ESPN Kirk Herbstreit agreed with the consensus predictions for the SEC when he said that Alabama and Georgia would meet for the SEC Championship.

His surprise and sleeper teams, though, could put pressure on the Bulldogs.

In his annual “The Herbies” list of favorite things in and around college football, Herbstreit listed Florida and Missouri as his “surprise” teams in the SEC. Kansas State, Utah and Nebraska joined them from a national perspective. Missouri was also named as the “sleeper” from the SEC.

Barry Odom is entering is third season as head coach and coming off of a 7-6 record. But the Tigers have their best team under Odom, most notably with the return of quarterback Drew Lock, who passed for nearly 4,000 yards last year with 44 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Missouri also plays host to Georgia on Sept. 22.

Florida opens its first season under Dan Mullen with 19 returning starters, and several key players back from suspensions related to the credit card fraud investigation. Improving on, or even doubling, last year’s 4-7 record is something many people believe the Gators will do under Mullen.