A few predictions for this side of the South

The South.

The phrase conjures up all kinds of images and stereotypes. It means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

Having lived inside its warm confines all my life and covered its games for more than half of it, certain things have finally started to become clear about the Southern sports culture.

Like those "two Americas" politicians kept telling us about on the campaign trail last year, there are two Souths divided by an ideological Mason-Dixon Line. Maybe we should call it the Dean-Dooley Divide.

For most of my life I lived on the side that revolved around the Atlantic Coast Conference and college basketball. After nine years living here, however, those roots have been abandoned for the one that centers on the Southeastern Conference and college football.

There's no going back. College basketball has lost all of its charm that used to make the Jefferson-Pilot game of the week the most important of sports happenings. One-and-done stars have made it impossible for casual fans to gain any kind of loyal traction. And in places other than Clemson, Tallahassee and Blacksburg, Va., football remains nothing more than a fall diversion in quaint stadiums.

In this South, the coming weeks are without question the greatest of the year. The 2009 football season kicks off in 11 days. Stadiums will be filled with feverish fans and fresh young coeds immersing themselves in a sports experience unlike any other. There is nothing more perfect than a bright, September Saturday afternoon with the tailgates in bloom and the song of a marching band mingling in the air with the smell of barbecue.

So while the slate is still clean and the loyal fans of South Carolina still harbor dreams of that first SEC East title, here are my predictions for the 2009 season. We'll start where it matters most, in the SEC.

An ESPN columnist who just so happened to have attended Georgia opened with this assessment last week of the upcoming season.

"Should the SEC East even bother playing games this season? Shouldn't SEC commissioner Michael Slive just hand the SEC East trophy to defending national champion Florida on Sept. 5?"

That's how convinced everybody is that the Gators will breeze through the conference and to another national championship behind Mr. Perfect, Tim Tebow.

Maybe everybody is right. But as Lee Corso says, "Not so fast, my friends."

Georgia knows all too well that being predicted to be No. 1 in the preseason means nothing. You have to earn it. And something tells me Georgia just might be the wrench in Florida's championship plans.

The Joe Cox-led Bulldogs are somewhat under the radar (if you can call being ranked No. 13 in the coaches' poll unheralded). They may not have enough to beat Florida, but they'll at least prevail over every other SEC team on the schedule including LSU. And despite all the moaning about having to open on the road at Oklahoma State, Georgia will win that game, too. Ten regular season wins is reasonable -- 11 if they beat Georgia Tech.

As for South Carolina, the trademark late-season swoons under Steve Spurrier might be replaced by an early-season burial. Losing the Thursday-night opener at N.C. State could devolve into a 1-3 start with vital SEC tests at Georgia and against Ole Miss on the front end.

From there, just becoming bowl eligible would be quite an accomplishment considering the Gators and a road trip to Alabama loom. I sense a dismal 5-7 season and Gamecocks fans will be dreaming about 2010 and hoping Spurrier might retire.

Over in that other South where the new ACC (just as lame as the old ACC, only bigger) resides, Georgia Tech is a force to be reckoned with. The problem is, the Yellow Jackets will have to reckon with too many tough games on the road.

We'll know soon enough how good Paul Johnson's second-year team will be. Beating Clemson at home in Week 2 is an absolute must because the first half of the season includes road trips to Miami and Florida State and two more daunting home games against North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Johnson elevated expectations, but it may be too much to ask in a season that includes three encounters with that other South (at Mississippi State and Vandy and home against Georgia). I like the Jackets at 8-4.

Clemson is more of a mystery. It was easier to understand the rhythm of a Tommy Bowden season, knowing that opportunity would eventually be wasted somewhere. Figuring out Dabo Swinney presents more of a challenge.

Baseball star Kyle Parker taking over at quarterback might be the fresh face the Tigers need there, and the ACC is certainly ripe for the taking if any team flexes its above average muscle. After a slow start, the Tigers will end up going 8-4 as well and finish behind Florida State in their division, falling short once again of the elusive conference championship game.

Since Georgia Tech and Clemson are ACC schools residing across the D-D Divide in the alternate SEC South, those outcomes won't be satisfactory and no success in basketball will make up for it.

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.