2014 SEC Power Rankings – Week Three

SEC East

1. Georgia (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – The Bulldogs were off this past Saturday but they easily remain in the top spot with their previous win over the Clemson Tigers. They’ll be tested this weekend against a South Carolina team who will be looking to get back atop the conference standings.

Next game: Saturday, September 13th at South Carolina.

2. South Carolina (1-1, 0-1 SEC) – Despite looking very pedestrian in their first two games (while losing one of them), the Gamecocks keep the No. 2 ranking in the SEC East for now. A win against Georgia could change things but a loss and they’ll drop, far.

Next game: Saturday, September 13th against Georgia in a game that will either keep the Gamecocks in the SEC race or knock them out of it.

3. Missouri (2-0, 0-0 SEC) – A very nice win against a Toledo Rockets team that many thought would be a much closer game than it actually was. Maty Mauk has looked pretty darn good so far this year in throwing for over 500 yards and eight touchdowns.

Next game: A very winnable game against UCF on Saturday, September 13th.

4. Florida (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – The Gators finally began their season on Saturday afternoon and they began it in style. Will Muschamp’s Gators threw and ran the ball with an efficiency that we haven’t seen in a few years in their 65-0 dismantling of FBS cellar dweller Eastern Michigan.

Next game: At home against Kentucky on September 13th. Keep in mind that Kentucky hasn’t beaten Florida since a 10-3 victory in 1986. Never bet against a streak, right?

5. Tennessee (2-0, 0-0 SEC) – The Volunteers looked much better against Utah State in their season opener than they did last week against Arkansas State. They’re going to need to look really good this weekend to get a win. And I mean really good.

Next game: A trip to Norman, Oklahoma on September 13th to face the fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.

6. Kentucky (2-0, 0-0 SEC) – For as bad as the Volunteers looked against Arkansas State last week, the Wildcats looked just as bad or worse against the Ohio Bobcats on September 6th. A far cry from their dominant performance of two weeks ago against UT-Martin, Kentucky is going to have to regroup quickly because the Gators are waiting in the weeds.

Next game: They get the Gators in The Swamp on Saturday, September 13th.

7. Vanderbilt (0-2, 0-1 SEC) – Someone should tell the Commodores that the season has started.

Next game: Massachusetts rolls into Nashville on Saturday, September 13th and the ‘Dores look to get a “W” on the board.

SEC WEST

1. Alabama (2-0, 0-0 SEC) – The Crimson Tide rolled up Florida Atlantic and led 41-0 before lightning strikes in the area caused an early ending to the game. They’re No. 1 until someone knocks them off the pedestal. They’re also about to be 3-0 on the season.

Next game: A home date with Southern Miss on Saturday, September 13th.

2. Texas A&M (2-0, 1-0 SEC) – The Aggies steamrolled Southland conference member Lamar in a game that was over once the teams took the field. Two games into the young season and they’ve had two very convincing wins, including one over a Top 25 team in South Carolina. The question remains though, do these Aggies have staying power? Early sings are pointing to yes.

Next game: Saturday, September 13th at home against Rice. They’ll also be 3-0 and right on Alabama’s heels.

3. Auburn (2-0, 1-0 SEC) – San Jose State held serve with the Tigers for about a quarter, then fell apart as the Tigers cruised to a 59-13 victory. Will the real Nick Marshall please stand up? They get a week and a half off to figure it out.

Next game: Thursday, September 18th at Kansas State.

4. LSU (2-0, 0-0 SEC) – The Tigers looked like the Tigers in their 56-0 victory over Sam Houston State on Saturday as they look to keep pace with the rest of the SEC West. They won’t have a problem continuing to do that this weekend either.

Next game: At home against LSU on Saturday, September 13th.

5. Ole Miss (2-0, 1-0 SEC) – Ole Miss went to Nashville and came away as victors over the Commodores to the tune (ha!) of 41-3 in a game that wasn’t even really that close. The ‘Dores didn’t reach midfield until the third quarter and their only points on the Rebels’ defense came after the Rebel offense turned the ball over near the 10 yardline.

Next game: Louisiana-Layfayette comes to The Grove on Saturday, September 13th in what should be another easy win the Rebels. 

6. Mississippi State (2-0, 0-0 SEC) – I caught some flak for having the Bulldogs this low last week (and pretty far behind the Rebels) but I don’t think that their performance on Saturday did anything to change that perspective. They ended up with the victory over UAB (47-34) but that game was a lot closer for a lot longer than it should have been.

Next game: They’ll travel to South Alabama on Saturday, September 13th and should pick up win number three on the season.

7. Arkansas (1-1, 0-1 SEC) – They rebounded nicely after a beatdown at Auburn on opening weekend as they cruised past Nicholls State 73-7. They’ll get a tough test this weekend at Texas Tech, where the early line has the Red Raiders favored by about a field goal.

Next game: At Texas Tech on Saturday, September 13th.

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Nolan Mucciarone of Alligator Army provides the information for our weekly 2014 SEC Power Rankings. You can follow Nolan on Twitter  @AA_FlaGators.

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