SEC Power Rankings Week 3

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So, I know last week I said not to panic.

I take it back. Some of you should panic. (Looking at you South Carolina, Auburn, and Arkansas.) Some of you shouldn’t. (Looking at you Alabama and Missouri.) But, honestly, that could change pretty quickly. Coming off of a wild weekend, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of how the SEC is shaping up. On to the rankings!

14. Vanderbilt (Last Week – 14, Peak – 14) – Honestly, I was really close to moving you guys up to 13 this week with a win. But, come on, it was Austin Peay. That could be the only win of the season. I don’t see the offense improving in the next several weeks. Vandy plays at Ole Miss this week. Nothing can go wrong there.

13. South Carolina (Last Week – 13, Peak – 11) – Coming off of a 52-20 beating from Georgia, the Gamecocks look lost and have no identity. Looking at their schedule, a 4-win season is not only possible, it’s likely. I put Spurrier on the hot seat preseason. It looks like I might be right.

12. Arkansas (Last Week – 12, Peak – 6) – I just don’t know what to do with you anymore. I put you in timeout last week, then you went and lost to Texas Tech. A team that seemingly was well put together in week 1 has completely derailed. A neutral site showdown with Texas A&M should put the Razorbacks at 1-3.

11. Auburn (Last Week – 7, Peak – 3) – Another derailment for the SEC West. Auburn was demolished by LSU, and more specifically, Leonard Fournette. Jeremy Johnson continues to struggle with reading defenses and decision making. The addition of Will Muschamp has proved to be nothing extraordinary.

10. Kentucky (Last Week – 9, Peak – 9)– I was a little surprised to see the Wildcats drop a close one to Florida. Kentucky is still a talented team that could post a winning record and land a bowl bid. This week’s game against Missouri should be a good indicator of where both teams stand.

9. Missouri (Last Week – 6, Peak – 6) – If wins get any uglier, I haven’t seen it. 6-2 at halftime? Luckily for Mizzou, they have a defense that will keep them competitive. A brewing quarterback controversy could see veteran Maty Mauk lose the starting job.

8. Florida (Last Week – 11, Peak – 8) – A win at Kentucky is more impressive than it sounds. Sure it was close, but a young Gators squad needs some close conference game experience. Florida is still a bit of a question mark. We’ll learn a lot this weekend when they host a talented Tennessee.

7. Mississippi State (Last Week – 10, Peak – 7) – I know they have a conference loss, but I’m still ranking them a little higher. Why? Dak Prescott is the best quarterback in the SEC. The Bulldogs only loss came at the hands of LSU, which has proven to be a great ball club. I’m willing to bet State upsets an SEC West favorite this season. Maybe in the Egg Bowl. They should notch a win with Auburn this weekend.

6. Tennessee (Last Week – 8, Peak – 6) – This might be the only time a team moves up two places after beating Western Carolina. The Vols continue to showcase one of the best running back tandems in the country, but are haunted by depth and inexperience. I really think the best game this week will be the Vols’ trip to the Swamp. Florida has won the last 10 meetings. Can Butch Jones and company snap that streak?

5. Alabama (Last Week – 3, Peak – 1) – Nobody wins with a -5 turnover margin, not even Nick Saban. Alabama’s highly touted defense allowed 43 points, but 24 came off of turnovers alone. Derrick Henry still looks dominant, but the passing game is suffering. The quarterback situation is not improving, and is preventing any chemistry forming among the receiving corps. This could easily be a 9-3 team. UL-Monroe should provide a chance to begin righting the ship.

4. Georgia (Last Week – 4, Peak – 2) – Quietly dominating the competition, the Bulldogs are rolling right now. Georgia’s schedule is set up for them to be undefeated when the SEC Championship game arrives. Greyson Lambert is proving to be effective in keeping opposing defenses honest. The real test comes in two weeks, when Alabama comes to town.

3. Texas A&M (Last Week – 2, Peak – 2) – Right now, the Aggies look explosive and dominant. They continue to impress, but it’s about time they started conference play to see how they really stand. Starting this week, they have a four week gauntlet in the SEC West. In that line, they’ll get Mississippi State, Alabama, and Ole Miss in a row.

2. LSU (Last Week – 5, Peak – 2)– The Tigers dominated Auburn with the help of Leonard Fournette. Is there any doubt that he’s the best player in the country right now? He ran right through Will Muschamp’s defense and made it look easy. Now, the Tigers are set up for the most favorable schedule in the West. It’s entirely possible an undefeated LSU meets an undefeated Georgia for the SEC Championship. They could even be ranked one and two nationally.

1. Ole Miss (Last Week – 1, Peak – 1) – Was it really an upset? I warned you this was going to happen. Twice. Walking into Bryant-Denny and getting a win is a major accomplishment. Bigger accomplishment? High Freeze has beaten Nick Saban two years in a row. Chad Kelly continued his chemistry with the Rebels receivers and picked the Tide secondary apart. Robert Nkemdiche was the most impressive player on a very talented defense. You can claim Alabama’s turnovers lost the game, but Ole Miss made the most of them. The mark of a great team is capitalizing on your opponents’ mistakes. An Oct. 24 showdown with A&M should be the Rebels next big challenge.

Bill Griffin is the lead SEC contributor for the SoBros Network, and serves as our resident expert on the human anatomy, fixin’ stuff, and tomatoes. Follow him on Twitter @Winter_Griffin