HOOVER, Ala. • Just as Missouri’s players expected earlier this week, the Tigers weren’t picked to make a third straight appearance in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
SEC media days concluded Thursday with the release of the preseason media poll. Georgia begins the season as heavy favorites to win the SEC East Division, earning 166 of 225 first-place votes. Tennessee, picked second in the East, received 36 first-place votes and edged Missouri, the two-time defending division champion. The Tigers got 20 first-place votes. South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt rounded out the East Division projections. The Gamecocks, Gators and Wildcats each earned one first-place vote.