Yes... that's right!

My pick for the 2006 SEC Champion is Fulmer's UT!

Let's take a look around the conference and you'll see why :

1) Auburn - I love your defense... but that first 1/2 against UF was the ugliest way to get 11 points that I've ever seen ... three field goals and a safety is not the asphalt that is gonna pave your way to a championship! and FYI, a non-conference win against SUNY-Buffalo will not earn you points with anyone....

2) Florida - some people look at the Leak/ Tebow tandem as some sort of holy-grail of offensive play-making... I think it shows Meyer's lack of faith in either of the boys... pick one, put your faith behind him and stick with it!

3) Arkansas -- sure they beat Auburn... but don't forget the narrow victories over Vandy and 'Bama ... too many people in Fayetteville told me that 'I'd rather be lucky than good...' That attitude may get them to Atlanta -- but winning a championship on pure luck is just not gonna happen... Houston Nutt is nervous, just look at him ... you can see it...

4) Georgia -- They 'were my choice', especially after they fended off an inspired rally by USC at Williams-Brice, but that loss to Vandy killed any chances of seeing Richt and crew in nearby Atlanta...

Everyone else is an also-ran... although I will say that Vanderbilt may just be the best team in the country with a losing record!

Who does that leave?

TENNESSEE & here is why:

- a convincing win over Cal to open the season... yes, the same Cal that 'everyone' is saying will unseat So. Cal in the PAC-10.

- the only loss thus far was a one-point loss to the very same UF team that went on to become #2 in the country.

- a confident coach.

- an experienced and strong QB in Ainge.

- A rip-roaring, high-energy, offense-intensive win in a hostile and loud Sanford Stadium.

- An intense, loyal and dedicated fan-base.

Yes...

There are tough games ahead for the Volunteers-- but I think that the LSU Tigers will lack the roar they need when faced with 107,000 Neyland faithful.

The Vols also gotta head to Arkansas ... who has a pretty easy path out of this season (Ole Miss, ULM, Miss. State)... this will either be 'one of the games of the year' or a total washout... and I can't say with great confidence which scenario is more likely...

Both Arkansas and UT should be nervous about meeting up with Carolina- I never count out Coach Spurrier, and the Gamecocks (& Gamecock Fans) are hungry for a defining win for this season. . .

On December 2nd ... I plan on hearing a delightfully disturbing song I like to call 'Piggy-Top' (Woo Pig Sooie mixed with Rocky Top) inside the Georgia-Dome...

But the Orange and White will rule the day
... and rule the best conference in college football!

ADAM'S PICK

I know Arkansas fans will be angry with me, but I think it as a three-team race for "Best in the SEC." Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee are my candidates. Tennessee has played Florida at home. Florida has played Auburn in Auburn. and Tennessee will not play Auburn this year. I will base my decision on this question: "Who will win on a neutral field?"

UF is a team that knows how to run and knows how to stop the run. I love the Gators defense, and UF is good enough to beat anyone in the country. It's easy to say the Gators would beat the Volunteers on a neutral field since they won in Knoxville. You could also argue that UF would beat Auburn at a neutral site because they played the Tigers so close in Auburn. But as good as UF is, the Gators are not the best in the conference. I thought they were before Saturday's loss in Auburn. What changed? Chris Leak did not come through in the fourth quarter, throwing a costly interception that ended UF's chances. I like a team with a great clutch quarterback, and I'm just not sure Leak is that guy.

Auburn is overrated. The Tigers are a very, very good team that knows how to win close games. Often times, that is a quality that people relate to coaching. Tuberville has his squad in a good position to jump USC, Ohio State, or Michigan when one of those teams loses. But Auburn's offense is not good enough for me to consider the Tigers the best team in the SEC. The offensive line does not protect the quarterback, and they have struggled to get into the end zone against good defenses like LSU and Florida. This is a good year for Auburn because all difficult games are at home. They would not beat UF or Tennessee at a neutral site. They are not quite the conference's best team, but there is obviously time for improvement.

Tennessee is my pick. A one-point loss to Florida at home must have Gators fans questioning why I think the Vols would beat UF on a neutral field. It's simple. I think Tennessee is better now than it was a month ago. And UT has an advantage over both UF and Tennessee: Erik Ainge. If the game is on the line, I'll take Ainge over Leak or Brandon Cox. Tennessee must get better at stopping the running game, but even despite giving up 130 yards on the ground per game, the Vols seem to know how to keep points off the board.

It's close. I can't argue with anyone who says UF, Auburn, Tennessee, or even LSU is the best team in the SEC. So what about Arkansas? I'm just not convinced yet. That is a completely one-dimensional offense we are talking about. Clearly, the Razorbacks are a team that is gaining respect and getting better. The future is bright for Arkansas, but despite beating Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Razorbacks are not the SEC's best. Give me the Vols.

EMILY'S PICK

While I have nothing but respect for my colleagues, Glenn and Adam, I'm just not seeing eye-to-eye with them on this one. Tennessee? Really? Sure the Vols are a great team, but offensively they rank 9th in the SEC in rushing. On defense, they rank 8th in the SEC against the run. This does not make you the best team in the best conference in football.

That would be Auburn. I'm not choosing Auburn because I recently graduated from there, I swear. I'm picking the Tigers because the backfield of Kenny Irons and Brad Lester amazes me. Facing a UF defense that was so difficult to run against in previous games, Irons and Lester went off, leading the Tigers to victory.

UF, I believe, also must be considered better than Tennessee because THEY BEAT TENNESSEE!!! And they did it on the road. UF's defense did manage to keep Auburn out of the end zone, and the Gators did a nice job against LSU a week earlier, but they have one major problem - Special Teams. I can't give the nod to a team which has made only one field goal all season. In a close game, special teams can be the difference. So UF might have the best defense in the SEC, but they are not complete enough to be the best.

That being said, we're only halfway there. Any of the three teams in this discussion is good enough to beat Ohio State. Any of the three teams in this discussion is good enough to win the conference, but right now I think Auburn is the best.