WBN SEC Power Rankings: Title Game Set in Stone edition
By Paul Jordan
SEC EAST
South Carolina 5-3 (7-3)
Florida 4-4 (6-4)
Georgia 3-5 (5-6)
Kentucky 2-5 (6-5)
Tennessee 1-5 (4-6)
Vanderbilt 1-6 (2-8)
SEC WEST
Auburn 7-0 (11-0)
LSU 5-1 (9-1)
Alabama 5-2 (8-2)
Arkansas 4-2 (8-2)
Mississippi State 3-3 (7-3)
Mississippi 1-5 (4-6)
BOWL WATCH
BOWL ELIGIBLE (8): Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky
STILL BOWL POSSIBLE (3): Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi
FINISHED (1): Vanderbilt
WBN SEC POWER RANKINGS:
1. (1) Auburn (11-0 – defeated Georgia 49-31): Even with all all the hoopla and drama surrounding him, Cameron Newton and his Tigers outscored the SEC’s second best offense by 18 points. Even with all the negative news surrounding this team, they do not seem to be rattled as most of their games have been close and Newton knows how to play under pressure. I’ve said before, I hate the Tiger defense, but really … who needs a D with this offense? UP NEXT: BYE WEEK
2. (2) LSU (9-1 – defeated Louisiana Monroe 51-0): It’s not pretty, but the Tigers deserve some love as the second best team in the SEC. Keep in mind, they did hold Auburn to just 24 points, and lost to them by just a TD. LSU is not flashy and they are not the sexy pick for a national title game, but if LSU can win out and get some national upsets along the way, Les may be playing for a BCS title without winning the SEC. Go figure. UP NEXT: vs Mississippi
3. (7) South Carolina (7-3 – defeated Florida 36-14): Can we get some love for the Ole Ball Coach, who has finally turned South Carolina around and has them in the SEC Title Game? Last night, South Carolina humbled the Gators in a way few teams do, and despite not having the best players in the SEC, they do have the best prepared players. And in case you missed it, Marcus Lattimore is a beast. UP NEXT: vs Troy
4. (3) Alabama (8-2 – defeated Mississippi State 30-10): Hard to believe that the Tide is not in the running for any titles whatsoever this season, and is even out of the BCS Bowl equation, but that is how it crumbles. I will still stake any best that Bama can beat any team at any time, but it has not worked out this year. Has to be a disappointing year for the Tide, but they remain an upper echelon SEC team. UP NEXT: vs Georgia State
5. (4) Arkansas (8-2 – defeated UTEP 58-21): Take back what I said about Georgia being the second best offense in the SEC. Over the last 5 games, Ryan Mallette and company have averaged 45.8 points a game and are currently on a four game winning streak. The Hogs have had a couple of hard luck losses and are good enough to play in a BCS bid, but will have to settle for less. UP NEXT: @ Mississippi State
6. (7) Mississippi State (7-3 – lost to Alabama 30-10): I know, I should be dropping the Bulldogs after getting blown out against Bama, but I really think they had to look better than Florida did last night … and they did beat Florida 10-7 head to head. So celebrate Bulldog fans. Your loss moved you ahead of a more inept team. UP NEXT: vs Arkansas
7. (6) Florida (6-4 – lost to South Carolina 36-14): Shadow. of. their. former. self. Now we know why Urbs really wanted to retire. UP NEXT: vs Appalachian State
8. (9) Kentucky (6-5 – defeated Vanderbilt 38-20): No doubt about it, these Wildcats can put points on the board. Giving up 20 points to Vanderbilt was unacceptable, but the Wildcats followed their trend of shutting the opponents down in the second half and are bowl eligible for the fifth season in a row — which is an all time best for Kentucky. UP NEXT: BYE WEEK
9. (8) Georgia (5-6 – lost to Auburn 49-31): What a frustrating season for the Bulldogs, whose early season was a disaster, then they fought themselves back into the thick of the SEC East title talk, but now have lost their last two SEC games and now must beat rival Georgia Tech to become bowl eligible. You wonder how much heat is on Mark Richt, but QB Aaron Murray is a true keeper. UP NEXT: BYE WEEK
10. (11) Tennessee (4-6 – defeated Mississippi 52-14) All hail the re-emergence of the Volunteers as freshman QB Tyler Bray has led a Tennessee defense that has put up 102 points the last two weeks. Plus the defense has allowed just 28 points. Keep in mind, the Vols are pounding on some pretty rancid teams, but Bray has the pumpkin orange followers dreaming of a bowl game. UP NEXT: @ Vanderbilt
11. (10) Mississippi (4-6 – lost to Tennessee 52-14): It speaks to the level of your
rancid-ness when you are a SEC team and your “biggest win” of the year was over Kentucky. How long will Joker and the Wildcats kick themselves for losing to this team? UP NEXT: @ LSU
12. (12) Vanderbilt (2-8 – lost to Kentucky 38-20) In Dante’s hell, there is a special section reserved for the Vanderbilt Commodores. At least they have something to play for next week if they can make the Vols miss the holiday bowls as well. UP NEXT: Tennessee
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