Week 10 decided the SEC East and created huge playoff implications with the huge SEC West showdown between Alabama and LSU. Here's how I rank each team after this week's games:
14. Vanderbilt Commodores
The Commodores did everything within their power to play the role of "spoiler" against Florida in Gainesville, but their atrocious offense was able to overshadow a tremendous performance by their defense, allowing the Gators to clinch the SEC East with a 9-7 victory. The Commodores host Kentucky this weekend and will try to get Derek Mason his second SEC victory.
13. South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks looked like they were going to pull an upset in Knoxville, before tight end Jerell Adams fumbled deep in Tennessee territory to seal the Vols' 27-24 victory. If there's a silver lining to this game, it would be the fact that South Carolina's offense scored three touchdowns in the third quarter behind quarterback Perry Orth. Orth completed passes to 10 different South Carolina receivers Saturday, and the Gamecocks will need him to be on point this weekend against a stingy Florida defense.
12. Missouri Tigers
The Tigers were defeated by Mississippi State last Thursday 31-13 in a game where Dak Prescott threw four touchdowns. A lot of news has surrounded this team since the weekend, and you have to wonder how focused they are for a non-conference matchup against BYU this weekend in Kansas City.
11. Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats were blown out by Georgia, losing to the Bulldogs by 24 points. Patrick Towles only completed eight out of 21 passes for 96 yards and threw two interceptions in a disappointing performance by the Wildcats that puts their Bowl Game chances in question.
10. Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies started off this season strong but have had a difficult time adjusting to Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback. The Aggies will have to figure out how to stop the run, and Auburn exploited their defense by running the ball 52 times. The Aggies will try to work out the kinks against Western Carolina on Saturday, after losing three of their last four games.
9. Auburn Tigers
The Tigers might've turned their luck around this past weekend against Texas A&M in a game where Gus Malzahn stayed true to running the football. Jeremy Johnson returned as the Tigers' starting quarterback and played very effectively, and the Tigers ran the football for over 300 yards in the 16-point win.
8. Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks have scored over 50-points in each of their last three games, which have included two overtime wins. Arkansas didn't quit againt Ole Miss on Saturday, even when the Rebels could've ended the game a few different times. Brandon Allen threw for over 400 yards and six touchdowns in a wild, 53-52 win in Oxford.
7. Georgia Bulldogs
There's been a lot of speculation on whether Georgia should part ways with head coach Mark Richt over the past few weeks, and Richt's team responded by dominating the Kentucky Wildcats 27-3 in a game that was never in question for Georgia. The Bulldogs face a tough task this weekend when they travel to Auburn to take on a Tiger team that's played with a purpose over the last couple weeks.
6. Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee looked like they were going to dominate South Carolina in the early stages of the game on Saturday. The Gamecocks' defense started making plays, and Tennessee let their opponent back in the game for yet another time this season. A late turnover sealed the Vols' victory, and though it didn't look good, Tennessee still made it happen. The Vols will host North Texas this Saturday for a nice tune-up before traveling to Missouri next weekend.
5. Ole Miss Rebels
The Rebels lost the chance to control their own destiny by losing a heartbreaker to Arkansas in overtime on Saturday. The Razorbacks kept their overtime drive alive by a desparate lateral that ended up gaining them enough yards on a fourth-and-long. Ole Miss doesn't have time to sulk about this loss, as LSU comes to town this Saturday.
4. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Dak Prescott has been impressive this season, and he threw for four touchdowns and over 300 yards. The Bulldogs face the tough task of hosting Alabama, who dethroned LSU from the top of the SEC West standings last weekend in Tuscaloosa.
3. LSU Tigers
The Tigers just couldn't stop a brutal Alabama rushing attack, while they were unable to unleash Leonard Fournette against the Tide's powerful defensive front. The Tigers need to learn and move on from last week's loss, as there's still a chance that either Alabama loses or a one-loss team from the SEC West could potentially make the playoff.
2. Florida Gators
Jim McElwain didn't have many people thinking that Florida could win the SEC East in his first season with the Gators. Well, he did just that when the Gators defeated Vanderbilt 9-7 in the Swamp on Saturday. The Gators can't take their foot off the gas because they need to win the rest of the games on their schedule and win the SEC Championship in order to make the playoff.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama throttled LSU in Tuscaloosa Saturday, and the Tide showed the country that they've got one of the best running backs in the country with Derrick Henry. Henry finished with over 200 yards on the ground, including three touchdowns. If the Tide can hold on and win the SEC West, Derrick Henry will earn himself a trip to New York for being a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. First, they'll have to take care of business against a very capable Mississippi State team on the road this Saturday.
As always thanks for reading! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @griffaldo.
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