Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville has carried quite a burden on his shoulders this summer.

And not just the aching neck from two operations since May. The Tigers have thrived as underdogs the past few years but won’t get that chance this season.

They’re the popular pick to win the Southeastern Conference, something Auburn hasn’t done since picking up a third straight league title in 1989.

Then, coach Pat Dye left, NCAA sanctions kicked in and Auburn was overtaken in the pecking order by Florida, Tennessee and Alabama.

“I don’t think it makes a lot of difference what people think about you at the beginning,” said Tuberville, whose team has won or shared three straight Western Division titles after being picked in the middle of the pack. “Obviously, it’s the end of the year that counts.”

Actually, the beginning is no trivial matter either with Southern Cal paying a visit on Aug. 30, followed by a trip to Georgia Tech in back-to-back tough nonconference games.

The fervor surrounding the Tigers hasn’t reached such a high pitch on the Plains in at least eight years, when Terry Bowden’s 1995 team opened the season ranked sixth nationally. Auburn wound up a disappointing 8-4.

The Tigers return eight starters on both offense and defense from a team that upset three Top 10 teams – LSU, Alabama and Penn State – in the final six games last season.

Fueling the buzz is a quartet of tailbacks at a school known for churning out runners like William Andrews, Bo Jackson and Stephen Davis.

Carnell Williams is a preseason All-SEC pick who was leading the league in rushing when a broken leg ended his season against Florida in the seventh game of the season. Ronnie Brown rushed for 1,008 despite missing the Alabama game with an ankle injury. Tre Smith was the only healthy running back for the Alabama game and gained 126 yards.

Newly arrived Brandon Jacobs, meanwhile, is a 257-pound wrecking ball who rushed for 1,899 yards in junior college last season and gained a whopping 3,022 yards as a prep senior.

“It’s going to be fun to watch,” Williams said.

The league’s season should be something to see, too. Alabama is led by its third coach of the past year, another Manning postponed NFL riches for a senior season and defending champion Georgia must replace an arsenal of talent.

The Crimson Tide’s Mike Shula hasn’t been a head coach or worked in the college ranks. Kentucky’s new coach, Rich Brooks, hasn’t coached in two years.

Florida and Tennessee, meanwhile, are riled up after mediocre seasons – by their standards.

Florida is desperately seeking a quarterback – even a freshman – and the Volunteers and Bulldogs have lots of talent, but an assortment of question marks.

To Auburn linebacker Karlos Dansby, all this represents a shift of power to the Western Division after the East has captured eight of the past 10 SEC titles.

“There was a time when it was all East – Florida, Tennessee, Georgia,” Dansby said. “I think it’s about time” for a change.

At Ole Miss, Eli Manning says he’s not driven by Heisman hopes that eluded brother Peyton and father Archie. Peyton returned to Tennessee as a senior, finishing second in the Heisman balloting to Michigan’s Charles Woodson.

“There is no pressure to try to win the Heisman Trophy,” Eli Manning said. “The pressure comes from trying to win games.”

A capsule look at the teams in their predicted order of finish:

EAST

GEORGIA: Goodbye Boss Bailey, Jonathan Sullivan, Musa Smith and the entire starting offensive line. Hello QB David Greene, sharing some snaps with D.J. Shockley after an All-SEC season. … Bulldogs had offseason problems, but Mark Richt has plenty of talent led by Greene and All-America defensive end David Pollack. … Defense allowed only 31 second-half points in final seven games.

TENNESSEE: The injury numbers last season were staggering – 19 starters missed 71 games … QB Casey Clausen is healthy after his own injury-marred season. … Vols must replace starting defensive line for second straight year and find some big-play receivers. … Juniors Michael Munoz – son of pro football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz – and Kevin Burnett are first nonsenior captains since 1944.

FLORIDA: A freshman starting at Quarterback U? It could happen, as Ron Zook seeks a replacement for 2001 Heisman Trophy runner-up Rex Grossman. Chris Leak passed for a national high school record 185 career TDs and is one of three freshmen vying for job with sophomore Ingle Martin. … No freshman has played considerable time under center for the Gators since Wayne Peace in 1980. … The Gators’ 8-5 record was their worst in 13 years.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lou Holtz trying to prove two good seasons not a fluke after 2002 collapse. He’s not had back-to-back losing years since 1970-71 at William & Mary. … Only two starters return on offense that managed just 51 points in five-game skid to end season and ranked 11th in league in scoring and total offense. … QB Dondrial Pinkins expected to get nod.

KENTUCKY: Brooks, the Wildcats’ third coach in four seasons, is handicapped by NCAA sanctions and said he has only a handful of players who could play at other SEC schools. … QB Jared Lorenzen is excited about the possibilities with backup Shane Boyd doubling as a receiver. … All-American return specialist Derek Abney returned four punts and two kicks for touchdowns last season.

VANDERBILT: The Commodores have lost 17 straight league games and 26 of 27 … Youth movement began last season with freshman quarterback Jay Cutler and tailback Kwane Doster, the SEC freshman of the year … However, three starting offensive linemen are gone. So are receivers Dan Stricker and M.J. Garrett.

WEST

AUBURN: Seeking their first SEC title since 1989, the Tigers are loaded with talent … Williams and Brown are one of nation’s top running duos. Coaches seeking ways to get both in game, along with talented reserves Tre Smith and Brandon Jacobs … LBs Karlos Dansby and Dontarrious Thomas are preseason All-SEC picks.

LSU: The Tigers were kept from their second straight SEC championship game by Arkansas’ TD pass with 9 seconds left in finale, then were beaten 35-20 by Texas in Cotton Bowl … QB Matt Mauck missed final seven games with foot injury but appears be recovered. … Joseph Addai and converted receiver Shyrone Carey are vying for tailback.

ARKANSAS: Won the West last season, but ended with embarrassing losses to Georgia (30-3) in the SEC title game and Minnesota (29-14) in the Music City Bowl … QB Matt Jones has practiced at receiver and could split time under center with Ryan Sorahan … All-American OT Shawn Andrews is Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award candidate.

ALABAMA: Opening with South Florida and Oklahoma doesn’t give Shula much acclimation time. … LB Brooks Daniels has left the team, but there’s no shortage of talent among starters. … Four other players were named preseason All-SEC. … RB Shaud Williams gained 921 yards last season despite only three starts. … Guard Justin Smiley and tackle Wesley Britt provide formidable duo on left side of line.

MISSISSIPPI: The only West team to never win a division title has the QB to do it in Manning. … 12 to 14 players on the projected two-deep depth chart were held out of contact at times during spring with injuries.

MISSISSIPPI ST.: Bulldogs face three big questions: Who’s the quarterback? What will be the results of an NCAA investigation? Can Jackie Sherrill save his job? … QB Kevin Fant was the starter but quit coming to practice a week into the spring for personal reasons. … State was winless in league last season and has had consecutive losing seasons for first time since 1995-96.