What a great weekend of football. We definitely found out how good the teams that were at the top of the SEC really are. Going into Saturday there were three undefeated teams, and after Saturday Georgia is the last one standing. Once undefeated, Kentucky and Missouri, both suffered losses to ranked SEC foes on Saturday. With there only being one undefeated team left in the SEC after the first week of October, is the SEC beating each other up or is the conference not as good as it has been?
This weekend we got a good idea who the top teams in the conference are, and no surprise Georgia and Alabama are at the top of the conference yet again. Alabama and Georgia both control their own destinies in the SEC race at the midpoint of the season, however, a handful of teams are still in contention.
SEC Football Power Ranking After Week 6
14. Vanderbilt 2-5 (0-3)
AP Ranking: NR
Best Win: Hawaii 35-28
Next Week: #1 Georgia
The Vanderbilt losing streak continues on the road at the Swamp, however, the Commodores were competitive for most of the game. Bad news for Vandy is that No. 1 Georgia is coming to town on Saturday. Vanderbilt just needs to be competitive and not lose the team during this losing streak.
13. Mississippi State 3-3 (0-3)
AP Ranking: NR
Best Win: Arizona 31-24 (OT)
Next Week: BYE
I am going to be brutally honest, the Bulldogs have looked atrocious this season, with the exception of the loss at South Carolina. Mississippi State has not been able to put a good game together so far. The Bulldogs have been figuring things out offensively and have not quite yet put it together. Mississippi State picked up a much-needed win on Saturday as they won a battle with Western Michigan. To make things worse, the Bulldogs racked up injuries last week but they do have a bye week coming up.
12. Arkansas 2-4 (0-3)
AP Ranking: NR
Best Win: Kent State 28-6
Next Week: @ #11 Alabama
The Arkansas program is not in good shape after a terrible start to the season. The Razorbacks have been competitive in every game this season, but Arkansas fans do not want to hear that. Arkansas has had a rough start and played a tough schedule, but the problem is the schedule does not get any easier as the Hogs travel to Tuscaloosa this Saturday to take on No. 11 Alabama.
11. South Carolina 2-3 (1-2)
AP Ranking: NR
Best Win: Mississippi State 37-30
Next Week: Florida
The Gamecocks have played the toughest schedule in the country, so their record is very misleading. South Carolina is coming off a much-needed bye week, and Saturday is a huge game. Saturday is a must-win situation for the Gamecocks and a loss will be a huge hit to the program and all the momentum from a year ago. South Carolina really needs to avenge last year’s loss to Florida and get back to .500 on the season.
10. Auburn 3-2 (0-2)
AP Ranking: NR
Best Win: @ Cal 14-10
Next Week: @ #22 LSU
Auburn is coming off a bye week, and the last time we saw the Tigers play they put up a fight with No. 1 Georgia. Maybe Hugh Freeze and the Auburn staff figured things out in that game and will play that way for the rest of the season. If that is the case, do not be surprised if Auburn were to put up a fight in Baton Rouge this weekend.
9. Florida 4-2 (2-1)
AP Ranking: NR
Best Win: #11 Tennessee 29-16
Next Week: @ South Carolina
Florida picked up a much-needed bounce-back win on Saturday against Vanderbilt. The Gators needed to play well last week after that meltdown in Lexington, and with a trip to Columbia looming. Florida has struggled immensely on the road throughout Billy Napier’s time in Gainesville, and Saturday would be a huge win for the Gators program.
8. Kentucky 5-1 (2-1)
AP Poll: #24
Best Win: #22 Florida 33-14
Next Week: Missouri
Everybody knew that Kentucky needed a lot to go their way if they wanted to pull off an upset at No. 1 Georgia on Saturday, but the Wildcats did not even look competitive. Kentucky can not dwell over the Georgia game because the Wildcats have another big one this weekend. Kentucky needs a win this weekend if the Wildcats want to remain in the SEC East race.
7. Missouri 5-1 (1-1)
AP Ranking: NR
Best Win: #15 Kansas State 30-27
Next Week: @ #24 Kentucky
Missouri might have lost on Saturday, but this year’s Missouri team looks a lot different than in years past. This Missouri offense is legit and one of the best in the conference. The Tigers have a massive game on Saturday on the road at No. 24 Kentucky, and a win this weekend will really go a long way on how this season will go for Missouri.
6. LSU 4-2 (2-1)
AP Ranking: #22
Best Win: @ #21 Missouri 49-39
Next Week: Auburn
LSU is probably the most confusing team in the country. The Tigers have the best offense in the SEC, however, their defense is absolutely killing them. LSU has the talent to beat any team in the country, however, they have not been able to put a game together on both sides of the ball yet. With that being said, the Tigers found a way to win a game against an undefeated Missouri team on the road after trailing most of the game.
5. Texas A&M 4-2 (2-1)
AP Ranking: NR
Best Win: Auburn 27-20
Next Week: @ #19 Tennessee
The Aggies suffered a heartbreaking loss to No. 11 Alabama on Saturday. Texas A&M let one slip away, but I still think that the Aggies are easily a top-five team in the SEC. Texas A&M has a huge game on Saturday when they travel to Rocky Top to take on No. 19 Tennessee. I do not want to say that Saturday is a must-win for the Aggies, but if they lose Jimbo Fisher’s seat will get very hot very quickly.
4. Tennessee 4-1 (1-1)
AP Ranking: #19
Best Win: South Carolina 41-20
Next Week: Texas A&M
The Volunteers have flown under the radar since the loss in the Swamp, but the Vols have sneakily been one of the most balanced teams in the country so far this season. Tennessee is coming off their bye week, which could not have come at a better time. The Vols got some much-needed rest heading into this weekend’s matchup with Texas A&M, which is a massive game for both teams.
3. Ole Miss 5-1 (2-1)
AP Ranking: #13
Best Win: #13 LSU 55-49
Next Week: BYE
The Rebels have had their ups and downs so far, but they are still in the SEC West hunt as we are midway through the season. Ole Miss has picked up some huge wins this season, and Saturday was just as big. The Rebels have survived a gauntlet of a schedule so far this season and their bye week could not have come at a better time. Ole Miss needs to get as much rest as possible if they want to finish the season the way they started and compete for a shot at the SEC title.
2. Alabama 5-1 (3-0)
AP Ranking: #11
Best Win: #15 Ole Miss 24-10
Next Week: Arkansas
The Crimson Tide picked up a huge win in a very tough environment and took hold of the SEC West. Alabama proved to everyone that they are not going anywhere and that the Tide are still capable of winning championships. The Crimson Tide’s defense is elite and the offense is getting better week after week. Alabama started the season off slow but never ruled out a Nick Saban-coached team.
1. Georgia 6-0 (3-0)
AP Rankings: #1
Best Win: #20 Kentucky 51-13
Next Week: @ Vanderbilt
Georgia finally put a whole game together and proved to everyone that they are the No. 1 team in the country. The Bulldogs have been criticized all season for their slow starts and their question marks on offense against subpar opponents. Well, the Bulldogs answered everybody’s questions this weekend against undefeated Kentucky. I think it is safe to say that Georgia figured out any question marks they had. The Bulldogs proved to still be the team to beat in the SEC.
Week 7 Schedule:
Texas A&M @ #19 Tennessee, 3:30 CBS
Missouri @ #24 Kentucky, 7:30 SECN
Auburn @ #22 LSU, 7:00 ESPN
Florida @ South Carolina, 3:30 SECN
Arkansas @ #11 Alabama, 12:00 ESPN
#1 Georgia @ Vanderbilt, 12:00 CBS
Main Image: Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
