lead in 14 rushing touchdowns.
Chubb is a tough inside runner with good speed and carries a streak of eight consecutive 100-yard games into this season.
He hit the 200-yard mark twice last season, including a 266-yard outing in a rout of Louisville in the Belk Bowl.
Georgia has perhaps the best offensive line in the SEC and unproven quarterbacks, which means Chubb will be the lead Dawg.
2. Missouri
2014 Record: 11-3 (7-1 SEC)
Returning Starters: Offense - 6, Defense - 6
As Missouri quaterback Maty Mauk goes - so go the Tigers.
Mauk completed only 48.9 percent of his throws in SEC games but also limited his interceptions to just four over the final seven contests.
3. Tennessee
2014 Record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
Returning Starters: Offense – 9, Defense – 8
Joshua Dobbs threw for 1,206 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 469 yards and eight scores over the final six games.
But the key for Tennesse to have a chance to grab the SEC East is a strong defense.
The Volunteers allowed 5.4 per play in 2014, while defensive end Derek Barnett was one of two SEC freshmen to break Jadeveon Clowney’s freshman sack record in 2014.
Barnett registered 10 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and 20.5 tackles for loss and he will be a force again on defense this season.
4. South Carolina
2014 Record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
Returning Starters: Offense – 4, Defense – 6
The main question early this season for the Gamecocks is who will be the starting quarterback?
Will it be Connor Mitch, Perry Orth, Michael Scarnecchia or incoming freshman Lorenzo Nunez - who knows how short Steve Spurrier’s leash will be on the field generals this season?
While South Carolina’s offensive line will be inexperienced the real concern is on defense.
The Gamecock defense ranked 12th in the SEC by allowing 30.4 points per game in 2014.
5. Florida
2014 Record: 7-5 (4-4 SEC)
Returning Starters: Offense – 4, Defense – 7
Like South Carolina, Florida will have a quarterback battle and an unexperienced offensive line but the Gator defense should be strong.
Treon Harris started the last six games as a freshman last season and passed for 1,140 yards, nine scores and 10 picks.
The offensive line could be a bigger problem spot with only one starter (Trip Thurman) back.
Defensive end Dante Fowler left early for the NFL, but there are seven returners on defense so that should help.
6. Kentucky
2014 Record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC)
Returning Starters: Offense – 6, Defense – 6
Head coach Mark Stoops will be without Za’Darius Smith and Bud Dupree, two standout performers who recorded 12 of Kentucky’s 27 sacks last season - so the Wildcat defense will have to grow up quickly.
Quarterback Patrick Towles threw for 2,718 yards and 14 scores and added 303 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
Redshirt freshman Drew Barker could also see significant time, pushing Towles to the sidelines.
7. Vanderbilt
2014 Record: 3-9 (0-8 SEC)
Returning Starters: Offense – 8, Defense – 9
Vanderbilt’s offense managed only 12.8 points per game in SEC contests.
But the biggest suprise is on defense as head coach Derek Mason is now Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator.
With nine starters returning from a 3-9 season, the question remains how much can the Commodores’ defense improve this season.
With inconsistency at quarterback only two receivers – C.J. Duncan and Latevius Rayford – caught more than 20 passes in 2014.
With a whole season ahead, the battle on paper for the SEC East will be between Georgia, Missouri or Tennessee.
But don’t count out South Carolina or Florida from being spoilers of some one’s quest to the title.