Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Here's your unofficial guide to SEC football viewing this weekend. Consider it your own little playbook with scouting reports on everything from players, coaches, schemes, stadiums, pregame activities, hot spots around campus, even a few take-it-the-bank predictions:
Julio Jones scoring in his first college game: Sure, there will be some butterflies, even for a guy as hyped as Jones has been. But his teammates already have the utmost faith in him, and he absolutely is the real deal. Not only will he score against Clemson, but he'll have an Escalade (only a rental, mind you) waiting on him to take him back to the airport afterward.
Tight end power: Has there ever been this many good tight ends in the SEC? It seems like every team has somebody that's going to be a difficult matchup for the defense. Just to name a few, there are D.J. Williams and Andrew Davie at Arkansas, Aaron Hernandez at Florida, Brandon Warren at Tennessee, Jared Cook at South Carolina, Richard Dickson at LSU and Tripp Chandler at Georgia.
Rolando McClain vs. 'Thunder & Lightning': He's only a sophomore, but Rolando McClain probably feels like the old man of an Alabama linebacker corps that might play three true freshmen on Saturday. Those guys will have their work cut out against the Clemson running back tandem of James Davis (Thunder) and C.J. Spiller (Lightning).
Everybody but Percy: We know Florida's Percy Harvin won't score Saturday against Hawaii. He'll be sitting this one out to give his surgically repaired right heel more time to recover. The question is: Who won't score for the Gators? Here's betting they hit 50 with Tim Tebow, Emmanuel Moody, Louis Murphy, Chris Rainey, Deonte Thompson and Brandon James all finding the end zone.
Time for a little Enrique: Junior Cordera Eason will start at tailback, but most of the buzz around the Ole Miss campus has centered around freshman Enrique Davis. Yes, he's got a cool name, but he's also got a sweet game. I saw him live in a scrimmage earlier this preseason, and he's got some serious get up and go.
Underrated: Some of the guys who might not be flying under the radar as much after this opening weekend and the next few weeks: Alabama receiver Mike McCoy, Arkansas running back Michael Smith, Georgia safety Reshad Jones, Kentucky defensive tackle Myron Pryor, Tennessee receiver Gerald Jones, LSU tailback Richard Murphy and Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap.
Defense at Kentucky? OK, I know even some Kentucky fans are probably rolling their eyes, but this will be the best and most talented defense the Wildcats have had under Rich Brooks. They return 17 of the top 22 players from their Music City Bowl two-deep a year ago. This team will have to lean on its defense, too, starting Sunday at Louisville.
On further review: As Florida coach Urban Meyer glances over at Harvin standing on the sideline Saturday and undoubtedly wondering when he's going to get his franchise receiver back, I can't help but go back to Meyer's quote when Harvin had the surgery back in April. "It's a very minor surgery, probably an eight-week recovery," Meyer said. Somebody was off somewhere.
Vols want respect: The "no respect" theme is picking up steam in Tennessee, and granted, the Vols have been an afterthought in the East race talk. That's despite playing for the SEC championship a year ago. The reality is that Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer likes this position. He's done his best work when less has been expected of the Vols.
Fannin the flames: Is it just me, or is Mario Fannin one of those guys that always seems to be on the cusp of breaking out and becoming an elite player in this league? I think this is his year in Auburn's new spread offense. And if not, he's always got one of the coolest fan Web sites going ... Team Fannin.