Another college football season is speeding by as Alabama Football heads into a two-road game stretch that will finish the first half of the regular season. Crimson Tide fans are back to looking forward to Crimson Tide victories at home or on the road, even though the SEC road was unkind to the Tide last season.
Week five in the SEC is all SEC vs. SEC for the first time this season. Only two SEC teams can coast through their week five games. They are road teams Georgia at Auburn and Missouri at Vanderbilt.
Some SEC football fans join Vandy’s small contingent of fans, who every season hope for marked improvement from the Commodores. Such hope has again dwindled fast in Nashville and against an improved Missouri team, the Dores will likely move to 2-4.
Auburn with the worst passing attack in the SEC (and other problems) will lose badly at home to Georgia.
The Crimson Tide is like Georgia favored by a couple of touchdowns. Despite what the team records indicate Mississippi State has a more competitive team than Auburn. The Bulldogs have a few outstanding players and Zach Arnett’s team plays tough and will not quit.
My sense is the other four games do not have a sure favorite. Tennessee is a double-digit betting favorite and should handle South Carolina in Knoxville. Still, right now Spencer Rattler is arguably the best quarterback in the SEC, completing 74.2% of his passes.
After a heartbreaking loss in Baton Rouge, Arkansas will be tested again against Texas A&M. The Aggies are likely a touchdown better and should prevail, but like Mississippi State, the Hogs are ready to slog it out with any team. If Arkansas can give Jefferson time to throw, the game could be close.
Perhaps the most interesting game of week five will be how Ole Miss responds after the loss to Alabama. The Rebels could rebound strongly or fold. Ole Miss needs a ‘get-well’ game and LSU is not likely to be bothered by the Oxford crowd. The early week odds favor LSU by less than a field goal but some college football pundits have suggested the Bengal Tigers could win big.
The remaining SEC game is Florida at Kentucky and the win could go to either team.
Power Ranking Alabama Football and the rest of the SEC
Instead of explanations, this week of SEC Power Ranking settles for brevity. A simple list will suffice.
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Alabama Football
- LSU Bengal Tigers
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Florida Gators
- Missouri Tigers
- Tennessee Vols
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- Auburn Tigers
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Vanderbilt Commodores
If Georgia cannot beat Auburn by more than three touchdowns, Bulldog fans might want to consider the Dawgs are not up to being three-peatable.