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SEC Power Rankings 2016: Pre-Week 1

By John Buhler

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Zach Cunningham (41) celebrates with teammates as he recovered the fumble against the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Zach Cunningham (41) celebrates with teammates as he recovered the fumble against the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Wins, but nothing special about them

The next step up from the losses/byes would be winning, but not in an impressive manner. This grouping is about winning games a team should, regardless of how dominant it looks. An SEC team should be able to blowout many mid-majors or FCS schools. Winning, but not looking great doing it will hurt a team in the SEC power rankings.

Kentucky for the third straight season will be somewhere in that four-to-seven win range. Mark Stoops’ Wildcats should come out strong at start of the year, only to fade in the latter weeks of SEC play. The Wildcats will be a seven-point home favorite versus Southern Miss.

Since losing former head coach Larry Fedora to the North Carolina Tar Heels, Southern Miss has been one of the worst programs in the country, going a combined 4-32 in the last three seasons. A loss for Kentucky at home would easily put the Wildcats 14th in these SEC power rankings. Then again a win is a win, no matter how unimpressive it may look.

Kentucky has recruited like a top 40 program under Stoops the last few years and should win this game, convincingly or not. This is a loss Kentucky cannot afford to have it if wants to reach a bowl for the first time in half a decade this holiday season.

Mississippi State will have a difficult time offsetting the loss of Dak Prescott to the NFL this season. Dan Mullen might have the best job security of any coach in the SEC, but this might be the second a Mullen-led Bulldogs team doesn’t make it to a bowl game.

That being said, Mississippi State should be able to beat the South Alabama Jaguars team at home Week 1. South Alabama has a 43-35 record in seven seasons to date, but will be 34-point underdogs at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.

Mississippi State has a great opportunity to flex its muscles with a convincing win against a so-so team from the Sun Belt in Week 1. The Bulldogs don’t have to cover the spread to be middle of the pack in the SEC Week 1. They just need to prove that losing Prescott to the NFL won’t wreck their season. Mississippi State should dominate their inferior opponent Week 1.

While both Kentucky and Mississippi State’s projected Week 1 wins will probably be by a wider margin than what Vanderbilt puts up in a defensive struggle versus South Carolina, starting the year out 1-0 in SEC play is huge for Vanderbilt football.

South Carolina might struggle to win even four games this season, but an SEC win is an SEC win. Vanderbilt will need two, possibly three if Western Kentucky emerges as a strong non-conference opponent, to reach a holiday season bowl for the first time under head coach Derek Mason.

A low-scoring win with few offensive turnovers could be a huge boost of confidence for the Commodores entering Week 2. If Vanderbilt wants to play in a bowl this winter, the Commodores will have to beat weaker teams like South Carolina at home this fall.

Next: No. 7-5

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