Death, taxes and the media getting it wrong in the East. Those are the only certainties these days in the SEC.

Last year at Media Days, Tennessee was the pick among print, radio and television personalities to complete its revival and win the division. Instead, the Volunteers finished a disappointing second behind Florida.

It was the fourth season in a row that the supposed experts — I’m one of them, admittedly — failed to forecast the East correctly. Not since the Bulldogs in 2012 have the preseason selections in the league’s lesser division actually made it to the conference title game. That’s quite a dubious streak.

We’re still a few weeks away from showing up at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, but it’s a foregone conclusion that the Dawgs will be atop most everyone’s ballot. Actually living up to those lofty expectations is UGA’s job, though.

Here is a look back at the last four preseason favorites in the East and exactly what went wrong once toe met leather.

2013

Favorite: Georgia
Finish: 3rd

The Bulldogs had quarterback Aaron Murray getting ready for his final season, so it made sense to expect big things in Athens.

In hindsight, the schedule turned out to be a killer for UGA. Six of its 12 regular-season games were against ranked opponents, with four of them No. 8 or higher at the time. Three of those four foes were within the SEC, too.

After losing the opener to No. 8 Clemson, the Dawgs rallied seven days later to defeat No. 4 South Carolina and get their conference slate off on the right foot. But Missouri, still not getting much respect as the newest member of the East, eventually went into Sanford Stadium as the No. 5 team in the country and emerged victorious 41-26.

There may have been a bit of a hangover effect for Murray and Co., who then traveled to No. 24 Vanderbilt — ah, the James Franklin years — and came up short 31-27. Murray’s TD-to-INT ratio was only 3-to-3 in those two losses.

While Murray put up quality numbers overall, statistically he wasn’t any better as a senior than he’d been as a freshman.

Winner: Missouri
Prediction: 6th

2014

Favorite: South Carolina
Finish: 4th

Just like Georgia with Murray in 2013, the Gamecocks started a senior at the game’s most important position the following season.

However, Dylan Thompson wasn’t nearly as accomplished as Murray had been earlier in his career. Only in his final year on campus did he realize his potential as a 59.9-percent passer with 26 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions.

The offense wasn’t the problem in Columbia, though. It was the D, which had just lost premier pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney as the No. 1 pick in the draft. Unable to penetrate the line of scrimmage consistently, USC finished 12th in the SEC against the run, 10th against the pass and 12th in points allowed per game.

Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The ‘Cocks lost their home opener to No. 21 Texas A&M, and even if they came back to upset No. 6 Georgia two weeks later, they went on to lose four straight in conference play to Missouri, Kentucky, No. 5 Auburn and Tennessee.

This was former coach Steve Spurrier’s (above) last shot to have a great team in the Palmetto State. He abruptly retired midseason in 2015.

Winner: Missouri
Prediction: 4th

2015

Favorite: Georgia
Finish: 2nd

Coming off a sensational freshman campaign, running back Nick Chubb was charged with leading the Bulldogs back to Atlanta.

Five games into the schedule — and yet to post less than 120 yards on the ground — Chubb was on his way do doing just that, even with a loss to No. 1 Alabama. But a week later at No. 22 Tennessee, he hurt his knee and missed the rest of 2015.

UGA’s offense simply wasn’t the same without Chubb. Not only did the Dawgs go on to lose to the Volunteers, but they were shellacked by rival Florida on Halloween at the Cocktail Party. Faton Bauta, who curiously got the start at QB that day over Greyson Lambert, was atrocious and fired a quartet of picks.

Sony Michel ran for a respectable 1,161 yards as the featured back for the first time in his college career, although his 5.3 yards per carry paled in comparison to Chubb’s 8.1. Lambert was too limited as a passer to make up the difference.

Former coach Mark Richt won fewer than 10 games for the second time in three years, which is why he’s currently employed at Miami.

Winner: Florida
Prediction: 5th

2016

Favorite: Tennessee
Finish: 2nd

The Volunteers were no-brainer picks to win the East a year ago. All the stars appeared to be aligned in Knoxville.

Coach Butch Jones fielded the most experienced squad in the SEC, as the offense, defense and special teams were in sound shape during fall camp. Additionally, senior signal caller Joshua Dobbs was one of the league’s true leaders.

UT endured a roller-coaster ride like few in recent memory. The Vols were lucky to beat Appalachian State in the opener. They struggled with Virginia Tech in the Battle at Bristol a week later before finally putting the pedal to the metal. Even disposing of lowly Ohio in Week 3 was a chore and perhaps exposed some flaws.

The season came down to a four-week stretch vs. No. 19 Florida, No. 25 Georgia, No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 1 Alabama. While Jones got past the Gators and Bulldogs, losses to the Aggies and Crimson Tide led to other defeats to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

To be fair, Rocky Top had the longest list of injuries in the conference. Still, expectations for 2017 are much lower.

Winner: Florida
Prediction: 2nd