This Week in the SEC-Week 6
It was another wild week in the SEC. Brandon Harris sealed up his starting job at LSU, Georgia survived a tough test against Tennessee, Arkansas helped A&M complete a comeback and Missouri stunned South Carolina to shake up the SEC East even more. This week, every game is a conference matchup, with three of them being top-25 showdowns. Which one made the cut for Game of the Week? But before we get to that, let’s take a look at the Week 6 Power Rankings.
SEC Power Rankings: Week 6
1) Alabama (4-0)
Last week rank: 1
Last week: Bye
This week: at 5) Ole Miss
Bama goes into its hardest test of the season so far on Saturday. And you better know Nick Saban won’t want to lose to Ole Miss.
2) Auburn (4-0)
Last week rank: 2
Last week: W 45-17 vs Louisiana Tech
This week: vs 6) LSU
Gus Malzahn takes his club into a big one on Saturday, and he does not want to rely on missed field goals against a Brandon Harris led LSU.
3) Mississippi State (4-0)
Last week rank: 4
Last week: Bye
This week: vs 4) Texas A&M
The Cowbells are still ringing a week after their win over LSU. They might ring forever if they beat A&M.
4) Texas A&M (5-0)
Last week rank: 3
Last week: W 35-28 (OT) vs 9) Arkansas
This week: at 3) Mississippi State
The A&M faithful said it was Aggie magic that sparked the comeback victory over Arkansas. I call it luck.
5) Ole Miss (4-0)
Last week rank: 5
Last week: W 24-3 vs Memphis
This week: vs 1) Alabama
Thinking about Ole Miss actually beating Alabama makes people laugh. But the impossible might happen on Saturday in the Grove.
6) LSU (4-1)
Last week rank: 6
Last week: W 63-7 vs New Mexico State
This week: vs 2) Auburn
It took Brandon Harris scoring touchdowns on all seven of his drives last Saturday for the hard-headed Les Miles to name him the starter. But regardless, the Brandon Harris era will begin in Auburn, Alabama on Saturday.
7) Missouri (4-1)
Last week rank: 10
Last week: W 21-20 at 7) South Carolina
This week: Bye
So Mizzou loses to Indiana at home, and then they beat South Carolina on the road. Some things in life don’t make sense.
8) Georgia (3-1)
Last week rank: 7
Last week: W 35-32 vs 12) Tennessee
This week: vs Vanderbilt
The Dawgs survived a mediocre Volunteers team. If they play the same against Vanderbilt….yeah they’ll still blow them out.
9) South Carolina (3-2)
Last week rank: 8
Last week: L 21-20 vs 10) Missouri
This week: Bye
Who would have thought the Gamecocks would beat UGA, but still lose two SEC home games by the end of September? Definitely not the Ol’ Ball Coach.
10) Florida (2-1)
Last week rank: 11
Last week: Bye
This week: at 13) Tennessee
Florida didn’t play and three teams in front of them lost. So they move up.
11) Kentucky (3-1)
Last week rank: 13
Last week: W 17-7 vs Vanderbilt
This week: vs South Carolina
UK ended their 17-game SEC losing streak last Saturday against Vandy. The conference is looking into if that game should actually count.
12) Arkansas (3-2)
Last week rank: 9
Last week: L 35-28 (OT) vs Texas A&M
This week: Bye
Bret Bielema’s play calling came through big for A&M.
13) Tennessee (2-2)
Last week rank: 12
Last week: L 35-32 vs Georgia
This week: vs 10) Florida
Tennessee was so close to having a statement win on Saturday. Can Butch Jones’ team deliver at home on Saturday? Against Will Muschamp, it’s quite possible.
14) Vanderbilt (1-4)
Last week rank: 14
Last week: L 17-7 at 13) Kentucky
This week: at 8) Georgia
Vandy is that kid that comes up to kick in a 2nd grade kickball game, and everyone says “Easy out!”
Game of the Week
#3 Alabama at #11 Ole Miss
Saturday, 3:30 ET, CBS
The last time Ole Miss beat Alabama was in 2003, and the Tide lead the all-time series 47-9. But none of that matters on Saturday as Nick Saban’s club travels to the Grove. Ole Miss has high hopes. The Rebels have looked better than expected so far this season and Bama has yet to find its identity. If Ole Miss wins, they will be in the playoff conversation. Let that sink in. I breakdown one of the biggest games in Ole Miss history in this edition of Game of the Week.
The Breakdown:
If Ole Miss wants to beat Bama, they have to get past their defense. The Rebels, led by Bo Wallace, have looked solid as of late but had some trouble early in the game last week against Memphis. They may have been looking ahead to the Crimson Tide, but that’s no excuse for having five turnovers. They will have to improve on not turning the ball over if they have a chance. As for Alabama, they left some question marks after they slipped past West Virginia in the season opener. But against Florida, the Tide looked solid, especially Blake Sims. The Alabama QB threw for 445 yards and four TD’s against the Gators, ultimately putting an end to the Tide quarterback controversy. The Rebels’ D has looked really good, but they will need to keep Sims from having a big day.
Prediction:
This game will be an all-out dog fight. I think it will come down to who wants this one more. Ole Miss will be playing out of their minds in front of their home crowd. Even with the win over Florida, I’m still not sure about this Alabama team. Ole Miss matches up well against them; great defense and a scary offense. Call me crazy, but I think the Rebels are going to stun Alabama and the football world on Saturday. Both quarterbacks will have big games, but Bo Wallace will led his team to a W. Expect the Rebel defense to shut down Alabama’s run game, and do enough to keep Blake Sims from having a game like he did against Florida. You will be hearing Hotty Toddy for a long time folks, because the Ole Miss Rebels are going to defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.
Score: #11 Ole Miss 23, #3 Alabama 20
Other Games to Watch:
#15 LSU at #5 Auburn
#6 Texas A&M at #12 Mississippi State
Florida at Tennessee
Upset Alert:
#15 LSU over #5 Auburn
Twitter: @WScottCSM
