Alabama Crimson Tide: Week Five SEC Power Rankings
By Ronald Evans
After five weeks of SEC football, some clarity was expected. The weekend provided little, but there were definitely changes in the trend lines for more than a few SEC teams. The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs reinforced their status as the nation’s best teams – by far. A few other SEC teams remain unpredictable mysteries.
A weekly reminder to Alabama Crimson Tide and other SEC fans, these rankings are based on current resumes from five weeks of play. Other than the projected win ceilings, the rankings are not predictions of future performance.
Week Five SEC Football Power Rankings
No. 14 – Vanderbilt Commodores (2-3); (0-1 in SEC) – (Last week, No. 14); Predicted regular season ceiling – 2 wins
The Dores beat one of college football’s worst teams, getting a 30-28 win over U Conn. Former Alabama Crimson Tide kicker, Joseph Bulovas had a game-winning field goal. The Dores only chance for an SEC win looks to be against South Carolina.
No. 13 – South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2); (0-2 in SEC); Last week No. 13; Predicted regular season ceiling – 5 wins
South Carolina was so bad they couldn’t score after a fumble gave them an easy sprint to the endzone. Throwing points away is not advisable for Shane Beamer’s team. The Gamecocks have an anemic offense, with a rushing attack that has produced exactly one touchdown in five games. On Saturday they edged 2-3 Troy, 23-14. A win is a win, but there will not be many more this season
No. 12 – Missouri Tigers (2-3); (0-2 in SEC) – Last week No. 10; Predicted regular season ceiling – 5 wins
Last week Missouri played well in an overtime, road loss to Boston College. On Saturday, the Missouri defense, suspect all season, took a day off against Tennessee. The Vols had 683 yards of offense, 458 of it on the ground. Missouri coach, Eli Drinkwitz has to do something fast or this season will unravel. Firing his Defensive Coordinator, Steve Wilks would not be an overreaction. Wilks was one of the coaches discussed in our recent post on SEC Hot Seats. This week their win ceiling was lowered to five and that will require beating South Carolina. Final Score Tennessee 62 – Missouri 24
No. 11 – LSU Bengal Tigers (3-2); (1-1 in SEC); Last week No. 9; Predicted regular season ceiling – 5 wins
After LSU took a 13-0, second-quarter lead, Auburn gradually but definitively took charge in Tiger Stadium. Auburn’s 24 points after the almost two-touchdown deficit could only be countered by two LSU field goals. Again, it was Max Johnson or bust for LSU with the Bengal Tigers having virtually no rushing attack. Final Score: Auburn 24 – LSU 19