Tag: SEC Preseason Media Poll

Here’s where the media predicts Florida will finish among SEC teams in 2022

Billy Napier was hired to turn things around in Gainesville, but the media thinks it may take some time for Florida to get back to the top.

The Florida Gators football team has been predicted to finish fourth in the SEC East by members of the media attending the recent 2022 SEC media days at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia is the media’s pick to win the East. Kirby Smart’s group earned 172 first-place votes out of a possible 181. Georgia’s 1,254 points blew away the rest of the division, and Florida’s not even in the race for second, according to the poll. Kentucky finished with 932 points (four first-place votes) and Tennessee is right behind at 929 (one first-place vote). The Gators are firmly behind the Volunteers at No. 4 with 712 points.

In the West, Alabama (1,262) is the projected division winner followed by Texas A&M (968), Arkansas (844) and Ole Miss (675). The Crimson Tide are the favorites to win the conference championship as well.

Predictions are just predictions, but these are the folks that cover the conference year-round and that knowledge is bound to pay off at some point. The media has correctly predicted the conference champion prior to the season just nine times over the last 30 years, but that includes the last two seasons. That consistency drops off as you go further down the predicted standings, so Florida could surprise a few folks and end up competing with Kentucky and Tennesse.

Here are the results from the SEC Media Day poll:

SEC PRESEASON MEDIA POLL

First place votes in ()

EAST

1. Georgia (172)  — 1254

2. Kentucky (4) — 932

3. Tennessee (1) — 929

4. Florida — 712

5. South Carolina (3) — 662

6. Missouri — 383

7. Vanderbilt (1) — 196

WEST

1. Alabama (177) — 1262

2. Texas A&M (3) — 968

3. Arkansas (1) — 844

4. Ole Miss — 675

5. LSU — 591

6. Mississippi State — 390

7. Auburn — 338

SEC CHAMPION

Alabama — 158

Georgia — 18

South Carolina — 3

Vanderbilt — 1

Texas A&M — 1

[mm-video type=video id=01g8kfdfr1adeacv9qqc playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g8kfdfr1adeacv9qqc/01g8kfdfr1adeacv9qqc-d64263ef25d8a1c74d719ee95b8b5b88.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=88006,87997,87970,87972,87960]

[listicle id=88018]

[listicle id=87902]

[listicle id=88028]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!