1. Texas A&M (8-0,5-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1 (BYE)
This Week: @ Missouri
Bottom Line: Here A&M sits at 8-0. Can they prevent the crazy November losses that has plagued the program for years? I think so.
2. Alabama (7-1, 5-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2 (BYE)
This Week: vs. LSU
Bottom Line: It has been a long time since the Alabama/LSU game has this little buzz. The Tide controls it’s destiny the rest of the way.
3. Georgia (7-1,5-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 3 (W vs. Florida 24-20)
This Week: @ Mississippi State
Bottom Line: Another week and another late come from behind win for the Dawgs. They know how to win and that cannot be denied. They also have problems that are very evident.
4. Ole Miss (8-1,5-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 4 (W vs. South Carolina 30-14)
This Week: vs. The Citadel
Bottom Line: Dominant effort in Oxford for the Rebels last week. The schedule does not get more manageable down the stretch for anyone in the league.
5. Texas (7-2,4-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 8 (W vs. Vanderbilt, 34-31)
This Week: BYE
Bottom Line: The Horns very silently are right in the middle of everything and seem to be getting better week to week.
6. Oklahoma (7-2,3-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: 7 (W vs. Tennessee, 33-27)
This Week: BYE
Bottom Line: Right when everyone was jumping off the Sooner bandwagon they stepped into Neyland Stadium and knocked the Vols out of playoff contention. Things are not going to be easy down the stretch.
7. Vanderbilt (7-2,3-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: 7 (L @ Texas, 34-31)
This Week: vs. Auburn
Bottom Line: Too little, too late for Clark Lea and the Dores in Austin last week. Every game is a playoff game rest of the way out and the path is not terrible.
8. Tennessee (6-3,3-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 6 (L vs. Oklahoma, 33-27)
This Week: BYE
Bottom Line: Playoff hopes went bye-bye for the Vols under their home lights last Saturday night.
9. Missouri (6-2,2-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: 9 (BYE)
This Week: vs. Texas A&M
Bottom Line: Technically the Tigers control their own destiny, but it is a very tough road as they turn to 3rd string QB Matt Zollers due to injuries in front of him.
10. LSU (5-3,2-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 10 (BYE)
This Week: @ Alabama
Bottom Line: All eyes now turn to interim head coach, Frank Wilson. Will he be able to motivate an LSU team that is largely out of the hunt before the calendar flips over to November?
11. Florida (3-5,2-3)
Last Week’s Ranking: 12 (L vs. Georgia, 24-20)
This Week: @ Kentucky
Bottom Line: The Gators gave Georgia everything they wanted and then some. Was that the bottom of the tank for Florida?
12. Mississippi State (5-4, 1-4)
Last Week’s Ranking: 14 (W @ Arkansas 38-35)
This Week: vs. Georgia
Bottom Line: The Bulldogs snapped the lengthy SEC losing streak in dramatic fashion by controlling the 4th quarter in Fayetteville last week, which was something they had not been able to do all year beforehand.
13. South Carolina (3-6,1-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: 11 (L @ Ole Miss, 30-14)
This Week: BYE
Bottom Line: The post-season autopsy of the Gamecock program and exactly where and how this offense went wrong is going to be extremely interesting.
14. Kentucky (3-5, 1-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: 16 (W @ Auburn 10-3)
This Week: vs. Florida
Bottom Line: It was far from pretty, but Stoops and company marched into Auburn and officially forced out Hugh Freeze. The defense is always going to be good enough to cause opponents’ concern.
15. Auburn (4-5, 1-5)
Last Week’s Ranking: 13 (L vs. Kentucky, 10-3)
This Week: @ Vanderbilt
Bottom Line: There is just way too much talent on the offensive side of the ball to put 3 points on the board at home which is why Hugh Freeze is no longer employed. I would not be surprised at all to see the Tigers play more inspired down the stretch. The offense couldn’t be any worse anyway.
16. Arkansas (2-7,0-6)
Last Week’s Ranking: 15 (L vs. Mississippi State 38-35)
This Week: BYE
Bottom Line: The Hogs did what they do last week – had a huge day on offense and lost a one score game. Nearly 200 yards of penalties did not help either.
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