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SEC power rankings – Week 5: Georgia looks legit, Vandy gets wake-up call

By John Buhler

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Mecole Hardman No. 4 of the Georgia Bulldogs takes the field before the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 23: Mecole Hardman No. 4 of the Georgia Bulldogs takes the field before the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Teams are starting to separate themselves in the SEC football hierarchy. Here are the SEC power rankings as we head into Week 5 of the 2017 NCAA season.

Through the first few weeks of the NCAA season, we might actually have a few good teams in the SEC. Though we have to admit this is a bit of a down cycle for the conference, the SEC should still have several teams that will be tough outs in bowl games, maybe a few that will shine in the New Year’s Six.

Overall, the SEC went 8-5 last week with the Ole Miss Rebels idle. All five losses came in conference games, so there’s nothing overly alarming about that. The big winners last Saturday were the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Alabama bulldozed the Vanderbilt Commodores. Auburn clobbered the Missouri Tigers. Georgia dominated the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Obviously, it wasn’t a good week for those three losing SEC programs, but it wasn’t great for the Arkansas Razorbacks or the Tennessee Volunteers either.

Arkansas dropped the Southwest Classic in overtime to their SEC West rival Texas A&M Aggies in Arlington. Half of Neyland Stadium left the game early in Knoxville, as the Tennessee Volunteers barely held on against the lowly UMass Minutemen. Here are the latest SEC power rankings heading into Week 5.

COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Auburn Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson (21) scores a touchdown during the first half of a college football game against the Missouri Tigers, Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Memorial Stadium in Columbia Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Auburn Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson (21) scores a touchdown during the first half of a college football game against the Missouri Tigers, Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Memorial Stadium in Columbia Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Missouri Tigers (1-3)

Last week: Loss vs. No. 15 Auburn, 51-14
Last rank: 14th

At this point other than to give their SEC rivals more conference wins, what is the point of the 2017 Missouri Tigers football team? This team is flat-out rancid. The defense is atrocious, the offense is sloppy and can’t execute against Power 5 opponents. No wonder the student body isn’t showing up.

Not to say that Missouri was going to beat the No. 15 Auburn Tigers on Saturday night, but not even a night game could get this team fired up. The gap between Missouri and the 13th best SEC team is the Grand Canyon. This program is an utter disaster since Gary Pinkel retired. It doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better.

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Arkansas Razorbacks (1-2)

Last week: Loss vs. Texas A&M, 50-43 (OT)
Last rank: 12th

We’re at that point where we have to be completely honest about Bret Bielema as a head coach. His team cannot hang in SEC play. Arkansas dropped its sixth straight game to the rival Aggies, including the third defeat in overtime in four years.

It doesn’t matter that redshirt senior quarterback Austin Allen is seasoned, he has no weapons to throw to and an offensive line that can’t keep him upright. If this team doesn’t go bowling, that’s it for Bielema in Fayetteville. Depending on the effort Ole Miss gives, Arkansas might be the worst team in the SEC West by a considerable margin.

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