SEC preseason predictions: Our picks to win East, West, SEC championship
One of the hidden joys of SEC Media Days is learning how wrong some of our industry colleagues can be about this game called football.
The SEC office likes to joke that the media rarely predict the champion correctly — just 7 times since 1992. That trend continued last year when the media picked Alabama to beat Georgia in the SEC title game. Alabama lost 2 division games and didn’t make it to Atlanta. LSU ran away with the West, the SEC and the national crown.
Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Tennessee each received 1 vote to win its respective division last season. That’s nothing. Three voters picked Missouri to win the East.
Unfortunately, we missed out on seeing who really liked Texas A&M and Tennessee this season.
Alas, we’ll try to do better than some of those writers did last year. Here is how Saturday Down South staff members see 2020 shaking out. (The SEC will release the official media vote Wednesday.)
Connor O’Gara, senior columnist
SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Kentucky
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina
6. Mizzou
7. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Auburn
4. Texas A&M
5. MSU
6. Ole Miss
7. Arkansas
SEC Championship: Alabama over Florida 35-28
I just keep getting the sense that everything that’s happened in this strange offseason favors Alabama and Florida. As of this writing, they both avoided the major opt-outs and injuries, unlike LSU and Georgia, both of whom were already dealing with massive turnover on the offensive side of the ball after winning their respective divisions. I expect both Alabama’s and Florida’s offense to shine all year, and in a thrilling showdown reminiscent of the 2018 SEC title game, it’s another late Crimson Tide comeback that continues the West’s dominance. Bryce Young wins SEC Championship MVP and 2-loss Florida is left wondering what its Playoff fate will be.
Michael Bratton, news editor
SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Kentucky
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina
6. Missouri
7. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Texas A&M
4. Auburn
5. Mississippi State
6. Arkansas
7. Ole Miss
SEC Championship: Florida over Alabama
After having his program in contention last fall, this will be the year Dan Mullen takes the Gators to the next level with the help of the league’s best quarterback. I’m not ready to buy Alabama’s defense as one of the best in the nation as that unit has been trending in the wrong direction in recent seasons. Alabama’s depth gets them to Atlanta but the Gators leave the game as 2020 SEC champs.
Joe Cox, Kentucky columnist
SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Kentucky
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina
6. Missouri
7. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Auburn
4. Texas A&M
5. Ole Miss
6. Mississippi State
7. Arkansas
SEC Championship: Alabama over Florida 38-20
If there’s anything that gets Nick Saban out of bed at an ungodly hour on a random day of the off-season, it’s probably the chance to prove somebody else wrong. LSU did amazing things last season. But it required a more or less perfect storm, and a motivated Nick Saban is a Nick Saban whose about to add to the trophy case. For Florida, overtaking Georgia in the East is more than enough to make a satisfactory season, and that’s why Alabama wins this game fairly easily.
Adam Spencer, newsletter editor
SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Tennessee
4. Kentucky
5. Mizzou
6. South Carolina
7. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. LSU
4. Texas A&M
5. Mississippi State
6. Ole Miss
7. Arkansas
SEC Championship: Alabama over Georgia
It’s a chalk pick, I know, but the Crimson Tide have so much NFL talent on their roster. This season is going to be about depth, in my opinion, and I think the Tide and the Bulldogs have the most talent and depth. Georgia’s defense is elite. That will get the Dawgs past Florida for the SEC East title, even if it takes a while for the QB position to be fully settled. Alabama wins in Atlanta, though.
Neil Blackmon, Florida columnist
SEC East
1. Georgia
2. Florida
3. Kentucky
4. Mizzou
5. Tennessee
6. South Carolina
7. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Texas A&M
4. LSU
5. Ole Miss
6. Miss State
7. Arkansas
SEC Championship: Alabama over Georgia
Alabama is tired of hearing about how the dynasty is over. The defense is healthy and loaded. Mac Jones has a stable of elite wide receivers and the nation’s best running back corps. The Tide have something to prove. They’ll overwhelm a Georgia team that will win the East on the strength of an exceptional defense. If Florida and Dan Mullen get over the Cocktail Party blues, maybe the outcome in Atlanta is different; but I won’t pick Kirby Smart to lose that game until it happens, and the road to Atlanta in the East goes through Jacksonville.
