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SEC Power Rankings After Week 4: Auburn Climbing Up

By Jake Mastroianni

Sep 24, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) and Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Conner McQueen (14) celebrate a touchdown while Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Henre
Sep 24, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) and Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Conner McQueen (14) celebrate a touchdown while Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Henre /
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Sep 24, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson (21) tries to avoid LSU Tigers linebacker Duke Riley (40) during the fourth quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Auburn Tigers beat the LSU Tigers 18-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson (21) tries to avoid LSU Tigers linebacker Duke Riley (40) during the fourth quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Auburn Tigers beat the LSU Tigers 18-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

6 – Auburn – 2-2 (1-1) – Up Three

As I’ve been saying all week, it wasn’t pretty, but it was a win.

Gus Malzahn and the coaching staff finally realized that our best chance of winning this year was by relying on the defense and playing conservatively on offense.

They did just enough on offense to keep the defense off the field and put points up on the board.

However, that strategy is not going to work on everyone like it did LSU. They have to do a better job of punching the ball into the end zone when they close.

The Tigers have some momentum now and have found their identity on defense.

They get a warm-up this week against Louisiana-Monroe before a stretch of games against Mississippi State, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Georgia.

Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-28. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-28. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

5 – Florida – 3-1 (1-1) – Down One

I don’t know what happened to Florida in the second half on Saturday. If you would have told me Florida would be up 21-3 at halftime against Tennessee I would have never thought the Volunteers had a chance against that defense.

Maybe that defense isn’t as stout as we thought after watching them shut down teams like UMASS, Kentucky and North Texas.

I still think not having Luke Del Rio had a major impact on this game. The offense wasn’t able to put the game away in the second half, and the defense finally got tired.

Florida will regroup though. I have confidence that this team will finish strong once Luke Del Rio gets back in the line.

If Tennessee slips up a couple of times, don’t be surprised to see Florida backdoor their way into the SEC Championship game again.

They get Vanderbilt this weekend before hosting LSU.

Next: Tennessee and Ole Miss

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