The media votes are in and the Georgia Bulldogs have been tabbed as the top pick to win the conference.

The Bulldogs came in at No. 1 in the preseason media poll, earning 165 first-place votes.

Texas finished in second place, followed by Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU to round out the top five.

This is the first year the SEC will not have divisions, meaning the top two teams in the league will play in the SEC championship game.

While Georgia is the favorite to get to Atlanta, it won’t be an easy path. The Bulldogs have road games against Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss. Georgia also makes a trip to Kentucky while hosting Tennessee and Auburn as well.

The Bulldogs know they have to take things one game at a time but they aren’t too daunted by the impending schedule.

“We kind of embrace that and we love it,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “I mean, what you didn’t get to mention is we open with Clemson, too, one of the top programs in the country. So we’re really excited about that. I think that motivates our off-season so that we have the right kind of approach to the off-season.

“You know, our guys embrace that. As coaches we want to play the best.”

Georgia has been a regular participant in the SEC championship game under Smart, as the Bulldogs have played in six SEC championship games since Smart became the head coach.

The SEC championship will have the added stake of potentially giving the winner a bye. The top four conference champions earn a bye into the College Football Playoff.

The loser may have to play a first-round game just two weeks later. While that game could potentially be on campus, there is also the chance that the loser of the SEC championship game would have to go on the road in the first round.

“It’s hard to do in the SEC,” Smart said. “That’s why you get a chance to recruit to 85 scholarships, so that you have depth. Can you get your younger players ready faster than your opponent is a huge advantage.

“No, I don’t want to see the conference championship go away. I think it’s one the greatest venues in all of college sports, in all of sports.”

Under Smart, Georgia has won the SEC twice, last doing so in 2022. The Bulldogs’ only loss of the 2023 season came in the SEC championship game, as they fell to Alabama. Georgia was picked to win the SEC last season as well.

Georgia opens the 2024 season in Atlanta, though it will take on the Clemson Tigers. The game is set for Aug. 31 and will start at 12 p.m. ET.

The SEC championship game will be played on Dec. 7 in Atlanta.

2024 SEC predicted order of finish