247Sports Media Days: SEC preseason predictions

EAST

1. Georgia, 167 (23 first-place votes)
2. Tennessee, 137 (1)
3. South Carolina, 103
4. Kentucky, 100
5. Florida, 86
6. Missouri, 48
7. Vanderbilt, 25

WEST

1. Alabama, 158 (14)
2. LSU, 153 (10)
3. Ole Miss, 101
4. Texas A&M, 92
5. Arkansas, 73
6. Auburn, 55
7. Mississippi State, 40

Note: First-place votes received 7 points, second-place votes received 6 points, etc.

SEC Champion

Georgia (14)

Alabama (7)

LSU (2)

Tennessee (1)

Georgia is the pick to win the SEC title and advance to the College Football Playoff, but Alabama is creeping back into the national title picture, according to the 247Sports panel. The Bulldogs are the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC East but Alabama split votes with LSU, winning out with 14 first-place votes compared to the Tigers’ 10.

The panel went into detail about their picks (below), and several had interesting takes on what to expect should Alabama and Georgia meet in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the battle for third place in the Eastern and Western Divisions seemed tighter than usual. South Carolina and Kentucky are expected to duke it out behind Georgia and Tennessee, and Florida is projected to struggle again in Billy Napier‘s second season. Texas A&M did not get much love from the panel despite having one of the more talented rosters in the country. Ole Miss was picked to finish as high as second in the West by one voter but was the most-popular pick at No. 3 with 11 of 24 possible votes.