Following the unexpected return of running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Georgia has been getting the majority of the hype in the SEC’s East division heading into college football’s offseason. According to Phil Steele’s “Projected AP Top 10” list, many are looking at the wrong East team.

In a Thursday post on his website, philsteele.com, Steele has released his latest projection of the 2017 preseason AP Poll.

It’s important to note that these are not Steele’s Top 10 teams, but instead, the 10 teams he suspects will be ranked in the Top 10 by the official 2017 AP preseason poll. For what it’s worth, Steele perfectly predicted the Top 10 of the AP’s preseason poll last offseason.

Here’s how Steele sees the AP ranking the poll this preseason:

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Florida State
4. USC
5. Oklahoma
6. Clemson
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Wisconsin
10. Florida

Based on this projection, Steele must imagine the AP voters will feel strongly about the Tide and the Gators meeting in Atlanta for the third consecutive year.

Steele’s latest college football preview magazine hits stores June 27.


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