A Crimson Tide swept through the SEC last season, unrelenting until a kiss from the Rose Bowl that crowned Alabama national champions in 2009-10.

This off-season the tide may be changing, beginning in Miami where the Hurricanes are maturing into a team that many observers across the nation consider ready to start challenging for championships.

“The U” dominated sports betting non-conference regular season play last season, finishing undefeated against opponents outside the ACC, including wins over Oklahoma and Georgia Tech early in the season. Head coach Randy Shannon accomplished that feat with a young team, including starting quarterback Jacory Harris and linebacker Sean Spence, who both return as juniors.

Miami has improved every season under Shannon, from five total wins in 2007 to nine in 2009. That trend is likely to continue in the upcoming campaign.

Alabama has lost three starters in its secondary, massive defensive tackle Terrence Cody, and linebacker Rolando McClain, who is certain to be selected in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. The Crimson Tide’s Rose Bowl opponent Texas loses its starting quarterback Colt McCoy, as well as defenders Earl Thomas and Sergio Kindle who are also likely to be selected in the opening round of the draft. Florida’s winning tandem of Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow is no longer with Tebow heading to the NFL and Meyer’s health a concern.

There has been a lot of movement at the top this off-season in the NCAA.

That momentum should be enough to help spark the Hurricanes into a national title contender.

The betting tips will start flying in late April when the NFL draft is in full swing and the future of the NFL is chosen. Some teams will fill immediate needs with players that they feel can start right away, and other teams will be looking for that future superstar that could lead them to the playoffs.

At the top of most draft lists is the defensive tackle from Nebraska named Ndamukong Suh. Suh is a big and fast kid that can hunt down a running back or put pressure on the quarterback. The St. Louis Rams draft first, and if they are not inclined to take a quarterback then Suh could be the answer to their defensive questions.

The position of quarterback is interesting in the 2010 NFL draft. Sam Bradford and his bad shoulder remain high on every prospective draft list along with Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Clausen is an incredibly accurate passer and has show in the past that he has the toughness needed to be an NFL quarterback. After watching Matthew Stafford throw a game-winning TD with a separated shoulder in 2009, toughness may be just enough to push Clausen ahead of Bradford and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy has injury issues of his own that may keep him low on the draft order.

The team looking to make progress in this draft is the Cleveland Browns. With both of their starting quarterback falling on their faces in 2009, the Browns now find themselves in need of a starting quarterback. They may look to Clausen or try to trade up from their seventh draft spot to get Sam Bradford. The Browns will want to be careful as they are still stinging from their experiment with GQ cover boy Brady Quinn. The Browns may also address their sagging secondary in the draft, but it was their inability to put up points that hurt them the most in 2009.