Let's examine SEC challengers for Georgia, Alabama

Rooney:  I think I'll answer your second question first -- I'm giving Texas A&M some deep sleeper love. I doubt the Aggies can make a case for being a top-tier team, but since you said "spoiler," well, that seems a distinct possibility.

We're all familiar with the story of the incline, peak, and decline of Florida State under Fisher. Say what you want about the culture issues he left behind there, but Fisher is versed in taking a program from middling to champion in a short time. The year before his Seminoles went 12-2, winning the ACC and the Orange Bowl, they finished 9-4. That's the same record the Aggies posted last year, Fisher's first at College Station. 

On the field, it's now a question of whether the Aggies can regroup from last week's pounding at  Clemson, clearly a superior team, and withstand one of the nation's toughest schedules. Saturday should be a freebie against Lamar, but then the onslaught continues. In the next month, Texas A&M will host Auburn and Alabama, and the Aggies finish the season with back-to-back road games at Georgia and LSU. Yikes.

A&M quarterback Kellen Mond is capable of greatness. We've seen it, in big games no less. His nucleus of primary receivers from last season is back, though they were ineffective against Clemson. Still, with continued reps and a renewed focus on consistency, Mond -- who threw for 3,107 yards and 24 touchdowns last season -- has the skills and an experienced line to effectively lead the offense.

One of the few bright spots for the Aggies against Clemson was their run defense. It allowed 121 yards against Clemson, holding Travis Etienne to 53 yards and no touchdowns. But I'm not holding out hope that the pass defense is much improved from last year's last-in-the-SEC ranking.

To get back to your first query, you know who else I'm starting to believe in? Orgeron. I've always wanted to believe in him. He is one of the most likable personalities in the sport. Remember this gem? 

Between last week's Texas game and last season's Fiesta Bowl win over Central Florida, I'm feeling more encouraged that Orgeron can  guide LSU to big-game wins. The Tigers are definitely my No. 1 among the quasi-contenders. I think I'll flip the second and third spots, though -- I'm with you in finding this Florida squad utterly unconvincing. It doesn't help that receiver Kadarius Toney will miss multiple weeks with a shoulder injury and cornerback CJ Henderson is doubtful this week with a sprained ankle. 

I'm definitely not convinced by Auburn, either, as Malzahn's offense is unique and his history with true freshman quarterbacks is mixed. So I'm pretty much basing this on one thing: the fact that I liked Auburn's performance against Oregon more than I liked Florida's against Miami. You're right -- we'll know much more about where these two teams truly fall in the hierarchy after we see them square off.

Weinreb: We’ll know a lot more about every one of these teams quickly. Say what you will about SEC fans’ tendency toward self-importance, but they’re generally correct: This is the most dominant college football conference in the country, at least in its upper half. The only question is whether several of these teams will wind up knocking each other off, as has happened in past years, and whether Alabama will once again clear the decks and score its sixth (!) consecutive College Football Playoff bid. 

And that’s where I’d like to focus here, because, let’s face it, none of this matters if Alabama is Alabama once again. But I think there’s a glimmer of hope for those of you suffering from Nick Saban Fatigue, which is characterized by a revulsion for Coca-Cola and Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies.

There’s a slim possibility that this "could" be the first playoff without the Crimson Tide. They look as dominant as ever through two games against average to sub-par competition. Tua Tagovailoa has thrown seven touchdowns and zero interceptions, and he appears to have one the best receiving corps in the history of the sport. But allow me to play devil’s advocate.

Because let’s say your sleeper pick is correct, and Jimbo really does have things figured out and Mond winds up going on a Johnny Manziel-like tear. The Crimson Tide play at College Station on Oct. 12. That rivalry has a history of producing memorable games. And then, on Nov. 9, Alabama hosts LSU, which is shaping up to be the game of the year (if not yet another Game of the Century), just like the way it used to be in the heyday of Les Miles, an entirely different type of affable goof than Orgeron. 

And then the next week, there’s a game at my favored sleeper, Mississippi State. Letdown potential, anyone? And there’s the Iron Bowl at Auburn on Nov.  30. That’s three tough road games, and a potential classic at home. And even if the Tide makes it through that, they’ll likely face Georgia again in the SEC Championship game.

Do I think Alabama will  lose two of those games, and potentially slip out of the top four? Probably not. But it feels as if the SEC is at least a little more deep and treacherous than it’s been in the last couple of years, and that schedule could wear the Tide down to the point where it at least becomes a true competition. All it takes is a single breakthrough to alter the paradigm and pierce the seeming inevitability of this dynasty. For those of us who relish parity in this sport, all we can do is cross our fingers.