Where are Tennessee Vols football, Jeremy Pruitt in SEC power rankings?

HOOVER, Ala. — The SEC Football Media Days’ preseason predictions will be announced Friday. I’ll take a wild guess and say media types will favor Alabama to win the conference championship.

Another wild guess: Georgia will be favored in the East.

However, I’ve decided to put the divisional rankings aside and list the conference teams first through 14th. Guess what? Alabama is still No. 1.

Here are my power rankings:

Alabama: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throwing to the best corps of wide receivers in the country should prove too much for whatever comes the Tide’s way during the regular season. And don’t discount the motivational value of the blowout loss to Clemson in the national championship game.

Georgia: With a powerful and deep offensive line, Jake Fromm should take fewer hits than any other quarterback in the SEC. All that blocking also should lead to running back D’Andre Swift’s best season.

LSU: Quarterback is no longer a team weakness, thanks to Joe Burrow. The Tigers’ defense could surpass Alabama’s.

Florida: An inexperienced offensive line likely will leave the Gators short of Georgia again in the SEC East, but coach Dan Mullen is good at masking offensive weaknesses. The return of injured cornerback Marco Wilson and the addition of Louisville transfer Jonathan Greenard at end will help make for another stout defense.

Texas A&M: Despite the loss of star running back Trayveon Williams, the offense could be better in coach Jimbo Fisher’s second season. Improvement won’t be enough to overcome a daunting schedule that includes Clemson and Georgia outside the Aggies’ division.

Auburn: The Tigers’ defensive front can slug it out with LSU’s and Alabama’s. Coach Gus Malzahn needs to fix the offense.

Missouri: Larry Rountree is one of the nation’s most underrated running backs, and Clemson transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant will keep the Tigers rolling behind a solid offensive line. Playing Ole Miss and Arkansas from the West will be a bonus.

Tennessee: Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano should improve under new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, and freshman tackles Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright should be welcome additions to a sub-par offensive line.

South Carolina: Quarterback Jake Bentley needs to become more consistent, and the Gamecocks must upgrade their run defense.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs lost many of the heavyweights from a standout defense, but they still have cornerback Cameron Dantzler and linebacker Erroll Thompson. The passing game has questions at quarterback and wide receiver.

Vanderbilt: The Commodores have three of the league’s best offensive players in running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb and tight end Jared Pinkney. But that trio can’t help a defense that has more shortcomings than stars.

Kentucky: The Wildcats’ 10-3 record in 2018 was an aberration. Look for the Wildcats to return to normal this season. 

Ole Miss: Coach Matt Luke could be a stopgap measure while the Rebels recover from NCAA probation. Ole Miss has two more accomplished head coaches on its staff — offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez and defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre.

Arkansas: When the Razorbacks fired coach Bret Bielema and replaced him with Chad Morris after the 2017 season, they had to realize there wouldn’t be a quick turnaround. Bielema recruited to a power running game; Morris’ runs a spread offense.

Whether the Hogs power up or spread it out, they're last in the SEC.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at twitter.com/johnadamskns.