Georgia Bulldogs: SEC East Power Rankings, Week 3
By John Buhler
Sep 12, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) scores the winning touchdown in double overtime against the Tennessee Volunteers Neyland Stadium. Oklahoma won in double overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
I think it will be a while before we see Neyland Stadium ‘checkered’ again in Knoxville. The Vols are now 0-2 in games involving the color coordinated Rocky Top crowd. UT lost a heartbreaker in double overtime to the Oklahoma Sooners 31-24. While many think both UT and OU will be good this year, it’s still a little too early to tell where they stand in the college football hierarchy.
The Vols will get Western Carolina at home to hopefully numb the pain from the Oklahoma loss. Had UT won the second half of the home-and-away series with the Sooners, Tennessee could argue for a spot in the Top 15 in the AP Poll. Now they find themselves out of the Top 25.
Tennessee is very difficult to assess at this point. Are they a 10-2, SEC East Championship team or a slightly better version of themselves than last, finishing with an 8-4 record? While I didn’t think Rocky Top would beat Boomer Sooner at home in Week 2, I still thought that the Vols would be a major player in the SEC East race.
They still could be, but I’m concerned about their offense. QB Josh Dobbs can’t play like he did against Oklahoma (13-31, 125 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and expect to win meaningful conference games. With UGA, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mizzou still on the slate, maybe UT wins two of these games. And they would need to if they want to contend for the SEC East Division Crown this fall.
Sep 12, 2015; Jonesboro, AR, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Maty Mauk (7) looks to pass as Arkansas State Red Wolves defensive end Ja
Missouri does what Missouri does: navigate a soft schedule better than just about anybody. Mizzou will likely not play their first ranked team until October 17th when the Tigers face the Georgia Bulldogs in Sanford in their growing rivalry game. The Tigers are the number 22 team in the nation and should stay a ranked team all year.
Their schedule does amp up after the Georgia game slightly with dates versus Tennessee and a good BYU team in the non-conference. Mizzou is once again extremely fortunate to draw the two teams out of the SEC West that aren’t ranked in Mississippi State and Arkansas. Could one of both be ranked when they play the Tigers? That seems likely.
Two things Missouri has in its favor are the most experienced passer in the SEC East in QB Maty Mauk and a great defensive program under HC Gary Pinkel. Coach Pinkel is fantastic at getting the most out of his players on the defensive side of the football. Expect Mizzou to enter Week 7 at 6-0 and in the Top 10 when they face the Georgia Bulldogs. Mizzou plays UConn at Noon on Saturday on ESPN.
Next: SEC East Champion