Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist
A couple of things to note about the Power Poll. First, the West is starting to sort itself out. This was inevitable. But things are not quite sorted yet. The center of the College Football Universe, which has been placed in Mississippi by the national media, may move again. And while the legitimate 4.2 time in the 40-yard dash is rare, that is how fast those same national scribes and announcers will sprint away from last week's comments if (and very probably when) Ole Miss and Mississippi State lose this weekend.
Second, no one from the SEC East has beaten a team from the SEC West yet. Maybe Florida pulls it off this week against LSU. But until some East team actually does it, I am not ranking anyone in the East ahead of anyone in the West. (Last week's ranking in parentheses)
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE POWER RANKINGS
RANKLWTEAM
1
3
Auburn Tigers
Record: 5-0 (2-0)
The Tigers have performed best against the most solid schedule so far and they deserve the top place in the poll, although they will be docked hundreds of points if they actually take cowbells to Starkville.
2
4
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Record: 5-0 (2-0)
This isn't the first time that Mississippi State has a chance to take control of the SEC West, but it would be the first time that it has happened without Jackie Sherrill doing unspeakable things to a bull.
3
5
Ole Miss Rebels
Record: 5-0 (2-0)
Scientists across the globe will be watching to see if Ole Miss can nurse a hangover for an entire week. I think they get blown out in College Station, but it wouldn't be the first time I have been wrong about Ole Miss lately.
4
2
Alabama Crimson Tide
Record: 4-1 (1-1)
It's a huge weekend for the Crimson Tide unless they want to get blasted by their ex-quarterbacks again. Somewhere in Heaven, Dixie Howell is about to blast the special teams.
5
1
Texas A&M Aggies
Record: 5-1 (2-1)
The Aggies play better at home, which is a given since they couldn't play worse than they did at MSU.
6
7
Arkansas Razorbacks
Record: 3-1 (0-1)
Arkansas has instituted a Stripe-Out for this weekend's game. Tennessee does the same thing sometimes but there it just means "Mama, Daddy hopped the fence at the Work Farm again."
7
6
LSU Tigers
Record: 4-2 (0-2)
It isn't that LSU is bad. They have some problems at quarterback that are understandable. But where on Earth has their defense gone?
8
8[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524111.gif" >Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 3-1 (1-1)
The Bulldogs couldn't lose to Missouri, right? (Made from recycled material from "The Bulldogs couldn't lose to South Carolina, right?"
9
10
Missouri Tigers
Record: 4-1 (1-0)
The Tigers can seize control of the East for a second straight season on Saturday. First to admit I never saw it coming.
10
11
Florida Gators
Record: 3-1 (2-1)
A backup quarterback leads the Gators to a win at Tennessee and sparks new hope. Twenty-four hours later, he is suspended. I don't believe in jinxes but I wouldn't ride in the same vehicle as Will Muschamp for the length of a Wal-Mart parking lot.
11
12
Kentucky Wildcats
Record: 4-1 (2-1)
The Kentucky students rushed the field after beating South Carolina, but it ended in confusion when they could not find any nets to cut down.
12
9
Tennessee Volunteers
Record: 2-3 (0-1)
I wouldn't say that last week's bizarre loss to Florida derailed the Butch Jones Express entirely but it did cause some serious drinking in the bar car.
13
9[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524118.gif" South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 3-3 (2-3)
As Steve Spurrier pointed out this week, the Gamecocks could legitimately be 0-6 right now. So maybe 3-3 isn't all that bad, but it isn't better than 13th place.
14
14[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524120.gif" >Vanderbilt Commodores
Record: 1-5 (0-4)
The good news is, no matter how downtrodden Vandy is, their students won't get trampled in a celebration after they beat Charleston Southern. If they actually do beat Charleston Southern.
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1691355#sthash.zeedNo1P.dpuf
TideSports.com Columnist
A couple of things to note about the Power Poll. First, the West is starting to sort itself out. This was inevitable. But things are not quite sorted yet. The center of the College Football Universe, which has been placed in Mississippi by the national media, may move again. And while the legitimate 4.2 time in the 40-yard dash is rare, that is how fast those same national scribes and announcers will sprint away from last week's comments if (and very probably when) Ole Miss and Mississippi State lose this weekend.
Second, no one from the SEC East has beaten a team from the SEC West yet. Maybe Florida pulls it off this week against LSU. But until some East team actually does it, I am not ranking anyone in the East ahead of anyone in the West. (Last week's ranking in parentheses)
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE POWER RANKINGS
RANKLWTEAM
1
3
Record: 5-0 (2-0)
The Tigers have performed best against the most solid schedule so far and they deserve the top place in the poll, although they will be docked hundreds of points if they actually take cowbells to Starkville.
2
4
Record: 5-0 (2-0)
This isn't the first time that Mississippi State has a chance to take control of the SEC West, but it would be the first time that it has happened without Jackie Sherrill doing unspeakable things to a bull.
3
5
Record: 5-0 (2-0)
Scientists across the globe will be watching to see if Ole Miss can nurse a hangover for an entire week. I think they get blown out in College Station, but it wouldn't be the first time I have been wrong about Ole Miss lately.
4
2
Record: 4-1 (1-1)
It's a huge weekend for the Crimson Tide unless they want to get blasted by their ex-quarterbacks again. Somewhere in Heaven, Dixie Howell is about to blast the special teams.
5
1
Record: 5-1 (2-1)
The Aggies play better at home, which is a given since they couldn't play worse than they did at MSU.
6
7
Record: 3-1 (0-1)
Arkansas has instituted a Stripe-Out for this weekend's game. Tennessee does the same thing sometimes but there it just means "Mama, Daddy hopped the fence at the Work Farm again."
7
6
Record: 4-2 (0-2)
It isn't that LSU is bad. They have some problems at quarterback that are understandable. But where on Earth has their defense gone?
8
8[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524111.gif" >Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 3-1 (1-1)
The Bulldogs couldn't lose to Missouri, right? (Made from recycled material from "The Bulldogs couldn't lose to South Carolina, right?"
9
10
Record: 4-1 (1-0)
The Tigers can seize control of the East for a second straight season on Saturday. First to admit I never saw it coming.
10
11
Record: 3-1 (2-1)
A backup quarterback leads the Gators to a win at Tennessee and sparks new hope. Twenty-four hours later, he is suspended. I don't believe in jinxes but I wouldn't ride in the same vehicle as Will Muschamp for the length of a Wal-Mart parking lot.
11
12
Record: 4-1 (2-1)
The Kentucky students rushed the field after beating South Carolina, but it ended in confusion when they could not find any nets to cut down.
12
9
Record: 2-3 (0-1)
I wouldn't say that last week's bizarre loss to Florida derailed the Butch Jones Express entirely but it did cause some serious drinking in the bar car.
13
9[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524118.gif" South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 3-3 (2-3)
As Steve Spurrier pointed out this week, the Gamecocks could legitimately be 0-6 right now. So maybe 3-3 isn't all that bad, but it isn't better than 13th place.
14
14[img alt="" src="https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/885/524120.gif" >Vanderbilt Commodores
Record: 1-5 (0-4)
The good news is, no matter how downtrodden Vandy is, their students won't get trampled in a celebration after they beat Charleston Southern. If they actually do beat Charleston Southern.
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1691355#sthash.zeedNo1P.dpuf
