Around the SEC: Seriously, who will win the East this year?

Right. Happy Tuesday. Let’s get right into it.

We seem to ask this question every year, but seriously, who’s going to win the SEC East this season? Florida brings back a good defense and questionable offense; Georgia brings back a passable offense and question mark at defense; then there’s everybody else. South Carolina might make some noise. Vanderbilt is low-key dangerous. Kentucky is ever pesky to beat, especially at home. It’s difficult to pick who’s going to do it, though.

Whoever does it will become mere fodder for the West champs in Atlanta, so ultimately, maybe it doesn’t matter? Whatever.

Florida’s annual offseason shenanigans made another bid for Fulmer Cup supremacy this week as seven players — including star wideout Antonio Callaway — were suspended for their big opener against Michigan in Arlington, Texas. The group further includes James Houston, Kadeem Telfort, Keivonnis Davis, Jordan Smith, Richerd Desir-Jones and Ventrell Miller.

Florida head coach Jim McElwain was purposely vague in his statement.

We have a small group of players that have made some choices that are extremely disappointing. Action has been taken – they have missed some practice and will miss the Michigan game. We will use this as a learning opportunity and we will have some players step up as we move forward

A source told GatorBait.net that the suspensions stem from apparent misuse of funds on the part of the players. This is Callaway’s third suspension — the first for a citation for marijuana possession, the second for a violation of team rules in 2016 — prompting Gator football consultant Steve Spurrier to weigh in on Callaway’s future in Gainesville.

It’s the Jarrett Stidham show in Auburn this season.

Gus Malzahn announced on Twitter that he’s going with Stidham as starting QB for the foreseeable future, choosing the Baylor transfer over incumbent Sean White and freshman Malik Willis. White, recall, played a significant portion of last season without a throwing shoulder.

LSU QB Lindsey Scott, Jr. will transfer to EMCC.

Scott made the announcement on Twitter on Monday, then confirmed Tuesday that his eventual landing spot will be Last Chance U. Apparently dissatisfied with the prospect of two years of fighting for the starting job, he wants on the field more immediately than Ed Orgeron’s shop can allow. It remains to be seen where he’ll head after that, but for the time being he’ll be playing for EMCC.

Lee Corso thinks the Florida-Georgia game should go to a home-and-home series.

Corso’s on to something here, which is a rarity. It’s tricky, though. This game always coincides with Georgia’s fall break weekend (more likely it’s the other way around), which begins on the Thursday prior to the World’s Largest Cocktail Party. Florida students get no days off from class, but they’re only an hour away from Jacksonville.

Still, though, Gainesville hosts the annual “Fest” on that weekend, an international punk and rock music festival, which draws bands from as far afield as Sweden and the Philippines. With the departure of so many students comes the influx of thousands of fans and musicians, who would just as well not want to deal with the hassle of a major college football rivalry game every other year.

Keep it in Jacksonville for the time being.