Chris Wright, executive editor
SEC East
1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Tennessee
4. Kentucky
5. Mizzou
6. South Carolina
7. Vanderbilt
SEC West
1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Auburn
4. Texas A&M
5. Ole Miss
6. Miss State
7. Arkansas
SEC Championship: Alabama over Florida, big
I sound like a broken record, but I always root for the best story. In the East, that means Florida finally beating Georgia and returning to Atlanta. This is very much an “if not now, when?” perfect storm of opportunity for the Gators.
In the West, the best story would require even crazier chaos, the likes of which I don’t anticipate. I’ve thought all offseason that LSU was no better than the 3rd-best team in the West. Then other teams started losing key players, too. Teams 2-4 in the West are essentially interchangeable and barring fluke plays or untimely unavailability, no threat to Alabama.
This Alabama team is loaded and can win any way Nick Saban wants. Passing, running, punting and playing defense. It won’t matter. The SDS Crystal Ball predicted Georgia would beat Alabama in the regular season. I can’t see that happening. I think this time, for the first time, Nick Saban beats Kirby Smart comfortably and the Tide roll into Atlanta undefeated. That loss, coupled with the Cocktail Party loss, knocks Georgia out of the race and sends Florida to Atlanta.
Once there, the Gators play better than the last time they met the Tide in an SEC title game, but the suspense will be similarly limited.
These guys really like the Gators chances and so do I. Go Gators!
I’ll take UGA in the East but it’s closer than in recent years. If Tennessee can get back to form the East race will be fun for years to come. Go Dawgs!!
Fun to read but I think predicting anything is useless right now. I understand they have pages to fill and at least it is about football.
I cannot disagree with the East winner….The Gators.
Roll Tide in the West !
I agree with you on the east with Florida but it will be a dogfight in the west with LSU, BAMA and Auburn.
Might be a dogfight for spots 2-4, but LSU and Auburn aren’t on Bama’s level this year. Lightening rarely strikes the same place twice.
I’ll take our odds…We Comin in November
Alabama was the correct pick to win the West before the 2019 season started and before they had key injuries to their quarterback and their front seven. With LSU breaking in several new starters in 2020, Florida-Georgia is currently the big question.
Florida is deeper at every position than it has been in several years, so the team should be less impacted by key injuries.
On the question of Florida vs. Georgia, while I believe Georgia’s defense could be the best in the country, I think Florida has enough offensive weapons and enough offensive line improvement to outscore Georgia’s offense.
As for Georgia’s offense, George Pickens often doesn’t get a lot of separation but his catch radius is so large that it usually doesn’t matter. He’s a difference maker, but not enough to offset the turnovers I expect from Mathis/Daniels. And for all the “Third and Grantham” mythology, it won’t be the same this year without those two first round offensive tackles.
In the SEC Championship, I would expect Alabama to be favored and probably to beat whoever wins the East. But there’s a reason they play the games.
Georgia will play Alabama in Atlanata. If the QB plays to his potential and meshes with the new coordinator the offense will explode. if not then Alabama rolls.
Alabama has to be the favorite to win the SEC, with what they have coming back. That doesn’t mean they will win it. It’s looking like a weird season, and almost anything can happen in any given week. About the only thing we can feel confident about is Vandy going winless.
Neither KY nor Mizzou will finish ahead of UT. UT will beat them both. Period
At this point, I’m happy to have a CFB season at all. I’ve purged any expectations for this season, other than expecting UGA will show up ready to fight for every game. With covid looking so heavily over the entire season, there are simply too many unknowns for any serious predictions or expectations (short of Ohio State winning the BIG10).
*looming
In the west Auburn or Texas A&M
In the east?????
Your guess is as good as mine.
I’d say Tennessee or South Carolina
I’m not high on Florida and UGA I won’t comment on until I see a product on the field they replace alot and QB is a big ??? But I won’t count them out yet. As for Uk haha honestly if they get a few skill players on offense and Terry Wilson bacl the way this year’s playing out they could pull it out on some weird scenario. But I think the SEC as a whole but more specifically the East is wide open this year. I don’t see one team that could just dominate the rest it’s just too close.
