Listen. I have bad news. We’re over halfway through with the college football season.
What? That can’t be right.
Well, guess what – this is the week seven SEC Power Rankings. SEVEN WEEKS! It seems like we just started, but here we are. Time flies when you’re having fun.
Speaking of fun, wasn’t that a solid weekend of football? We’re hitting that streak of conference games that will shape our picture of Atlanta. We get three top 25 SEC games this weekend, so there’s no shortage of intrigue. Before we head into those games, let’s have a look at where everyone stands. On to the rankings!
1. Alabama – Wow. The Third Saturday in October was the most lopsided affair in recent memory. The Tide looked dominant across the board, and continues to rack up non-offensive touchdowns. Jalen Hurts adds a new element to the offense, and put the nation on notice Saturday. They’ll need to stay focused to finish out strong. Alabama welcome Texas A&M this weekend for Gameday and a top-6 showdown.
2. Texas A&M – Speak of the devil. The Aggies just finished a bye week, hoping to heal a few injuries. A&M heads to Tuscaloosa this weekend. (Side note. They are 19-point underdogs in some books. NINE. TEEN. That’s the #6 team in the country. Unbelievable)
3. Arkansas – Well, welcome back Arkansas. That, my friends, is how you bounce back. After a home loss to Alabama, the Hogs upset Ole Miss in a fantastic game. Arkansas is a solid team, whose two losses seem more reasonable now. A big test waits this weekend at Auburn. Your guess is as good as mine, folks.
4. Auburn – Hey guys, remember when I said last week that Auburn is kind of good? Well, they didn’t play this week, so that’s still true. They host Arkansas in a really interesting game this weekend.
5. Tennessee – Listen, there’s no shame in what happened this weekend. Was it rough? Yes, yes it was. Remember though, Tennessee is so injured that they’re playing guys from the stands. Probably. Anyway, the Vols finish the season with five favorable games, and could easily end up in Atlanta for a rematch with the Tide. Tennessee gets a MUCH-needed bye week.
6. LSU – Is this the same team that lost to Wisconsin and Auburn? Ed Orgeron seems to have the Tigers playing at a much higher intensity lately. The run game is one of the best in the nation, and that’s without Leonard Fournette. After a solid beating of Southern Miss, LSU hosts Ole Miss for a top-25 showdown. The Tigers need a win to stay in the hunt for the West.
7. Florida – And just like that, Florida is the leader in the East. Leaning on their stout defense, the Gators offense manages to rack up points Missouri. Impressive? Not particularly, but it’s good enough for the SEC East. West games against Arkansas and LSU are the last big tests for the Gators. They head into a bye week.
8. Ole Miss – Large drop? Sure. Are they bad? Not really. But Ole Miss is 3-3, so they have to drop. This could very well be the best 3-3 team in the country (since they’re the only ranked 3-3 team, I’ll assume they are.) A loss against LSU this weekend will start the questions about Hugh Freeze.
9. Kentucky – The Wildcats are tied for second in the SEC East. Second. You could probably win a few bar bets with that knowledge. You’re welcome. They host Mississippi State while chasing bowl eligibility.
10. Vanderbilt – Ten? Drink it in Vandy. I’m mostly putting you here for Zach Cunningham. And you guys upset Georgia. In Athens. On Homecoming. The Commodores have a solid defense, but the offense needs to just abandon the pass completely. Grind out the run, stifle them with the defense. They host Tennessee State this weekend.
11. Georgia – Ouch. Enjoy your bye week Bulldogs.
12. Mississippi State – An overtime loss at BYU has Dan Mullen visibly frustrated. With one conference win, the Bulldogs are a non-threat in the SEC West. Mississippi State will also more than likely miss being bowl eligible. At least Dak is doing well?
13. Missouri – The Swamp wasn’t kind to the Tigers. It’s difficult to understand this team, but they fail to look impressive against any kind of quality opponent. The Tigers could reach bowl eligibility with wins over Vanderbilt, Kentucky, South Carolina, and MTSU. But those aren’t guaranteed wins. They welcome MTSU this weekend.
14. South Carolina – You fell to the basement during a bye week. That’s not your fault. Beware the UMass Minutemen.
Have a good weekend folks. Poppa Bear loves you.
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
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