Week 8 Power Rankings

The way things are going in college football this year, putting a team at the top of a set of rankings basically seals their fate as the next upset victim. Last weekend was no different as the #2 team in the SEC, South Carolina stunningly got knocked off at home by Vanderbilt. I think however, there should be some stability at the top as LSU is done with the difficult part of its schedule and shouldn't really have much trouble, outside of maybe Alabama, making it to Atlanta with only one loss.

Favorites

1. LSU (7-1, 4-1)
The Tigers were able to get through the tough part of their schedule (UF, @ UK, Auburn) only dropping one game and are now in position to not only win the SEC, but perhaps the national championship as well.

2. Florida (5-2, 3-2)
The east is a mess, with everybody having at least two losses and only Vandy having three. Despite this parity, there is a clear favorite as UF established themselves with a big win in Lexington.

Still Alive

3. Kentucky (6-2, 2-2)
A lot of things would need to break Kentucky's way to win the east, but there is little doubt in my mind they are the third or fourth best team in the SEC. Andre' Woodson is proving himself to be a Heisman contender with greatness every week.

4. Auburn (5-3, 3-2)
OK, so Auburn may have little to no shot to win the west and go to the SEC Championship game, but after beating Florida on the road and playing LSU tough in Baton Rouge, they are clearly a top 4 team in the SEC.

5. Alabama (6-2, 4-1)
After this weekends beat down of UT, Alabama has put itself in position to make things interesting in the west. Yes, their two toughest tests are still on the schedule, but they control their own destiny and Saban has an extra week to prepare for LSU, so you know he'll have something special lined up for them.

6. South Carolina (6-2, 3-2)
No, its not true losing at home to Vanderbilt automatically eliminates you from title contention. Despite this weekends loss, the Gamecocks control their own destiny and all of a sudden. that trip to Knoxville doesn't look so tough anymore.

7. Georgia (5-2, 3-2)
The Bulldogs are really not very good and have a very tough schedule, but if they can turn it around and win out they will likely represent the east in Atlanta.

Fighting for Bowl Eligibility

8. Arkansas (4-3, 1-3)
Arkansas has the worst SEC record of this next tier of teams, but they haven't been blown out and have blown somebody else out, which separates them from UT and Vandy.

9. Vanderbilt (4-3, 2-3)
The Commodores have a great chance to make a bowl for the first time in a quarter century, especially if they keep playing the way they have the past two weeks and like they played in early season losses to Alabama and Auburn.

10. Tennessee (4-3, 2-2)
I was completely wrong about UT, immediately after my entry about not counting them out, they get absolutely destroyed at Alabama. UT is lucky to have Louisiana Lafayette still on the schedule or six wins would be extremely difficult and even with the Ragin' Cajuns as an automatic W they may not get there.

Mississippi Schools

11. Mississippi St. (4-4, 1-3)
12. Mississippi (2-6, 0-5)
Whats the difference, they both stink, as once again the Egg Bowl will be a battle for last place.

Week 7 Power Rankings

Seven weeks into the season and it’s still impossible to figure out this crazy conference. Just when LSU appeared to be on its way to the title game, Andre Woodson and the Wildcats came out and reminded the folks in Lexington that basketball season doesn’t start for another month.

Coming up with the power rankings this week proved to be more challenging than usual, probably because teams have been so up and down. While the order may be up for debate, I think I’ve grouped the teams in the proper categories.

LSU remains No. 1 based on the fact that they were on the road and that they beat South Carolina, who rolled over the Wildcats. This weekend should be telling as Florida plays at Kentucky.

Two teams to watch out for are Tennessee and Auburn. Despite sluggish starts, both squads are playing well, and with just one conference loss apiece, remain in the hunt for the conference title.

I’m not as sold on Georgia and Alabama. The Crimson Tide were lucky to take down Ole Miss and the Bulldogs needed a Cassen Jackson-Garrison fumble late in the fourth quarter to beat a Vanderbilt team that got pounded by Auburn.

