Jul 25, 2008 12:12 PM
This just in - Media picks Florida to win SEC
Below is the SEC's release on the preseason predictions as well as the media's All-SEC team:
The Florida Gators have been voted by the attending media at 2008 Southeastern Conference Football Media Days to capture the SEC football championship. The results were announced on the third and final day of the media days at the Wynfrey Hotel. The Gators were selected as Eastern Division champions while Auburn was selected to represent the Western Division.
Of the 70 members of the media who voted, Florida was named SEC Champion on 36 ballots, Georgia on 18, Auburn 13 and LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss one each.
In the Eastern Division, Florida had 45 first-place votes, Georgia (23) and Tennessee (2). The Gators, Bulldogs and Volunteers were selected 1-2-3 in the Eastern Division followed by South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
In the Western Division, Auburn was named first place on 48 ballots, while LSU received 21 first place votes and Ole Miss 1. The predicted order of finish in the Western Division was Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas.
In the pre-season All-SEC Team voting, Auburn had nine representatives on the first and second teams while LSU had eight. Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina each had five players selected. Florida had the most first-team selections with five followed by LSU and Tennessee with four each.
There were no unanimous selections to the All-SEC Team. Florida linebacker wide receiver Percy Harvin was the leading vote-getter with 68 votes while Gator linebacker Brandon Spikes had 65 votes. Alabama offensive lineman Andre Smith, Ole Miss offensive lineman Michael Oher, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow were named on 64 ballots.
