Tide Rolls while Tigers, Hogs Roast: SEC Football Blog’s SEC 1-14
We admit it: We at the SEC Football Blog should have done more with our SEC Power Rankings (ie start in the first week), but there’s been very little on offer until now, and now we know a bit, we think we can provide some analysis to go with our picks.
The soundtrack for today’s picks is Brad Paisley’s ‘Old Alabama’, because right now, Nick Saban’s the new Bear Bryant.
1. Alabama (4-0): The Crimson Tide have rolled everyone they have played against. No team has looked this complete this early. Sure, there are big tests to come (read: LSU on the road on Nov. 3rd), but Nick Saban is the best coach in college football. His team looks up for every game, not just the biggies.
2. South Carolina (4-0): With Connor Shaw, Dylan Thompson performed. Now with Shaw back, USC really performed, wiping the floor with Mizzou. And the defense looked good, too. Look out Georgia and Florida.
3. Georgia (4-0): The Bulldogs most complete performance of the season came as they wiped the floor with Vanderbilt. The running game of Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley is downright frightening, and the Dawgs have got Ogletree and Rambo back soon – although Coach Richt hasn’t said that they’ll be back for Tennessee (although their bans are over).
4. Florida (4-0): Two big-time comebacks against Texas A&M and Tennessee – and the shut-out against Kentucky have convinced us that Florida’s running game is for real – and Jeff Driskel’s getting better week by week. Wil Muschamp has got this Gators team fired up! Anyone calling his teeth now, Gators fans?
5. LSU (4-0): Did LSU just fall asleep through their game with Auburn when they were 3 touchdown underdogs or did Auburn play out of its mind. Whatever happens, it’s not good. In fact, it’s ugly as hell. Things had better get cleared up for the Tigers before they visit UF on October 6th, or they have problems. And so does Les Miles, we can assure you.
6. Tennessee (3-1): Tennessee should have beaten Florida at Neyland. Their offense will pose plenty of problems to Georgia’s on Saturday. Tyler Bray’s a freaking good quarterback, and is looking like a first round QB every week behind a great offensive lines. His wide receivers still need to learn to receiver better. And we’ll see how much they miss Da’Rick Rogers down the stretch.
7. Mississippi State (4-0): Having seen a lot of Auburn this season, MSU’s win over Auburn said more about Auburn than it did about MSU. But Chad Bumphis is a great wide receiver, and he’s causin’ problems for every opponent. Alabama and LSU, be warned.
8. Texas A&M (3-1): The Aggies lost their first game in the SEC despite playing pretty well, and the student section at Kyle Field and all the fun and games that go into it instantly make them a great SEC destination, tailgate. Now all they need is a good team. This team will be good, we fill, just not this year.
9. Missouri (2-2): Mizzou has played two of its SEC East rivals…..and gone 0-2. And been blown out. Gary Pinkel’s got a problem at quarterback he needs to deal with (James Franklin with shoulder pain or Berkstresser?), and his new wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has been unimpressive (though it IS his rookie year).
10. Ole Miss (3-1): Ole Miss? 3-1! Miracles are happening at The Grove, people! Only 3 games to go for Ole Reb to go to a bowl game! Joking apart, Hugh Freeze is installing some belief in this side and it’s great to see. They might well be favorites against Arkansas and Auburn this year.
11. Vanderbilt (2-2): Granted, they’ve played two of their toughest opponents, but Vandy is 0-2 in the SEC, 0-2 in the East, and 0-2 in any love being given to James Franklin, despite his team’s fight against South Carolina when the blocking systems used against Mssrs Clowney and Taylor gave a ton of time for Jordan Rodgers to throw. Speaking of Rodgers, he’s had a pretty poor season thus far. This could get a lot worse before season’s end.
12. Auburn (1-3): This team is really, really poor. Sure, the ‘D’ played out of its collective mind against LSU, but that makes up for some poor performances up to then? And also, what on earth’s happening with the ‘O’? We can tell you: Kiehl Frazier’s really missing some guy called Michael Dyer….
13. Kentucky (1-3): Kentucky is a horror show. We get it. But they’ve had some bad luck (Maxwell Smith’s injury before the Florida game). But it’s still a horror show (the loss to Western Kentucky, anyone?). Still, they could be better than some teams in the SEC. We’re just not sure which ones. Oh, and will Joker Phillips be around for? We reckon he’s getting his pink slip at season’s end. Can John Calipari coach football too?
14. Arkansas (1-3): First of all the Razorbacks lose to Louisana Monroe. Then they get wiped out at home to Alabama 52-0. And to complete the embarrassment (of the SEC and most of all themselves!), they lose to Rutgers at home, despite Cobi Hamilton’s fine performance. The defense – ranking a hefty 110th in the nation – absolutely sucked. Some people saw it. We didn’t. We thought they’d be better than that. Goodbye, John L…….