SEC Power Rankings: Week 5

Life got in the way last week, and there was no time to compile SEC Power Rankings following the Week 4 games. The denotations of last week’s rankings refer to the Week 3 power rankings.

Alabama put together a great performance at Florida on Saturday and could easily be ranked as the top team in the SEC. The Crimson Tide again comes in behind LSU only because Bama’s passing game isn’t quite up to snuff. The Tigers and Tide will likely be locked into the top two spots until their meeting in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 5.

1. LSU, 5-0 overall/2-0 in SEC play (Last week’s ranking: 1) — LSU holds onto the No. 1 ranking this week thanks to another impressive defensive performance against Kentucky. The Tigers limited the Wildcats to 155 yards, 13 first downs and one garbage-time touchdown. LSU’s offense didn’t do much, but it didn’t have to. Jordan Jefferson had a rushing touchdown in his return, as did Alfred Blue and Terrence McGee. Jarrett Lee threw to Odell Beckman for another score.

2. ALABAMA, 5-0/2-0 (2) — The Crimson Tide went into The Swamp and absolutely dismantled the 12th-ranked Gators. Trent Richardson put on a show, compiling 182 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the ground. After giving up a 65-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage, the Alabama defense dominated, holding Florida to a total of 222 yards and nine first downs. The only question mark for Alabama is the passing game. A.J. McCarron was just 12 of 25 for 140 yards.

3. ARKANSAS, 4-1/0-1 (4) — After suffering its first defeat of the season last week against Alabama, the Razorbacks came out flat against Texas A&M and trailed 35-17 at halftime. Arkansas bounced back in the second half, and quarterback Tyler Wilson led the Hogs to a come-from-behind victory. Wilson had 510 passing yards and two TDs against the Aggies, and Jarius Wright caught 13 balls for an eye-popping 281 yards and one touchdown. Wright also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a second score. Arkansas’ defense is still suspect, but its passing offense is the best in the conference.

4. AUBURN, 4-1/2-0 (7) — The orange and blue Tigers pieced together another dramatic win, this time at No. 10 South Carolina. Auburn’s offense didn’t look great, but the defense turned in its best performance of the year. With Auburn’s only loss — at Clemson in Week 3 — looking better and better — the orange and purple Tigers are 5-0 and have defeated Florida State and Virginia Tech since topping Auburn — it would appear that Gene Chizik’s team is much better than previously suspected. Auburn’s not going to make any game easy, but that doesn’t matter as long as the Tigers keep winning.

5. GEORGIA, 3-2/2-1 (9) — Some will have Georgia ranked higher than Auburn this week, but it remains to be seen how good the Bulldogs really are. Georgia failed in tests against Boise State and South Carolina, and defeated FCS Coastal Carolina, an Ole Miss team that is possibly the worst in the SEC and a Mississippi State team that is 0-3 in conference play. The Bulldog defense did a good job against State, forcing three turnovers, and holding its opponent to 213 yards and 13 first downs. Aaron Murray threw two touchdown passes, but he was just 13 of 25 for 160 yards with three interceptions. Isaiah Crowell ran for 104 yards, his second straight 100-yard game. Despite the win, Georgia still looks like a team that will struggle badly with the SEC’s elite.

6. SOUTH CAROLINA, 4-1/2-1 (5) — Fans in Columbia must be ready to pull their hair out. Carolina played a great defensive game against Auburn, and it should have been enough to give the Gamecocks a win. But Marcus Lattimore couldn’t find any running room and Stephen Garcia, with the game in his hands, promptly wilted under pressure. Lattimore finished with 66 yards, a touchdown and a lost fumble. Garcia  was 9 for 23 for 160 yards, one TD and two interceptions. The Gamecock defense can play lights out, but if Lattimore and Garcia put up those types of numbers, the preseason SEC East favorite is going to have a hard time beating anyone with a pulse.

7. FLORIDA, 4-1/2-1 (3) — Florida had a chance to make a statement with a big win over Alabama at home, and the Gators had their doors blown off in a 38-10 defeat. Honestly, there’s no shame in losing, even in a blowout, to Alabama, and the Gators could be ranked higher. Florida comes in at No. 7 because its starting quarterback, John Brantley, suffered an ugly ankle injury against the Tide. It’s unknown right now how serious Brantley’s injury is, but Florida will have to play a true freshman at QB if he misses significant time. That’s a recipe for disaster with games against LSU, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida State on the horizon.

8. TENNESSEE, 3-1/0-1 (6) — The Vols played well in a paycheck game against Buffalo, compiling 541 yards and 27 first downs in a 41-10 win. Tyler Bray was excellent with 342 yards and four TDs, and Tauren Pool led the ground game that gained 199 yards with 101 of his own. The Volunteer defense only gave up 264 yards and 10 first downs. With Bray playing as well as he is, Tennessee will give any team it faces fits. The Vols have a chance to get a signature win for head coach Derek Dooley this week when they host Georgia.

9. MISSISSIPPI STATE, 2-3/0-3 (8) — Since its heartbreaking defeat at Auburn in the second game of the season, Mississippi State has been pretty awful. The Bulldogs’ offense hasn’t shown up in losses to LSU and Georgia, and State needed overtime to beat Louisiana Tech. Chris Relf was terrible throwing the ball against Georgia — 19 of 31, 157 yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions — and he and Vick Ballard combined for just 54 rushing yards. Dan Mullen’s team can’t seem to find a way to break though as an elite SEC squad. It looks like another second-tier bowl appearance is in the cards for the men from Starkville.

10. VANDERBILT, 3-1/1-1 (10) — Vandy didn’t play on Saturday and thus remains behind State in this week’s rankings. Vanderbilt’s defense has played great this year, but the offense hasn’t been able to put much together. That will have to change with games remaining against Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee. Right now, the Commodores aren’t good enough on offense to beat any of those teams. Warren Norman hasn’t played yet this year, so Vandy can expect some sort of offensive boost when the running back returns to action.

11. OLE MISS, 2-3/0-2 (t-12) — The Rebels edge out Kentucky this week thanks to a road win at Fresno State. In a back-and-forth game, Ole Miss found some offense and put up 38 points and 430 yards. Unfortunately for those in Oxford, the Rebels’ defense, which had played well, allowed the Bulldogs to compile 444 yards and 28 points. If not for two Fresno turnovers, the final result might have been different. That doesn’t matter, though. With Ole Miss going through this type of season, any win is a welcome sight.

12. KENTUCKY, 2-3/0-2 (t-12) — Each week, it seems like the Wildcat offense gets worse. Against LSU, the team had its worst offensive output of the season. Morgan Newton completed six passes on 20 attempts for a grand total of 57 yards and one late score. Josh Clemons was the Cats’ offensive MVP, picking up 69 rushing yards on 21 carries. All in all, Kentucky’s offense is shockingly bad. Even with matchups remaining against Jacksonville State and Ole Miss, the Wildcats might not win another game all year.