ARKANSAS
Best of times: The Razorbacks will begin their road to recovery if quarterback Brandon Allen can reduce his mistakes and provide a complement to the 1-2 tailback punch of Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins. Arkansas also allowed 30 or more points in seven of eight SEC games a year ago, so senior defensive end Trey Flowers has to head a more competitive unit.
Worst of times: Should Allen struggle again and the defense fail to show much improvement, Arkansas could be looking at a second consecutive 3-9 season. There are trips to Auburn, Texas Tech and Texas A&M before October arrives, and that month begins with visits from Alabama and Georgia. The other SEC schools visiting this year are LSU and Ole Miss.
AUBURN
Best of times: Auburn could repeat as SEC champions if the offense continues to flourish with everybody having another year in the system. There is no shortage of tailbacks in which quarterback Nick Marshall can work with, and the receiver position is beyond loaded. Auburn did allow 28 or more points six times a year ago, but Ellis Johnson should have a stronger secondary.
Worst of times: Can the stars align to produce another "Prayer in Jordan-Hare" or "Kick Six" this season? Good fortune accompanied last year's Tigers, and this year's team already has some setbacks with injuries to guard Alex Kozan and defensive end Carl Lawson. The biggest reason Auburn could fail to match 12 wins is a schedule that features seven of the top 21 USA Today teams.
FLORIDA
Best of times: The Gators may erupt under new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper. Quarterback Jeff Driskel does not lack for talent, and Matt Jones and Kelvin Taylor comprise an underrated tailback tandem. Florida was stout defensively during its 11-2 and 4-8 seasons, and this year shouldn't be any different with end Dante Fowler and cornerback Vernon Hargreaves.
Worst of times: If Florida cannot develop playmakers on the perimeter, the offense again will be limited. Quinton Dunbar and Demarcus Robinson have been hailed as the program's next great receivers but have yet to display consistency. Obviously there is the need to avoid last year's injury rash, but even a healthy squad could be looking at 6-6 given the schedule.
KENTUCKY
Best of times: Defensive ends Alvin "Bud" Dupree and Za'Darius Smith headline a unit that returns eight starters and could keep the Wildcats more competitive compared to last season's 2-10 team that went 0-8 in SEC play for a second straight year. Kentucky is experienced at receiver and on the offensive line, and finding that right quarterback could result in at least five wins.
Worst of times: Kentucky's 2014 recruiting class was the highest-rated in program history, which obviously is a good thing, but a surplus of newcomers can be accompanied by a surplus of youthful mistakes. Hopes of improvement could be dashed should quarterback play be shoddy during a closing stretch of LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee and Louisville.
LSU
Best of times: The Tigers have been overlooked nationally after losing so many underclassmen to the NFL the past two seasons, but wait until everyone witnesses freshman tailback Leonard Fournette and freshman receivers Malachi Dupre and Trey Quinn. There are at least six returning starters on each side of the ball, and who makes a living going against Les Miles?
Worst of times: Quarterback Anthony Jennings struggled in last season's Outback Bowl, and he was outperformed in the spring game by early enrollee Brandon Harris. What if neither one is able to manage an offense mixed with experienced talent and youthful pizazz? This team has the potential to knock off Alabama in early November, but there is also the possibility of 7-5.
MISSISSIPPI
Best of times: There is no time like the present for senior quarterback Bo Wallace, who will work with tailback I'Tavius Mathers, receiver Laquon Treadwell and tight end Evan Engram. The offense also possesses left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who may the be the SEC's best lineman. The defense is strong up front with Robert Nkemdiche and in the back end with safety Cody Prewitt.
Worst of times: The Rebels have every right to go out there and win 10 games. The outstanding 2013 signing class is another year older, and the cross-divisional matchups of Vanderbilt and Tennessee are there for the taking. Wallace cannot afford any Egg Bowl repeats, and this program must take advantage of quality wins, which it failed to do last year after downing LSU.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Best of times: Quarterback Dak Prescott is being compared to former Florida standout Tim Tebow, with Dan Mullen leading such talk. Jameon Lewis and Robert Johnson give the Bulldogs perimeter threats that could balance Prescott's rushing ability, while the defense has at least two All-SEC candidates with lineman Chris Jones and linebacker Benardrick McKinney.
Worst of times: Prescott puts his body to the test, so the injury factor with him could be greater than most of his league counterparts. MSU has 17 of 22 starters returning but had similar hopes in 2012, when a 7-0 start gave way to a 1-5 finish. Mullen is still preaching championships, but the Bulldogs have been suffering double-digit losses to LSU, Alabama and Texas A&M.
MISSOURI
Best of times: Quarterback Maty Mauk was a reliever in last season's win at Georgia and then started in convincing wins over Florida and Tennessee, so he has confidence as a sophomore. Tailbacks Russell Hansbrough and Marcus Murphy combined for nearly 1,300 yards last season, while Markus Golden and Shane Ray expect to continue the stellar play at defensive end.
Worst of times: Bud Sasser is the top receiver but doesn't provide the size mismatches that three Tigers receivers presented last season. The most notable of those departures, Dorial Green-Beckham, had 144 yards in December's SEC title game but was dismissed this spring. Missouri's eight returning starters are the fewest of any team in the SEC. Will that come into play?
SOUTH CAROLINA
Best of times: These are indeed the best of times for the Gamecocks, who have won 11 games in three consecutive seasons. Dylan Thompson has big-game experience as he takes the reins from Connor Shaw, and Mike Davis returns after rushing for 1,183 yards last season. The defense is consistently strong for the Gamecocks, who get to host both Georgia and Missouri.
Worst of times: Former defensive end Jadeveon Clowney didn't post the numbers he wanted last season, but he was a constant focus of opposing offenses, which let other folks shine. Kelcy Quarles and Chaz Sutton also are gone from the defensive front, while cornerbacks Victor Hampton and Jimmy Legree must be replaced. Trips to Auburn, Florida and Clemson await.
TEXAS A&M
Best of times: An often overlooked reason for Texas A&M's early success in the SEC has been its offensive line, and four starters are back this season. Johnny Manziel will be replaced by either sophomore Kenny Hill or freshman Kyle Allen, but Kevin Sumlin has a great track record of developing quarterbacks. A subpar defense should get a jolt from freshman end Myles Garrett.
Worst of times: Manziel was special and has left some sizable, pressure-packed shoes, but the biggest concern will be a struggling defense unless proven otherwise. There were two starters dismissed earlier this year, and then end Gavin Stansbury transferred before the start of camp. If the Aggies can't outscore foes like the past two seasons, then this could be a .500 team.
VANDERBILT
Best of times: As new coach Derek Mason is quick to point out, predecessor James Franklin is no longer in Nashville, but Commodores players still are. Four starters on the offensive line return, and tailbacks Jerron Seymour and Brian Kimbrow can't be overlooked. The nonconference schedule is nonexistent, so solid quarterback play should result in a fourth straight bowl.
Worst of times: Franklin, whether the Commodores like him or not, was accompanied by an energy that produced consecutive 9-4 seasons. Also helping that run were reveivers Jordan Matthews and Jonathan Krause, who combined for 2,191 yards. There will be a drop at receiver, and the secondary must be revamped with Andre Hal and Kenny Ladler now gone.