You’re counting on Muschimp? That’s a great take. If SC had an amazing season it would be good for the East. Past history dictates once Muschimp starts the downward trend his teams don’t recover. Plus, teams and rivalries never change. Can’t possibly happen but nice try. You may ask why? Cause Corch said so and that’s empirical truth.
Have y’all ever beaten UGA like at anytime in the past decade? Can UF hold on to a Coach for longer than 3 seasons without the dumpster fire rekindling? Can y’all beat SC without Major assistance from refs And blatantly cheating… Yeah I didn’t think so…
Auburn or Texas A&M? Y’all got that good smoke up in SC, huh?
Better than Bama…. Obviously
Five Things that Media Continues to Ignore About Floriduh:
1. Who has the more talented team: Floriduh or Georgia: 24/7 says Georgia has the most talented team in all of CFB. Floriduh is ranked SIXTEENTH. Their roster is closer to Northwestern’s than they are to Georgia.
2. Why is Trask, Mr. Dink and Dunk who relied solely on his WR’s and RB catching short passes and PFF’s 78th-ranked QB last season and 48th-ranked returned QB for 2020, who couldn’t beat out the thoroughly mediocre Felipe Franks for three years, is going to be the difference against the best returning defense in football?
3. Sideshow Dan the Clown “does less with more” I keep hearing. LIE!!! His win percentage vs. the Top-25 is 0.244. He doesn’t even win 25% of his games vs. the Top-25. No, Sideshow Dan does not ever beat teams more talented than his team. Ever. It doesn’t happen. He wins the games where his team is better and losses the games where his team is worse. Period. He is not Bill Snyder. This reputation Sideshow Dan the Clown has is a complete myth that’s like a bad game of telephone. Oh, but what about 8-straight bowl at Mississippi State?!?! There are double the amount of bowls now than at any other time. Sideshow Dan took a 5-7 MSU team to a bowl because not enough teams were eligible. It’s a meaningless “record.”
4. Cousin Eddie is an offensive genius! Um, I dunno, maybe? But certainly not against Kirby Smart. His Floriduh offense scored 31 points vs. Kirby’s Bama defense the first time they played. He’s only broken 20 points ONCE in the 11 games since (with Dak), all losses. His record vs. Kirby Smart is 1-11. The real thing NO ONE in the media talks about is Kirby Smart is a DEFENSIVE GENIUS. He completely owns Cousin Eddie’s offense.
5. This season more than any other will be won by coaches who pay extreme attention to detail. Kirby Smart is a coach who pays extreme attention to detail. Do you know who doesn’t? COACH WRISTBANDS, that’s who!
– So we’re supposed to believe that a team nowhere near as talented or as deep as Georgia will beat Georgia when talent and depth matter the most.
– So we’re supposed to believe that a team led by a QB who couldn’t beat out a mediocre QB for three years and who is terrible throwing the ball more than 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, who’s missing 4 of his top-5 pass catchers from last year is going to beat the best returning defense in CFB?
– So we’re supposed to believe that a coach who never wins the games he shouldn’t win is suddenly going to do just that this time?
– So we’re supposed to believe that a coach who is completely owned by Kirby Smart is suddenly going to score more than 17 points against Kirby Smart when he’s only done so once in 11 straight losses?
– So we’re supposed to believe that the coach who never pays attention to detail is going to beat one of the most OCD coaches in all of CFB in a year where playing attention to detail is literally the most important thing a coach can do?
When Georgia beats Floriduh on November 7th, and does so in a blowout, all of y’all deserve the “I told you so’s” coming your way. I can’t wait.
I’m really curious as to what you are going to say if Florida beats UGAY. You literally don’t say anything on this site unless it is related to Gator football or the UF v. UGAY game. I mean, if you are wrong and the Gators beat UGAY, you will look like the absolute dumbest human being to ever walk the Earth. You run your mouth more than a drunk 18 year old kid trying to impress his lame ass friends. I’m not sure if you’ve ever watched any football, but upsets happen all the time. I’m sure you remember the South Carolina game last year.
And I congratulated the Sakerlina fans last year.
I won’t have to worry about that this season with Floriduh, because it’s not happening.
What’s fun is when all you ‘turds disappear for a week or two after we beat y’all, because I know you don’t believe it, but y’all talk as much trash, but when y’all lose, as y’all keep doing, you disappear instead of offering any mea culpas.
