Hey guys! Week two has come and gone, which means Poppa Bear is back to guide you through the SEC Power Rankings. Last weekend, we saw the beginning of conference play, and we’re starting to see who could be the real deal, and who is in for a long season.
You know the drill kids. On to the Rankings!
1. Alabama – It wasn’t flashy, but it didn’t have to be. Alabama took care of business against Fresno State. Jalen Hurts was back to form, racking up the yards in the air and on the ground. The Tide always plays to their competition, so no surprises here. Expect more of the same when they host Colorado State on Saturday.
2. Georgia – What a statement from Kirby Smart, and more importantly, Jake Fromm (State Farm). The Bulldogs went into South Bend and came away with the win. Now, say what you want about Notre Dame, but Georgia solidified themselves as the leaders of the East. Jake Fromm (State Farm) might serve as a game manager, but he played the role well while the defense held up when needed. They host Samford Saturday in Athens.
3. LSU – Another Saturday, another beat down of an inferior opponent. LSU hammered Chattanooga with a balanced attack, showing new OC Matt Canada is dedicated to making all of the Tigers offense a threat. There wasn’t much to learn, but we’ll learn more this weekend. LSU travels to Mississippi State for the Tigers’ first taste of conference play.
4. South Carolina – Georgia might be the leader in the East, but South Carolina is establishing themselves as a legitimate contender. The Gamecocks exposed Missouri this weekend, shutting down the supposed passing threat. South Carolina hasn’t been excellent on offense or defense, but their special teams has really come through. They have the chance to continue their winning ways against Kentucky this weekend.
5. Vanderbilt – Yeah, that’s Vanderbilt at #5. I’m at peace with it. The Commodores are 2-0, and actually making a bit of noise in the SEC. Is an Alabama A&M win impressive? Not particularly. But the way the defense has played, combined with Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt is a bigger threat than anticipated. They host #19 Kansas State this weekend, where they are a 3 point underdog! If the Commodores come away with the win, they could end up being ranked in the Top 25….
6. Auburn – Auburn…..I JUST vouched for you. I took you and the points against Clemson. And how did you repay me? An awful offensive performance that ended with Jarrett Stidham being sacked ELEVEN times. Granted, Clemson has a solid defense, but Stidham looked lost even when he wasn’t running for his life. Gus Malzhan needs to get the offense back on track this weekend against Mercer.
7. Mississippi State – Another beatdown of an inferior opponent, the Bulldogs ran through Louisiana Tech. Two weeks in, we haven’t learned much other than Nick Fitzgerald is a pretty good QB. Other than that, I have no idea. Remember when I thought LA Tech could be a trap game? Let’s forget that. We’ll find out if the Bulldogs are for real when they host LSU on Saturday.
8. Tennessee – After a nail biter in week one, the Vols put a beating on Indiana State. Sure, it was an FCS opponent, but Tennessee needed a warm up to gain some confidence heading into week three. It was hard to learn anything we didn’t already know from week one: Kelly and Callaway are stars in the making. The defense will still need to toughen up, especially this weekend. It’s time for Florida/UT.
9. Ole Miss – Ole Miss is a tale of two teams: Shea Patterson and his receiving corps are a formidable attack. The defense is atrocious. After a game that was much closer than it should have been, the Rebels survived against UT Martin. Is the offense enough to keep Ole Miss competitive in the SEC? Only time will tell. They head to California for a cross conference battle Saturday.
10. Kentucky – Another SEC team that struggled against an inferior opponent, Kentucky is struggling to find any intensity on offense. There just seems to be no chemistry with the Wildcats. Kentucky will need to pull it together before Saturday. If they’re trailing in the third quarter to South Carolina, don’t count on a major rally.
11. Arkansas – The Arkansas offense never got going against TCU. The Horned Frogs dominated the Razorbacks, making Austin Allen look harmless. Bret Bielema is starting to feel the heat, and will need to right this ship after an embarrassing beatdown at home. An early bye week is a blessing.
12. Texas A&M – The struggles continue, but the Aggies managed a win against Nichols State. Kevin Sumlin has a ton of work to do to make the Aggies a threat in the West. After being outgained in the air by Nichols State (something I didn’t think I’d ever type) the Aggies are not impressing anyone. They host UL-Lafayette, and sure wins aren’t a given any longer.
13. Florida – Hurricane Irma canceled their game. I can’t move them because they didn’t play. We’ll talk after the Tennessee game.
14. Missouri – What happens when you play in the SEC without a defense? Missouri. Missouri is what happens.
Poppa Bear is the lead SEC contributor for the SoBros Network, and serves as our resident expert on the human anatomy, fixin’ stuff, and tomatoes. Follow on Twitter:@SoBroPoppaBear
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