Auburn picked to win SEC, USC picked 4th in East

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) – Reporters predicting the Southeastern Conference were torn in the Western Division.

Auburn was declared the favorite to win the overall title Thursday, but rival Alabama got the edge in the West. It’s the first time that’s happened.

Auburn received 108 first-place votes to Alabama’s 92, but the Crimson Tide had a slight edge in overall points (1,405-1,362).

Auburn got 96 votes to win the SEC title followed by Alabama with 80.

Georgia is a heavy favorite to win the East, receiving 166 first-place votes to Tennessee’s 20. They were followed by Missouri, South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

LSU was picked to finish third in the West, followed by Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.

The media’s predicted champion has only won the league five times in 23 tries.