SEC Power Rankings, Week 11: Alabama clinches SEC West
By John Buhler
![Nov 12, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver ArDarius Stewart (13) carries the ball against Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports Nov 12, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver ArDarius Stewart (13) carries the ball against Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8069ef932c7326eec0e0844d4f59620c6f5b83a49111ca02ea858bcdd67d0041.jpg)
Dominant SEC Wins
The Florida Gators took care of business by beating the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, 20-7, to have a shot at winning the SEC in back-to-back seasons with a Week 12 date in Baton Rouge against the LSU Tigers.
Impressively, Florida beat South Carolina with Austin Appleby at quarterback over the often-injured Luke Del Rio. The Gators continue to lean on their defense to win ball games under head coach Jim McElwain.
Florida faces a ton of pressure in LSU on Saturday. If the Gators win, they win the SEC East. Should they fall to LSU, then Florida has to hope the Tennessee Volunteers drop one of their two remaining SEC games. That would be wishful thinking, as Tennessee should steamroll both the Missouri Tigers and the Vanderbilt Commodores.
After getting shut out at home to the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide last week, the LSU Tigers responded by handling the rival Arkansas Razorbacks on the road in Fayetteville, 38-10.
LSU won the Golden Boot and have a realistic shot at getting to a New Year’s Six bowl in 2016. Despite not being better than 8-3 (6-2) on the year, LSU might end up being the best team in the SEC that doesn’t make it to Atlanta. The Sugar Bowl is a decent reach for this team. The Cotton Bowl is all the more realistic.
Overall, interim head coach Ed Orgeron has done a fantastic job leading this football team. He has the look of the next head coach of LSU. Orgeron is a great recruiter and has seen his team play well on both sides of the ball since taking over for Les Miles. Give him a shot, LSU! The SEC NEEDS Coach O!