Vols overrated or OU underrated, Tigers in trouble? SEC Power Rankings- Week Five
There were only three games in the SEC this weekend worth talking about: Oklahoma-Tennessee, Arkansas-Auburn, and Vanderbilt-Missouri.
While Tennessee and Oklahoma's outcome didn't change the SEC power rankings this week, the game did suggest that these teams might be closer than people think. Holding Tennessee to 25 points was impressive for Oklahoma after the Vols beat its previous opponents with a margin of 191-13.
The problem is Tennessee hasn't had a difficult schedule. That became crystal clear after Clemson smoked NC State. So, do the Volunteers have an elite offense, or were they just playing bad competition? Conversely, if Oklahoma's defense really is that good, do they need a little more respect? Regardless, they stay in place for the time being. However, the same can't be said for the other two matchups.
Week Five SEC Power Rankings
Rank | School | Game result | Previous rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Texas | W, ULM 51-3 | 1 |
2 | Georgia | BYE | 2 |
3 | Ole Miss | W Georgia Southern 52-13 | 3 |
4 | Tennessee | W, Oklahoma 25-18 | 4 |
5 | Alabama | BYE | 6 |
6 | LSU | W, Vanderbilt 30-27 | 5 |
7 | Oklahoma | L, Tennessee 25-15 | 7 |
8 | Arkansas | W, Auburn 24-14 | 8 |
9 | LSU | W, UCLA 34-17 | 9 |
10 | South Carolina | W, Akron 50-7 | 13 |
11 | Texas A&M | W, Bowling Green 26-20 | 11 |
12 | Kentucky | W, Ohio 41-6 | 12 |
13 | Auburn | L, Arkansas 24-14 | 10 |
14 | Vanderbilt | L, Missouri 30-27 | 14 |
15 | Florida | W, Mississippi St 45-28 | 15 |
16 | Mississippi St. | L, Florida 45-28 | 16 |
Arkansas and Auburn played one of the messiest games in recent history, with seven turnovers combined. The Tigers trotted out redshirt freshman Hank Brown in place of Payton Thorne after Auburn's loss to California. It didn't matter, though. The Hogs forced Brown to throw three interceptions in the first half. And when the Tigers switched back to Thorne, Arkansas picked him off, too.
What's worse is that Arkansas played probably its worst game of the season, throwing two interceptions and only 151 yards with 58 coming on one play. Auburn has a stout defense, but its offense can't get anything going.
Last week, I declared that midnight had arrived for Vanderbilt after it lost to Georgia State, but last week was more evidence that this team isn't the Vandy of the past. Missouri barely escaped the Commodores, winning 30-27.
Now, Mizzou has back-to-back weeks where the Tigers struggled against supposedly inferior to them and nearly lost the game. Boston College played them to within six points. Missouri has one of the easiest schedules in the nation, giving it a pretty easy road to the SEC championship. But if it can handle BC or Vandy, how will Missouri make it past Alabama and Oklahoma?
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