WBN SEC Power Rankings: 9-9-12 Edition
By Wayne
Sep 1, 2012; Oxford, MS, USA; Ole Miss Rebels flag displayed prior to the game against the Central Arkansas Bears at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE
8. Ole Miss Rebels: (2-0, 0-0)- Granted this was against UTEP but Bo Wallace is showing everyone watching that he belongs in the SEC. After throwing for 3 TD’s while running for another. Using the big play (TD passes of 54 and 51 yards) and a stout SEC caliber D, the Rebels are beginning to jell which could spell trouble in the West. Hugh Freeze clearly has bottled lightening at QB and he is burning teams up with it so far. Look for this to continue. Next Game at Texas on Saturday September 15th at 9:15 PM Prior Rank: #12
9. Kentucky Wildcats: (1-1, 0-0)- Clearly the Wildcats are over their loss to UL last week. Maxwell Smith was on fire, going 30-39, 354 and 4 TD’s. Aaron Boyd finally found himself in the game and catching his first career TD. The Raymond Sanders led rushing attack was more than enough to command defensive attention to allow Smith to load and fire. Unfortunately the D line was manhandled by the Kent State O-Line so there is still great room for improvement. Save for a Martavius Neloms missile-esque tackle, there wasn’t much to write home about with the secondary, linebackers or D-Line. Next Game: vs.Western Kentucky, September 15th at 7:30 PM. Prior Rank: #14
10. Missouri Tigers (1-1, 0-1)- “Sheldon Richardson, I’d like you to meet ‘Grown Man Football'”-Aaron Murray. After Jarvis Jones ran rough shod over Mizzou with an INT and FF to spearhead the D in the Blowout win. One thing for sure is James Franklin and the Mizzou O just got manhandled by not the best defense in the SEC so if they hope to tread water, let alone compete, in the SEC, they’re gonna need to play Grown Man Offense. Next Game vs. Arizona State on Saturday September 15th at 7:00 PM
Prior Rank #8
11. Texas A&M Aggies: (0-1, 0-0)- Though this is the second week of the season, A&M’s first game was a formidable showing against a very puzzling Florida Gators squad. Up 17-10 at the half, the Aggies were shut out the second half because the D could pin their ears back and attack the run. Manziel is going to have to shape up the passing game or he’ll wish they’d never moved to the “Grown Man” league. Let’s chalk this loss up to first game kinks. Next Game: at Southern Methodist University on Saturday September 15th at 3:30 PM Prior Rank #7
12. Arkansas Razorbacks: (1-1, 0-0)- Clearly John L. Smith did not anticipate a game UL Monroe team; nor could he have anticipated that Tyler Wilson would go down. but both occurred and both cost them the game. Arkansas’ defense was atrocious, giving up 481 yards of total offense to Kolton Browning with 412 coming via the pass. Not many teams could have withstood those numbers but if suffice it to say that had Tyler Wilson not gone down, Arkansas likely doesn’t got for a FG in OT and at the least the game continues with more OT, so they don’t drop to the bottom of the list just yet. Next Game: vs. #1 Alabama on Saturday September 15th at 3:30 PM. Prior Rank #5
13. Vanderbilt Commodores: (0-2, 0-1)- The signs on life in 2011 are long gone. After back to back losses to South Carolina and an underrated Northwestern team, the Commodores are reeling. Jordan Rogers is a competent QB but could do nothing special to lead Vandy to victory and unless they develop a running game and better passing game, they’re going to be “moving on down…to the West Side.” I know that didn’t do George ANY justice but you could well be looking at the cellar dwellers of the East. Next Game: vs Presbyterian on Saturday September 15th at 12:30 PM. Prior Rank: #13
14. Auburn Tigers: (0-2, 0-1)- Oh how the mighty have fallen, and unless Cam Newton comes running out that tunnel, don’t look for things to improve. Kheil Frazier didn’t do himself any favors, nor the Tigers, with his 0 TD, 3 INT performance and the absence of Michael Dyer is crippling. On the feet of McCalebb’s 100 yd KO TD and Parkey’s FG came Auburn’s only points. This is either a reflection of Gene Chizik’s coaching acumen…or a reflection of Gene Chizik’s coaching acumen, but either way the Tigers are out of the cage and no one is scared. Next Game: vs. UL Monroe on Saturday September 15th at 12:21 PM. Prior Rank: #6