Maybe he will be blaming on the current situation(COVID-19) that is still going on right now.
Once again, Florida’s ranking in the 247 roster talent composite is not correct. It does not yet include the 2020 signees and transfers, other than Lingard. When it is updated, Florida will show 50 elite players and rank somewhere around 5th/6th.
“1. Who has the more talented team: Floriduh or Georgia: 24/7 says Georgia has the most talented team in all of CFB. Floriduh is ranked SIXTEENTH. Their roster is closer to Northwestern’s than they are to Georgia.”
The BCR disagrees with you and if you can lose to SC you can lost to Florida…
Lose*
We all know how many stars a player has is all that matters. That’s why Georgia has won the past few SEC championships and National Championships. The development of a player is unimportant. That’s why 3* players like Eddie Jackson and Josh Jacobs could never make it in the NFL. If only they could trade in all their development for two more stars.
dude you are gonna feel like the fool you are after October. Georgia is rebuilding, live with it. They will fail to go to ATL.
Maybe. I do think that is Kirby’s biggest strength though. We have great depth and a defense that should be better than last year. This season will come down to how quickly the QB’s can learn the system and if our O-line can gel. I think the Auburn and Bama games will be tough early in the season. I expect a really good game in Jax this year.
The truth came out with Mr. Wright. Most of you have convinced yourselves that it is time for a new script in the East. Your justifications center around a 5th year QB.
The only way that offense is going to beat UGA is with a running game. I can only assume that the writers believe that UF will find that in the 5 star transfer from Miami that struggled against ACC defenses.
Another truth.. Next year, it will be UT – not UF that is threatening UGA. They are building that team around the trenches and that is how you consistently win in the SEC. UF has struggled recruiting the d-line and o-line. Especially the interior D-line. You will see hints of that this year. It will be completely exposed next year, while UT’s O-Line reaches levels close or at Bama’s, LSU’s and Georgia’s.
One more truth… Anybody playing Kentucky this year had better bring their ‘A’ game. They have a big, physical, veteran O-Line, a pretty solid running game and while maybe not the most talented – a tenacious defense. And they are well coached on both sides of the ball. I have them 3rd, maybe 2nd in the East. (Auburn better come ready on Saturday or they could be 0-1 and staring at traveling to Athens the next week). If they finish 4th, they will be grouped closer to the top 3 – not the bottom 3.
Bama wins the West. While I think LSU is going to be awfully tough; I do think they take a step back this year. Lost too much. Watchout for A&M and who knows with Auburn. Could be vying for the title – could finish 4th. On paper, I have them 4th. But that has more to do with A&M’s rise.
Florida, unable to beat Georgia for the past three seasons, not only gets over that hump but also beats Alabama in a championship game? Ok, Michael. Kyle Trask might be a good QB but he isn’t the type of QB that can take down an Alabama team. Bama’s weakness last year, the front 7 on defense, is no longer a weakness. They’ve got more depth there than they’ve had since 2016. And because of last year’s injuries, that depth has more experience. The secondary might take time to gel but it’ll have that time because of the front 7. Will Anderson, Jordan Battles, and Brian Branch are all names to keep an eye on in 2020. Finally, the offense won’t skip a beat. Far too many explosive skill players for any team to try and take one away. You take Smitty away, Waddle, Metchie, and Baker will make a team pay. Take away the passing game altogether, Najee, B Rob, and Trey Sanders will take over. Mullen just doesn’t have the offense to keep up or the defense to stop all the offensive weapons. This is Bama’s deepest, most experienced, and most talented team since 2016. I truly think Clemson and Ohio State are the only teams capable of a W against a fully healthy Bama this year.
East
1. Florida
2. Kentucky
3. Georgia
4. South Carolina
5. Tennessee
6. Mizzou
7. Vandy
West
1. Alabama
2. Auburn
3. LSU
4. Texas A&M
5. Ole Miss
6. Miss State
7. Arky
UGA finishes behind Kentucky??? C’mon man you don’t really believe that.
Keep smoking that sh*t the Bama dynasty is dead.
