Fansided

SEC Football, Week 3 Power Rankings: Texas A&M impresses, Ole Miss fades

By John Buhler

Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) reacts after being sacked near the end zone during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) reacts after being sacked near the end zone during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Alabama won 48-43. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Jordan Scarlett (25) carries the ball against the North Texas Mean Green during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the North Texas Mean Green 32-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators running back Jordan Scarlett (25) carries the ball against the North Texas Mean Green during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the North Texas Mean Green 32-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Quality wins, inferior opponent

Tennessee has not looked impressive in any of their three games this season. However, the Volunteers are a perfect 3-0 in through mid-September. The Volunteers were on upset alert at home in Week 3 against the Ohio Bobcats but managed to put Ohio away in the end with a 28-19 victory.

The team’s first real big test will come in Week 4 against SEC East rival Florida. The Gators defense is fantastic and the Volunteers have struggled to make plays in the passing game thus far. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has yet to eclipse 300 yards through the air in a game this season.

All that aside, the Volunteers will enter SEC play without a blemish on their 2016 resume. Getting Florida at home will help, but Tennessee hasn’t beaten the Gators since the 2004 NCAA season. We will know a lot more about Tennessee after next weekend.

The Florida Gators have themselves another fantastic defense. Florida has surrendered only 14 points in its first three weeks. However, the Gators haven’t played anything close to a ranked opponent in their three 2016 victories to date.

Florida shut out the North Texas Mean Green, 32-0 on Saturday. Though Florida kept North Texas out of the end zone, starting quarterback Luke Del Rio didn’t shine like had in the first two weeks. Del Rio completed 14 of 25 passes for 186 yards and an interception.

The Gators have their first big test of 2016 when they take on SEC East rival Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday. Though the Gators have won 11 straight over the Volunteers, they’ll need to play more of a complete game to make it a dozen straight over Rocky Top. It’s early, but Florida might be the best team in the SEC East in 2016. Tennessee and Georgia aren’t yet championship caliber.

One of the two teams that are coming on early in the SEC West this season has to be Bret Bielema’s Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas handled the Texas State Bobcats, 42-3 on Saturday. Quarterback Austin Allen is emerging as one of the best signal callers in the SEC in his first year in the role.

Arkansas should continue its climb up the AP Top 25 with its all-around solid play. The Razorbacks have improved each week after nearly falling to the Louisiana Bulldogs at home in Week 1. They have a huge SEC West rivalry game in Week 4 when they take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the Southwest Classic in Arlington.

Whoever comes out on top in the Southwest Classic will emerge as the premier challenger to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC West. Arkansas plays with balance under Bielema, but can the Razorbacks hold off Trevor Knight, Myles Garrett and the rest of the Aggies in a neutral-site showdown in Week 4?

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