SEC Football: Week 8 Contenders & Pretenders
By Thomas Watts
Randy Sartin-US PRESSWIRE
Another weekend of SEC football, another refinement to Contenders and Pretenders. The BCS is doing its job creating a national furor over perceived Oregon injustice and SEC dominance. A quick reminder – BCS computer formulae only really show decent results in the final week or two of the season. Up to that point, there isn’t enough data for their mathematical analysis to be considered truly accurate. That said, its ranking time.
1. Alabama (Last week: 1) Tennessee “tested”Alabama’s secondary to the point the Vols lost by a final of 44-13. Alabama gets another “test” this week for Homecoming when Mississippi State comes to town. The Tide opened as a 24- point favorite against an undefeated State team whose best win is either Troy or Tennessee. Next game: Mississippi State
2. Florida (Last week: 2) Florida annihilated South Carolina 44-11 in the Swamp. The game was a laugher from the first play from scrimmage. The Gators had hardly any offense on the day, but Jeff Driskel threw four touchdowns. Doesn’t make sense? He completed 11 passes for 93 yards on the day. Florida heads to Jacksonville to take on Georgia in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. A win by the Gators will clinch the SEC East barring a minor miracle. Next game:Georgia (in Jacksonville)
3. LSU (Last week: 3) LSU beat Texas A&M 24-19 on Saturday and they looked bad throughout. John Chavis does earn a tip of the hat for adjusting to contain Johnny Manziel in the second half. They remain at No. 3 in C&P only because Georgia looked horrible against Kentucky, and South Carolina forgot what football was in the Swamp. The Tigers have a bye week and then here comes Alabama for Game of the Century Part 3. Next game: 11/3Alabama
4. South Carolina (Last week: 4) South Carolina got run out of the Swamp by Florida 44-11. They earn a slight pass this week, though, since the team had been ground down by a hard schedule in the two weeks before the game against the Gators. If the Gamecocks struggle against Tennessee this week at home, C&P’s anger will be terrible and it’s retribution swift. Next game: Tennessee
5. Texas A&M (Last week: 7) Texas A&M had LSU on the ropes throughout their 24-19 loss. Johnny Manziel looked like Johnny Unitas at times, and looked like the true freshman that he is at others. The disruptive ability to create negative plays of the Aggie defense cannot be overlooked. A&M heads to the Plains this week where the only major question is “Does Manziel break the SEC single game offensive records he set AGAIN?” Next game: @Auburn
6. Mississippi State (Last week: 6) How can a team that won be passed by a team that lost in C&P? It is what happens when the winning team beats up on Middle Tennessee 45-3 while the losing team plays a top-5 team tough. Before you cry foul, Mississippi State gets a chance to prove its legitimacy against Alabama in Tuscaloosa this week. C&P will even enjoy a hefty helping of crow if it happens. Next week: @Alabama
7. Georgia (Last week: 5) Georgia came out of a bye week and struggled throughout to get past Kentucky 29-24. The previously high-flying Bulldogs have come down to earth in their past two games. Even though they’ve looked horrid recently, they get a chance to jump into the driver’s seat in the SEC East when they travel to Jacksonville to face Florida. Win and the Bulldogs head to Atlanta. Next game:Florida (in Jacksonville)
8. Tennessee (Last week: 8) Tennessee got blasted 44-13 by Alabama at home. Everything coming out of Knoxville is negative right now. Fans are disenfranchised, and the team cannot seem to get itself together. Derek Dooley is the definition of “lame duck” at this point. The only way to save his job would be to beat a reeling South Carolina team in Columbia. Next game: @South Carolina
9. Ole Miss (Last week: 9) Ole Miss enjoyed a bye this past week and now gets to travel to Arkansas for a date with the Razorbacks. The Rebels play with a ton of effort and heart, but Arkansas has suddenly figured out an offense. The game is the definition of “under-the-radar interesting.” Next game: @Arkansas
10. Arkansas (Last week: 10) Like Ole Miss, the Razorbacks had their bye this past week. They match up against the Rebels at home this week in an aforementioned under-the-radar game. If Arkansas continues to score in bunches, John L Smith may salvage a bowl for the Piggies. Hopefully, singing Arkansas fan will not serenade us to such triumphs. Next game: Ole Miss
11. Kentucky (Last week: 12) Give Georgia a good game, earn a little C&P bump. The Wildcats fell 29-24 to the Bulldogs this past weekend. Unfortunately, they’re still just not very good. Joker Phillips won’t be at the helm for much longer.Kentucky goes to Missouri to decide which team is the doormat of the SEC East. Next game: @Missouri
12. Vanderbilt (Last week: 11) Vanderbilt beats Auburn 17-13 and the ‘Dores drop? In a sentence I never thought I would see – let alone type – Vandy was supposed to win by more than just four points. The Commodores have Massachusetts this week, one of the few teams worse than Auburn in the FBS this year. Next game: UMass
13. Missouri (Last week: 13) The Tigers had a bye, and hopefully got healthier across the board. The schedule offers them no breaks except this week when Kentucky comes to town. A Tigers loss means becoming bowl eligible will be next to impossible. Next game: Kentucky
14. Auburn (Last week: 14) Auburn lost to Vanderbilt 17-13 in Nashville. The team continues to underperform in all phases. C&P wants to extend its heartfelt condolences to Gene Chizik for the loss of his mother. In deference to that, the somewhat deserved tongue lashing will be held in check for another time. Auburn plays Texas A&M in Jordan-Hare this week. Next game: Texas A&M