Look, I don’t know what’s happening in the SEC either. At this point we have a clear number one team in the power poll, although they’re almost there by default. Meanwhile, everyone else in the SEC seems to be rumbling, stumbling and bumbling, and figuring out how to rank everyone else at this point, before they’ve started playing against each other, is just plain confusing.
Here’s my best shot at it.
1. Georgia (last week: 2)
UGA is 2-0 and the only team in the country to have scored at least 40 in every game and not allow an opponent to score more than 7. Has UGA played against anyone good? Nope! But still, they’ve done what’s been asked of them. This week they play South Carolina, which should be a bit more of a test. (I’m flabbergasted that UGA is a four(!) touchdown favorite over SC. I think UGA wins, but that line terrifies me.)
2. Ole Miss (last week: 7)
2. Tennessee (last week: 3)
I thought about this for a few days and decided to split the difference. Tennessee has had two underwhelming performances, at least by their own lofty standards, but they are 2-0, so at least there’s that. Meanwhile, Ole Miss beat a ranked Tulane team on the road last week. And while Ole Miss ended up winning by 17, this game was tied going into the fourth quarter, and that with Tulane playing their backup QB. At least both Tennessee (at Florida) and Ole Miss (vs. Georgia Tech) have opponents this week who will present something of a test.
4. LSU (last week: 5)
The Tigers lit up poor Grambling last week, 72-10, as a way of bouncing back after their week one loss to FSU. We’ll see how they look against Miss State this week, I guess, but I still think they have the best QB in the conference and their accumulated talent will ultimately win out.
5. Alabama (last week: 1)
Do you think they should be fourth? I can see the argument, although against Texas the Tide looked so uneven and, worse, undisciplined. They had fewer points, fewer yards, less time of possession, more turnovers, and on top of that added 10 penalties for 90 yards. That rat poison seems like it might finally be getting to the Tide? (By the way, they play at Ole Miss next week – that should be a fun one.)
6. Arkansas (last week: 6)
The Razorbacks handled a bad Kent State team last week to move to 2-0, and even though they were without Rocket Sanders, Arkansas wasn’t exactly commanding in the win. I think when they’re healthy this is probably close to their ceiling in the SEC.
7. Texas A&M (last week: 4)
That loss at Miami was just brutal. Great, you scored 33 points on the road, but you let Miami score 48 points. TAMU was up 17-7 in the second, before things fell apart and Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke, who looks like a fullback, started carving them up. Can Bobby Petrino call plays on defense, too?
8. Auburn (last week: 8)
I know, the Tigers are 2-0, but that slim win at Cal last week didn’t inspire much confidence. Auburn’s two-headed quarterback duo completed a combined 10 passes…for the game! Meanwhile, Cal missed three field goals and had a made FG taken away after a penalty. (By the way, Cal kicker Michael Luckhurst is the son of longtime Atlanta Falcons kicker Mick Luckhurst.) Congrats on surviving, Auburn.
9. Mississippi State (last week 9)
Three weeks in a row at the 9 spot. Let’s see what happens this week against LSU.
10. South Carolina (last week: 11)
I find it hard to believe Carolina is four scores worse than UGA, but Vegas usually knows about this stuff. The Gamecocks gave up 21 at home to an FCS school last weekend. This week might be time for a Carson Beck statement game.
11. Kentucky (last week: 10)
The Wildcats squeezed one out last week against Eastern Kentucky. Let’s see if they can outlast Akron this week!
12. Missouri (last week: 12)
The Tigers managed to outlast MTSU, 23-19. That’s the same MTSU team that Alabama beat by 49 one week before. This week they host a 2-0 Kansas State team. Woof.
13. Vanderbilt (last week: 13)
The Commies got drubbed by Wake, 36-20, but have a shot at win number three on the season this week at UNLV.
14. Florida (last week: 12)
Florida got a big win last week over McNeese State, 49-7. Let’s see what they do this week against Tennessee. I don’t know if even moral victories will matter at this point.