SEC Power Rankings: Week 12

1. LSU – The Tigers sit back on top the national title chase, and the mantle is well deserved. Only a 3 OT loss at Kentucky stands between this team and a flawless campaign, and with the ledger of ranked teams they’ve beaten, the Tigers deserves a shot at all the marbles. Can Arkansas do damage against the suddenly mortal defense?
2. Georgia – The Bulldogs have looked amazing since the Tennessee loss, ripping off wins against Vandy, Florida, Troy and Auburn. Now they get Kentucky at home before heading to Atlanta on Thanksgiving weekend. With all the attrition among the nation’s top teams, the Bulldogs have to be looking like a BCS contender, especially in one of the southern bowl games. Still – the Wildcats will be a challenge. UGA’s 8^th ranked SEC pass D could struggle against Woodson.
3. Auburn – The Tigers finally came off their cloud between the Hedges Saturday. The loss didn’t shock me; the method did. Auburn gave up 45 points to Georgia, revealing some cracks in a D that had looked unbelievable the last few weeks. The bye week before Alabama should help Auburn get healthy – the pass rushers could use a little rest. Despite boasting the nation’s 11^th best defense, Auburn is only 94^th in sacks. Antonio Coleman needs to attack Wilson against ‘Bama.
4. Florida – Tim Tebow deserves to win the Heisman. That fact is really undeniable now, with the punishment he’s taken from the nation’s best defensive league, and the numbers he’s put up in the process. Tebow is 9^th in the SEC in rushing, 2^nd nationally in scoring, 2^nd nationally in passer rating, 7^th in total offense and has just been abused by opposing defenses. The late press rush has been gaga over Oregon’s Dennis Dixon, but Tebow deserves the trophy.
5. Tennessee – Erik Ainge owes the Vol offensive line a steak dinner. UT’s hogmollies have surrendered only 3 sacks this year, giving Ainge the time he needs to develop from a good QB to a very good one. Jerod Mayo and Rico McCoy might be the league’s best LB duo. At 8^th and 9^th in the SEC in tackles, they’re both underclassmen and back next year.
6. South Carolina – The Gamecocks have faded from a possible national title contender to an SEC East has been who could conceivably miss a bowl game altogether. They won’t, with the Spurrier factor and a fan base that will likely travel, but at 6-6 on a 5-game losing streak to end the year, SC isn’t exactly driving bowl scouts nuts right now. Beating Clemson won’t ease the pain this year.
7. Mississippi State – Thank you, Sylvester Croom, for justifying my year-long campaign to get your team more respect. This team will be bowling, and a win over Arkansas or Ole Miss will cement it. Things get really fun if the Bulldogs can pull the double. Arkansas will be a tough task on senior night in the Rock, but a win over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl makes this 7-5 season a smashing success.
8. Alabama – Thank you, Nick Saban, for justifying my year-long campaign to convince the public that your team is mediocre. The Tide is probably on its way to a 7-5, 4-4 season after a likely loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl. I’m not dogging Saban; the guy can coach and will have this team in the title game in a few years. But this year the hype machine has been out of control for a team that is ranked 67^th nationally in offense and 34^th in defense.
9. Kentucky – The Wildcats came back to earth after a stunning start to the year, but UGA had better not sleep on Woodson & Co. this week in Athens. The UK offense is still the best passing attack in the SEC; luckily, UGA could have similar success through the air – UK has only one d-back with more than one pick, and that’s Trevard Lindley with 2. The pass D is 8^th in the league in efficiency and should give Stafford enough time to do what he does.
10. Arkansas – Don’t get me started on Arkansas. If this team goes 6-6, and it might, with losses to Mississippi State and LSU, it truly does not deserve a bowl bid. ESPN will go nuts if Darren McFadden isn’t in the postseason, but for the one millionth time, here are the ‘Hogs wins to date: Troy, N. Texas, Chattanooga, Ole Miss, FIU and South Carolina. Four non-BCS teams, brutal Ole Miss, and South Carolina. If Arkansas gets to 7 wins, they’ll sneak in. And get beaten.
11. Vanderbilt – Vandy really could have gotten the UK win Saturday; the Commodores notched 30 first downs, 239 rushing yards and 193 passing yards against no picks. But they did what teams without a history of winning do: failed to make enough big plays down the stretch to beat a slightly better team. Can they snap off a vulnerable Wake Forest squad in the season finale, with a bowl berth on the line?
12. Ole Miss – No one’s going to be pleased with a 4 win season, but a win over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl can change the vibe of the entire season. Anthony Dixon is mission #1 for the Ole Miss D, 104^th ranked in the nation. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is one of those SEC athletes that gets so overshadowed in this conference, and when he’s gone, people finally realize what an athlete he was.