SEC West
1) Alabama 10-0
2) Auburn 7-3
3) Texas A&M 7-3
4) LSU 6-4
5) Ole Miss 4-6
6) Miss State 3-7
7) Arkansas 1-9
SEC East
1) Georgia 9-1
2) Florida 9-1
3) Kentucky 7-3
4) Tennessee 4-6
5) South Carolina 2-8
6) Missouri 1-9
7) Vanderbilt 0-10
SEC Champion: Alabama
I looked at the schedule for each team and made picks on what I think will happen. I think Alabama is the team to beat, but could see them losing to only Georgia or Auburn during regular season. Regardless, I still think they win the SEC West if they drop one of these games. Additionally, I think the SEC west is still a deeper and more talented division than the East rn. To start off I have Auburn, LSU and A&M are unpredictable, but I think they finish 2 through 4 in some random order. I gave Auburn the nod because I think they drop the first 2 games (UK and UGA) in low scoring sloppy games, but get on a roll in the middle of their schedule after Gus realizes he could get fired. Then, they play Bama hard for a half, but depth and talent over whelms and they lose by 10. I picked them to beat A&M, but that is a 50/50 toss up. For A&M, I think they definitely lose to Bama and UF, but LSU and Auburn are toss ups. I picked them to beat LSU, but lose to Auburn, however I see them at best 8-2 (finish 2nd) and worst 6-4 (finish 4th). I think LSU loses to much from last year to beat Bama and Florida, but they have a shot against Auburn and A&M. I have them losing both because of scheduling (Auburn will be on a 3 game win streak and A&M will be on a 4 game win streak). However, they could surprise again after all the player’s leaving and finish 8-2. For the bottom 3, I think Kiffin or Leach have the most talent, but Kiffin gets game 1 in an interesting 50/50 egg bowl matchup and has wins over Arkansas, Vandy, and South Carolina. Leach will get his wins against Arkansas, Vandy, and Missouri. Last in the west, I have Arkansas getting its lone win against Vandy.
For the east, I have UGA and Florida as 9-1 and UGA gets the head to head. I think UGA could potentially lose 4 games (Auburn, Kentucky, Alabama, and Florida), however I only have them dropping Alabama rn bc of their Defense, O-line, and RBs look just as good as last year and I think even if a QB doesn’t pan out I know Kirby will go conservative and use the talent he accumulated to at least get 7 or 8 wins and finish no less than #3. I gave them the nod against Florida tho bc this will be a battle tested team by the time they play Florida. Florida has some talented transfers and returning players, plus they have a schedule advantage in the first 5 weeks. The only potential Ls are A&M and LSU, but I give Florida the nod bc I don’t trust Kellen Mond to win a big game early and I think LSU loses to much and they are still figuring things out by the time they play. As I said before I give UGA the nod bc they will be battle tested by Auburn, Bama, Kentucky, and Tennessee in the first 5 weeks and both of these teams are coming off BYEs so they should be fresh to play. I think after easy wins against Arkansas and Vandy, Florida will be challenged by Kentucky and Tennessee, but Mullen will win the games he suppose to and finish 9-1. I’m really high on Kentucky this year, but they have a ridiculous schedule and I think they will for sure lose to Bama and I think they will be banged up the next week for Florida and drop that as well. I think UGA plays it conservatively against UK and gets the win as well, but UGA is coming off Bama and has to go to Lexington so could be a trap game. I have Kentucky beating Auburn and Tennessee on the road, but could easily be Ls as well so this team could finish between 5-5 and 8-2. I have a talented, but young Tennessee team at 4-6 bc of Coronavirus concerns. What I’m hearing out of Pruitt doesn’t sound good and they have their hardest stretch weeks 3 through 5. If they don’t get a win out of Georgia, Kentucky, and Alabama I think this team goes full rebuilding mode and plays a ton of young guys that will lose to A&M, Auburn, and Florida down the stretch. However, out of both of these stretches I would not be surprised if they sneak 1 or 2 wins so I think at best 6-4 and at worst 4-6. For the bottom 3 in the east I think they all have a hard time beating anyone this year in the top tier or in the SEC West and their only wins will come against each other. You can rearrange their order however you like, but Mike Bobo will not save the SC offense, and the talent level is to low at Missouri and Vandy rn.
The only way the gaytors end up in Atlanta is if the guards leave the doors open at the Alachua County jail.
I would like to see a Alabama/Florida matchup so the gaytor fans will finally shut up when they get beat.