SEC Football Power Rankings After Week 6: Auburn in Top Five

Oct 1, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; SEC football – A golden eagle named Nova circles the field before the game between the Auburn Tigers and the UL-Monroe Warhawks at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

We give our SEC football power rankings after six weeks of play. See who moved up, and who moved down after a big weekend of SEC football.

SEC football had a big week this past weekend as there was a lot of shake-up among the top teams. There could have been even more had LSU and Florida figured out a way to play their game.

Instead we saw Alabama humbled Arkansas, and Texas A&M end Tennessee’ streak of luck – even though it took overtime to do finish them off.

We also saw Auburn destroy Mississippi State, Kentucky get a big win over Vanderbilt and Georgia pull away late against South Carolina.

There were no out-of-conference games last weekend, so we had a full slate of SEC action.

That won’t be the case this weekend, but we do have two games with top 25 teams going against each other in Alabama-Tennessee and Ole Miss-Arkansas.

It should be another great week of action in the SEC, but before that let’s see where everyone stands in our power rankings.

Oct 9, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (16) makes a catch and drags South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back D.J. Smith (24) towards the end zone during the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Georgia won 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

14 – Vanderbilt – 2-4 (0-3) – Even

The Commodores all but locked up a last place finish in the SEC after their loss to Kentucky. Now it will come down to them and Missouri on November 12.

I think Vanderbilt gets two more wins this season, but they’re not making a bowl game in 2016.

They play Georgia, Auburn and Missouri all on the road, while they play Ole Miss and Tennessee at home to finish the season.

13 – Missouri – 2-3 (0-2) – Even

I didn’t expect much out of Missouri this year, but after the way they played in a few out-of-conference games I thought they might have a shot at a bowl game.

They play Florida this weekend in what will probably be a loss, but then they play Middle Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt in four straight weeks. If the can run the table on those four games – and they very well could – they’ll be bowling this year.

12 – South Carolina – 2-4 (1-4) – Even

The Gamecocks have now lost three in a row after starting the season 2-1. They had a chance against Georgia on Sunday, but this team really struggles on offense.

Their defense is good enough to keep them in games, and I think they’ll win a few more because of that reason.

However, I don’t see them getting four more wins this season. They should get one this weekend against UMASS, although they have played SEC teams though this year.

But they still have Tennessee, Florida and Clemson on the schedule.

I’m not a Will Muschamp fan, but he’s done surprisingly well with this South Carolina team in 2016. If they get to five wins I’d call that a successful season.

Oct 8, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats safety Blake McClain (24) and cornerback Chris Westry (21) celebrate during the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated Vanderbilt 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

11 – Mississippi State – 2-3 (1-2) – Down One

Speaking of Mississippi State, the Bulldogs are quickly falling in the power rankings after getting blasted at home by Auburn.

You knew this was going to be a difficult year for Dan Mullen, but now it looks like they aren’t even going to make a bowl game.

They have a difficult game on the road this weekend against BYU, but follow that up with two winnable games against Samford and Kentucky.

Their last four games are against ranked teams though.

10 – Kentucky – 3-3 (2-2) – Up One

With each win the Wildcats gets I can’t help but think back to that Southern Miss game to start the season and how bad that loss hurts.

Kentucky could easily be 4-2 right now with legitimate shot to make a bowl game. However, now they’ll have to claw their way to six wins.

They’re off this weekend, but then get Mississippi State at home in a game that could determine their season. They still have winnable games against Missouri and an FCS school on their schedule.

9 – Georgia – 4-2 (2-2) – Even

In case you missed, the Bulldogs played another lackluster game on Sunday when they struggled to beat South Carolina.

However, a win is a win and they have a chance to get their fifth this weekend as they take on Vanderbilt at home.

The only difficult games left on their schedule are Florida and Auburn.

There is a chance this team finishes with eight or nine even though they’re not very good.

Oct 8, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Drew Morgan (middle) returns a kickoff for a long gain during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

8 – Arkansas – 4-2 (0-2) – Down One

The Razorbacks took another hit on Saturday when they were embarrassed at home by Alabama. I think the rest of the country is starting to figure out that this team isn’t as good as they’re ranking would indicate.

That’s perfectly find as you couldn’t expect this team to be that good after all they lost from a season ago. The fact that they are even competing in these games is amazing.

Now they have to face Ole Miss this weekend before traveling to face Auburn who will be coming off a bye week. Things could get ugly for Arkansas quickly, and it could come down to their last two games as to whether or not they make a bowl game.

7 – Florida – 4-1 (2-1) – Up One

First of all, our thoughts and prayers go out to the people affected by hurricane Matthew. However, someone messed up big time at Florida for them not to get this game against LSU played.

There were plenty of other games affected by the hurricane and they all made adjustments, but the stubbornness of Florida and LSU kept this game from being played as scheduled.

The good thing for Florida is that it gives Luke Del Rio another week to rest. He should be ready for Missouri this weekend, and then they’ll have a bye week again before playing Georgia.

They’ll be cheering loud for Alabama against Tennessee this weekend.

Oct 8, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Auburn Tigers players react after a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

6 – LSU – 3-2 (2-1) – Even

I think LSU did what they could to try and get the Florida game played last week, but now they’re being just as difficult about re-scheduling this game.

That game is even more important for LSU than it is for Florida, so you’d think they’d be doing everything they could to play.

We’ll see if they’re rusty this weekend as they take on a difficult Southern Miss team who has already taken down and SEC school this year.

5 – Auburn – 4-2 (2-1) – Even

The Tigers went down to Starkville and took care of business on Saturday coming away with a 38-14 victory in their first road game of the season.

Those are games that you expect to win as Auburn fans, so it’s nice to see them getting back to winning those games decisively.

I think there is still a lot of work to be done for Auburn, but their defense – as well as the improved offense – makes them a top five team in the SEC.

They get a bye this weekend before another season defining game at home against Arkansas.

4 – Tennessee – 5-1 (2-1) – Even

The Volunteers luck finally ran out as they stormed back from 14 down in the last two minutes of the game against Texas A&M to force overtime, but an ill-advised pass from Josh Dobbs ended their winning streak.

Despite the loss, the Volunteers didn’t fall far in the polls and a win over Alabama this week essentially clinches the SEC East and gives them a shot at the College Football playoffs.

Beating Alabama – even at home – won’t be easy, but if they can’t there isn’t an opponent left on their schedule that should come close to beating them.

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) celebrates with his teammates after the win over the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeated the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

3 – Ole Miss – 3-2 (1-1) – Even

The Rebels are looking to prove their still one of the best teams in the country after blowing big leads against Florida State and Alabama to start the season.

They’ll get another chance to take down a ranked team this weekend as they take on Arkansas. Last year the Razorbacks stunned Ole Miss by beating them in overtime, so it will be another revenge game for Chad Kelly and the Rebels.

After facing Arkansas the Rebels will travel to LSU before hosting Auburn, so they have a pretty difficult stretch of games coming up.

2 – Texas A&M – 6-0 (4-0) – Even