The South Carolina Gamecocks football team has been picked to win the SEC Eastern Division crown in 2011.  Don’t rub your eyes, as you are reading that correctly.  For the first time since joining the Southeastern Conference in 1992, the South Carolina Gamecocks are the preseason favorite to win the Eastern Division, according to a poll of media members attending the SEC Media Days in Birmingham.  For the South Carolina football program, this is the new normal. Success began on the recruiting trail with strong 2009 and 2010 classes that yielded the likes of defensive back Stephon Gilmore and running back Marcus Lattimore.  That foundation building, combined with a solid coaching staff behind head coach Steve Spurrier, has helped to engineer the type of football performances that the Gamecock faithful have been praying for.  Last year, the Gamecocks beat then-No. 1 Alabama, avoided the bite of the Georgia Bulldogs at home and took care of the Florida Gators in the “Swamp.”  This new found success on the gridiron led to the Gamecocks being the representatives of the SEC East in the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship for the first time in the program’s history.Going into the offseason, the Gamecocks used the momentum of 2010 to land the nation’s top recruit, Jadeveon Clowney, and build crucial depth at key positions through again building a solid recruiting class to help sustain the progression of the program. South Carolina has been playing football since 1896 and has an all-time record of 534-535-44.  This will be the year that the label of mediocrity is permanently stripped due to a repeat as the SEC East champs. The Gamecocks have the offensive firepower fueled by two of the best playmakers in the conference in running back Marcus Lattimore and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.  Their defense is vastly improved over last years’ squad with key depth and a star-studded defensive line, led by Devin Taylor. Coach Spurrier knows that as long as quarterback Stephen Garcia can manage the offense mistake-free, injuries are avoided and the defense steps up, then look out as this will, again, not be your average Gamecocks but the Gamecocks with that championship strut.  If you are still in disbelief, here is how the SEC Media voted:  SEC EAST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:South Carolina - 931 (114)Georgia - 794 (38)Florida - 731 (12)Tennessee - 496 (2)Kentucky - 340 (1)Vanderbilt - 215(First-place votes in parentheses)SEC WEST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:Alabama - 925 (111)LSU - 790 (30)Arkansas - 717 (23)Mississippi State - 455 (1)Auburn - 406Ole Miss - 214 (2)SEC CHAMPION: Alabama (98), LSU (29), Arkansas (18), South Carolina (14), Georgia (4), Florida (2), Ole Miss (2)Read more South Carolina Football news on BleacherReport.com