A couple of conference games shook up this week's SEC Power Rankings. Let's see how each SEC team ranks after week six:
T-14. Vanderbilt Commodores
Derek Mason's team was off this week and will travel to Columbia to battle South Carolina in a game that will decide the worst team in the conference.
T-14. South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks played a decent first half against LSU, but Leonard Fournette was able to flex his muscles in the second half. To South Carolina's credit, they at least ended his streak of games with over 200 yards rushing.
12. Missouri Tigers
The Tigers offense wasn't able to score anything than an early field goal against the Florida Gators. True freshman Drew Lock threw two picks, including one that went all the way for a pick six to seal the game. Missouri travels to Athens to play the Georgia Bulldogs this upcoming weekend.
11. Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks took a first half lead into Saturday's game on the road against Alabama. The Tide answered though, scoring 24 straight points and eventually earning the 27-14 win. The Hogs are off this upcoming weekend before hosting Auburn in their next conference contest.
10. Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats will kick off this week's SEC games against Auburn in a Thursday night matchup after being off this week. Kentucky's sitting nicely in the second spot in the East and will need a big win against the Tigers to remain there.
9. Auburn Tigers
Speaking of Auburn, the Tigers, like Kentucky, benefitted from a week off. Gus Malzahn's team is winless in the SEC, but I have a feeling that's going to change this Thursday.
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs whipped Troy this past weekend 45-17, scoring their 14 points in the first 36 seconds of the contest. Mississippi State continues non-conference play this weekend against Louisiana Tech at home, before continuing SEC play against Kentucky the next week. Dak Prescott has quietly amassed good numbers in the first six games, leading the team in passing and rushing.
7. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia has had a rough two weeks, and this week's game against Tennessee might be the team's low point for this season. The Bulldogs lost their stud running back Nick Chubb to an awful knee injury on their first play of scrimmage. Chubb will not return to the field this season. On top of losing Chubb, the Bulldogs squandered a 21 point lead that allowed Tennessee to claim their first victory against Georgia since 2009. The Bulldogs will try to get things back on track against Missouri in Athens this weekend.
6. Tennessee Volunteers
I'm sure plenty of Tennessee fans were on the verge of cutting the game off shortly after Georgia stripped the football from Jalen Hurd and took it a grand total of 96 yards to score the games first touchdown. Give it to Butch Jones and his team though, they kept fighting and playing hard, eventually having to reclaim the lead twice from the Bulldogs before it was all said and done. Josh Dobbs was accountable for five touchdowns in this ball game and is easily Tennessee's MVP. The Vols get to recharge this week while they are on a bye to prepare for a difficult matchup with Alabama in Tuscaloosa the next week.
5. Ole Miss Rebels
The Rebels dismantled New Mexico State as expected, but they actually turned the ball over three times in their 52-3 win. It's the first game that I recall a team actually winnning the turnover battle, yet still lose by over seven touchdowns. The Rebels continue their non-conference schedule this weekend when they face a tough Memphis team that will give them a more difficult matchup than New Mexico State.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama, like I said earlier, appeared to be a bit hungover after their astounding defeat of Georgia in week five. The Tide actually trailed in this week's ball game against Arkansas, before rattling off 24 unanswered points which allowed them to take a 27-14 victory in front of their home crowd. Perhaps Alabama was overlooking the Hogs due to their week seven matchup against a top 10 Texas A&M squad at Kyle Field. The Alabama/Texas A&M matchup will be the game of the week for week seven.
3. Florida Gators
The Gators keep winning, and right now they have the clear cut edge in the SEC East. Florida received some awful news today, however, as starting quarterback Will Grier will be suspended for a full calendar year for testing positive for PED use. The suspension comes the week of Florida traveling to Baton Rouge to take on the number six LSU Tigers in a huge conference game for both teams.
2. Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies have a chance to make a big move in the SEC West if they can beat Alabama at home. The Aggies host the Tide after their week six bye, and it will be interesting to see whether Texas A&M's explosive offense or Alabama's stingy defense will come out of this game victorious.
1. LSU Tigers
The Tigers proved to us again this week against South Carolina that until a team makes them throw the ball, they are just going to take the wins by rushing the football. Leonard Fournette went over 150 yards including a dazzling 87-yard touchdown run as his highlight of the week, which has become a weekly thing for the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. Barring injury or discipline issues, there's not much that can hold Fournette back from a trip to New York.
As always, thanks for reading. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @griffaldo!
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