The SEC power rankings are brought to you by the Letter N – NFC, NLCS, and iN marrital bliss. Yeah, Paul is watching the Bucs and Saints today in Tampa, James is off in Chicago with the wifey and thus you’re getting me after a trip to St Louis to watch the Cardinals in game 5 Friday.
1. (LW 1) #1 LSU (7-0, 4-0) ) (Defeated Tennessee 38-7)- Let’s be honest, LSU destroyed UT. Here’s what you really want to read: LSU is unstoppable force, Alabama is in immovable object. The November 5th match up is all anyone is talking about. The only thing I’m going to say is that while some 4th of July fireworks were saved for November, there’s still one week to go and that one week isn’t another cupcake from the East, it’s #24 Auburn. Auburn has scratched and clawed themselves to 5 wins. If LSU overlooks the other tigers, there will be a lot of lost mojo and ratings for Alabama. This week 10/22 vs #24 Auburn
2. (LW 2) #2 Alabama (7-0, 4-0) (Defeated Ole Miss 52-7)- Last week AJ McCarron threw for 4 touchdowns, this week Trent Richardson ran for 4 (and 183 yards on 17 carries). They’ve outscored their opponents 86-7 in the last two weeks and personally I think they’re the team to beat in the country, but I’m towing the company line and sticking them in the same spot as last week. D wins games and this D is A-mazing. Should be another soft match up this week against Tennessee allowing them to rest their starters a little before facing LSU. This week 10/22 vs Tennessee
3. (LW 3) #10 Arkansas (5-1, 1-1) (Bye)- Seriously, Arkansas would be a National Championship caliber team if they played in the Big 12, Big East, or Big 10. Their biggest weakness is that they play in the SEC and the SEC West. They were on bye this week and look to pad some stats next week when they travel to Ole Miss. This week 10/22 @ Ole Miss
4. (LW 4) #15 South Carolina (6-1, 3-1) (Defeated Ms St 14-12) – SEC leading rusher Marcus Lattimore would be the workhorse and freshman Connor Shaw would simply be at the reins this week after senior QB Steven Garcia was dismissed for continued violation of team rules and off the field issues. Knowing this, State focused on Lattimore and kept him to 17 carries and 39 yards. Still, the fighting Steve Spurriers found themselves only trailing 10-7 in the 4th when Connor Shaw had his horse had horse come up lame. Marcus Lattimore left the game with a knee injury and would return only to the sideline and on crutches. Shaw took charge and his 4 yard floater to the 6’4 Alshon Jeffery would put the Cocks up and find them with the eventual 14-12 W. This Week 10/22 Bye
5. (LW 6) #24 Auburn (5-2, 3-1) (Defeated Florida 17-6)- Florida only put up 194 yards of offense and two meager field goals. Auburn fared just barely better with 123 yards passing and 155 yards rushing but a good team finds a way to win and Auburn found theirs on Defense and special teams. Gene Chizik’s squad was the recipient of 3 turnovers, 2 muffed punts, and one ugly win this week against the Gators. – This week 10/22 vs #1 LSU
6. (LW 5) Georgia (5-2, 4-1) (Defeated Vanderbilt 33-28) – Winners of five straight, the Dawgs were not barking nearly as loud for Mark Richt’s firing before this game. However, it would take a career day by QB Aaron Murray to hold of a late push from Vandy. Murray threw for a career high 326 yards and 3 touchdowns but only found his team up 5 with 7 seconds to go. A Vandy punt block and recovery at the Georgia 20 gave the Commodores one chance to find their first W at home against Georgia since 1991. A Vandy penalty and one overthrown pass later and the chance was squandered. This week 10/22 Bye
7. (LW 7) Florida (4-3, 2-3) (Lost to Auburn 17-6)- The days of Urban Meyer seem like decades ago in Gainesville. Florida dropped their third straight game and only managed 194 yards against the last ranked SEC defense of Auburn. Sure, they had to turn to three different QBs but so did Auburn. Besides, muffed punts can’t be excused by QB tenure. This week 10/22 Bye
8. (LW 8) Vanderbilt (3-3, 1-3) (Lost to Georgia – 33-28)– The ‘Dores were down 20-7 at the end of the half but managed to put up themselves in a position to win at the end of the game. This team shows heart and had they connected on that pass, they would still be in contention for a SEC East crown. Yes – the SEC East is that bad this year. This week 10/22 vs Army
9. (LW 10) Mississippi State (3-4, 0-4) (Lost to #15 South Caroline 14-12)- I like yogurt. Dannon’s makes a Fruit on the Bottom and that is the best part of the cup. Well, if the SEC was a cup of yogurt – the fruit on the bottom is definitely the worst part no fan wants any part of. Mississippi State is where you get to the fruit and it just gets fruitier from this spot on. State’s defense held SC the first 3 quarters but its 4 quarters in football. When you put the brakes on a car, the driver sits in neutral. When you knockout Lattimore you can’t let the permit driver coast downhill to a W. This Week 10/22 Bye
10. (LW 9) Tennessee (3-3, 0-3) (Lost to #1 LSU 38-7)- I believe in recycling and this Tennesee team is trash – so recycling last week, here is your Vol info since it still applies. The Vols are batting .000 in the SEC. Their defense isn’t very good and their offense looked dreadful against a visiting Georgia team. Tyler Bray looked great against teams like Montana, Cincy and Buffalo, but has struggled against the two three SEC defenses he has faced. Don’t look for him to improve against his next opponent. This week 10/22 vs. #2 Alabama
11. (LW 12) Kentucky (2-4, 0-3) (Bye)- A good coach has to motivate his team when they’re the lowest and this team is at their lowest. Joker’s had a week to get the team motivated and their on the downhill side of their schedule. They have their last non-SEC game this week when they face the OVC’s Jacksonville State, but they could find themselves on the L side of that game. Joker’s neck is on the line though and I look for the Cats to rally. This week 10/22 vs Jacksonville State
12. (LW 11) Ole Miss (2-4, 0-3) (Lost to #2 Alabama 52-7)- BOOM – POW – KAZAAM – POOF – SMASH – LOSS… it was Alabama vs Ole Miss and made an when viewed on TV, people mistook it for reruns of Batman’s TV show…This week 10/22 vs. #10 Arkansas
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