Color scheme (Best uniforms)
The personal preference is a school that can make two colors work, so that eliminates Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Of the eight that remain, we'll go with Auburn topping Ole Miss for the best home uniform and LSU edging Georgia for the best look in white.
Seeing green (Best NFL prospects in the SEC)
There will be a bunch in the next two drafts with South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney leading the way in 2014. Alabama tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, Texas A&M tackle Jake Matthews, Mississippi State guard Gabe Jackson, Tennessee tackle "Tiny" Richardson, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, LSU defensive tackle Anthony Johnson and Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley are popping up on first-round projections. As for the 2015 draft, look for Alabama tailback T.J. Yeldon to go quite high.
Kick the can (Best special teams unit)
Florida has been the class of the league the last several seasons, though the Gators took a hit this month when Andre Debose was lost for the season. Debose had a school-record four kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career, but punter Kyle Christy returns after averaging a school-record 45.8 yards last season. There is no bigger special-teams menace than cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy, who forced three fumbles and blocked two punts last season.
Neon lights
(Biggest game of the year)
This has been pegged all year as Alabama's trip to Texas A&M on Sept. 14, but the intrigue of this game could implode if Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel is suspended for violating NCAA rules dealing with receiving cash for autographs. The safer pick may be the SEC championship game, which could again be thrilling if Alabama faces the Georgia-South Carolina winner.
Preseason all-SEC team
Offense
QB Johnny Manziel Texas A&M
RB T.J. Yeldon Alabama
RB Todd Gurley Georgia
WR Amari Cooper Alabama
WR Jordan Matthews Vanderbilt
TE Arthur Lynch Georgia
OT Cyrus Kouandjio Alabama
OT Jake Matthews Texas A&M
OG Anthony Steen Alabama
OG Gabe Jackson Mississippi State
C Travis Swanson Arkansas
PK Carey Spear Vanderbilt
AP Bruce Ellington South Carolina
Defense
DE Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina
DE Chris Smith Arkansas
DT Dominique Easley Florida
DT Anthony Johnson LSU
LB C.J. Mosley Alabama
LB A.J. Johnson Tennessee
LB Denzel Nkemdiche Ole Miss
CB Louchiez Purifoy Florida
CB Deion Belue Alabama
S HaHa Clinton-Dix Alabama
S Craig Loston LSU
P Kyle Christy Florida
RS Odell Beckham LSU
Predicted order of finish
EASTERN DIVISION
• 1. Georgia
• 2. South Carolina
• 3. Florida
• 4. Vanderbilt
• 5. Tennessee
• 6. Missouri
• 7. Kentucky
WESTERN DIVISION
• 1. Alabama
• 2. Texas A&M
• 3. LSU
• 4. Ole Miss
• 5. Auburn
• 6. Mississippi State
• 7. Arkansas
Camouflaged contender
(Someone picked outside the top four who has a chance to win the league if things go right)
The top four vote receivers at media days were Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas A&M, leaving LSU, Florida, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt next in line. The uncertainty of Florida's offense is a concern, so the pick will be LSU despite its brutal conference schedule.