Florida will beat Auburn in the SEC championship game – if the voters got it right at SEC Football Media Days.
Media members projected Florida to win the league title with 36 of 70 first-place votes as Media Days concluded Friday.
Georgia was second with 18 votes, followed by Auburn with 13. LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss each got one vote.
Tennessee was picked to finish third in the East behind the Gators and Georgia.
Where do you think Tennessee finish in the SEC East?
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
UT's new $45 million football…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 143
Silent_Fulmer writes:
First. Nobody wants to win more than Foolmer. Silent Foolmer that is
CoverOrange writes:
Yes.
banman360 writes:
we were also 1 pic 6 away from being SEC Champs. you flip this both ways
marinevol writes:
Second, behind Georgia. We'll beat Florida, and so will Georgia. Winning at Georgia and Auburn might be asking a little too much of this team. But, I sure wouldn't rule out a return to Atlanta (or a third place finish).
OrangeKoolAid writes:
IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!
tenndave writes:
My prediction is 4th or first. My gut tells me a big surprise in in store for everyone with an offense that will get the ball in the hands of the playmakers and rack up the yards and a defense that will shut you down. Now if the offense doesn't gel quickly, then 4th is a possibility.
caskew#218608 writes:
5 weeks and counting.......GO VOLS!
BGVOL writes:
1st place!! We return sooo many weapons on offense and nobody is going to know what to expect from Clawsons offense, Defense will be good moving Mckenzie to line backer from safety adds speed to the position secondary will be tough to beat D line will be better than it has been in years Ayers will lead the way going inside and out.
NorCalVol writes:
52% of people taking this poll have been drinking kool aid and eating fritters, but I hope they're right!
wyomingvol writes:
In with TNDave on this one. 1st or worst.
Looking for positive surprises.
See Youin's at Ucla and Wyo.
T'ee off... I will hang up and listen to Ya'.
Sheepscape writes:
Third.
ZR writes:
1st or 4th? Fulmer has the sheep's wooly eyes covered! That sounds like a Ricky Bobby prediction.
vol98champ writes:
What has Florida and Georgia done to improve over last year? Florida really looked good against a fair Michigan team. NOT! Tennessee beat a Georgia team that is no better than last year. Tennessee looses one player that will be really missed. MAYO. We will be better at defensive end, much better in the secondary, same at defensive tackle, and hopefully as good at linebacker. We will be better at running backs, receivers, offensive line, and hopefully better at quarterback. Now the bad news---every team is capable of beating everyone on a given day. If we take a day off we will get beat.
BigOrangeJeff writes:
hiresanders,
Quit posing as a Vol fan and just go away. Everyone knows you're actually a bammer.
BOJ
eduardo writes:
Last if we're lucky!
givehim6 writes:
FIRST, I think the media has everyone looking at UF, and UGA. And like vol98chap said, UF, UGA both will play about the same as last year. USC will have a new QB, but same ol' ball coach UK will be flatter than last year Vandy, not sure, but there Vandy.
OrangeTint writes:
I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people this year. I don't think we'll win them all, but the key games we'll show up, and a little. We got new coaches in the right positions now and that's real important. I believe we won't show what we got until the Florida game and go from there. New coaches’ new attitude makes a great year. I say number one in the east. Go Vols!!!
THE_VOL writes:
When do the tough questions start??? Answer to this one is FOURTH IF THEY CAN BEAT S.CAROLINA. Anybody got any Independence Bowl tickets???
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Wow! As the eternal optimist, I am shocked. I voted 2nd but felt more strongly about 3rd. That's no knock on the team, but a tribute to the other big two guns in the east.
I hope we do "pants em'" and apply a little wood shed technology on their fart bloomers!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Man, I see right now I need to step up koolade production. The Grey Goose Orange has sold out and apparently took affect.
We have a new Hope Springs Eternal made with 160 proof shine that should be altering the voting within two weeks.
The Grey Goose made some vote for the Vols as Super Bowl Champs. Might have to cut back on the percentage.
Regular koolade people remember the defense of 2007 or lack thereof.
Others are just heading for the cliff.
Maybe we'll be fooled, maybe not. 34 days or so....
