Georgia chose to win SEC over Alabama, LSU

Alex Scarborough, ESPN Staff WriterJul 21, 2023, 01:03 PM ET

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• Covers the SEC.Joined ESPN
• in 2012.
• Graduate of Auburn University.Georgia is the clear preferred to win the

SEC as soon as again according to the conference media poll, which was released Friday.The Bulldogs, who are coming off back-to-back national championships, got 62.2 %of all first-place votes(181). Alabama(62)and LSU (31 )were the only other teams to

get double-digit first-place votes.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Alabama was also selected ahead of LSU to win the West– despite LSU

winning the department and beating Alabama last season.In the 31-year history of the survey, only 9 times has the media properly anticipated the champion of the conference.Eleven Tigers were named to the preseason All-SEC team, consisting of first-team choices quarterback Jayden Daniels, pass receiver Malik Nabers, offending deal with Will Campbell, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. and protective linemen Mekhi Wingo and Maason Smith.The Crimson Tide had 16 players make the All-SEC group, with 6 first-team selections: offensive guard JC Latham, outside linebacker Dallas Turner, kicker Will Reichard, long-snapper Kneeland Hibbett and Kool-Aid McKinstry, who was chosen at both cornerback and return specialist.Georgia had the most first-team choices of anybody in the conference: receiver Ladd McConkey, tight end Brock Bowers, center Sedrick Van Pran, offensive linemen Amarius Mims and Tate Ratledge, defensive

linemen Mykel Williams and Nazir Stackhouse, linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson and protective backs Malaki Starks, Kamari Lassiter and Javon Bullard.At SEC media days Tuesday, Georgia coach Kirby Smart stated everyone speak about, “How do you top an undefeated season? “”The hazard for us, “he stated,”is complacency.”Georgia, which opens the season with back-to-back home games against UT Martin (Sept. 2)

and Ball State (Sept. 9), has not named a starting quarterback.This week, Smart informed ESPN that junior Carson Beck is the front-runner to

change Stetson Bennett at the position however he”

hasn’t done enough to state he’s the starter.”Redshirt sophomore Brock Vandagriff and redshirt freshman Gunner Stockton are likewise in competition.