Alabama is overwhelming media pick to win SEC title, beating Georgia, 158-18 in votes

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The Alabama Crimson Tide football team was predicted to win its third straight Southeastern Conference championship, according to a preseason poll of nearly 1,000 reporters covering the SEC Media Days over the last week here with 158 votes to 18 for Georgia.

Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game last season, but lost to the Bulldogs in the national championship game.

Head Coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs shake hands after the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Crimson Tide was picked to win the SEC Western Division with 1,262 total points, followed by Texas A&M with 968 and three first place votes and Arkansas with 844 and one first place vote. Alabama received 177 – all but four – first-place votes. Ole Miss was picked to finish fourth, followed by LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn.

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Georgia was selected to win the SEC East Division with 1,254 points, including 172 first-place votes, while Kentucky was second with 932 points and four first place votes. Tennessee was third with 929 points and one first place vote. South Carolina, strangely, received three first place votes, but was voted to finish fifth in the East behind Florida.

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Alabama Crimson Tide QB Bryce Young (9) passes during the Alabama Crimson Tide versus the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship, on January 10, 2022, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.  (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Vanderbilt, amazingly, also got a first-place vote despite finishing higher than fourth one time (2008) since the SEC went to divisions in 1992. Points were awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale. Missouri was picked to finish sixth and Vanderbilt seventh.
 

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Only nine times since 1992 has the predicted champion prior to the season at SEC Media Days proceeded to win the SEC Championship Game, which includes the last two consecutive seasons by Bama.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Atlanta.  (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Media also voted on the pre-season All-SEC team with Alabama leading the way there as well with 19 selections:

2022 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAM

OFFENSE

First-Team

QB –Bryce Young, Alabama

RB – Tank Bigsby, Auburn

RB –Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

WR –Kayshon Boutte, LSU

WR –Jermaine Burton, Alabama

TE –Brock Bowers, Georgia

OL –Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama

OL – Warren McClendon, Georgia

OL – O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

OL – Nick Broeker, Ole Miss

C – Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

Second Team

QB –Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

RB – Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky

RB – Devon Achane, Texas A&M

WR –Cedric Tillman, Tennessee

WR –Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss

TE –Cameron Latu, Alabama

OL – Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

OL – Kenneth Horsey, Kentucky

OL – Darnell Wright, Tennessee

OL – Javion Cohen, Alabama

C – Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

Third Team

QB –Will Levis, Kentucky

RB –Zach Evans, Ole Miss

RB –Kenny McIntosh, Georgia

WR –Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

WR –Josh Vann, South Carolina

TE – Jaheim Bell, South Carolina

OL – Brady Latham, Arkansas

OL – Tyler Steen, Alabama

OL – Javon Foster, Missouri

*OL –Jeremy James, Ole Miss

*OL – Kendall Randolph, Alabama

C –Cooper Mays, Tennessee

DEFENSE

First Team

DL –Jalen Carter, Georgia

DL –BJ Ojulari, LSU

DL –Derick Hall, Auburn

DL –Byron Young, Tennessee

LB – Will Anderson Jr., Alabama

LB – Nolan Smith, Georgia

LB –Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama

DB –Jordan Battle, Alabama

DB – Kelee Ringo, Georgia

DB – Eli Ricks, Alabama

DB – Jalen Catalon, Arkansas

Second Team

DL –Zacch Pickens, South Carolina

DL –D.J. Dale, Alabama

DL –Ali Gaye, LSU

DL –Colby Wooden, Auburn

LB –Bumper Pool, Arkansas

LB –Dallas Turner, Alabama

LB –Brenton Cox Jr., Florida

DB –Cam Smith, South Carolina

DB –Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M

DB –Christopher Smith, Georgia

DB –Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State

Third Team

DL –Gervon Dexter, Florida

DL –Justin Eboigbe, Alabama

DL –Maason Smith, LSU

DL –McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M

LB –Owen Pappoe, Auburn

LB –Ventrell Miller, Florida

LB –Jeremy Banks, Tennessee

DB –Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

DB –Trey Dean III, Florida

DB –Trevon Flowers, Tennessee

DB –Malachi Moore, Alabama

SPECIALISTS

First Team

P – Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M

PK –Will Reichard, Alabama

RS –Kearis Jackson, Georgia

AP –Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama

Second Team

P – Oscar Chapman, Auburn

PK –Anders Carlson, Auburn

RS –Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

AP –Devon Achane, Texas A&M

Third Team

P –Paxton Brooks, Tennessee

PK –Harrison Mevis, Missouri

RS –JoJo Earle, Alabama

AP –Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

* – Indicates a tie