Perhaps the hardest part of the rankings was coming up with the order of the final four teams, all of which deserve to be last. Arkansas is winless in the SEC and despite playing at home with two stud running backs, couldn’t find the end zone against Auburn until the last minute. The Commodores bounced back in a big way against Georgia, but they still found a way to lose so it’s tough to give them too much credit. Meanwhile, Mississippi State got smacked by Tennessee and Ole Miss came up short against Bama.

Finally, onto the rankings…Disagree? Let us know.

CREAM OF THE CROP

1. LSU (6-1, 3-1)
In the craziest college football season I can remember, the Tigers still have a strong chance of playing in the national title game, which means they need to prepare themselves for a very good Auburn team this weekend.

2. South Carolina (6-1, 3-1)
Steve Spurrier has never lost to Vanderbilt. Things won’t change Saturday when the Commodores head to Columbia.

3. Kentucky (6-1, 2-1)
How ridiculous is it that Andre Woodson apparently checked off on half of the Wildcats’ plays against LSU?

4. Florida (4-2, 2-2)
There’s no doubt that the Gators’ make-or-break game comes this weekend in Lexington.

DARKHORSES

5. Tennessee (4-2, 2-1)
Don’t look now but the Vols have won three straight games.

6. Auburn (5-2, 3-1)
While their offensive performance against Arkansas was pitiful, the Tiger defense is pretty darn good. It should be a great one in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

HOT AND COLD

7. Georgia (5-2, 3-2)
Two things about Georgia: 1) Quarterback Matthew Stafford, much like the team itself, is hard to figure out. 2) Freshman running back Knowshon Moreno is going to be a stud.

8. Alabama (5-2, 3-1)
How much would you pay to see Saban and Orgeron go head-to-head in a steel cage match? I’d say at least a hundred.

BOTTOM FEEDERS

9. Arkansas (3-3, 0-3)
“We have to score more points,” said coach Houston Nutt. You think?

10. Vanderbilt (3-3, 1-2)
A few things about the Commodores: 1) Quarterback Mackenzi Adams give them the best chance to win. 2) CB/WR/KR D.J. Moore is a pleasure to watch. 3) Where are they going to get their sixth win?

11. Mississippi State (4-3, 1-3)
Sadly, a bowl game isn’t out of the question for the Bulldogs.

12. Ole Miss (2-5, 0-4)
For the record, my money would be on Coach O in the cage match.

Week 6 Power Rankings

After six weeks of football, LSU is the unquestioned class of the league. But, after that, it's anyone's guess. Disagree with the rankings? Let us know.

1. LSU (6-0, 3-0 SEC)
It took a lot of guts for coach Les Miles to keep his field-goal unit on the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the Gators.

2. South Carolina (5-1, 3-1)
Who would have ever guessed that freshman Chris Smelley would outplay Heisman hopeful Andre Woodson?

3. Florida (4-2, 2-2)
The Gators’ ability to run the football against LSU’s vaunted front four was very impressive.

4. Kentucky (5-1, 1-1)
After losing to South Carolina, the Wildcats’ reward? Home contests against LSU and Florida the next two weeks.

5. Tennessee (3-2, 1-1)
The Vols’ romp of Georgia caught everyone by surprise, but considering their only losses have come to Florida and California, maybe it shouldn’t have.

6. Auburn (4-2, 2-1)
How in the world did these guys lose to Mississippi State?

7. Georgia (4-2, 2-2)
If the Bulldogs lose to Vandy two years in a row…actually, never mind, have you seen the Dores play lately?

8. Alabama (4-2, 2-1)
It hasn’t taken the Crimson Tide faithful long to get under the Nicktator’s skin.

9. Arkansas (3-2, 0-2)
If the Razorbacks go 6-6, I wonder if Darren McFadden can still win the Heisman. Come back, Mitch Mustain.

10. Mississippi State (4-2, 1-2)
How in the world did these guys beat Auburn?

11. Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-2)
Nobody expected Chris Nickson to regress in year two as a starter, but that’s exactly what happened. Let’s give Adams a shot.

12. Ole Miss (2-4, 0-3)
I doubt Coach O wants a book written about this season.