Stats are often really useful, helpful, and a lot of times they are fun to peruse. But it's safe to say that what ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) algorithm predicted for the upcoming season is extremely perplexing.
ESPN released an official preview for the SEC this week, which included the aforementioned statistic that had been posted before. But what it shows this time is that ESPN is sticking to its guns and nothing has changed for FPI to rank the conference any differently.
Georgia being on top isn't too shocking. The Bulldogs are the favorite to win the SEC East, picked to do so at the SEC's media days. They have a very real shot at winning the SEC title game and being crowned league champs in December.
What is shocking is the two teams that are perceived to be at the top of the SEC West — Alabama and Auburn — couldn't even crack the overall top three of FPI. Coming in fourth, the Crimson Tide were ranked behind improving Tennessee. FPI also predicts the Tide to lose to the Bulldogs in their matchup in the middle of the season.
Auburn, which played for the national title two years ago, is behind just about everybody of consequence, with ESPN predicting them to win just six games in 2015.
If there's any consolation to ESPN's predictions, at least it managed to pick a definitive conference winner, which wasn't the case with the mess at SEC media days.
