Daily Fix - Aug. 24

<p>It's almost here but you still have to get through most of August until football season finally arrives. So we're giving you a daily football fix leading right up to the first games on Aug. 28. Sun sports writers Pat Dooley and Robbie Andreu will provide lists, trivia, Swampcasts and essays to get you through the rest of the summer.</p><p> Today, Dooley looks at the SEC's mystery teams.</p><p> I start thinking about how there are so many mystery teams in the SEC and that song starts playing in my head. Now, you have to be really old (it was in black and white) to remember this but there was a commercial for this board game called Mystery Date. “Mystery Date. Are you ready for your Mystery Date? ... Open the door for your Mystery Date.”</p><p> That's just weird.</p><p> The league is so full of mystery teams.</p><p><b>SOUTH CAROLINA</b></p><p><b>What we know:</b> Should be a strong defense with players who could play anywhere in the SEC.</p><p><b>What we don't know:</b> Can the Spurriers conjure up some kind of offense with a young quarterback.</p><p><b>What we suspect:</b> This is the year South Carolina either takes a leap forward or falls on its butt for good.</p><p><b>ARKANSAS</b></p><p><b>What we know:</b> Bobby Petrino knows what he's doing (at least at the college level).</p><p><b>What we don't know:</b> Is a lack of talent too much for Petrino to overcome in his first year.</p><p><b>What we suspect:</b> The Razorbacks are going to have a tough transition year.</p><p><b>KENTUCKY</b></p><p><b>What we know:</b> Most of the offensive talent that made Kentucky so good last season is gone.</p><p><b>What we don't know:</b> Is Rich Brooks blowing smoke or is his defense as good as he thinks?</p><p><b>What we suspect:</b> Kentucky is going to go back to the bottom of the East.</p><p><b>ALABAMA</b></p><p><b>What we know:</b> Nick Saban has a track record for getting things done in his second year on the job.</p><p><b>What we don't know:</b> Are his freshmen going to be good enough to get the Tide over the talent hump?</p><p><b>What we suspect:</b> Alabama will challenge Auburn and LSU for the West title.</p><p><b>MISSISSIPPI STATE</b></p><p><b>What we know:</b> Sylvester Croom has done a wonderful job resurrecting a program that looked dead.</p><p><b>What we don't know:</b> Was last year the peak for the Bulldogs and are they headed back down the hill?</p><p><b>What we suspect:</b> Croom will have his team ready to play but it will fall short of a bowl game.</p>