In anticipation of the SEC releasing how the media predicted the races in the divisions and who will win the championship, let’s look at how badly we’ve guessed.
And let me say this — I think one reason is that too many media members vote based on what they remember of a team from the previous season or how it did in its bowl game.
In 23 years of voting, we were right five times. A 5-18 record puts you right on the hot seat if you are a coach.
Year Pick How fared Winner
1992 Florida Lost SEC title game Alabama
1993 Alabama Lost SEC title game Florida
1994 Florida Won SEC title game
1995 Florida Won SEC title game
1996 Tennessee 2nd in East Florida
1997 Florida T2 in East Tennessee
1998 Florida 2nd in East Tennessee
1999 Tennessee 2nd in East Alabama
2000 Alabama T5 in West Florida
2001 Florida 2nd in East LSU
2002 Tennessee 3rd in East Georgia
2003 Auburn 3rd in West LSU
2004 Georgia 2nd in East Auburn
2005 Tennessee 5th in East Georgia
2006 Auburn T2 in West Florida
2007 LSU Won SEC title game
2008 Florida Won SEC title game
2009 Florida Lost SEC title game Alabama
2010 Alabama 4th in West Auburn
2011 Alabama 2nd in West LSU
2012 LSU T2nd in West Alabama
2013 Alabama T1st in West Auburn
2014 Alabama Won SEC title game
So Florida has been picked the most with eight, followed by Alabama with six and Tennessee with four. We’ve picked the East 13 times to 10 for the West. Twice we picked a team to win that finished fifth in its own division. But we got it right last year.
