In the first day of SEC Media Days, ESPN college football analyst Nick Saban, along with fellow panelists Greg McElroy and Benjamin Watson, made their predictions for the SEC championship game. The addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the league has resulted in the elimination of divisions, meaning the top two teams in the final regular-season standings will battle for the title on December 7 in Atlanta.

To the surprise of many, Saban chose Georgia and Texas as his picks for the SEC championship game. He praised Texas's offensive prowess and emphasized the importance of their quarterback depth. Although their starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers, has missed some time in recent years, Saban highlighted the impressive performance of Arch Manning in the spring game. He also mentioned that Texas needs to address the loss of key interior players on their defense.

Saban also voiced his belief in his former team, Alabama, but expressed concern about their secondary, which he believes could be a potential liability. Meanwhile, McElroy, an Alabama alumni, selected Alabama and Texas as his predicted finalists. He noted that Georgia's schedule, despite being previously criticized for being soft, poses a challenge this year with three tough road games.

Watson, a former Georgia and NFL tight end, went with Georgia and Ole Miss as his SEC championship game picks. He acknowledged the difficulty of Georgia's schedule but expressed confidence in their strong secondary. Watson praised Ole Miss for their acquisitions through the transfer portal, including standout defenders Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen.

Saban agreed with Watson's assessment of Ole Miss' potential, pointing out that this is the first time they have the ability to match up with teams up-front, addressing a previous weakness. He acknowledged that every team has question marks and uncertainties this early in the season, making predictions challenging.

The panelists' predictions reflect the competitive landscape of the SEC with the arrival of Oklahoma and Texas. The absence of divisions has added an extra layer of uncertainty, making it difficult to narrow down the potential championship contenders.

As the college football season unfolds, fans will eagerly watch if these predictions by the esteemed SEC analysts come to fruition, or if there will be surprises in store. The quest for the SEC championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff promises to be an exciting and unpredictable journey.