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It wasnât unanimous, but it didnât miss by much.
Defending national champion Alabama took the top spot in the inaugural 247Sports Southeastern Conference Expertsâ Poll Power Rankings. The Crimson Tide, who open Saturday against Southern Cal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, received 13 of 15 possible first-place votes in a league-wide ballot. The Tideâs average ranking was a 1.14.
Up next was Les Milesâ LSU squad, which garnered the two other first-place votes and scored a 1.93 average placement. The Tigers battle Wisconsin Saturday at Lambeau Field.
In a twist, the rankings each week also will allow voters to tab a team on the rise and a team surging or one to watch out for on the recruiting trail with publication slated for each Monday morning.
The team listed on the most ballots as one on the rise was Tennessee, while Georgia was tabbed as the team to watch in recruiting. South Carolina was runner-up in that category; the Gamecocks have been heating up on the recruiting trail.
âThe Bulldogs are pulling off an impressive feat by being ranked inside the top five of the 247Sports Team Rankings despite only having 14 total commitments,â noted veteran recruiting analyst and LSU beat writer Shea Dixon.
Tennessee (3.07), Ole Miss (4.71), Florida (5.50) and Georgia (5.71) rounded out the top six teams. It was a split decision at seventh, with Arkansas and Texas A&M each averaging a 7.29 ranking. Auburn (8.64) and Mississippi State (10.07) rounded out the top 10.
âEverythingâs there for the taking (for Tennessee),â said Rusty Mansell, a longtime recruiting analyst for 247Sports and Dawgs247. âExperienced team, first time as heavy favorites in the East (under fourth-year coach Butch Jones). Must get over the Florida hump or it may go South; they should be able to end that streak this year and move on.â
Added Dixon of his listing Tennessee on the rise, âThe expectations are there for the Volunteers to run through the SEC East and land in Atlanta in December.â
Kentucky (11.64), Missouri (12.36), Vanderbilt (12.71) and South Carolina (12.98) rounded out the rankings. Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt all received multiple last-place votes.
âMost analysts have the Gamecocks finishing at the bottom of the SEC, but donât count out Will Muschamp from an upset or two along the way,â Dixon said. âGary Pinkelâs gone, and the Tigers are trying to rebound from a 2015 season where they finished last in the conference in total offense. It looks like a bumpy road ahead for a team thatâs got talent on defense, but doesnât have much experience back on offense.â
Voters in this weekâs initial 247Sports Experts Rankings were: John Whittle, Rusty Mansell, John Brice, JC Shurburtt, Jeff Tarpley, Charlie Potter, Otis Kirk, William Wilkerson, Kipp Adams, Sonny Shipp, Andrew Hutchinson, Brian Perroni, Paul Jones, Chris Fisher, Shea Dixon and Travis Reier.
247SPORTS PRESEASON RANKINGS
1.ALABAMA (12) 1.14
2.LSU (2) 1.93
3.TENNESSEE 3.07
4.OLE MISS 4.71
5.FLORIDA 5.50
6.GEORGIA 5.71
7.ARKANSAS 7.29
T-7.TEXAS A&M, 7.29
9.AUBURN 8.64
10.MISS. STATE 10.07
11.KENTUCKY 11.64
12.MISSOURI 12.36
13.VANDERBILT 12.71
14.SOUTH CAROLINA 12.93
Alabama Crimson Tide are No. 1, followed by LSU in the first-ever 247Sports SEC power poll
Defending national champion Alabama took the top spot in the inaugural 247Sports Southeastern Conference Expertsâ Poll Power Rankings. The Crimson Tide, who open Saturday against Southern Cal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, received 13 of 15 possible first-place votes in a league-wide ballot. The Tideâs average ranking was a 1.14.
Up next was Les Milesâ LSU squad, which garnered the two other first-place votes and scored a 1.93 average placement. The Tigers battle Wisconsin Saturday at Lambeau Field.
In a twist, the rankings each week also will allow voters to tab a team on the rise and a team surging or one to watch out for on the recruiting trail with publication slated for each Monday morning.
The team listed on the most ballots as one on the rise was Tennessee, while Georgia was tabbed as the team to watch in recruiting. South Carolina was runner-up in that category; the Gamecocks have been heating up on the recruiting trail.
âThe Bulldogs are pulling off an impressive feat by being ranked inside the top five of the 247Sports Team Rankings despite only having 14 total commitments,â noted veteran recruiting analyst and LSU beat writer Shea Dixon.
Tennessee (3.07), Ole Miss (4.71), Florida (5.50) and Georgia (5.71) rounded out the top six teams. It was a split decision at seventh, with Arkansas and Texas A&M each averaging a 7.29 ranking. Auburn (8.64) and Mississippi State (10.07) rounded out the top 10.
âEverythingâs there for the taking (for Tennessee),â said Rusty Mansell, a longtime recruiting analyst for 247Sports and Dawgs247. âExperienced team, first time as heavy favorites in the East (under fourth-year coach Butch Jones). Must get over the Florida hump or it may go South; they should be able to end that streak this year and move on.â
Added Dixon of his listing Tennessee on the rise, âThe expectations are there for the Volunteers to run through the SEC East and land in Atlanta in December.â
Kentucky (11.64), Missouri (12.36), Vanderbilt (12.71) and South Carolina (12.98) rounded out the rankings. Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt all received multiple last-place votes.
âMost analysts have the Gamecocks finishing at the bottom of the SEC, but donât count out Will Muschamp from an upset or two along the way,â Dixon said. âGary Pinkelâs gone, and the Tigers are trying to rebound from a 2015 season where they finished last in the conference in total offense. It looks like a bumpy road ahead for a team thatâs got talent on defense, but doesnât have much experience back on offense.â
Voters in this weekâs initial 247Sports Experts Rankings were: John Whittle, Rusty Mansell, John Brice, JC Shurburtt, Jeff Tarpley, Charlie Potter, Otis Kirk, William Wilkerson, Kipp Adams, Sonny Shipp, Andrew Hutchinson, Brian Perroni, Paul Jones, Chris Fisher, Shea Dixon and Travis Reier.
247SPORTS PRESEASON RANKINGS
1.ALABAMA (12) 1.14
2.LSU (2) 1.93
3.TENNESSEE 3.07
4.OLE MISS 4.71
5.FLORIDA 5.50
6.GEORGIA 5.71
7.ARKANSAS 7.29
T-7.TEXAS A&M, 7.29
9.AUBURN 8.64
10.MISS. STATE 10.07
11.KENTUCKY 11.64
12.MISSOURI 12.36
13.VANDERBILT 12.71
14.SOUTH CAROLINA 12.93
Alabama Crimson Tide are No. 1, followed by LSU in the first-ever 247Sports SEC power poll
