Trending up:
Florida: Will Muschamp notched his first signature win as the Gators out-toughed LSU in Gainesville on the way to a 14-6 win. Brent Pease put Mike Gillislee to work giving the senior 34 carries. Gillislee pounded out 146 yards and 2 TDs against a run defense giving up less than 90 yards a game. The Florida defense held LSU to a pair of field goals; both drives were either aided by penalties or due to a turnover deep in Florida territory. The Gators confidence continues to grow with each win.
South Carolina: Steve Spurrier loves to beat Georgia. Spurrier seemingly carries a grudge against the Bulldogs for a 27-10 loss during his senior season that cost him a conference title. In classic Spurrier form, the Gamecocks landed 3 body blows in the first quarter and effectively put Georgia out of the game. Down 21-0, Spurrier had extreme confidence in his defense as Connor Shaw threw a total of 10 passes as Spurrier used All American Marcus Lattimore to control the ball and eat clock. Florida and South Carolina are on a collision course set for October 20.
Holding steady:
Tennessee: The Vols were off this past week but face an absolute must win this weekend in Starkville. Tennessee will be fighting for Derek Dooley’s job as Dooley recovers from hip surgery. If it wasn’t for bad luck, Dooley would have no luck at all. Mississippi State boasts one of the best defensive backfields in the conference. The Jonathon Banks v Hunter/Patterson match up will be quality television. Tyler Bray will have to be clutch if the Vols want to turn the tide.
Trending down:
Georgia: Mark Richt’s record against ranked teams since 2008 is abysmal. When the lights have shined the brightest, Georgia not only comes up short, but often gets run out of the building. For Georgia to get back to Atlanta, Carolina will have to lose twice and Georgia will have to win out…not the likeliest of scenarios. The table was set for Georgia to return to Atlanta and it appears that the Bulldogs will watch either Florida or South Carolina take on the SEC West champ.
Missouri: Mizzou lost to Vanderbilt last week. Gary Pinkel is apparently finding out the hard way that playing a Big 12 slate and playing an SEC slate aren’t exactly the same. Missouri has serious issues on the offensive line and that is all that really needs to be said. The rest of the issues are secondary. The only way to fix what ails Missouri is recruiting and a better strength and conditioning program. Alabama comes to town this weekend so at least Pinkel and Co. will see the template up close.
Vanderbilt: James Franklin’s squad avoided being the first team to lose to Missouri but there are bigger fish to fry as Florida visits Nashville this weekend. The Commodores are still scrappy on defense but are still having offensive issues. Not the best team to be facing when you are trying to figure out things on offense. Still, expect Vandy to hang tough with the Gators in what is a classic trap game.
Kentucky: Kentucky is still bad. That has not changed. However basketball recruiting is going well for Calipari according to the twitter, so there is that.
Power Poll:
- South Carolina/ Florida—This game was close last year in Columbia, expect another razor thin margin in Gainesville in 2 weeks.
- Georgia-After that showing in Columbia hard to put Georgia here, but they are better than the rest.
- Tennessee-The Derek Dooley tenure has been one of “a day late and a dollar short”.
- Vanderbilt-A bowl is looking less and less likely.
- Mizzou- Still looking for an SEC win.
- Kentucky—A lot of work to be done in Lexington.
