ESPN SEC Power Rankings: Week 5
By John Bauman
Sep 21, 2013; Bloomington, IN, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Michael Sam (52) reacts after the game at Memorial Stadium. Missouri defeats Indiana 45-28. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Missouri remained in the 8th slot in this week’s edition of the SEC power rankings. After a slow start and a strong second half performance, the Tigers overcame Arkansas State to move to 4-0. Mizzou’s non conference slate is now over, and after taking care of business against those four non conference teams, Missouri has put itself in a good position for a bowl game. With two easy games left on the schedule, Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as four remaining against Top-18 teams, the season really comes down to two key games. The Vanderbilt game this week and the Ole Miss game on November 23rd will go a long way in defining this season of Mizzou football. A win in both of those games will basically put Missouri at 8-4, probably enough for Coach Pinkel to keep his job. Anything less, including a loss next weekend or a slip up against Kentucky or Tennessee, and Mizzou could be under a new head coach next fall.
Edward Aschoff once again did a good job with the rankings. I agree with them and noticed two major tiers are evident in the SEC. The line between national power and “okay” team falls right around Missouri and Ole Miss, at the 7th/8th spot. From the 1st to the 6th spot, the teams are really good and all strong enough to win a BCS bowl. From 7 on, however, we really haven’t learned enough about the teams to tell how good they are. This group includes Vandy, Missouri, Ole Miss, and Auburn. This weekend’s matchups, when these four teams will pair off and play each other, will give us a much clearer picture of the SEC’s middle tier.
SEC Power Rankings- Edward Aschoff
To see the blurbs for all 14 SEC teams, go here.
1) Alabama (4-0, LW 1)
2) Georgia (3-1, LW 4)
3) Texas A&M (4-1, LW 3)
4) LSU (4-1, LW 2)
5) South Carolina (3-1, LW 5)
6) Florida (3-1, LW 7)
7) Ole Miss (3-1, LW 6)
8) Missouri (4-0, LW 8) – We still don’t know a ton about this team, but the Tigers scored at will against their nonconference foes, averaging 45.5 points and 549 yards through the first four games. But SEC play starts now with a trip to Vanderbilt this weekend. We’ll find out very soon if there was any substance to the Tigers’ fast start to the season.
9) Auburn (3-1, LW 9)
10) Vanderbilt (3-2, LW 10)
11) Arkansas (3-2, LW 11)
12) Mississippi State (2-2, LW 12)
13) Tennessee (3-2 , LW 13)
14) Kentucky (1-3 , LW 14)