Defending national champion Alabama was predicted to win the 2021 SEC Championship, according to a preseason poll of media covering SEC Media Days.

Alabama received 84 votes to be crowned SEC Champion on Dec. 4 in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Georgia was second with 45 votes.

The Bulldogs were selected to win the SEC Eastern Division with 923 points, including 124 first-place votes, while Florida was second with 784 points and 7 votes to win the division. Kentucky was third with 624 points.

South Carolina was selected to finish 6th in the Eastern Division with 355 votes. The Gamecocks did receive a 1st place vote to win the SEC Eastern Division and conference title.

Alabama was picked to win the SEC Western Division with 932 total points, followed by Texas A&M with 760 and LSU with 633. Alabama received 130 first-place votes in the SEC West.

Alabama led the way with 16 representatives on the Preseason All-SEC Team, including 8 on the first team - six on defense. Georgia and Auburn had 10 members selected to the Preseason All-SEC Team, while Texas A&M had seven.

South Carolina defensive end Kingsley Enagbare made the 1st-team squad. Junior running back Kevin Harris was a 2nd-team pick, while senior tight end Nick Muse was a 3rd-team selection.

PRESEASON MEDIA POLL

(First place votes in parenthesis)

EASTERN DIVISION

Georgia (124) 923

Florida (7) 784

Kentucky (2) 624

Missouri 555

Tennessee 362

South Carolina (1) 355

Vanderbilt 149

WESTERN DIVISION

Alabama (130) 932

Texas A&M (1) 760

LSU (1) 633

Ole Miss (1) 529

Auburn 440

Arkansas (1) 241

Mississippi State 217

SEC CHAMPION

Alabama (84) 84

Georgia (45) 45

Ole Miss (1) 1

Texas A&M (1)1

Florida (1) 1

Kentucky (1) 1

South Carolina (1) 1