99gator writes:
the sec east.....
vanderbiit.....we're talking about athletics....which usually means that they don't belong in a discussion. since this is football.....they absolutely don't belong in the discussion
kentucky......this is the year they go back to not being a team that plays in a bowl game.
south carolina.....can the ol' ball coach find a qb. if he can't, they will have the same kind of season they have had the last three years (which was still capable of knocking of florida, tenn, georgia, and clemson in that time period). if he can.....then we have a contender in the sec east.
georgia......can they navigate their schedule? was the real georgia team the one that lost to carolina, was throttled by tenn, and barely avoided a loss to vandy or the team that ended the year hot as a firecracker?
tenn......can they find a defense? just how good will the spider claw offense be. can they win a big game on the road(auburn, georgia, south carolina)?
florida......can they find a defense? if they can, they will be awfully tough to beat. if they can't, can their offense overcome it?
personally, i would take florida (what a shock) because of schedule and the assumption that the defense may not be good, but can't be as brutal (worst defense since 1980)
but, tenn gets florida at home and most people believe that georgia has the best team on paper. don't count out carolina if spurrier can get quality play from a qb.
JMO
99gator writes:
sjt18
the difference between florida and tenn is not the unknown.....it's the known.
most everything at tenn this season is a ?. this is not to say that people don't have a feel for how things will shape up, but it's still an unknown (like crompton, for example)
florida's defense is an unknown (in terms of how much they will or will not improve)
but, the florida offense and special teams are known entities.
that's where i think the difference is in all these worthless preseason projections.
if the answers to all the ?, are answered positively....then tennessee will be there in the thick of it. for me, there are too many unknowns for all of them to be answered positively. some of those things will turn out to be not so good.
JMO
pdhuff#552644 writes:
VOLstuck- 10:11 - Is it contractural that we have to go to Atl if we win the right to go?
Couldn't we send SC and let them lose?
Seriously, I don't think Atl will be in our plans in 2008. Who knows?
VolFanInAtl writes:
East:
TN
GA
FL
Vandy
SC
KY
West:
LSU
Bama
Auburn
Miss St
Miss
Ark
UT beats USC by 2 touchdowns in a National Chanpionship game in which UT get up early and never looks back.
Foster has over 2000 yards and wins the Heisman.
(gulp)
99gator writes:
sjt18
not "knowns" in terms of who the players are but knowns in terms of can they play at a quality level.
the florida defense is a known in terms of who the pleyers are. they return 9 of 11 starters.
tenn returned all those offensive players and no one has a clue how good that offense will be.
tenn returned most of its defense and no one knows how good they will be.
the potential is there. but, we don't have proof. same with the florida defense.
but, we have proof of what the florida offense and special teams can and will do....because people have seen it.
that's what i meant.
tenn's offense can be anywhere from pitiful to outstanding and i would not be shocked.
tenn's defense can be much improved or have fans begging to try pdhuff's 2-9 alignment and i would not be shocked.
99gator writes:
sjt18
the last thing any gator fan is worried about is being able to replace andre caldwell.
on the long list of things gator fans are worried about that is somewhere in between making sure the field is painted properly and are we going to worry about playing a game in the snow in gainesville this season.
rbut5252#220065 writes:
our talent/skill level from top to bottom for the first 44 players is second to none in the SEC. If we don't win the championship, it will be because somewhere along the way, we beat ourselves.
99gator writes:
sjt18
also
the offensive line returns four starters from last season (if you count trautwein who started in 2006, and i do).
that's a known
99gator writes:
sjt18
if you read my posts.....i consistently point to questions marks on florida's defense. never have said anything to the contrary.
the only positive spin i put on it is that i assume there will be improvement (don't know how much) and that they can't be as bad as last year. but, i have no clue.
florida has a bunch of soph, redshirt fresh, and true fresh highly touted d-lineman. but, you don't dominate up front with second year lineman.
this is why i am still convinced that florida will be better in 2009 than 2008. i think the talent is there, but they are still too young.
i am so convinced of that, that i believe that will be true regardless of if tebow stays or goes.
99gator writes:
sjt18
trust me on this one.....replacing andre caldwell....not a problem.
not something anyone is losing sleep over in gator country.
it's all about defense, defense, defense, and then defense.
volwalk writes:
Florida has another ? on offense...I've said it before and will say it again. You have so much talent on offense that it may turn out to be a negative. Too many egos and not enough footballs to go around. Trust me that is a real concern and your coach and qb will have to address it and try to keep everyone happy.
just some thoughts and something to for you Gatorade drinkers to chew on.
My prediction is we win the East 7-1. I like the mentality of this team and the team chemistry seems to be strong---so early into the season.
