Feb. 13, 2012

Florida favored to take third straight SEC title

Florida is the favorite in the 2012 Southeastern Conference Preseason Poll, in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

The Gators are favored to capture the SEC Eastern Division crown as well as the overall league championship. Florida returns seven position starters and nine pitchers from last year’s national runner-up squad.

South Carolina, the two-time defending national champion, was picked second in the Eastern Division, followed by Georgia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Arkansas was voted the top team in the Western Division, followed by LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Auburn.

The 2012 regular season kicks off on Feb. 17. Conference play begins the weekend of March 16-18. The top 10 teams advance to the 2012 SEC Tournament, to be held May 22-27 at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala. The 2011 SEC tourney drew nearly 100,000 fans after close to 130,000 fans attended in 2010. More than two million fans attended SEC games a season ago, an NCAA record. 

2012 SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll 

Eastern Division        

Team, Pts. ('11 SEC Rec/Finish)

1 Florida, 66 (22-8 / t1)

2 South Carolina, 56 (22-8 / t1)

3 Georgia, 42 (16-14 / 4)

4 Vanderbilt, 40 (22-8 / t1)

5 Kentucky, 25 (8-22 / 5)

6 Tennessee, 18 (7-23 / 6)

Western Division        

Team, Pts. ('11 SEC Rec/Finish)

1 Arkansas, 64 (15-15 / 1)

2 LSU, 58 (13-17 / t5)

3 Alabama, 38 (14-16 / t2)

4 Ole Miss, 34 (13-17 / t5)

5 Mississippi State, 33 (14-16 / t2)

6 Auburn, 20 (14-16 / t2)

SEC Champion: Florida

(photo by Jimmy Jones)