SEC Power Poll - Week #13

We probably should have had this up yesterday or the day before, but hey it’s Thanksgiving, cut us some slack. Last weekend taught us that Auburn is better than Alabama and not much more really. Only one piece of movement this week. The games this weekend will settle once and for all if LSU is truly better than Arkansas, if South Carolina can finally get over the hump and beat a good football team, if Georgia’s performance against Auburn was a trend or a fluke, and if Mississippi or Mississippi State is the worst team in the SEC. So, this week, little movement, but next week expect a lot of movement.

Power Poll – Week 13

1. Florida (10-1, 7-1) – Question. What does the win over Western Carolina prove? About the same as the win over Florida State will prove. Last Game: Beat Western Carolina 62-0, Up Next: at Florida State.
   
2. LSU (9-2, 5-2) – Well, that was about what I expected. Mississippi was playing better and clearly LSU overlooked them. Now, stop the run, force Arkansas to beat you throwing the football and turn this puppy into a track meet. Last Game: Beat Mississippi 23-20, Up Next: at Arkansas.
   
3. Arkansas (10-1, 7-0) – Normally, one might say that facing the pressure that comes with possibly winning the SEC and heading to the national title game would cause a team to fold. But, who would you rather have to diffuse the pressure for you team than Houston Nutt? Do you honestly think Arkansas is even remotely tight? Last Game: Beat Mississippi State 28-14, Up Next: Louisiana State.
   
4. Auburn (10-2, 6-2) – Six SEC wins with a team that never got a week off isn’t too shabby. However, the season should have resulted in a trip to Atlanta. That’s the standard in Auburn now. Last Game: Beat Alabama 22-15, Up Next: Bowl Game.
   
5. Tennessee (8-3, 4-3) – A win over Kentucky will shore up a solid season for Tennessee. I think this is what the people in Knoxville wanted all along. Last Game: Beat Vanderbilt 39-10, Up Next: Kentucky.
   
6. South Carolina (6-5, 3-5) – A beatdown of Clemson will but a nice shine on a disappointing season. Of course, to do this the Gamecocks will have to beat a solid team. Not a great team, just a solid team. And they will have to do it on the road. We shall see? Last Game: Beat Middle Tennessee State 52-17, Up Next: at Clemson.
   
7. Kentucky (7-4, 4-3) – So, the big question is who deserves a bowl game more, Alabama or Kentucky. My guess is both. Who gets the SEC’s bowl spot? Well, that is a different question. A good performance in Knoxville will go a long way to help Kentucky’s cause. Last Game: Beat Louisiana-Monroe 42-40, Up Next: at Tennessee.
   
8. Alabama (6-6, 2-6) – The central question in my mind is if the administration is truly talking to people about the head coaching job. If so, Mike
   Shula should just go ahead and resign. Does anyone really think he can save his job next season? It would take eight to nine wins. Is that possible? Look at the schedule, I don’t think it is. Last Game: Lost to Auburn 22-15, Up Next: Bowl Game.
   
9. Georgia (7-4, 4-4) – A strong performance against Calvin Johnson and company in Athens this weekend might move them up in the W.W.B.S. poll. I know Mark Richt and company are counting on that. Last Game: Bye, Up Next: Georgia Tech.
   
10. Vanderbilt (4-6, 1-7) – It kind of fell apart for Vanderbilt at the end of the season. That is what happens when you play 12 straight weeks. Of course, playing Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee probably didn’t help. Last Game: Lost to Tennessee 39-10.
    
11. Mississippi State (3-8, 1-6) – Not a bad showing against Arkansas this past weekend. Honestly, winning the Egg Bowl won’t prove much. Except that the Bulldogs aren’t the worst team in the conference. Is the Croom experiment over? Probably not. One more year? Probably, but how do you measure improvement? A bowl game? A 0.500 season? That is the central question. Last Game: Lost to Arkansas 28-14, Up Next: at Mississippi.
    
12. Mississippi (3-8, 1-6) – The Rebels had a fairly decent game in Baton Rouge. Albeit against a team that was clearly overlooking them, but still. It was kind of disappointing the way that one ended. Will they have a little better luck this week? Last Game: Lost to Louisiana State 23-20, Up Next: Mississippi State.