Halloween is over, college football is two months in and the Southeastern Conference East still doesn’t make sense.
In a division full of inconsistency or lack of talent, the East is truly the redheaded stepchild of the SEC. Somehow Missouri, the same team who lost to Indiana, leads the division. Florida, despite all of its trials, also has a legitimate chance to go to Atlanta.
Concentrate on Alabama, LSU fans, because pondering how the Tigers would do in the East will only make you sick.
1. Mississippi State Prev. 1, (8-0, 5-0 SEC)
The Bulldogs’ trap game finally came, and junior quarterback Dak Prescott was there to save his team.
Nothing seemed to go MSU’s way in its tussle with Arkansas on Saturday, and the game remained tied in the fourth quarter. Prescott then hit sophomore receiver Fred Ross for a 69-yard touchdown pass, proving the quarterback can deliver in close games.
The biggest honor goes to the Mississippi State defense, making a goal line stand and a game-sealing interception in the final minutes. A championship team has to earn wins on both sides of the ball, and the Bulldogs defense earned its keep Saturday.
2. Auburn Prev. 3, (7-1, 4-1 SEC)
For one week in 2014, Auburn looked exactly like its 2013 SEC champion squad — a team relying on great coaching, a controlling offense and a few miracles to get the win.
Auburn survived in a 35-31 win against Ole Miss on Saturday, clinching the game after sophomore receiver Laquon Treadwell broke his ankle and fumbled at the goal line simultaneously in the final minutes. It was a terrible way to end a game and overshadowed the performance of Auburn’s offense.
The offense managed to record five touchdowns against a Rebels defense who had only allowed eight touchdowns entering the game. Senior quarterback Nick Marshall accounted for four of those scores while recording 304 total yards.
With wins at Ole Miss and Kansas State and a blowout victory against LSU, arguments can be made that Auburn has the best résumé in the country.
3. Alabama Prev. 2, (7-1, 4-1 SEC)
It feels like few are talking about the Tide for the College Football Playoff, but the path to Atlanta and the playoff is reasonable. If it defeats LSU on Saturday, Alabama has home games the rest of the way, including showdowns against Auburn and MSU.
The Tide has its best offense in years and is No. 2 nationally in scoring defense. Nobody outside Alabama wants it to happen, but Nick Saban could easily win the national title again this season.
4. Ole Miss Prev. 4, (7-2, 4-2 SEC)
Typically, Ole Miss lets its fans down early in the season. But the Rebels did something far worse in 2014. This season, they gave fans hope.
Hopes of an impossible Rebels season came crashing down in Saturday’s loss to Auburn. Almost all chances of making the playoff left after Treadwell’s injury.
If you see a Rebels fan today, give them a hug. They aren’t used to losses like this, and they need some comfort.
5. LSU Prev. 5, (7-2, 3-2 SEC)
A bye week keeps the Tigers in the same place this week, but that will change going forward.
LSU will answer any questions fans have left of the team in its final three games. The Tigers will show whether the Ole Miss win was a fluke against Alabama, and fans will see whether LSU has gotten better on the road against Arkansas and A&M.
6. Missouri Prev. 9, (7-2, 4-1 SEC)
Mizzou has won seven games and leads the SEC East. But it’s still perplexing what this team actually does well. Its defense has had its moments, but it has also allowed more than 30 points to Indiana and a Georgia team without junior running back Todd Gurley.
The offense has had no sort of momentum, ranking 13th in the SEC in total offense with only 330 yards per game. Don’t be surprised if an inability to score haunts Missouri a few more times this season.
7. Georgia Prev. 6, (6-2, 4-2 SEC)
UGA reverted to its Mr. Hyde-self Saturday, getting run over in a 38-20 loss to Florida that was even worse than the score appeared. Georgia somehow never realized the Gators were running the ball every play, and things got out of hand in the second half.
Despite UGA being completely unpredictable, it could still manage to win the division. Gurley comes back for the game against Auburn Nov. 15, and all other East teams have the potential to self-destruct.
8. Arkansas Prev. 10, (4-5, 0-5 SEC)
Historians may remember this Arkansas team as the best team not to reach bowl eligibility. The Hogs lost an SEC game in the fourth quarter for the third time Saturday, and for the second time it came against a top-five team.
The Razorbacks could easily win any of their final three games, but it’s hard to see them getting the elusive sixth win.
9. Texas A&M Prev. 8, (6-3, 2-3 SEC)
The Aggies have gone from conference elite to bordering on mediocre in one month. Their 21-16 win against UL-Monroe was troubling, and they may not even want to travel to Jordan-Hare for their matchup against the Auburn.
10. Florida Prev. 13, (4-3, 3-3 SEC)
The Gators’ win against Georgia was the quintessential Will Muschamp game. He will look at the game as his masterpiece when he’s unemployed in a few months.
We’ll probably never see another SEC team dominate a game with 418 rushing yards and only six passing attempts. Muschamp displayed an offense circa 1950, and for one Saturday it flourished.
11. Tennessee Prev. 12, (4-5, 1-4 SEC)
The Vols finally got their first SEC win in miraculous fashion Saturday, scoring 14 points in the final two minutes in a 45-42 overtime win against South Carolina. Now that this young team finally has a win behind it, it may gain the confidence to finish the season strong.
12. Kentucky Prev. 7, (5-4, 2-4 SEC)
There’s a real chance UK could finish the season on a six-game losing streak and just short of a bowl bid. Then again, Wildcats fans are probably OK with the five wins they have.
13. South Carolina Prev. 11, (4-5, 2-5 SEC)
The Gamecocks have been such a huge disappointment this season, it’s doubtful anybody wants to see this team make the postseason. That includes Steve Spurrier.
14. Vanderbilt Prev. 14, (3-6, 0-5 SEC)
Hey, at least it’s only 100 days until first pitch.
Tommy Romanach is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Dallas, Texas.