There are contradictions, then there’s the 2015 SEC media poll.
In voting that took place during the SEC Media Days that’s wrapping up Thursday, those who cover the conference have Auburn as the favorite to win the SEC championship, receiving 96 points to Alabama’s 80. The only problem with that? The same set of media has ‘Bama claiming the SEC West division title with 1,405 points (92 first-place votes) to AU’s 1,362 (108).
Of course, barring one of the teams being on probation, it would be impossible -- unpossible, if you will -- for the Tigers to finish second in the West and still win the conference championship, but that’s how the cumulative totals shook out this time around.
As to who AU would play in the title game if they were to win the West -- or finish second -- Georgia is the favorite to come out of the East with 1,498 points (166), followed by preseason media darling Tennessee with 1,231 (36). Two-time defending East champion Missouri is pegged for a third-place finish, garnering 20 first-place votes as part of its 1.196 points.
Perhaps even more head-scratching than the AU/UA voting dynamic is that someone gave perennial bottom-feeder Kentucky a first-place vote in the East.
Mississippi State, at one point the No.1 team in the country last year, is predicted to finish dead-last in the West, although they did manage a pair of first-place votes. Not surprisingly, Vanderbilt is projected to bring up the rear in the East.
Below is the complete set of media predictions for the upcoming season:
UPDATED 2:43 p.m. ET: Here is the official explanation from the conference as to how Alabama is projected to win the West but Auburn the SEC title.