Ok here is my mid season report on the state of the SEC. Now I am going to give a power ranking as I see it for the league plus a few little rewards. Again as I see them if you have any disagreements leave an intelligent comment and tell me why.
Power Rankings
1. Alabama - As mid-season has approached no other team in the SEC is playing better in all three facets of the game. Impressive wins over Virginia Tech, Arkansas, and Ole Miss have paved the way.
2. Florida - Haven't been as dominant on the offensive side of the ball as they were last year, but defense may be even more dominant than last years National Championship Team.
3. LSU - Despite setback against Florida the Bayou Bengals still have a chance to win the West. Must get better results from both offensive and defensive lines if they hope to knock Alabama off.
4. South Carolina - Impressive win over an over rated Ole Miss team has catapulted the Gamecocks to the 2nd best team in the East. Is it possible that a Spurrier coached team can be known for its defense. Big test in their next game in Tuscaloosa.
5. Auburn - Did anyone see this kind of offensive output coming for the Tigers after last season's abysmal attempt to run the spread. Halfway through the season they have as many wins and more points scored than last years team.
6. Arkansas - Impressive win over Auburn has Hogs ahead of perinnial East powers Georgia and Tennessee at this point of the season.
7. Tennessee - Physically dominated the Dogs last week. Who was that wearing the #8 Jersey. Already has a great running attack and a really good defense all they need the rest of the way is a passing attack that doesn't give the games away.
8. Ole Miss - Coach Nutt better figure out in a hurry what is wrong with Jevan Sneed. This team is going down fast and the schedule isn't getting any easier. Possibly the most over rated team in the country at the beginning of the season.
9. Georgia - The Dogs are barking for Coach Richt to fire his defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. After the beating the Vols put on them it is easy to see why.
10. Mississippi St. - Coach Dan Mullen has this team getting better and better with each game they play. Will upset somebody before the year is over.
11. Kentucky - Has any team played a tougher stretch of games the last three weeks? Wildcats have played better with each successive game. The rest of the schedule is favorable for the Wildcats to make another bowl appearance this year.
12. Vanderbilt - Anytime a team from the SEC loses to a service academy then that is cause for concern. Commedores shouldn't look for a 2nd consecutive bowl trip this year.
Biggest Surprise (Team) - Auburn Tigers - Most people critisized the school when they announced the hiring of Gene Chizik to replace the Riverboat Gambler Tommy Tuberville, but so far he has made AD Jay Jacobs look like a genius. That being said the easy part of the schedule is over so lets see how the team repsonds as the schedule heats up.
Biggest Surprise (Individual) Greg McElroy/Jevan Snead (tie)- These two are the biggest surprises for different reason. McElroy because he has been nothing but efficient in leading the Crimson Tide to an undefeated first half. Snead has been a huge surprise not because of anything positive. He has been a huge disappointment for the Rebels. Snead is completing less that half his passes and has as many interceptions as touchdowns.
Kayla Oberg
Hilary Rhoda.jpg)
College Superfans
SI's Pictures of the Week
Comments (9) Add A Comment
WB, I'd have to agree that Bama, to this point, has played better than the Gators. UF's offense is too one-dimensional and that's no secret around the league. D-coords will continue to crowd the box and dare TT to beat them with his arm. Only problem is, none of them will pull it off, at least until Atlanta.
By the end of the season, if no critical injuries strike, UF and Bama will make one helluva SECCG. I don't think LSU's O can get them the W against Bama, similar to their game with us. I believe the Gators, with their big-game experience and better overall D making the difference, would take the Tide on the neutral field.
GatorRobster
Houston, TX
Total Comments (3623)
Oh the power rankings I put out are just my personal opinion and are subject to change. I am thinking of doing my power rankings each week for the rest of the season. I was thinking of doing posistional rankings too, but I don't get to see all the teams play enough to make educated statements. I could do head coaches though.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4886)
The only difference I have on the first three is Florida over Alabama and I have the bottom three the exact same as you. The middle six you could just about put all the names in a hat and pull them out randomly. Given that it is very close I would have them like this:
4. Auburn
5. Mississippi
6. Georgia
7. S. Carolina
8. Arkansas
9. Tennessee
I am still drinking a bit of the pre-season koolaid and expecting that Snead will eventually get off his butt and start playing some ball. My power rankings are based on who I would expect to beat who on a neutral field and not on accomplishments from this season.
josephplumber
Tampa , FL
Total Comments (1388)
If this is a power ranking I don't know how you put Auburn over Arkansas after what the Pigs did to them last weekend.
OregonTideFan
Total Comments (64)
Easily, 1 good game doesn't make a half a season. Auburn has played 5 good games to 1 bad game. Arkansas only managed to put 7 points on the board vs Alabama, and let Georgia gouge them badly. It was pretty much a no-brainer.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4886)
The reason I put Alabama over Florida is they have been more impressive against stiffer compitition than the Gators have. They manhandled Virginia Tech in the season opener. The score of the game wasn't indicative of the beating Bama put on Tech. Tech couldn't even manage 200 yards of offense in the game. So they have beaten two preseason top 10 teams in VaTech and Ole Miss pretty soundly. They completely shut down Arkansas high powered offense.
Florida looked pretty shaky against LSU. Yeah that could partly be due to Tebow coming back from his concussion, but the other part is they have no passing game to speak of right now, and that won't get it done if they get to play Alabama. All power rankings are subject to change though.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4886)
I completely agree that Alabama has been more impressive that Florida so far this year. Many people would expect Alabama to beat Florida if they were to play right now, but I wouldn't and many others wouldn't as well. That's the only reason I would put Florida ahead in my power rankings..because I expect they would win a match up. I do rankings on accomplishments and power rankings strictly on power. It is certainly debatable as to which of those two teams is the most powerful.
I enjoy reading your blog about the power rankings. Keep it going every week if possible. I hope you don't mind me putting in my lists in comment form. I find it interesting to see how they compare. That jumble in the middle of the conference should start to sort itself out.
People say...how can you put one team over another.....well, they are all beating each other at one time or another so I don't know how you could do otherwise.
josephplumber
Tampa , FL
Total Comments (1388)
I'm not sure if you were addressing myself or WildBill. He addressed his reasoning quite well.
For myself, even though I saw what they did to Auburn last week, I would still expect Auburn to win on a neutral field, all other scheduling aspects being equal. As was discussed by several of us last week, Auburn was playing their second consecutive tough SEC road game, and was primed for a possible beat down.
josephplumber
Tampa , FL
Total Comments (1388)
I am going to try and keep this up jp, as well as, my weekly blog on Auburn. I appreciate your insight since it normally is well thought at and gives me something to think about.
wildbill21475
East, TN
Total Comments (4886)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.