Athlon Sports picks Florida football second in the East
The Florida football team has been picked to finish second in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division by Athlon Sports.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Athlon Sports has projected the Florida football team to finish second in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division – following its finish in last season’s standings.
The magazine tabbed Georgia to win the division again this year.
In the SEC West, Athlon picked Alabama to repeat as champion, followed by LSU and Texas Tech.
Additionally, Athlon Sports has picked the Gators as the No. 8-ranked team in the country in the preseason, suggesting that despite a question mark on the offensive line “another double-digit win total is within reach.”
Also in the top 10, nationally, is No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Georgia and No. 7 LSU. Texas A&M is ranked No. 10, Auburn is ranked No. 20 and Missouri is ranked No. 23.
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In its conference breakdown, Athlon said that quarterback Feliepe Franks “should continue to develop” under head coach Dan Mullen and that the Gators have “one of the league’s deepest backfields and receiving corps.”
Defensively, the Gators will have to improve on its 162.5 rushing yards allowed last season and the offensive line will have to replace all but one starter from 2018.
The Gators have a less-than-stellar non-conference schedule with the likes of Tennessee-Martin and Towson to go along with the season opener with Miami and the annual match-up with Florida State (this year at home). In conference, Florida football will get Tennessee, Auburn and Vanderbilt at home while traveling to Kentucky, LSU, South Carolina and Missouri.
Florida will take on Georgia in Jacksonville in November.
In its unit rankings, Athlon said Florida football had the second-best wide receiving units and defensive back units in the league while holding the third-best running back units and defensive line units in the SEC.
Nipping at Florida’s heels this season will be Missouri and South Carolina. However, with Missouri fighting ineligibility for a post-season bowl game and South Carolina facing a non-conference schedule that features Clemson and North Carolina, the Gamecocks could struggle.
South Carolina will get Florida at home this season but have to travel to Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee while getting Alabama and Texas A&M at home.
Overall, I can’t really disagree with Athlon’s projections as Georgia brings back 13 of its starters from last season’s team – including quarterback Jake Fromm. Its defense remains strong. Tennessee remains a bit of a wild card as they should be better than last season. How much, however, is the big question.
2019 Athlon Sports SEC football predictions
East Division
Georgia 8-0 12-1
Florida 6-2 10-2
Missouri 4-4 8-4
South Carolina 3-5 6-6
Tennessee 3-5 7-5
Kentucky 2-6 6-6
Vanderbilt 2-6 5-7
West Division
Alabama 8-0 13-0
LSU 6-2 10-2
Texas A&M 5-3 8-4
Auburn 3-5 7-5
Mississippi St. 3-5 7-5
Mississippi 2-6 5-7
Arkansas 1-7 5-7
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