Scouting reports: SEC, ACC

Southeastern Conference

How they'll finish

(2001 records in parentheses)

East

1. Tennessee (7-1, 11-2): Volunteers vow to return to SEC championship game. Open conference play with Florida.

2. Florida (6-2, 10-2): Minus Steve Spurrier, Coach Ron Zook brings his high energy to the Gators.

3. Georgia (5-3, 8-4): Bulldogs hope to end their SEC championship drought — no title in 20 years.

4. South Carolina (5-3, 9-3): Lou Holtz must overcome the loss of 13 starters.

5. Kentucky (1-7, 2-9): Hopes to avoid third consecutive 2-9 season. Banned from postseason, anyway.

6. Vanderbilt (0-8, 2-9): Coach Bobby Johnson arrives from Furman.

West

1. LSU (5-3, 10-3): Offense will rely on healthy LaBrandon Toefield.

2. Alabama (5-3, 7-5): Banned from postseason but finishes in Hawaii.

3. Auburn (4-4, 7-5): Two new coordinators and a healthy Carnell Williams.

4. Mississippi (4-4, 7-4): Eli Manning looks like a Peyton clone.

5. Arkansas (4-4, 7-5): Three quarterbacks competing for starting job.

6. Mississippi State (2-6, 3-8): Tough early schedule might be hard to overcome.

Players to watch

Alabama: DT Jarret Johnson (54 tackles, 9 sacks); DE Kindal Moorehead (16 sacks)

Arkansas: FS Ken Hamlin (118 tackles)

Auburn: RB Carnell Williams (614 rushing yards)

Florida: QB Rex Grossman (3,896 yards, 34 TDs, completed 65 percent), RB Earnest Graham (650 yards, 9 TDs)

Georgia: LB Boss Bailey (65 tackles, 5 interceptions)

Kentucky: QB Jared Lorenzen (19 TDs, 7 interceptions)

LSU: RB LaBrandon Toefield (992 yards, 19 TDs); LB Bradie James (113 tackles)

Mississippi: QB Eli Manning (set or tied 17 school records; 2,948 yards, 31 TDs)

South Carolina: RB Andrew Pinnock (622 yards, 12 TDs)

Tennessee: WR Kelley Washington (64 catches for 1,010 yards, 15.8 yard average); QB Casey Clausen (completed 64.1 percent, 2,969 yards, 22 TDs)

Atlantic Coast Conference

How they'll finish

(2001 records in parentheses)

1. Florida State (6-2, 8-4): Should look like old times for Seminoles. Bobby Bowden, with 323 career victories, is only four behind Joe Paterno's Division I-A career record.

2. Maryland (10-2, 7-1): What can Ralph Friedgen do for encore?

3. North Carolina State (4-4, 7-5): Philip Rivers is difference-maker for Wolfpack.

4. Clemson (4-4, 7-5): Tigers aiming higher than Humanitarian Bowl.

5. Georgia Tech (4-4, 8-5): Defense might have to carry Jackets awhile.

6. Wake Forest (3-5, 6-5): Deacons can't be taken lightly anymore. Despite a 6-5 record, they did not get a bowl bid last year. That could change this fall.

7. Virginia (3-5, 5-7): Cavs shouldn't have many more down years.

8. North Carolina (5-3, 8-5): Tar Heels are still work in progress.

9. Duke (0-8, 0-11): Not much hope for very young team.

Players to watch

Clemson: WR Derrick Hamilton (684 receiving yards, 4 TDs, 31.7 yards per kick return)

Duke: RB Chris Douglas (841 rushing yards, 7 TDs)

Florida State: WR Anquan Boldin (664 receiving yards, 6 TDs in 2000, missed last year)

Georgia Tech: DE Greg Gathers (56 tackles, 18 for loss, 10 sacks)

Maryland: RB Bruce Perry (1,242 rushing yards, 10 TDs); LB E.J. Henderson (150 tackles, 28 for loss, 6 sacks)

North Carolina: DB Dexter Reid (99 tackles, 2 INTs)

N.C. State: QB Philip Rivers (2,586 passing yards, 16 TDs)

Virginia: WR Billy McMullen (1,060 receiving yards, 12 TDs)