There’s no way we get this right, right?

Just twice since the SEC expanded and adopted divisions in 1992 have the media correctly predicted the conference champion in back-to-back years. The last time it happened was 2007 and 2008.

Media correctly predicted Alabama would win the SEC championship in 2020. History suggests we won’t go 2-for-2.

Undaunted, we play on.

Here is how the SDS staff sees the 2021 SEC football season playing out.

Connor O’Gara: Georgia

SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Kentucky
4. Mizzou
5. Tennessee
6. South Carolina
7. Vanderbilt

SEC West
1. Alabama
2. Texas A&M
3. LSU
4. Ole Miss
5. MSU
6. Arkansas
7. Auburn

SEC champion: Georgia.

Yes, this will be the year that Nick Saban finally loses to an SEC assistant. Yes, I realize that if I keep saying, eventually, I’ll be right. But why is this the year for Georgia? It’s pretty easy — quarterback play and an offensive coordinator who actually emphasizes stretching the field. When Georgia hasn’t physically imposed its will against teams, it hasn’t been an elite team in years past. That changes this year. Even without George Pickens, the balance should be there. That’s still arguably the deepest backfield in the country.

The defense won’t be vintage Georgia, but it won’t have to be. Tykee Smith and Derion Kendrick will provide some much-needed veteran leadership in the secondary, Adam Anderson will become the pass-rushing force to perfectly complement the dynamic Nakobe Dean, who takes over for the underrated Monty Rice. But give me a Georgia team who has been far closer to taking down Alabama than what the last few years would suggest. Down goes the master. Finally.

— Connor O’Gara is a senior national columnist at SDS.

Jon Cooper: Georgia

SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Missouri
4. Kentucky
5. Tennessee
6. South Carolina
7. Vanderbilt

SEC West
1. Alabama
2. Texas A&M
3. Ole Miss
4. LSU
5. Auburn
6. Miss State
7. Arkansas

SEC champion: Georgia

I’ll admit it — I’m hesitant to pick Georgia, but if the Bulldogs are going to win the SEC Championship, this is the year. Furthermore, it’s their chance to win the national championship, too. I’m a JT Daniels believer. I’m a believer in Kirby Smart’s defense. The talent level in Athens certainly isn’t lacking. All of the ingredients are there for a national title, but it’ll take getting over the mental hurdle of beating Alabama in Atlanta. It’ll take Kirby Smart getting over the mental hurdle of beating Nick Saban.

The schedule sets up well, too. The East shouldn’t be an issue. Also, the toughest game falls in Week 1 against national title contender Clemson. Obviously, a win over the Tigers would be huge, but even if there’s a loss, UGA can recover. It’s better to lose early with the full SEC schedule in front of them than to lose late. Crossover games against permanent rival Auburn and rotating opponent Arkansas shouldn’t be an issue. It’s going to come down to Clemson, Florida and the SEC Championship Game. I like those chances if I’m Georgia.

— Jon Cooper is a co-founder of SDS.

Michael Bratton: Georgia

SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Kentucky
4. Tennessee
5. Missouri
6. South Carolina
7. Vanderbilt

SEC West
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Texas A&M
4. Ole Miss
5. Arkansas
6. Mississippi State
7. Auburn

SEC champion: Georgia beats LSU in Atlanta. The Bulldogs have the clearest path to the championship game playing in the weaker division and having a ridiculous amount of talent on both sides of the ball. The front seven of UGA’s defense may be the best in the SEC and JT Daniels has a wealth of talent surrounding him to get the most out of Todd Monken’s system in Athens.

— Michael Bratton is a news editor at SDS.

Adam Spencer: Alabama

SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Mizzou
4. Kentucky
5. Tennessee
6. South Carolina
7. Vanderbilt

SEC West
1. Alabama
2. Texas A&M
3. LSU
4. Ole Miss
5. Mississippi State
6. Auburn
7. Arkansas

SEC champion: Alabama

Picking Alabama to beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game? That’s not really original, is it? Well, I’m not trying to make any bold predictions. I’m trying to be right. And, with all that talent on Alabama’s defense, it’s hard to see anyone beating the Tide this regular season. That comes with a caveat, of course. Alabama’s defense will be great by today’s standards, not by the standards of past Nick Saban teams. That 2011 defense allowed only 8.2 points per game. That’s insane. Alabama’s defense will be one of the best in the country this fall, but if they can hold opponents under 14 points per game, that’ll be more than enough. The game is much different than it was a decade ago, as we all well know. Alabama wins the West and ekes out a narrow win over the Dawgs in Atlanta to lock down a Playoff spot.

— Adam Spencer is the newsletter editor at SDS.

Joe Cox: Alabama

SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Kentucky
4. Mizzou
5. South Carolina
6. Tennessee
7. Vandy

SEC West
1. Alabama
2. Texas A&M
3. LSU
4. Auburn
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas
7. Mississippi State

SEC champion: Bama.

I know it’s going to be fashionable to pick somebody else. Maybe A&M out of the West, or even LSU. Georgia is stacked and plays in a significantly weaker division. But at the end of the day, we can talk about new coaches and new coordinators and new schemes and systems. But the Xs and Os always matter less than the Jimmys and Joes. And while UGA, A&M, and the rest of the upper echelon of the SEC have done an excellent job of identifying and developing players, nobody does it like Saban.

A year ago, we were all wondering if the Tide could win with Mac Jones. Quicker than you can say “system QB,” he emerged as a Heisman finalist and led Bama to a national title, seemingly without breaking a sweat. Why would Bryce Young be different? And if he is, the next guy up will probably be fine. Alabama doesn’t rebuild, they just reload. And even if the path for 2021 isn’t quite as smooth as it was for 2020– even if the Tide lose a game or even two– they could still well end up as the last team standing. Again.

— Joe Cox covers Kentucky for SDS.

Neil Blackmon: Georgia

SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Mizzou
4. Kentucky
5. South Carolina
6. Tennessee
7. Vanderbilt

SEC West
1. Texas A&M
2. Alabama
3. LSU
4. Ole Miss
5. Mississippi State
6. Auburn
7. Arkansas

SEC champion: Georgia

This is the year for Kirby Smart and Georgia. Yes, we’ve heard “this is the year” in Athens before … many, many, many times. I just think this time is different.

The Dawgs played outstanding football after getting blown out in the Cocktail Party, handing the quarterback reins over to JT Daniels and looking like a different football team. Eight starters return on offense, including Daniels, and Georgia hit the portal for elite playmaker Arik Gilbert, who will be a matchup problem, regardless of whether he’s a tight end lined up as a receiver or a receiver lined up as a tight end.

Zamir White and James Cook give the run game the usual versatility and bite, and Daniels’ ability to get vertical in the passing game will make this the most multiple offense Georgia has had since 2017, the last time the Dawgs went to the Playoff.

Are there questions on the back end of the defense? Absolutely — any team that loses Richard LeCounte and an All-American like Eric Stokes will have growing pains. But Smart has recruited as well as anyone in the country and the Dawgs added Clemson transfer Derion Kendrick to that group and were able to break in Christopher Smith the hard way a season ago after LeCounte’s injury. The opener vs. Clemson is a measuring stick, but the rest of the schedule is favorable — as the Dawgs dodge Alabama, A&M and LSU from the West. I don’t want to say it is “if not now, when” time for Smart — but this is Georgia’s best chance at winning a national championship since Herschel left. I think they do it.

— Neil Blackmon covers Florida for SDS.