Odds to Win SEC Championship Game

3/2: Alabama
2/1: LSU
8/1: Arkansas
50/1: Auburn
50/1: Mississippi State
75/1: Texas A&M
100/1: Ole Miss

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

SU Record: 12-1 (7-1 in SEC)
ATS Record: 9-4
Over/Under: 6-7
Points Scored: 34.8 PPG
Points Allowed: 8.2 PPG
Odds to Win 2013 BCS National Championship: 9/2

Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Defensive Starters Returning: 5

The Crimson Tide should be fine without Trent Richardson, as Eddie Lacy will step after posting an eye-popping 7.5 yards per carry as the No. 2 RB last season. QB A.J. McCarron has developed into one of the nation's best passers, and how quickly he builds a rapport with a young WR corps will be key. Last year's incredible defense loses more than half of its starters, and a young team will be tested early with September games against Michigan's Denard Robinson and Arkansas' Tyler Wilson. But if anyone can rebuild a national-title caliber defense in a hurry, it's the brilliant defensive minds of Nick Saban and coordinator Kirby Smart.

LSU TIGERS

SU Record: 13-1 (8-0 in SEC)
ATS Record: 10-4
Over/Under: 7-6-1
Points Scored: 35.7 PPG
Points Allowed: 11.3 PPG

Odds to Win 2013 BCS National Championship: 6/1

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 5

This year's LSU team has a chance to be as good as last year's BCS runner-up. The Tigers bring back their bruising and dynamic RB foursome (Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard). Zach Mettenberger's ascension to starting QB should open up the offense after Jordan Jefferson's abysmal BCS Championship Game performance last winter. LSU's defense is still stacked with elite talent in tackle Anthony Johnson (a.k.a. "The Freak") and dominant cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. With a soft non-conference schedule (North Texas, Washington, Idaho and Towson) and home games against SEC contenders Alabama and South Carolina (Georgia is not on the schedule at all), LSU may just run the table in the regular season once again.

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ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

SU Record: 11-2 (6-2 in SEC)
ATS Record: 8-5
Over/Under: 8-4
Points Scored: 36.8 PPG
Points Allowed: 22.2 PPG

Odds to Win 2013 BCS National Championship: 40/1

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 6

The Razorbacks are looking to put the Bobby Petrino debacle behind them, and they have the offense to do it. QB Tyler Wilson threw for 3,638 yards and 24 TD last season. The team also has a very good running game that sees a number of RBs get touches, though All-America candidate Knile Davis will lead the way if he's fully recovered from a knee injury that kept him out in 2011. An issue for Arkansas this year may be its offensive line, as the team lost a few starters and must do a good job protecting Wilson to keep this offense flowing. Defensively, the Razorbacks have trouble getting to the quarterback and stopping the run, but a good recruiting class and more experience for their young players should make for an improved defense.

AUBURN TIGERS

SU Record: 8-5 (4-4 in SEC)
ATS Record: 5-8
Over/Under: 7-6
Points Scored: 25.7 PPG
Points Allowed: 28.9 PPG

Odds to Win 2013 BCS National Championship: 100/1

Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Defensive Starters Returning: 9

After a year of rebuilding, the Tigers return 16 starters in 2012 and should regain their position near the top of the SEC. All of their success, however, will depend on the performance of the winner of the QB battle between Clint Moseley and Barrett Trotter. Star RB Michael Dyer followed offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to Arkansas State, leaving undersized Onterio McCalebb as Auburn's only proven runner. The Tigers will need to pass the ball better this season to keep defenses honest. However, Auburn should have one of the better defenses in the SEC with nearly all of its players returning on that side of the ball. Given the experience they gained last season, this unit could end up being among the SEC's elite.

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

SU Record: 7-6 (2-6 in SEC)
ATS Record: 6-7
Over/Under: 5-8
Points Scored: 25.3 PPG
Points Allowed: 19.7 PPG

Odds to Win 2013 BCS National Championship: 200/1

Offensive Starters Returning: 5
Defensive Starters Returning: 7

Although the Bulldogs have made improvements over the past couple of years, they have failed to break through in the SEC. This season Tyler Russell will take over as QB after a year of splitting time. He should be able to handle the job as long as his offensive line holds up. RB LaDarius Perkins has shown a lot of promise, averaging just over five yards per carry over two seasons. On defense, Mississippi State won't be as good as last season when it allowed 19.7 PPG (16th in nation). The Bulldogs have lost their anchor, DT Fletcher Cox, and their secondary is very inconsistent, finishing 11th in the SEC in passing defense (197 YPG).

TEXAS A&M AGGIES

SU Record: 7-6 (4-5 in Big 12)
ATS Record: 4-9
Over/Under: 7-6
Points Scored: 39.1 PPG
Points Allowed: 28.2 PPG

Odds to Win 2013 BCS National Championship: 200/1

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 6

After losing QB Ryan Tannehill, new head coach Kevin Sumlin's toughest job is going to be finding a quarterback to run his high-octane offense. Sophomore Jameill Showers, who attempted just five passes as a freshman, will likely win the starting job. Senior WR Ryan Swope remains the top target in the passing game (89 rec, 1,207 yds, 11 TD), but the health of RB Christine Michael will be very important if this team is going to move the ball consistently. DE Damontre Moore (8.5 sacks) is going to be a crucial part of the defense. Unfortunately, this team is going to have a lot of trouble covering wideouts. The Aggies are losing three of their most important players in a secondary that allowed 276 passing YPG last year (109th in FBS).

OLE MISS REBELS

SU Record: 2-10 (0-8 in SEC)
ATS Record: 3-9
Over/Under: 5-7
Points Scored: 16.1 PPG
Points Allowed: 32.1 PPG

Odds to Win 2013 BCS National Championship: 30/1 (Field)

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Returning: 6

Ole Miss had a lot of trouble on both sides of the ball last year, and that could be the case again in 2012. The Rebels scored just 16.1 PPG (5th-least in FBS) and allowed 32.1 PPG (96th in nation). New head coach Hugh Freeze hopes to change all that, but his team doesn't have a clear choice at quarterback, and in the SEC that's a problem. The running game will struggle due to an inexperienced offensive line even though Jeff Scott (529 rush yds, 6 TD) is a capable running back. On defense, the team is looking to improve on a year in which it finished last in the SEC in sacks and Tackles For Loss. This secondary is strong, but the front seven struggles stopping the run (224 rush YPG allowed) and pressuring the quarterback.