Alabama Football: Week Three SEC Power Rankings
By Ronald Evans
A weekly reminder to Alabama football and other SEC fans, these rankings are based on current resumes from three weeks of play. Other than the projected win ceilings, the rankings are not predictions of future performance.
Week Three SEC Football Power Rankings
No. 14 – Vanderbilt Commodores (1-2) – (Last week, No. 14); Predicted regular season ceiling – 3 wins
A game against Stanford was the result of former Vandy Head Coach, Derek Mason having ties to The Cardinal. Though Stanford has been down in recent years, the program is an example, a highly rated academic school, can have a successful FBS football program.
The Dores were competitive through most of the first half. Stanford only outgained the Vandy by 24 yards in the game, but they maintained possessions. Stanford ran 84 plays to 56 for Vandy. Vandy could not put together enough scoring drives in the 41-23 loss
No. 13 – South Carolina Gamecocks (2-1); Last week No. 13; Predicted regular season ceiling – 5 wins
The Gamecocks lost to the Georgia Bulldogs 40-13. The game was simply way too much Georgia talent for a South Carolina team trying to regain respectability. South Carolina lost its former grad assistant, now starting quarterback early. The replacement, Luke Doty could not do enough to make up for a South Carolina rushing arrack that averaged just 2.4 yards-per-carry. The Gamecocks did score the first, offensive touchdown against the Dawgs this season.
No. 12 – Tennessee Volunteers (2-1); Last week No. 12; Predicted regular season ceiling – 5 wins
The Vols won big – 56-0 over Tennessee Tech. Vols’ QB, Hendon Hooker got his first start at Tennessee. Given the opponent, it is hard to rate Hooker, but an early indication is the Vols might be stronger with Hooker than they were with Joe Milton.
No. 11 – LSU Bengal Tigers (2-1); Last week No. 10; Predicted regular season ceiling – 6 wins
The Bengal Tigers beat Central Michigan, 49-21. Beating a MAC team is not enough to indicate the Bengal Tigers can be competitive in the SEC West. Max Johnson had a good game, connecting on 26 of 35 passes. Encouraging for the offense was seven Bengal Tigers’ receivers caught passes. Kayshon Boutte led the team with six catches, but three other LSU receivers made five catches each.