© Dale Zanine | USATSI
The annual pilgrimage of grumpy media folks to Hoover, Alabama is now complete. It officially reached a conclusion when they selected South Carolina two spots higher than Kentucky in the preseason predicted order of finish in the SEC East, a tradition unlike any other.
It’s quite baffling to try to understand how South Carolina could be picked to finish that high in the division, based on schedule alone. This year out of the West they play Alabama and Texas A&M. Their non-conference schedule is stupefying. Even though that does not count toward SEC standings, an early loss to North Carolina could completely derail their season.