OleHottyToddy Power Poll: Week 4
Each week at OleHottyToddy.com we will be conducting our very own SEC power poll. We will breakdown each team and rank them based on their previous week’s performances. Let’s get into it:
1. Alabama (Last Week: 3)
Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The Crimson Tide jumped Texas A&M after a big win over the Florida Gators, 42-21. Despite committing three turnovers, Lane Kiffin’s offense produced 645 total yards, including 449 yards through the air. Blake Sims (23-of-33 for 445 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) delivered the second-best passing performance in school history and Amari Cooper (10 receptions for 201 yards, 3 TDs) became Alabama’s all-time leader in career receptions.
2. Texas A&M (Last Week: 1)
Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Texas A&M made easy work of Southern Methodist, 56-3. The Mustangs have had a disaster start to the season, including the resignation of June Jones. Kenny Hill threw for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns in one half of work. Next, the Aggies and Arkansas will tangle in “Jerry World” for the CBS afternoon contest.
3. Auburn (Last Week: 2)
Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn received a scare from Kansas State last Thursday night. The Tigers, aided by several Wildcat turnovers and missed field goals, were able to escape, 20-14. Kansas State’s scrappy defense was able to keep Auburn’s dominant run game to 128 yards. In the end, WR D’haquile Williams (8 receptions for 110 yards, 1 TD) made the difference with several clutch grabs and dominated the Wildcat defensive backs in the second half.
4. Ole Miss (Last Week: 4)
Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Ole Miss holds steady at No. 4 after the bye week. The Rebels play Memphis this weekend in Oxford with College Gameday and a Top 10 match-up against Alabama on the line. The Tigers stand in the way of the biggest home game in Ole Miss history. To keep the team’s focus, Hugh Freeze should make sure they watch the 2003 Memphis game.
5. Mississippi State (Last Week: 10)
Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The most impressive win of the weekend goes to the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Dak Prescott (15-for-24 for 268 yards, 22 carries for 105 yards, 3 total TDs) abused LSU’s secondary and a stingy Bulldog defense held the Tigers in check before an odd Les Miles-like comeback made the score more interesting in the fourth quarter, 34-29. MSU has a bye before facing Texas A&M in perhaps the biggest weekend of college football in Mississippi history.
6. Georgia (Last Week: 8)
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Bulldogs handled the Troy Trojans easily, 66-0. Mark Richt was able to play several freshman during the contest, including RB Sony Michel (10 carries for 155 yards, 3 TDs). Former Ole Miss recruiting target, Isaiah McKenzie, added a punt return for a touchdown. However, Georgia received a scare in the third quarter when RB Keith Marshall exited the game with a knee injury.
7. South Carolina (Last Week: 7)
Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Steve Spurrier’s press conference after South Carolina defeated Vanderbilt, 48-34, was definitely a memorable one. “We’ve all seen good football teams, we ain’t one,” was Spurrier’s popular line from last Saturday. After South Carolina fell behind 14-0 and eventually gave up two kickoff returns for touchdowns against an awful Vanderbilt squad, I can understand The Ol’ Ball Coach’s disappointment.
8. LSU (Last Week: 5)
Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The quarterback play and secondary in Baton Rouge better improve in a hurry or Les Miles could be staring at a long season. The Tigers get the opportunity to work out some kinks against New Mexico State this weekend.
9. Arkansas (Last Week: 13)
Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
In a possible trap game, Arkansas left little doubt in Fayetteville with a 52-14 win over Northern Illinois. In rare form, Brandon Allen tossed two touchdown passes and the Razorback rushing attack continued to dominate with Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. The Razorbacks could be the most improved team in SEC and have a chance to prove it against Texas A&M this weekend.
10. Tennessee (Last Week: 10)
Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee Volunteers stayed put at No. 10 after the bye week. Butch Jones and Rocky Top have a big opportunity this weekend “between the hedges” in Georgia.
11. Florida (Last Week: 11)
Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Read this stat: Florida allowed 645 yards against Alabama. That type of effort is not going to win football games. The defense in Gainesville needs to rebound quickly to get this season back on track. If not, Will Muschamp might be shown the door.
12. Kentucky (Last Week: 12)
The Wildcats are still at No. 12 after the bye week. Kentucky has the opportunity to break a 17-game SEC losing streak against Vanderbilt this Saturday.
13. Missouri (Last Week: 6) – How do you fall from No. 6 to No. 13 in one week? By losing to INDIANA at home, that’s how. The Hoosiers, who lost to Bowling Green the previous week, punched it in with 22 seconds remaining to shock the Tigers, 31-27.
14. Vanderbilt (Last Week: 14) – The Commodores gave a valiant effort against South Carolina. A moral victory, however, will not move Vandy out of the basement.