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Just like the last four years, the road to one half of the BCS Championship game will pass through Atlanta. So, here’s my early look at which teams will be vying for the honor of playing in the 2010 SEC Championship game.

I don’t believe the SEC will be much different in 2010 than it was in 2009 with the exception of some jockeying for the middle of the Western Division. Unfortunately, it looks like most of the SEC talent will be in the West again this year. So, the second tier teams may fall a bit in the national rankings while Florida profits.

Alabama is going to have another stellar recruiting year with some great help in the defensive secondary. Saban is one of the best defensive minds in college football and has some good players returning on offense. And, do I need to mention the surplus of young talent on defense or the return of the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner? They will be hard to beat – By anybody!

The best recruiting class in the SEC, and perhaps the nation will belong to the Gators. They’ve already signed SEVEN four and five star players with almost two weeks before signing day. They have an incredible four more five star commitments waiting in the wings and a whopping fourteen more four star kids committed. Florida may be graduating a lot of great players this year, but they have a virtual armada of talent waiting to step up. Urban Meyer may not lead his team to an SEC title this year, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re back in the hunt for the national title in 2011.

LSU has plenty of young talent from previous years’ recruiting classes and so far, a fairly good stable of commitments for the 2010 season. Unfortunately, a few of those commitments are beginning to stray. I think that has a lot to do with the loss to Penn State, as well as the fans’ dissatisfaction with the decision to keep Gary Crowton. Moreover, the offense did a stellar job at under-achieving last season. Add to that the debacle at Ole Miss, and the failure to showcase their freshman five-star recruits in 2009, Miles has to demonstrate some improvement fast. With a weak Offensive Line and the possibility of challenges to Jefferson’s position at top quarterback, Les and the LSU fans may be regretting his decision to snub his alma mater. It takes more than a good defense to win in the SEC. The addition of a couple of good assistant coaches may help, though.

With five loses last year, UGA had a tough season. But, I look for them to bounce back. With what might be the fourth or fifth best recruiting class in the SEC and the signing of Cowboys’ Defensive Line coach Todd Grantham as Defensive Coordinator, they should be much improved.

Auburn had a couple of surprising wins under Gene Chizic last year and so far has shown a gift for recruiting. He’s already signed their five star quarterback out of Texas, a five star running back and a five star offensive lineman. Additionally they’ve signed a couple of other four-star lineman. Auburn has eight more four-star kids committed. That’s a pretty good accomplishment for a school that finished fourth in the SEC West last year. Chizic definitely has this team moving in the right direction. They may not beat ‘Bama in the Iron Bowl in 2010, but watch out in 2011 and 2012.

Arkansas may be a very explosive team under Petrino, but I really don’t think they have the talent to finish in the top four of the SEC. Even with this new recruiting class, they have only a handful of four star players coming in. That’s only good enough for the middle of the pack in this league. But, with improved defense, I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a little noise in the national rankings.

Despite Steve Spurrier’s best efforts and some very good young talent, South Carolina will take third in the East, but in the end it won’t be enough to crack the top 25.

The loss of Jevon Snead will be a big setback for the Ole Miss Rebels. However, along with good coaching, Ole Miss will have just enough talent returning and a decent enough recruiting class to keep them competitive.

Needless to say, Tennessee is a train wreck right now. Derek Dooley will be tested. However, the Vols managed to hang on to a good recruiting class, despite the departure of Lane Kiffin and most of his coaching staff. Tennessee is still a great program.

The loss of Anthony Dixon to the NFL will hurt Mississippi State, but they have a good, young coaching staff and they’re coming off a great win at Ole Miss to end their 2009 campaign. Unfortunately for State fans, they will remain in the cellar of the SEC West. It’s just too hard for the bottom feeders to move up in this league.

Kentucky and Vanderbilt will be what they are. Look for a big win here or there and maybe even talk of bowl eligibility near the end of the year, but it won’t happen. Kentucky likes its basketball too much and Vandy doesn’t offer Underwater Basket Weaving.

Right now, I see Alabama repeating as the SEC champion and Florida winning the East. The only possible competition Florida will have in the East is Georgia, but I doubt it. LSU will contend for second in the West, but I look for challenges from the rest of the very talented Western Division teams, giving the second best team in the West at least three losses – maybe even four.

Then again, by April or May, I may see things in an entirely different light.