Every Tuesday, we rank the SEC and Big Ten teams in one power poll. The order of the SEC teams is based on the Week 13 SDS SEC Power Poll.
The weaker divisions of each conference present in some respects the most excitement this week. Minnesota and Wisconsin square off, winner take all in the Big Ten West. And Missouri hosts Arkansas in an intriguing SEC matchup, with the Tigers claiming the East Division if they win and Georgia claiming it if they lose.
Meanwhile, Alabama, Mississippi State and Ohio State must hold serve against rivals to ensure they’re still a major part of the playoff discussion heading into December.
The SEC claims seven of the top 10 teams in a combined power ranking featuring the two conferences, including the Razorbacks making their Top 10 debut.
PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
Will the committee value a potential Big Ten championship over a Mississippi State team that’s likely done until bowl season? We’re about to find out … assuming all three of these teams win this weekend. The Bulldogs have the toughest task with a road game against an angry Ole Miss bunch.
1. Alabama (10-1)
2. Mississippi State (10-1)
3. Ohio State (10-1)
CAN FINISH IN THE MONEY
What is it in horse racing? Win, place, show? That’s about what these teams are playing for — show. Three of these teams have a chance at a 10-win regular season, and Auburn has a shot to knock off the Crimson Tide in consecutive seasons. That’d be a huge coup for second-year coach Gus Malzahn.
4. Georgia (9-2)
5. Michigan State (9-2)
6. Auburn (8-3)
7. Missouri (9-2)
GREAT BUT FLAWED
The Rebels defense hasn’t appeared to live up to its Landshark billing in recent weeks, but part of that is because of how much pressure an ineffective offense puts on the unit every game, in addition to some bumps and bruises. Wisconsin has a dominating running game and a strong defense, but an embarrassing passing game. Arkansas is too one-dimensional, and LSU doesn’t have a quarterback, at least not one developed enough.
8. Ole Miss (8-3)
9. Wisconsin (9-2)
10. Arkansas (6-5)
11. LSU (7-4)
WINDOW DRESSING
Nebraska as the fifth-best team in the conference isn’t a bad look. Texas A&M as the ninth-best? Very good. The Golden Gophers still can win the weaker Big Ten division — in the discussion as the weakest division in the power five conferences — but mostly these teams provide ammo for the conferences to argue their depth.
12. Minnesota (8-3)
13. Nebraska (8-3)
14. Texas A&M (7-4)
NOT OUT TO FIRE THE COACH, BUT NOT CELEBRATING
Granted, beat Rutgers and Maryland should be pleased with 8-4 as an initial foray into Big Ten life. But the rest of these teams hope to do better on an annual basis. Still, all of these teams should go to a bowl with a chance to enter the offseason on a good note with better things ahead in 2015.
15. Maryland (7-4)
16. South Carolina (6-5)
17. Iowa (7-4)
18. Tennessee (5-6)
THE DEFINITION OF AVERAGE
The Wolverines should finish 5-7 and Florida should finish 6-5, but these teams are all right about .500. Oh, and they’re all Big Ten teams in this category behind the Gators. Not that it means anything. (OK, it totally does.)
19. Florida (6-4)
20. Northwestern (5-6)
21. Michigan (5-6)
22. Penn State (6-5)
23. Rutgers (6-5)
SHOULD BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Barring upset road wins at Louisville and Northwestern for the Wildcats and Fighting Illini, these teams won’t be going bowling this season. It’s hard to believe that Indiana could go winless in the Big Ten, yet have won on the road against the SEC East champion.
24. Kentucky (5-6)
25. Illinois (5-6)
26. Purdue (3-8)
27. Indiana (3-8)
ALONE AT THE BOTTOM
Not nearly the same as alone at the top. Vanderbilt was miserable at the beginning of the season, then looked like it bridged the gap from embarrassment to respectable/competitive in the middle of the season. Now the Commodores appear to have moved backward again. A blowout loss against Tennessee to end the season would be a bad look for Derek Mason’s first season as a head coach.
28. Vanderbilt (3-8)
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
