Georgia Bulldogs: SEC East Power Rankings, Week 5

Sep 26, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) carries the ball against Vanderbilt Commodores cornerback Taurean Ferguson (3) during the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi Rebels beat Vanderbilt Commodores 27-16. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Vanderbilt kept it close with the #3 team in the nation in inter-divisional rival Ole Miss down in Oxford. Vandy only lost 27-16 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Their defense is definitely getting there for second-year HC Derek Mason. In Week 4, the offense is looking like it’s finally coming around.

QB Johnny McCrary played a nice game, completing 23-42 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. RB Ralph Webb had 25 carries for 90 yards on the ground. TE Steven Scheu had 5 catches for 57 yards through the air. Overall, the ‘Dores offense accumulated 322 yards against a pretty good Land Shark defense.

By not committing a turnover on offense and forcing two defensively on the Rebels, VU hung tough in this “no-chance” game on the road. This team will win an SEC game this year, maybe two. Their two toughest conference opponents (UGA and Ole Miss) are no longer standing in their way. However, until Vanderbilt can beat an SEC team or a worthy adversary, they will remain in 7th place in these power rankings.

Vanderbilt will travel to nearby Murfreesboro to play Middle Tennessee State at 7:30 PM ET on Saturday. This game will air on the CBS Sports Network.

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Sep 26, 2015; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks running back Shon Carson (7) runs against UCF Knights defensive back Brendin Straubel (35) during the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina rebounded after their pummeling by the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium, toppling the UCF Knights 31-14 at home. Lorenzo Nunez made his first start at quarterback for the Gamecocks, completing 12-22 passes for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nunez also rushed for 123 yards on 18 designed runs.

The true freshman QB’s favorite target was none other than SEC stud wideout Pharoh Cooper, who corralled 4 receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. USC totaled 400 yards of offense to UCF’s 230.

However, this was a UCF team that has not been able to rekindle the magic from the team that won the Fiesta Bowl over Baylor when Blake Bortles was the man under center for the Knights. South Carolina is about to enter the heart of the SEC schedule.

The Gamecocks will partake in the Battle of Columbia with emerging rival Missouri in the Show Me State. Neither program has one conference win. Mizzou cannot afford to have two losses in SEC play before playing the Georgia Bulldogs Between the Hedges in Week 7.

USC can’t lose its first three conference games if it sees itself getting to a bowl game this holiday season. Going 0-4 before the Vanderbilt game in Week 7 may mean the end of the Steve Spurrier Era in the Palmetto State Capital. The Battle of Columbia airs on the SEC Network at Noon on Saturday.

Next: Tier III: Bowl Bound, No SEC Championship