At this point, we’ve seen enough to know what’s what. There are three really good teams, two good teams, and then everyone else. There’s no sugar coating that this has been a disappointing year for the SEC. On the plus side, a lot of these teams have nowhere to go but up!
Anyway, let’s get to the rankings…
1. Georgia (last week: 1)
I’ve watched the Dawgs this year and tried to maintain a healthy degree of skepticism, not wanting to give them extra credit for the team they were the last two seasons. I don’t think this year’s team is quite as good as those teams, but they are still really, really good, maybe even good enough to three-peat. But first, they have to win in Knoxville this weekend.
2. Alabama (last week: 2)
Including last week’s blowout against Kentucky, the Tide have now won 8 in a row, which is likely good enough to land them in the Final Four should the Dawgs falter somewhere along the way.
3. Missouri (last week: 5)
You guys know I’ve been big on Missouri all season, and their dominant win over Tennessee, 36-7, is enough to bump them back into the three spot (and ninth in the playoff race). They close with Florida and then Arkansas, and a great chance to finish the season 10-2.
4. Ole Miss (last week: 3)
4. LSU (last week: 4)
They’re both 5-2 in the SEC, with occasionally potent offenses and equally bad defenses. So let’s leave them here together.
6. Texas A&M (last week: 7)
I guess we put TAMU here? I mean, they did beat an SEC team (well, it was Miss. St) last week, 51-10, to move to 4-3 in the SEC and 6-4 overall. Then again, they’re also paying their coach $70 million to leave. They close with Abilene Christian and LSU, and I’m rooting for them to finish 8-4. Without Jimbo.
7. Tennessee (last week: 6)
They got stomped by Mizzou last week, giving up 205 yards to their running back, Schrader. After last season’s promising campaign, I don’t think anyone picked the Vols to be 3-3 in the SEC at this point. Good luck against UGA this week.
8. Auburn (last week: 10)
I don’t think the Tigers are very good, but they had a great showing against Arkansas last weekend, winning 48-10. They still can’t pass the ball—they had 10 completions for the game—but considering every team remaining in this poll is under .500 in the SEC, we might as well reward small victories.
9. Kentucky (last week: 8)
Let’s see if they can muster any urgency this week against South Carolina.
10. Florida (last week: 9)
They’ve lost three straight and have Mizzou and then FSU to finish out the schedule. Pretty good chance they finish 5-7 and not bowl eligible. Which probably wouldn’t be great for Billy Napier?
11. South Carolina (last week: 12)
They’ve won two in a row! And this time, they finally handled a weaker opponent with no drama. I’m curious to find out if they’re able to replicate last season’s late push this week at home against Kentucky.
12. Arkansas (last week: 11)
I did not have a “Polar Express halftime incident” on my Arkansas bingo card for this season.
13. Mississippi State (last week: 13)
Bring back Dan Mullen!
14. Vanderbilt (last week: 14)
Lost nine straight.