SEC Power Rankings after Week 12
Form held around the league in SEC Week 12. That can make things tricky in our weekly power rankings. There’s not a lot of easy answers once you escape the SEC’s top four teams—and the league’s bottom two would likely struggle in a good FCS league. Outside of that … well, here’s how we rank the league, after Week 12.
14. Vanderbilt (2-8, lost to Kentucky 38-14)
Arkansas lost to Kentucky in Lexington by four. Vandy got a 14-3 lead and then fell off the side of a cliff at home. Also, at this point, the Razorbacks have begun the hard work of resettling their culture. Vandy seems to be (for the moment) still in denial.
13. Arkansas (2-8, off this week)
It’s hard to say who really is worse between the Razorbacks and Vandy. The week off dulls our perception of Arkansas’s crappiness, so they move up a spot.
12. South Carolina (4-7, lost to Texas A&M 30-6)
South Carolina has apparently chosen to stand by its coaching man, but getting absolutely dominated by an A&M team that has been pretty ho-hum doesn’t help justify that choice.
11. Mississippi (4-7, lost to LSU 58-37)
This looked vaguely like last year’s Rebels squad, as they racked up 614 yards and 37 points — only to be outgained by 100 yards and to lose by three touchdowns. But hey, LSU can do that to just about anybody, so we’ll cut the Rebels a little slack.
10. Mississippi State (4-6, lost to Alabama 38-7)
The Bulldogs were almost certainly headed for a humiliating defeat before the injury to Tua Tagovailoa, which sent Bama into deep freeze mode. MSU was only outscored 3-0 for the remaining two quarters and change of the game.
9. Missouri (5-5, lost to Florida 23-6)
This game feels like the opposite of last year’s Missouri season when the Tigers caught fire midseason and made their season into something impressive. The Tigers just look punchless at this point, playing out the string. While they’ll win another game and (perhaps) go bowling, the momentum hasn’t remained.
8. Kentucky (5-5, beat Vanderbilt 38-14)
Yes, Vanderbilt is awful, but for a Kentucky team running a stripped-down, run-heavy offense, this is about as good as things can get. UK was a couple missed plays away from being the East’s surprise team for a second consecutive season.
7. Tennessee (5-5, off this week)
If the Vols finish 7-5, should Jeremy Pruitt get legitimate Coach of the Year consideration? After a 2-5 start, this seemed impossible.
6. Texas A&M (7-3, beat South Carolina 30-6)
The dilemma for the Aggies is that they’re clearly better than the teams below them, but also weaker than the teams above them. That’s why they didn’t jump Auburn.
5. Auburn (7-3, lost to Georgia 21-14)
The Auburn defense played well enough to win this game, but the offense didn’t answer the bell. That has happened way too much this season.
4. Florida (9-2, beat Missouri 23-6)
This was a convincing road win for the Gators, who have quietly played their way to a second consecutive impressive season with Dan Mullen.
3. Alabama (9-1, beat Mississippi State 38-7)
Not sure we’ve ever expressly moved a winning team down for injury, but a Tua-less Alabama isn’t demonstrably better than a Georgia team that’ll get a shot at LSU in Atlanta.
2. Georgia (9-1, beat Auburn 21-14)
This wasn’t a terribly adventurous or exciting performance, but Kirby has taken the Nick Saban playbook — win games like this by making as few potentially defining mistakes as possible. Beating LSU will require something a little bolder.
1. LSU (10-0, beat Mississippi 58-37)
Sure, they gave up a bunch of yards, but if you can’t stop the Tigers offense, all they have to do is give up one score fewer than they make. The Tigers have been the story of the season — and the league’s (and perhaps, the sport’s) best team.
Wasn’t terribly exciting? My God, you can’t breath easy about a game played in Jordan-Hare until your team is at home, in their beds, and the bus is parked.
I agree; toughest environment in the SEC. When they get momentum in that place it’s a madhouse.
I thought it was exciting enough that I missed LSU’s first TD waiting to see the end of it.
Saturday Down South is convinced LSU is invincible.
And considering LSU beat Auburn by a whopping three points in Baton Rouge while Georgia scraped by with a narrow seven-point win in Jordan-Hare, who can blame them?
Yeah. If LSU plays against Georgia the way they played against Auburn, there’s a slight chance they lose. But as long as we’re using the transitive property of power ranking, consider that LSU gained 508 yards against Auburn, while Georgia gained 251 yards against Auburn. LSU made some mistakes in that game and left a lot of points on the field. Are you willing to bet that LSU makes the same mistakes against Georgia? I can live with a few mistakes as long as they win. If LSU brings their A-game, Georgia won’t be able to keep up.
Well, after some math I realized that UGA beat Florida by a whopping 7 points while LSU scraped by with a narrow 14 point victory. So I guess by your logic that means LSU would therefore win by 3 over georgia???
Unless we can find another common opponent…
Did LSU play South Carolina??? I forget…
So.. if my Vols win these last two they have somehow made it to exactly where I thought they’d be before the season kicked off.. Definitely not remotely how I thought they’d get there though. Still embarrassed by those first couple losses, but proud that with so much going wrong the staff and players managed to turn an absolute joke in to something to build on.
Even though Vandy sucks, they have a SEC win and Arkansas doesn’t. You can’t justify the results from Kentucky as being a measuring stick.
Arkansas should be last having not won a SEC game. Their fans would probably agree. Go CATS!!!
Alabama is not going to make it to the playoffs. Ordinarily, I’d be overjoyed. In this case, it’s sad. I’ve criticized the decision to let Tua play, but only from a football perspective. If you held out players because they were susceptible to injury, you couldn’t field a team. The situation with Tua is different. He’s the team’s most valuable player by a mile, and he didn’t have to play against State. Now they probably lose to Auburn.
Hard to blame Saban for a 1st half injury…
Maybe next year, Sideshow Dan the Clown. You know, next year, when you lose 12 senior starters and replace them with all that 3-star talent you’ve recruited the last few years. Next year, when Third and Grantham uses the NFL to get another unearned pay raise (I mean, the dude was out-coached by James Coley who is likely going to be fired after this year).
Count it the third year in a row the blind squirrel found his nut, Sideshow Dan. Can’t wait to hear what unearned trash talk you have for us this coming Spring. We know you can’t help yourself. You’re your own worst enemy.
A Spurrier mouth with a Muschamp trophy case.
You do realize you barely beat a backup QB who hadn’t been a starter since middle school with their top 2 defensive linemen injured correct? One catch that wasn’t a catch and you would still be in the hole you were hiding in after USC, yes USC, spanked that butt. Lol
Yes chief, he’s aware. Just doesn’t care. I have no idea why you guys continue to feed this dumb troll. Move on bro.
Oh and enjoy another 2nd place trophy. Alabama mouth with a Vandy trophy case…that’s UGA.
After the first 2 games of the year, I’ve never been happier to see Tennessee at #7.
LSU vs Georgia should be an outstanding game!!! LSU does give up some plays on D,,, and Georgia’s D is really good!!! Ball control offense as well,,,, Hate it for Tua and the Tide,,, no one wants to see players injured and affects the team as it does with the tremendous player he is!!!!
And yes ,, actually at the BYU game and left about as dejected as a fan could be,,, fast forward to the 4th down goal line stop in Kentucky!!! Fantastic coaching and commitment by the players !!!! Proud and a lot of work to do,,, but can’t ever get upset with the hearts and effort from the Vols turnaround