The Athletic projects Florida to finish fourth in SEC play

Dec 17, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Florida Gators center Viktor Mikic (12) during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The Florida Gators enter conference play with a perfect record, but the experts at The Athletic aren’t picking the Orange and Blue to win the SEC, or even finish inside the top three.

Senior writer Joe Rexrode has the Gators pegged for a fourth-place finish, with a 12-6 SEC record behind Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama. Rexrode also predicts a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament for Florida.

“This might be the best backcourt in the country, the senior trio of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard,” Rexrode said. “A nonleague strength of schedule of 220 leaves some questions about whether the Gators can hang with the best in this league for two months.”

Florida will be tested immediately with No. 10 Kentucky, No. 1 Tennessee and No. 23 Arkansas to open conference play.

The Gators play home-and-homes with Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee twice over the next two months. Florida hosts Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt with road games against Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU and Mississippi State.

The Athletic’s SEC projections

Ranking

Team

Record

T-1

Auburn Tigers

14-4

T-1

Tennessee Volunteers

14-4

3

Alabama Crimson Tide

13-5

4

Florida Gators

12-6

T-5

Kentucky Wildcats

11-7

T-5

Arkansas Razorbacks

11-7

T-5

Texas A&M Aggies

11-7

T-8

Ole Miss Rebels

10-8

T-8

Mississippi State Bulldogs

10-8

10

Oklahoma Sooners

8-10

T-11

Texas Longhorns

6-12

T-11

Georgia Bulldogs

6-12

T-11

Missouri Tigers

6-12

14

Vanderbilt Commodores

5-13

15

LSU Tigers

4-14

16

South Carolina Gamecocks

3-15

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and…