Why SEC analyst Gene Chizik likes Gamecocks as his SEC East sleeper pick

Who does former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, now an SEC Network analyst, like as his sleeper pick to win the SEC East?

The South Carolina Gamecocks.

Georgia and Florida have been picked as the favorites to win the East in most preseason polls, but some analysts for the SEC Network say other teams could surprise them, according to a report on saturdaydownsouth.com.

While Chizik likes South Carolina, Chris Doering and Jordan Rodgers say Kentucky could challenge for the division.

What each said in an SEC Network video segment:

Chizik: “I’m going with South Carolina. Here’s what I say: quarterbacks and defense. The albatross around South Carolina’s neck is defense. But you have the right guy in position to fix it, and you have a quarterback with a bunch of returning starters on offense. They have a chance.”

Doering: “I’m high on Kentucky. Kentucky getting to a bowl game last year was quite a feat for them. I think this is a team that could win nine games.”

Rodgers: “We’ll find out by week three whether that dark horse is going to be Kentucky or South Carolina. Kentucky plays at South Carolina week three. I think that’s going to be a measuring stick for both teams in this league. They (Kentucky) have a chance to win nine or so.”

This story was originally published August 10, 2017 at 1:18 PM.