HOOVER, Ala. — The Florida Gators were picked to finish fifth in the SEC East in 2015 before winning the East outright in Jim McElwain’s first season. The Gators will once again have to exceed the media’s expectations in 2016.
Florida was picked to finish second in the SEC East behind the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols received 225 first-place votes to Florida’s 57. Georgia, with first year head coach Kirby Smart at the helm, received 45 first place votes.
Alabama was picked to win the SEC West and its third straight SEC Championship. The Crimson Tide received 246 first place votes. LSU, picked as SEC West runners up, received 76 first place votes and third place Ole Miss received five.
The media have picked the correct SEC Champion just five times since 1992, three times in the last 20 years.
SEC East (first place votes in parenthesis)
1. Tennessee (225)
2. Florida (57)
3. Georgia (45)
4. Kentucky
5. Vanderbilt (2)
6. Missouri
7. South Carolina (2)
SEC West (first place votes in parenthesis)
1. Alabama (246)
2. LSU (76)
3. Ole Miss (5)
4. Texas A&M (3)
5. Arkansas (1)
6. Auburn
7. Mississippi State
SEC Champion
Alabama