HOOVER, Ala. – Trust in the media is a tenuous thing, but this year LSU fans will be hoping the media is right on the mark.
The Tigers were tabbed Thursday as the prohibitive favorite to repeat as Southeastern Conference champions by voting media members covering SEC Media Days.
In addition, LSU had seven first-team all-conference selections and 13 selections overall, both SEC highs.
The Tigers received 129 of 222 first-place votes. Alabama was second with 65, followed by Georgia (14), South Carolina (6), Arkansas (4), Auburn (2), and Florida and Ole Miss with one each.
In the SEC West, LSU got 139 first-place votes and 1,449 points overall. Alabama was second with 72 first-place votes and 1,379 points, followed by Arkansas, Auburn, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
Georgia is projected to repeat as SEC East champion, earning 132 first-place votes and 1,434 points as compared to 72 first-place votes and 1,358 points for South Carolina. The Gamecocks were followed by Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
The only other time since 1992 that LSU was picked to win the SEC was in 2007. That year, the Tigers won the conference title en route to the BCS national championship.
LSU junior Tyrann Mathieu earned first-team All-SEC honors as a defensive back and return specialist, the only player selected at two positions. Mathieu finished fifth last year in Heisman Trophy balloting.
The Tigers’ other first-teamers include senior offensive tackle Alex Hurst, junior defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, junior safety Eric Reid and sophomore punter Brad Wing.
Junior offensive tackle Chris Faulk made the second team, as did senior senior center P.J. Lonergan and kicker Drew Alleman. Running back Spencer Ware, defensive tackle Bennie Logan and cornerback Tharold Simon, all juniors, were named to the third team.
Dutchdown running back Eddie Lacy of Alabama was named to the second team.
LSU opens the regular season Sept. 1 in Tiger Stadium against North Texas.
For a complete list of All-SEC selections, click here.
