The Southeastern Conference Western Division looked more powerful than any other conference or division in the country last week. Somehow, it got stronger.
After Mississippi State’s trouncing of LSU on Saturday night, the SEC West now has six of its seven teams in the AP Top 20. The lone exception beat Texas Tech on the road by 21 points this season. Things like this make me wonder if “College Gameday” will go north of the Mason-Dixon line for its shows the rest of the season.
1. Alabama, Prev. 1 (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
The Crimson Tide is going to beat opponents this season by throwing the ball downfield behind a strong-armed quarterback and lethal receivers. That may be the first time anyone’s ever written that sentence.
Alabama dominated Florida, 42-21, in a display of what senior quarterback Blake Sims and junior wide receiver Amari Cooper can do. Four Crimson Tide turnovers kept the game close until the third quarter, but the 645 total yards of offense was too much for the Gators.
The turnovers are a concern, but Sims is impressive and a weapon Alabama hasn’t had in ages. He’s clearly the starter now, and he will continue to light up more scoreboards if Cooper and senior wide receiver DeAndrew White stay healthy.
2. Texas A&M, Prev. 4 (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
The Aggies finished their cupcake schedule last Saturday by trouncing SMU, 58-6, in Dallas. After the impressive win against South Carolina to open the season, A&M played three tune-up games before finally getting back to SEC play.
Coincidentally, the Aggies will stay in Dallas this week, playing Arkansas at AT&T Stadium. The Hogs are not the best measuring stick, but they’re better than the last three weeks. I’d like to see how A&M handles Arkansas’ rushing attack and if it can jump up on the Razorbacks like it has on other opponents.
3. Mississippi State, Prev. 9 (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
The Bulldogs earned this ranking with their win against LSU. Few teams have a victory as impressive as dominating LSU in Tiger Stadium, and MSU should get credit for that.
Other than a putrid pass defense, this team looks loaded. Prescott is a Heisman candidate with a sidekick in junior running back Josh Robinson, and the defensive line proved it can compete with anyone after Saturday’s win.
The frightening thing about this team is its experience. The win against LSU was its biggest in years, but the stakes will only rise with each game. Prescott will need a Heisman-worthy run if he wants MSU to survive the gauntlet that’s coming.
4. Auburn, Prev. 2 (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Auburn didn’t exactly impress in its 20-14 win at Kansas State on Thursday night, only surviving after multiple missed field goals and turnovers. Junior quarterback Nick Marshall completed some key passes, and Auburn won by the skin of its teeth.
This team doesn’t seem to have the killer instinct it had in 2013, and a loss is coming. As bad as LSU looked last Saturday, it still has a chance when it travels to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Oct. 4. After that, Auburn still has five ranked teams left on its schedule.
5. Ole Miss, Prev. 5 (3-0, 1-0 SEC) The Rebels had a bye week on Saturday, but that isn’t too different than the two weeks before that. The Rebels have played no one since their shaky victory against Boise State, but they stay in the No. 5 spot because other teams keep falling.
The win at Vanderbilt became a little more impressive after the Commodores’ strong effort against South Carolina on Saturday, but the Rebels won’t truly sway anyone until they start beating real teams.
6. Georgia, Prev. 7 (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
The Bulldogs got back to their normal routine of pounding their run game against helpless, mid-major opponents. This past Saturday featured freshman running back Sony Michel running for 155 yards in a 66-0 shutout against Troy.
The loss to South Carolina seems more like a fluke, and Georgia still has a great chance to make the SEC title game. As long as it keeps running the ball and stay focused, it should be in good shape.
7. South Carolina, Prev. 6 (3-1, 2-1 SEC)
The Gamecocks are incapable of displaying consistency this season, as they nearly lost to Vanderbilt after upsetting Georgia the week before. They may run the table for the rest of the season or they might finish 6-6.
South Carolina allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns Saturday, and it should be relieved that incompetence came against a dreadful opponent. The Gamecocks have plenty of potential, but the little things may haunt them.
8. LSU, Prev. 3 (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
The loss to Mississippi State wasn’t necessarily the end for LSU. But without proper adjustments, it could be.
The miscues and wrong decisions in Saturday’s loss to MSU have already been reviewed. LSU needs to see what it did right and base more of its game plan on those things. The Tigers should probably do that before their game at Auburn, too.
9. Arkansas, Prev. 10 (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
Ranked ninth in the power rankings but seventh in their division — that’s the unfortunate situation facing Arkansas fans.
The Hogs looked great in an easy 52-14 win against Northern Illinois on Saturday, finishing with 212 rushing yards. Their game against Texas A&M will serve as a measuring stick. Anything close would display the progress coach Bret Bielema has made in the program.
10. Tennessee, Prev. 13 (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
The Volunteers move up three spots because of the incompetence of other teams. Enjoy the top-10 ranking anyway, Tennessee fans. The Eastern division is so average, a bowl game is now in play for the Vols.
11. Florida, Prev. 11 (2-1, 1-1 SEC)
Don’t be fooled by the Gators’ 21-point loss to Alabama and think they were ever on the same playing field as the Tide. Junior quarterback Jeff Driskel was the same sad excuse for a quarterback he always is; the team just lucked out on some turnovers to make the game look close.
The Gators can bring in all the fancy offensive coordinators they want. But Driskel is still the quarterback, and he isn’t getting them far.
12. Missouri, Prev. 8 (3-1, 0-0 SEC)
Missouri lost to Indiana on Saturday. It wasn’t a basketball game.
13. Kentucky, Prev. 12 (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
The Wildcats didn’t play this weekend, but Florida’s dismal showing did hurt how impressive UK looked when they played the Gators. Thinking they had a shot at a bowl game may have been an overreaction.
14. Vanderbilt, Prev. 14 (1-3, 0-2 SEC)
Commodores. Wildcats. This Saturday in Lexington. Get your popcorn ready, America.
Tommy Romanach is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Dallas. You can reach him on Twitter @troman_28.