Alabama, Gamecocks picked as SEC favorites

HOOVER, ALABAMA -- Alabama's the favorite to win the Southeastern Conference title.

The Crimson Tide was the pick of media covering SEC media days to beat South Carolina in the league championship game.

Alabama received 111 votes to win the West followed by LSU (30), Arkansas (23), Mississippi State (1) and Auburn. Mississippi was picked to finish last but got two first-place votes.

In the East, South Carolina got 114 votes to repeat as SEC East champions. The Gamecocks were followed by Georgia (38), Florida (12), Tennessee (2), Kentucky (1) and Vanderbilt.

Alabama was the pick to win the overall SEC title on 98 ballots, compared to 29 for LSU, 18 for Arkansas and 14 for South Carolina. Georgia got four votes and Florida and Ole Miss both got two.