WBN SEC Football Power Rankings: 10/23 Edition
By Paul Jordan
1. LW – 1 #1 LSU (8-0, 5-0) (defeated #20 Auburn 45-10) To date, LSU has had five opponents that were ranked when they met. To date, LSU has beaten those teams 192-75 or an average of 38.4 – 15. Anyone really want to argue with LSU being the top team in the country? THIS WEEK: BYE WEEK
2. LW – 2 #2 Alabama (8-0, 5-0) (defeated Tennessee 37-6) Alabama has faced three ranked teams and beaten them by an average of 34.3 – 11.6. Alabama boasts the stingiest defense in the nation and if the BCS works out the way I hope, we should see two Alabama/LSU games this year. It’s only fitting that these teams have a bye week this week. It’s like the wait for the Super Bowl. THIS WEEK: BYE WEEK
3. LW – 3 #9 Arkansas (6-1, 2-1) (defeated Ole Miss 29-24) Every dog has it’s day and the Razorbacks almost got bit by the woeful Rebels. Although the score looks close, Arkansas blitzed the Rebels 22-0 after trailing 17-7 at half. And that is what a good team does. Come out with guns blazing after a subpar half. Arkansas will make the West race interesting until the end. THIS WEEK: 10/29 @ Vanderbilt
4. LW – 4 #14 South Carolina (6-1, 4-1) (BYE WEEK) Not much to say here. It will be interesting to see how polished the Gamecock offense is with the extra week of preparation for Connor Shaw. I’m not convinced that USC is a ranked team, but they have a half season to get him acclimated and have a very good chance to win the East again. THIS WEEK: 10/29 @ Tennessee
5. LW – 6 #22 Georgia (5-2, 4-1) (BYE WEEK) Mark Richt’s crew has gone from “season on the brink” bad to new SEC East darling. That is what 5 straight wins will do in a bad SEC East. I love Aaron Murray, and think that the Bulldogs are the team to beat in the East. THIS WEEK: 10/29 vs Florida in Jacksonville
6. LW – 5 Auburn (5-3, 3-2) (lost to #1 LSU 45-10) They are who we thought they were. You do have to hand it to Auburn actually. I had them pegged for 2-6 or 3-5 at this point, but defending national champs still have found a way to be in most games. Except against LSU. No one hangs with LSU. THIS WEEK: 10/29 @ Ole Miss
7. LW – 7 Florida (4-3, 2-3) (BYE WEEK) Hopefully for the Gators Jeff Brantley will return at QB. I really don’t think UF is quite as bad as they have shown this year, but it all goes out the window when your QB goes down. The game this week is a real reversal of fortunes game. THIS WEEK: vs #22 Georgia @ Jacksonville
8. LW – 8 Vanderbilt (4-3, 1-3) (defeated Army 44-21) Break up the Commodores! Seriously, I love the fire that head coach James Franklin has brought to the ‘Dores. The offense may be bad, but they boast the 33rd stingiest in the country. It gets tough from here on out, but Vandy has a shot to go bowling. THIS WEEK: vs #9 Arkansas
9. LW – 9. Mississippi State (3-4, 0-4) (BYE WEEK) Nothing to see here, move on. THIS WEEK: 10/29 @ Kentucky
10. LW – 10 Tennessee (3-4, 0-4) (lost to #2 Alabama 37-6) Some preseason publications had the Vols as the most improved team in the country. Guess what? They are not. Losing 75-13 to LSU and Alabama will kill any delusions Vols fans had in the preseason. THIS WEEK: vs #14 South Carolina
11. LW – 11 Kentucky (3-4, 0-3) (defeated Jacksonville State 38-14) Good win for the Wildcats, but in reality, it was still against a FCS team. Kentucky showed a lot of things this week that I am happy about and a win is a win …. but Kentucky needs to prove they can win in the SEC. THIS WEEK: 10/29 vs Mississippi State
12. LW – 12 Mississippi (2-5, 0-4) I know they came close against Arkansas, but coming close means nothing. I’m a Kentucky fan, trust me. If coming close meant anything, it would be a different environment in Lexington. Fact is, Rebels are putrid. THIS WEEK: 10/29 @ Auburn
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