Tenn
Fl
SC
GA
KY
Vandy
99gator writes:
sjt18
i will be as arrogant as possible to make this point clear.
florida has none, zero, nada, problems on the offensive side of the ball. the only problem is what if tebow gets hurt. other than that, there are no problems on that side of the ball.
absolutely none.
if there are problems with florida's offense.....than what team can be sure about anything for the upcoming season.
murrayvol writes:
Home is where the heart is and most wins in the SEC. Hence my vote for UF @ #1. The Vols can do it but it'll be a reach. Aubie, UGA, & SC on the road. Ouch!
vol98champ: "every team is capable of beating everyone on a given day" I beg to differ. The bottom feeders (Vandy, UK, etc,) might cover on a given day. But they're not going to beat the best. Not this year.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Banner year for koolade- approaching pre-season sales of 2005.
Not an omen, don't worry.
Gen W, Dupree came by wearing the Longhorn T cap again. Has he already lost that new Dollar Store beauty you got for him?
99gator writes:
sjt18
maurice hurt, marcus gilbert, carl johnson. you want more names....i can name them. and yes, they have played. the three names i listed in particular. pouncey got hurt in the tenn game last year in the 1st quarter and was replaced by hurt.
seriously, i know my squad and i don't blow smoke. they have depth (some of it even proven depth) all over the offensive side of the ball except qb.
replacing andre caldwell, again, is not a problem. heck, even one of the other tenn posters said florida's problem is too many weapons and not enough footballs.
if you want to be picky, they don't have much tight end depth after ingram and hernandez.
rockitwithrespect writes:
you read it hear first... its going to be kentucky vs. mississippi st. for the sec championship. mark my words!!
99gator writes:
sjt18
hurt, gilbert, and johnson are redshirt sophs (3rd year players)
try again.
TommyJack writes:
I would gladly contribute to a GoGatorsXtra (GGX) start-up fund.
doligurl writes:
Honestly, I voted fourth based on the last few years not being great. I think we'll finish behind Georgia, LSU, Florida, and Auburn.
I can say though, that this is one time that I really hope I'm wrong.
99gator writes:
sjt18
you've convinced me. florida lacks playmakers and depth and will struggle offensively this season.
99gator writes:
sjt18
"Moreover, you need quality depth on the OL in the SEC... who would that be?"
i just gave you their names twice in previous posts. you want photos and addresses?
alfrizzle097 writes:
Florida has playmakers on offense with well-publicized names. That is why there is such a different perception between Florida and Tennessee. I think that teams will begin to figure out the Florida offense. Not stop it. Just slow it down. Harvin and Tebow accounted for an alarming percentage of the Florida offense last year. If the UT secondary can cover the Florida receivers (big if), We should be able to rattle Tebow by spying Rico a couple of times.
99gator writes:
sjt18
alright,
if trautwein and tartt go down.....and let's say johnson and hurt replace them.....you're asking who would back them up.
i could name names and give you links on their bios.....but, who the heck is 10 deep on the offensive line with no drop off. going 8 deep with players who could start is pretty impressive.
florida can handle one or two injuries at almost every position on the offensive side of the ball.
there isn't a team anywhere that could handle losing 5 offensive linemen or four wr's getting hurt, etc.
be reasonable man.
yes, if florida had to start the 11th guy on the offensive line it would be a problem.
99gator writes:
sjt18
florida does have 8 lineman.
trautwein
tartt
pouncey
pouncey (yes, there are two of them)
watkins
hurt
gilbert
johnson
99gator writes:
sjt18
trautwein did not hurt his knee. he had a stress fracture in his foot. that's what put him out for the season last year.
volwalk writes:
Will September get here quick enough??? Line em up and go.
As fun as this is...talking and drinking our kool-aids, it really doesn't matter. I got to admit it is fun trying to predict our team's destiny.
One item I am sure that we can all agree on, is that we are in the BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL CONFERENCE in America. The SEC dominates the landscape from top to bottom.
GO VOLS!
99gator writes:
sjt18
i went ballistic because you asked me to name the replacements (i did, twice)
then, apparently, you wanted the replacements' replacements because that wasn't good enough.
it seemed like you kept moving where you drew the line in your argument. it was frustrating. sorry.
have fun as well
auttat writes:
Let's see, if Tebow goes down, along with Harvin, Ingram, and Moody, and possibly the whole OL goes down, then Florida "MIGHT" struggle offensively.
sjt18, they are scary good on that side of the ball
alfrizzle097 writes:
What about depth behind Tebow? I'm being a little facetious (sp), but who is behind him? Any experience to speak of? There is almost always a drop off from first to second qb, but how big is the drop in Florida's case? The question is pretty serious considering the style Tebow plays.
dford9#209809 writes:
FIRST~!
We will let Tim Tebow know he has been in a
football game, and not at a masquarade party.
From there, we will build on our win over the
DAWG's; and get back on track with a huge win
over The Satan Nation~! Auburn is likely to be
our toughest opponent this year; so watch out
for them TIGERS.
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