1. Alabama (11-1, 7-1; vs. Missouri in the SEC title game Saturday in Atlanta): Any chance the Crimson Tide come out flat? With Nick Saban directing this bunch’s march on Atlanta, with the stakes as high as possible for the collective and the individuals, with a spot in the college football playoff on the line? Nope. Alabama has become a true pinnacle of success in today’s college football realm. The Tide expect to be in games like this, and they expect to succeed. That’s the mark of a great team. The mark of a dynasty? Everyone else expects them to be in games like this and expects them to succeed, too. Bowl projection: Sugar Bowl vs. Baylor, Jan. 1
2. Ole Miss (9-3, 5-3): How long before Hugh Freeze cashes in? Well, that was quick. According to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Freeze and Ole Miss agreed on a contract extension and a raise late Monday night. Freeze, who was among those being mentioned with the Florida opening, will be in the neighborhood of $4 million a year, and we all know that’s a pretty nice neighborhood. Bowl projection: Cotton Bowl vs. TCU, Jan. 1
3. Mississippi State (10-2, 6-2): Where does Dan Mullen’s postgame news conference meltdown rank among the all-time postgame news conference meltdowns? It was certainly not an all-timer — think Dennis Green’s “They are who we thought they were” and Mike Gundy’s “I’m a man, I’m 40!” — but it got emotional after the Egg Bowl loss to Ole Miss. Mullen’s words were calculated — especially his “We came here to build a championship program” and how no one is laughing about that anymore — but his facial expressions relayed the emotional investment on rivalry weekend, especially when a potential playoff bid was on the line. Bowl projection: Orange Bowl vs. Florida State, Dec. 31
4. Georgia (9-3, 6-2): Can we put the end-of-the-game squib kick in the file with the prevent defense of sensible ideas in theory that practically are flawed? Take Georgia’s ill-fated decision to squib kick with a three-point lead and less than 20 seconds to play last Saturday. Now if the other team has a legit home-run threat back deep, maybe you consider squib kicking, but we can still say it’s a bad move. In a late-game situation, the “safeness” of a squib kick gives up distance and time — the two things the other team puts the most value on in those situations. (Side question: It’s curious how Georgia fans view this season with the spankings of Clemson, Missouri and Auburn and allowing 800-plus rushing yards in losses to Florida and Georgia Tech.) Bowl projection: Outback Bowl vs. Wisconsin, Jan. 2
5. Missouri (10-2, 7-1; vs. Alabama in the SEC title game Saturday in Atlanta): Do the Tigers have a chance Saturday? A slim one, but yes, as our man Lloyd Christmas reminds us, we are saying there’s a chance. It will take some turnovers — and the defensive end tandem of Markus Golden and Shane Ray will need to show out — and a monster game from Maty Mauk. Still, it seems like a long shot to be counting on Li’l Maty to beat Nick and the boys, you know? Bowl projection: Citrus Bowl vs. Clemson, Jan. 1
SEC
Southeastern Conference6. Auburn (8-4, 4-4): Can Auburn land Will Muschamp as its defensive coordinator? We think it is very possible and are starting to lean toward probable, especially if Muschamp calls Alabama offensive coordinator and former USC and Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin to ask about the year experiment of taking a step back for a short time. Kiffin has reshaped his image a great deal with a highly successful season in Tuscaloosa. Muschamp very likely could do the same, it’s just a matter of where. Here’s saying it will be Auburn. Bowl projection: Music City Bowl vs. Louisville, Dec. 30
7. LSU (8-4, 4-4): How do we feel about these Tigers? An up-and-down season ended on a high with LSU’s Thanksgiving night win over Texas A&M and the showcase effort by freshman running back Leonard Fournette. The Tigers likely are as youthful as anyone — a fact that will make the bowl practice interesting for LSU — but there are legit quarterback questions. Still, a rebuilding year that finishes 8-4 is a testament to the status of the program Les Miles has crafted in Baton Rouge. Bowl projection: Texas Bowl vs. Texas, Dec. 29
8. Texas A&M (7-5, 3-5): How do we feel about these Aggies? It seems a fair question considering the roller coaster Texas A&M traveled this year. It was the Week 1 king of college football before imploding and then delivered a knockout gut punch at Auburn before losing in its home finale. The young talent is well-documented, but the defense allowed an average of more than 36 points per game in SEC play. And at $5 million per, Kevin Sumlin needs to produce more than postseason excursions to Shreveport. Bowl projection: Independence Bowl vs. Miami, Dec. 27
9. Florida (6-5, 4-4): Is Florida still a top-five job? Absolutely. Facilities, locale, conference, recruiting base, resources, and the guy who lands the Gators gig has a chance to win quickly. Among the front-runners are Colorado State’s Jim McElwain and potentially New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Bowl projection: Taxslayer.com Bowl vs. Duke, Jan. 2
10. Arkansas (6-6, 2-6): How giddy are the Razorbacks for 2015? We’d say the excitement meter is red-lining for a program that snapped its two-year SEC losing streak and surged through the final month of the season and, depending on NFL draft declarations, could welcome back eight offensive starters, including four linemen and most of its playmakers. This could be next year’s Mississippi State. Bowl projection: Birmingham Bowl vs. Memphis, Jan. 3
11. Tennessee (6-6, 3-5): How giddy are the Volunteers for 2015? Every bit as excited as the Hogs, and maybe even more. UT will be in the conversation among the favorites in the SEC East next year, considering the number of players returning, including quarterback Josh Dobbs. The offensive line never improved in 2014, which is a concern, but the pieces everywhere else are shiny and skilled and will be a year older. Bowl projection: Liberty Bowl vs. West Virginia, Dec. 29
12. South Carolina (6-6, 3-5): How much does the Ol’ Ball Coach have left? It’s hard to know how Steve Spurrier will rebound from this massive disappointment. He will be 70 in the spring and will have to replace quarterback Dylan Thompson, among others. Still, the Gamecocks likely will welcome in a top-10 recruiting class, and with newness comes rejuvenation. Now you young kids get off Spurrier’s porch. Bowl projection: Belk Bowl vs. North Carolina, Jan. 3
13. Kentucky (5-7, 2-6): How will the Kentucky fan base view 2014? The excitement that was a 5-1 start that included what at the time seemed to be a monster win over South Carolina has been calmed greatly by the 0-6 downfall. So what’s UK’s position in the ultimate half-full/half-empty scenario, especially since a salty defensive line will be hurt by graduation and offensive coordinator Neal Brown left for the Troy job? We think the Wildcats took a small step forward, all things considered, but Mark Stoops will need another big-time recruiting effort this offseason.
14. Vanderbilt (3-9, 0-8): Where does Vandy turn for an offensive coordinator? After announcing that Karl Dorrell will not be back after a wretched year in Nashville, Derek Mason and Co. need to find someone who can meld the skills of the potpourri of quarterbacks the Commodores used. A quick call to Kurt Roper, the former Duke OC who spent one disastrous year with the malfunctioning Gators, might be a wise play for Mason.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter at @jgreesontfp. Listen to Jay and David Paschall on Press Row every weekday from 3-6 on ESPN 105.1 FM and timesfreepress.com.