Florida rises while Alabama still rules: SEC Week 7 Rankings
Chomp….Chomp….Chomp…..It’s the sound of the Florida Gators on the rise again. The Gators beat LSU in a classic CBS match-up on Saturday afternoon, and they are suddenly looking like they might compete for the East.
You know, if the buzzsaw of UGA and Alabama ever slows down….
- Alabama: Nick Saban’s not happy with the defense giving up 31 points to Arkansas. The bettors who bet Alabama would beat Arkansas by more than the spread aren’t happy with the defense giving up a last-second, doesn’t-matter touchdown. And the offense is still humming, people.
- Georgia: The Dawgs were slow to get going, but boy did they accelerate well in an easy win over Vanderbilt. The offense looked balance (238 through the air, 219 on the ground). The first complete performance in three weeks.
- Florida: Hugely impressive wins against the perhaps the biggest story in the SEC so far. The Swamp was LIT, the fanbase was as noisy as a night game, and Dan Mullen pulled off the biggest win of his young head coaching career. This may well set up for quite a game at the Cocktail Party.
- LSU: LSU will grouse about the fact that their offensive line was beaten up, giving absolutely no time for Joe Burrow to throw. On the final drive with Burrow needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to throw, Burrow throw two peaches that his wide receivers completely missed. Still, this is a pretty strong team.
- Texas A&M: There were a couple of jokes about how weird this season of college football was when A&M was celebrating an overtime win against Kentucky, but A&M’s defense was brilliant all day, giving Benny Snell just 60 yards (with a long of 11), and making Terry Wilson run for his life. Kellen Mond was a better QB of the two that day, and Jimbo seems to have something a-purring in College Station.
- Kentucky: First away game, first loss for the Wildcats. Although the defense is excellent (Josh Allen is Superman), the fact that UK didn’t have a drive inside Texas A&M’s half for the whole game was a little worrying. Stop Snell, stop the Cats.
- Mississippi State: I don’t know if this was a statement win for Joe Moorhead after beating a lacklustre Auburn, but it was certain Moorhead’s biggest since his arrival. Giving Nick Fitzgerald the ball and not letting him throw seems to be a positive move.
- Auburn: Defensively, Auburn’s fine, but offensively…..HOW BAD IS THIS TEAM DEAR LORD ABOVE. We expected an improvement after the hard-fought LSU game but it’s simply gotten worse and worse.
- South Carolina: They won a game in a second-half hurricane that they probably should have lost, thanks to Missouri’s awful secondary and a quarterback with an unpronounceable name. And got lucky on a TD that maybe touched the sideline but wasn’t exactly ‘conclusive evidence’.
- Missouri: There are problems all over this team, including NFL first-rounder Drew Lock. It’s not helping Lock that his receivers drop certain touchdowns and his defense is awful. This team looks destined to finish 6-6 when it could easily have been 8-4. What does this say about Barry Odom, kids? Things will get better this week, Missouri fans…..it’s Alabama weekend!
- Ole Miss: Finally, Ole Miss dropped a huge amounts of points, put up 800 yards, and looked a lot of fun. May this continue for the rest of the season….because the defense is bad still.
- Arkansas: ‘WE DROPPED 31 ON ALABAMA! WE’RE IMPROVING!’ – Arkansas fans. Suddenly the Ole Miss game is looking weirdly must-watch TV.
- Vanderbilt: The Dores started well and then got out-played by a better team.
- Tennessee: They didn’t lose this weekend….because they got the week off.