SEC Power Rankings and Open Discussion

Volume VII of SEC Power Rankings as we hit the halfway point in SEC play this week.

Welcome to the 7th edition of SEC Power Rankings! Due to so much other content I’ve had going out over the past few days, this will be short on commentary from yours truly but that’s where you come in. Let me know what you think of where each team in the SEC stands in the comments below!

#1 Tennessee: 20-1 (8-0)

Last Week’s Ranking - 1

Last Week: Beat South Carolina 92-70, Beat Texas A&M 93-76

This Week: Tonight vs. Missouri, Saturday vs. Florida

Vols were tested in both road games this week but pulled away late for comfortable wins and continue to roll through the SEC. They keep to stay at home this week.

#2 Kentucky: 18-3 (7-1)

Last Week’s Ranking - 2

Last Week: Beat Vanderbilt 87-52, Beat Florida 65-54

This Week: Tonight vs. South Carolina, Saturday at Mississippi State

One of the hottest teams in the country right now. Destroyed Vandy in Nashville before getting tested in the Swamp on Saturday, down 11 early in the second half before turning on the jets to pull away from the Gators.

#3 LSU: 17-4 (7-1)

Last Week’s Ranking - 3

Last Week: Beat Texas A&M 72-57, Lost to Arkansas 90-89

This Week: Wednesday at Mississippi State, Saturday vs. Auburn

The loss to Arkansas at home is a head scratcher to me as the Hogs controlled that game before the Bayou Bengals made a wild comeback before falling a point short. Big week for these Tigers ahead.

#4 Mississippi State: 16-5 (4-4)

Last Week’s Ranking - 4

Last Week: Lost to Alabama 83-79, Beat Ole Miss 81-75

This Week: Wednesday vs. LSU, Saturday vs. Kentucky

Like so many before them, the Bulldogs fell in Tuscaloosa before avenging their home loss to Ole Miss by winning in Oxford on Saturday. They get 2 of the 3 best teams in the SEC at home this week so a golden opportunity for the Bulldogs awaits.

#5 South Carolina: 11-10 (6-2)

Last Week’s Ranking - 6

Last Week: Lost to #1 Tennessee 92-70, Beat Georgia 86-80

This Week: Tonight at Kentucky, Saturday vs. Arkansas

No shame in losing to Tennessee, everyone’s doing it. They’ve got an uphill battle tonight at Rupp Arena before a tossup game at home against the Hogs this weekend.

#6 Auburn: 15-6 (4-4)

Last Week’s Ranking - 7

Last Week: Beat Missouri 92-58, Beat Alabama 84-63

This Week: Tonight vs. Florida, Saturday at LSU

There’s No Place Like Home. There’s No Place Like Home. There’s No Place Like Home.

Auburn picked up 2 much needed wins this past week inside Auburn Arena and both were quite convincing. The first half against Mizzou was a struggle as the team held just a 3-point lead at halftime. Auburn shot 5-21 in that first half and perhaps doubt creeped into the minds of the Auburn fanbase. Their response: their highest point total in a half this year (58), finally eclipsing Auburn Football’s 1st half total in the Music City Bowl. Auburn came out on fire against Alabama building a 20 point halftime lead and holding steady in the second half. Auburn’s defense was a big part in both wins as they didn’t let Mizzou’s excellent 3-point shooting beat them nor did they let Donta Hall dominate them on the inside as I feared.

Auburn has 1 more game at home before going out on the road again and they could get Austin Wiley back this week. Winning at LSU isn’t impossible and would be a massive win for Auburn if they could somehow go down to Baton Rouge and get the job done.

#7 Alabama: 13-8 (4-4)

Last Week’s Ranking - 8

Last Week: Beat #22 Mississippi State 83-79, Lost to Auburn 84-63

This Week: Wednesday vs. Georgia, Saturday at Vanderbilt

Alabama continues to be a Tale of Two Teams, really good at home and not so much on the road (sound familiar Auburn fans?) John Petty did his best to keep Alabama in the game Saturday but nobody else hit double figures except for Kira Lewis Jr. for Alabama on Saturday.

#8 Ole Miss: 14-7 (4-4)

Last Week’s Ranking - 5

Last Week: Lost to Florida 90-86 (OT), Lost to #22 Mississippi State 81-75

This Week: Wednesday vs. Texas A&M, Saturday at Georgia

Ole Miss has come back to earth after peaking against Auburn and Mississippi State on opening week. Rebels really need to care of business this week to try and get back on track.

#9 Florida: 12-9 (4-4)

Last Week’s Ranking - 9

Last Week: Beat Ole Miss 90-86 (OT), Lost to #7 Kentucky 65-54

This Week: Tonight at Auburn, Saturday at Tennessee

The Gators led 42-31 against Kentucky with 14 minutes left and then the wheels fell of the Gators offense. Florida made just 5 shots in the last 14 minutes of the game (2 in the last minute). Things don’t get easier for Florida as they play here tonight before heading to Knoxville this weekend.

#10 Arkansas: 13-8 (4-4)

Last Week’s Ranking - 11

Last Week: Beat Georgia 70-60, Beat #19 LSU 90-89

This Week: Tonight vs. Vanderbilt, Saturday at South Carolina

The Hogs had the biggest surprise of the weekend, knocking off LSU in Baton Rouge after holding off a furious comeback from LSU. In their last 4 games, their only loss is a 3 point decision at Texas Tech so things are looking up in Fayetteville at the moment.

#11 Missouri: 11-9 (2-6)

Last Week’s Ranking - 12

Last Week: Lost to Auburn 92-58, Beat Vanderbilt 77-67

This Week: Tonight at Tennessee, Saturday vs. Texas A&M

After going into the locker room only down 3 here in Auburn, the second half was a disaster on both sides of the floor. But they bounced back on Saturday to beat Vanderbilt but have another brutal road test tonight in Knoxville before a winnable game Saturday.

#12 Georgia: 10-11 (1-7)

Last Week’s Ranking - 10

Last Week: Lost to Arkansas 70-60, Lost to South Carolina 86-80

This Week: Wednesday at Alabama, Saturday vs. Ole Miss

After scoring 98 on Texas the previous Saturday, the Bulldogs couldn’t sustain that momentum and dropped a pair of games this week. We’ll see if they have any luck in Tuscaloosa before hosting a struggling Ole Miss team.

#13 Texas A&M: 8-12 (1-7)

Last Week’s Ranking - 13

Last Week: Lost to #19 LSU 72-57, Lost to #1 Tennessee 93-76

This Week: Wednesday at Ole Miss, Saturday at Missouri

The Aggies fought valiantly for a good portion of the Tennessee game before the Vols took over late for a 17 point decision. Aggies hit the road twice this week.

#14 Vanderbilt: 9-12 (0-8)

Last Week’s Ranking - 14

Last Week: Lost to #7 Kentucky 87-52, Lost to Missouri 77-67

This Week: Tonight at Arkansas, Saturday vs. Alabama

The Dores got demolished at home at the hands of Kentucky 6 days after taking to Tennessee to Overtime. It was an ugly look to say the least. The Dores are still looking for the first SEC win of the season.

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/2/5/18210536/sec-power-rankings-and-open-discussion