SEC team previews: Day 2

A look at Thursday's four participants who faced the media.

ALABAMA

Coach: Nick Saban, second season (113-65-1 overall, 7-6 at Alabama).

Last year's record: 7-6 overall, 4-4 in the SEC (T-3rd in the West). Defeated Colorado 30-24 in the Independence Bowl.

Starters returning: Seventeen (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists).

Toughest non-conference game: Clemson (in Atlanta), Aug. 30.

Toughest conference game: at Georgia, Sept. 27.

Contender or pretender: Tide supporters are expecting a big bounce in Saban's second season, and it could happen if Alabama figures out how to win those close games (the six losses last season were all by seven points or less). The Tide has an experienced quarterback, a good running game, and the defense should be sound.

Bowl possibilities: Sugar, Capital One, Peach.

Saban says: "Consistency in performance is probably the key to being successful. I think our team last year probably didn't play with a lot of consistency. We didn't finish games. We didn't finish the season. We probably played one complete game (a victory over Tennessee)."

GEORGIA

Coach: Mark Richt, eighth season (72-19, all at Georgia).

Last year's record: 11-2 overall, 6-2 in the SEC (2nd in the East). Defeated Hawaii 41-10 in the Sugar Bowl.

Starters returning: Seventeen (7 offense, 9 defense, 1 specialist).

Toughest non-conference game: at Arizona State, Sept. 20.

Toughest conference game: at LSU, Oct. 25.

Contender or pretender: Expectations are off the charts in Athens, and rightfully so. The Bulldogs finished in a rush last season (wins over Florida, Kentucky, Auburn, Georgia Tech and Hawaii) and most of the impact players return, led by Heisman candidate Knowshon Moreno and quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Bowl possibilities: Orange, Sugar, Capital One.

Richt says: "We try to set goals that we can control. Those are the things that we talk about. We talk about winning Game 1. We talk about trying to win the East. We talk about, if we get to that championship game, to win it."

MISSISSIPPI

Coach: Houston Nutt, first season (111-70 overall).

Last year's record: 3-9 overall, 0-8 in the SEC (6th in the West).

Starters returning: Eighteen (7 offense, 9 defense, 2 specialists).

Toughest non-conference game: at Wake Forest, Sept. 6.

Toughest conference game: at Florida, Sept. 27.

Contender or pretender: The Rebels were a train wreck in Ed Orgeron's last season, but he recruited some talent to Oxford and Nutt will have a chance to get off to a successful start in his new SEC job. Texas transfer (and former Florida commitment) Jevan Snead lit it up in the spring and big things are expected from this potential big-time quarterback.

Bowl possibilities: Independence, Music City.

Nutt says: "It's been an excellent transition (from Arkansas to Ole Miss). There's something about being reenergized with new names, new problems, new street numbers, the whole bit."

TENNESSEE

Coach: Phillip Fulmer, 17th season (147-45, all at Tennessee).

Last year's record: 10-4 overall, 6-2 in the SEC (1st in the East). Defeated Wisconsin 21-17 in the Outback Bowl.

Starters returning: Sixteen (8 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists.

Toughest non-conference game: at UCLA, Sept. 1.

Toughest conference game: at Georgia, Oct. 11.

Contender or pretender: Fulmer broke with tradition and went outside the UT family to hire a new offensive coordinator (Dave Clawson), and the more wide-open scheme seems to be a perfect fit for new starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who had a big spring. The Vols have the talent to be one of the nation's sleeper teams in 2008.

Bowl possibilities: Sugar, Capital One, Outback.

Fulmer says: "I don't know if we have time to talk about all the things (safety Eric Berry) brings. Great character, great work ethic, smart young man. He brings his ‘A' game to the practice field every day. If he stays healthy, he'll certainly be one of the best players Tennessee has had in a long time. He's a humble, hungry young man."

Coming Saturday: Auburn, Kentucky, Arkansas and South Carolina.