No Dawgs allowed: Tide again picked to win SEC

Alabama is the runaway favourite to win the SEC soccer title for a 3rd consecutive season, based on a media ballot launched Friday.

The Crimson Tide obtained 158 of 181 votes to win the convention title. Georgia was subsequent closest with 18 votes, South Carolina obtained three votes, and Vanderbilt and Texas A&M tied with one vote every.

Friday marked the seventh consecutive 12 months wherein Alabama has been picked to win the SEC championship, although the media has accurately predicted the champion solely 9 occasions since 1992.

Georgia, which was picked to win the East, misplaced to Alabama within the SEC title sport final season however gained the rematch within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship Recreation in January.

At SEC media days this week, Georgia coach Kirby Good insisted that this system was constructed for sustained success.

“Folks ask the query: How does it really feel to be the hunted?” Good mentioned. “We is not going to be hunted on the College of Georgia, I can promise you that. The searching we do will probably be from us going the opposite route. We’re not going to sit down again and be passive.”

Led by first-team alternatives in tight finish Brock Bowers, offensive lineman Warren McClendon, defensive lineman Jalen Carter, linebacker Nolan Smith and defensive again Kelee Ringo, Georgia had 9 complete gamers on the preseason All-SEC workforce.

Alabama led all groups with 19 preseason All-SEC alternatives, together with quarterback Bryce Younger, working again Jahmyr Gibbs, extensive receiver Jermaine Burton, offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr., cornerback Eli Ricks, security Jordan Battle and linebackers Henry To’oTo’o and Will Anderson Jr. as first-team picks.

Younger, who threw for 47 touchdowns final season, is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Anderson led the nation in sacks (17.5) and tackles for loss (34.5) and gained the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given to the very best defensive participant in faculty soccer.

“To have two gamers that make such a big affect on our workforce as these two guys, I do not recall ever having a circumstance like that,” Alabama coach Nick Saban mentioned Tuesday. “We have had some nice affect gamers, however by no means one on offense, one on protection of that caliber.”