Athlon, to one’s surprise, is picking Florida to top Georgia and win the division. (“Picking between Florida and Georgia for the top spot in the East Division was the toughest prediction of the preseason for Athlon Sports.”)
So, it’s tough and here’s what sounds like the deciding edge:
The East is likely to come down to the annual showdown in Jacksonville, but Florida has an easier crossover (LSU) than Georgia, and road trips to Tennessee and Ole Miss are manageable.
Color me confused. If the Cocktail Party is make or break, then why do the other issues matter? I don’t get the easier crossover reference there — is that supposed to mean LSU at Gainesville is easier than Auburn at Athens? — but I’m not sure it matters. Look at it this way: if the Dawgs lose to Alabama while Florida holds serve against Ole Miss (that’s the easier crossover), and have no other conference losses on the slate come Jacksonville time, then a fourth win in a row against the Gators leaves Georgia in the divisional driver’s seat, just as it would if both somehow came in undefeated, or each with one loss.
If the annual showdown in Jacksonville is determinative, then the other games are just commentary. I suppose “likely” is a hedge, but if the folks at Athlon see the Dawgs losing two conference games besides Florida, they ought to come out and pick the winners.