WBN SEC Football Power Rankings: 9/5 Edition
By Wayne
Each week James and I will collaborate to bring you the SEC Power Rankings. The rankings will be determined by this season’s merits, except for Texas A & M whose season opener was PPD due to the weather. Find out where the Wildcats rank among the best in the SEC.
1. #1 Alabama Crimson Tide: (1-0, 0-0)- What the Alabama defense did to Denard Robinson (11-26, 200-TD, INT; 10 rushes for 27 yds, TD) and the Michigan Wolverines was shameful. They dominated every facet of the game. Through the first eight carries by Michigan, they failed to produce nine total yards while Alabama averaged, AVERAGED 9 ypc. Nick Saban recruits running backs like John Calipari does point guard and Bama’s running game was the clear difference on Offense. T.J. Yeldon had 11 carries for 111 yds and a TD to lead the rushing attack that totaled 232 yds and 2 TD. McCarron did enough (11-21, 199; 2TD) but with a running game and Defense like that, he doesn’t need to dominate. Next Game: vs. Western Kentucky, on Saturday September 8th at 8:00 PM. Prior Rank: #1
2. #7 Georgia Bulldogs: (1-0, 0-0)- Rushing the ball was the difference in this game. This MEAC led rushing attack showed that the Georgia D was porous without Alec Ogeltree filling the gaps or Bacarri Rambo prowling the backfield. But Todd Gurley’s 8 rush, 100 yd., 2 TD performance made up for it. Aaron Murray showed he belongs in the conversation with the elite QB’s in the SEC after throwing for 258 yds and 3 TD. Once Rambo and Ogeltree are reinstated from suspension the D will have back what they need to show Missouri what real football feels like. Next Game: vs. Missouri, on Saturday September 8th at 3:39 PM. Prior Rank: #2
3. #3 LSU Tigers: (1-0, 0-0)- No surprise in the outcome of this game, even with the dismissal of Tyran Matthieu. Les Miles still has some work to do with QB Zach Mettenberger (19-26, 192 and a TD) if they have a chance to win the SEC East. But with the pair of stud running backs Kenny Hilliard (13-141, 2TD) and Alfred Blue (16-123), they will keep opposing Defenses honest. Once Mettenberger develops gets his sea legs and the timing down with Landry and Beckham (70yd PR), they’ll begin to roll. Next Game: vs. Washington on Saturday September 8th at 7:00 PM. Prior Rank: #3
4. #9 South Carolina Gamecocks: (1-0, 1-0)- The departure of Stephen Garcia allows Spurrier to focus on Connor Shaw and from what he showed against Vandy in their season opener on Thursday night (7/11, 67yds, 0 TD and 1 INT), there is much work left to do. Fortunately for Shaw he rushed for 92 yards though he played injured after suffering a deep shoulder bruise. The lone bright spot for Spurrier was having Marcus Lattimore back after last year’s devastating knee injury. He is a threat to every SEC defense, likely the nation’s top RB and a potential Heisman finalist. They must improve their passing game (67 yards, Third down efficiency (3-12 against Vandy) and Special Teams (0 Kickoff Return yards and 15 Punt Return yards). Jadeveon Clowney is poised for a big year and will hunt QB’s down like a rabid dog. The Gamecocks are already on the right track, winning a sloppy, and injury ridden game in Nashville against Vanderbilt. Next Game: vs. East Carolina on Saturday September 8th at 12:21 PM. Prior Rank: #4
5. #8 Arkansas Razorbacks: (1-0, 0-0)- After the Offensive outburst against Jacksonville State, it’s as if Bobby Petrino never left. With Tyler Wilson going 19-27 for a seasoning opening School Record 367 yds and 3TD, John L. Smith has a lot to be happy about in his Arkansas debut; the two fumbles in the first half not withstanding of course. Cragg (2TD), Mitchell and Herndon (TD) accounted for 232 yds receiving and 3TD’s. While Knile Davis is the featured back, four different RB’s scored a TD. Defenses will have a tough time defending the quad-headed attack. Next Game: vs. U-L Monroe on Saturday September 8th at 7:00 PM. Prior Rank: #6
6. Auburn Tigers: (0-1, 0-0)- Were it not for Cody Parkey’s leg (4 FG and 1XP) this game would have been a disaster. The 26-19 score is not indicative the play on the field and considering that Auburn’s D was atrocious, giving up an astounding 528 yards to Clemson (320yds rushing), the game was much closer than it should have been. Tre Mason is no Michael Dyer but the 106 yds at least kept Clemson looking at the holes. The lone Offensive bright spot was Kiehl Frazier’s 54 yd bomb to Emory Blake. It looks like they have the Offensive players to survive the West but they have enough holes in their D to sink the Titanic. Next Game: at Mississippi State University on Saturday September 8th at 12:00 PM. Prior Rank #5
7. Texas A&M: (7-6, 4-5 in 2011 in the Big 12)- Welcome to the SEC, Aggies. Texas A&M has a proud football tradition and a proud fan base. With that, they should right in with the other teams in the SEC. But this isn’t the big 12 where offense is king and defense is secondary (n0 pun intended). The Aggies could score last season, but the problem was that their defense allowed more points that their offense was putting up. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill left for the NFL and former head coach Mike Sherman was fired and now works as Tannehill’s offensive coordinator in Miami. This could be a rough first year in the SEC. Next Game: vs. #23 Florida Gators on Saturday September 8th at 3:30 PM. Prior Rank #7