Large, hungry members of the sports media will convene near Birmingham today for SEC Media Days. And not just for the luncheon. SEC Media Days signal the commencement of SEC football in 2008 and plenty of news and features, so let’s get started with 10 questions:

1. Can the SEC claim a third straight national championship?

Despite the degree of difficulty in the league increasing with Bobby Petrino joining the SEC and Ed Orgeron exiting, I still like the chances of Georgia, Florida or LSU. I’ve heard several voters say that, due to Ohio State’s ghastly showings in the BCS title game, they would take a two-loss SEC school over a one-loss Buckeyes team.

Yes, Georgia’s schedule is difficult. But Florida faced a treacherous slate in 2006 and earned the national championship trophy. Florida played at Tennessee and Auburn and got Alabama and LSU at home. Georgia gets LSU and Auburn on the road and faces Alabama and Tennessee at home. But Florida didn’t take trips to South Carolina and Arizona State that season.

2. Which weekend should SEC fans hope they don’t have to attend a wedding?

People in the South still get married during football season? Interesting. I suppose it could be an out-of-state wedding. Anyway, you’ll want to fake a serious illness Sept. 20, when LSU at Auburn, Florida at Tennessee, Georgia at Arizona State and Alabama at Arkansas are on the schedule. Start buying those jalapenos now.

3. Can Alabama’s No. 1 recruiting class make a difference?

Alabama routed Tennessee and nearly toppled LSU last year. The Tide also lost to Louisiana-Monroe. Alabama’s top-ranked recruiting class is expected to make the Tide consistent winners. A few members can help start the process this season, like highly touted receiver Julio Jones.

Alabama is perilously thin at linebacker, providing opportunities for freshmen such as Jerrell Harris and Courtney Upshaw. It’s possible for a freshman linebacker to make an impact. Ask Rolando McClain.

4. Can we expect more points this year?

The clock rules are different again. No-huddle offenses should thrive with the new 40/25-second play clock this season. Given 40 seconds to snap the ball, offenses can better evaluate the defense’s personnel if they get to the line quickly. Auburn and Tennessee, two of six SEC schools with new offensive coordinators, are built to take advantage.

5. Should you watch the line play this season?

Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes, particularly in the SEC West. We’re talking future first-round NFL picks colliding with more future first-round picks. It’s insane. Auburn’s Sen’Derrick Marks, Ole Miss’s Greg Hardy and LSU’s Tyson Jackson will be high defensive picks. So will offensive linemen such as Alabama’s Andre Smith, LSU’s Ciron Black and Ole Miss’s Michael Oher. These are elite players.

6. Who will start at quarterback for LSU?

Jarrett Lee will be the man. He’s a pro-style pocket passer, a little less athletic than Matt Flynn but with a better arm, who took first-team snaps in the spring. Yes, he’s a redshirt freshman and Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch is a junior. But come on — this is Les Miles. He’s been known to take the occasional risk.

7. Which newcomer will make the biggest impact?

Jevon Snead for Ole Miss. Orgeron wanted so badly to coach another year because, for the first time, he had an impact player at quarterback. Snead transferred from Texas after losing the starting quarterback competition to Colt McCoy as a freshman.

7. Can Tim Tebow win another Heisman?

He’s certainly the favorite. But Tebow won’t post the ridiculous rushing touchdown totals like last year with Chris Rainey and Emmanuel Moody in the backfield. It will be interesting to see if the Heisman voters are swayed by the dip in statistics.

8. Was Mississippi State lucky last year?

I hate to say yes, but that’s my answer. The Bulldogs got outgained badly and finished last or next-to-last in the SEC in several offensive categories. Some horrific decisions by quarterbacks (Alabama, Auburn), coaches (Ole Miss) and bad kicking (Central Florida) helped Mississippi State to eight wins. Getting that many again will be difficult.

9. Was Steve Spurrier just one year off?

Last season, Spurrier said his team was ready to compete for an SEC title. Oops. The defense should be outstanding. But the quarterback, as of today, is still Tommy Beecher. Even Spurrier said he wished someone would just win the job and put everyone at ease.

10. Can Tennessee end Phillip Fulmer’s title drought?

Not this season. The schedule is difficult — remember when I wrote about all those East teams with bye weeks before playing Tennessee? — the quarterback is new and David Cutcliffe is gone. New offensive coordinator Dave Clawson should be a nice addition, but losing Cutcliffe should never be viewed as a positive.

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