1. Florida, 162 points (8 first-place votes)

2. Alabama, 160 (6)

3. Georgia, 134

4. LSU, 127

5. South Carolina, 113

6. Mississippi, 96

7. Kentucky, 86.5

8. Vanderbilt, 70.5

9. Arkansas, 52

10. Auburn, 46

11. Mississippi State, 27

12. Tennessee, 18

Sorry for the low turnout, but we had one slow week last year as well. Looks like this week will be it this season.

It might have made a difference. Florida, which actually split too first-place votes with Alabama, edged the Tide by two points for first. The only other change was Tennessee wresting control of the race for the "Worst of the Best" Cup with a convincing loss to Wyoming. I can assure you: When the SEC Power Poll started last year, none of us imagined Wyoming would ever alter the standings.

Voters explain more after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

1. Florida, 261 points (8 first-place votes)

2. Georgia, 257 (14)

3. LSU, 233 (1)

4. Alabama, 205

5. Auburn, 174

6. Vanderbilt, 161

7. Tennessee, 122

8. Mississippi, 121

9. South Carolina, 96

10. Kentucky, 89

11. Arkansas, 39

12. Mississippi State, 36

Florida and Georgia continue their back-and-forth battle for first place. The interesting thing about this race is that those who like Georgia still like Florida. Some of those who like Florida, though, are still hesitant about Georgia. Real hesitant. Like, one of them voted Georgia 8th. (You know who you are and I know who you are. But it's way too early in the season to call anyone out, so...)

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt creeps ever closer to that elusive 5th spot, going from 48 points down to 13. Tennessee slips past Ole Miss by a single point despite a near consensus that their undefeated season will end against Florida in ugly fashion. For some reason, South Carolina moves to ninth -- hooray moral victories! -- while Arkansas holds a slim three-point lead in the race to avoid the coveted "Worst of the Best" cup.

That said, many of our voters are still trying to sort things out.

"Next week the percentage of cream-puff games drops dramatically and we start answering some questions," noted Save the Shield.

Or, as Pelican State Sports said: "Next week, most teams will have some SEC play, and so this ballot should start to look a bit more reasonable and consistent.  Or, it could be like last year, and I will pull the teams out of a hat and rank them that way."

A team-by-team look at things after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Saturday, September 13th

UAB at Tennessee

A cupcake can't come soon enough for Tennessee, who has some major problems to solve before they take on the Gators in Knoxville next week. UAB, meanwhile, has been beaten soundly by upper-tier Sun Belt conference squads Tulsa and Florida Atlantic. Look for the Vols to work on their offensive game, which put up somewhat respectable yardage against UCLA but failed to capitalize on the Bruins' four first-half turnovers. Vols kicker Daniel Lincoln also needs to play better after missing three FGs in the opening loss.

Georgia at South Carolina

More on this one later.

Arkansas at Texas

This is an old-school rivalry that has given the sport a number of great games over the years. However, this looks like the wrong year to renew it, as Arkansas is struggling and looks to be no match for the Horns. Bevo, though, shouldn't take Arky too lightly: the Hogs' offense has logged more yardage than the final scores of their last two games would indicate, so it's possible that Petrino could have them scoring more points at some point this season. However, I still think it's safe to go here with Texas, who has so far outscored better-than-average mid-major opponents 94-23.

Auburn at Mississippi State

The Tigers come to Starkville seeking revenge for last year's embarrassing loss in Jordan-Hare. Auburn's defense is solid as usual, but the new spread offense has yet to yield the dividends Tigers fans had hoped for. However, it has been a little more effective than the unit led by Brandon Cox for the past couple of years, and it seems reasonable to believe that Franklin has saved a few tricks for the SEC schedule. State, on the other hand, beat Southeastern LA last week after they struggled in their first game as they lost to LA Tech. This game was classic State: the defense looked serviceable, but QB Wesley Carroll crapped away the victory by throwing four picks. The Auburn defense will hardly be more forgiving, and their offense looks efficient, so expect the Tigers to roll.

Western Kentucky at Alabama

The Tide followed up their dominating performance against Clemson with a clunker against Tulane in which they were unable to move the ball but managed a couple of TDs off of long kick returns by Javier Arenas. Considering the effort that went into the Clemson game and the fact that Tulane is a pushover, this was probably to be expected, but Bama showed that it still has some of the consistency problems that plagued the team last year. Look for the Tide to work on their offense against lowly WKU, which opened the season with a blowout loss to Indiana before picking up a win against FCS squad Eastern Kentucky.

Middle Tennessee at Kentucky

The 1-1 Blue Raiders travel to Lexington to take on the 2-0 Wildcats. Middle Tennessee, who opened the season with a loss to Sun Belt rival Troy, parlayed an efficient air attack and three forced turnovers into a home victory over Maryland last week. With this in mind, the Cats shouldn't take MTSU lightly. The Cats' offense has been a little lame so far, but they have one of the country's best defenses statistically, although the level of the competition may have something to do with that. Look for Kentucky to try to slow down MTSU QB Joe Craddock as they try to win another one with their defense.

Samford at Ole Miss

1-1 Ole Miss looks to erase the sting of a disappointing loss to Wake Forest as they take on 2-0 FCS opponent Samford. Although their defense has been a little questionable, Ole Miss's offense has been extremely productive so far, and Houston Nutt has done it with a little more balance than he used at Arkansas. Look for the Rebels to continue to hone their "Wild Rebel" attack and lock down defensively as they pummel Samford, who looks solid for an FCS program but should be piece of cake for the Rebs.

Rice at Vanderbilt

A game between two rising programs with long histories of losing, both come into this game at 2-0. Rice comes having scored 92 points in its first two games, so Vanderbilt will have to try to figure out how to slow them down. However, Vandy's defense may be able to do just that; they've only given up 30 so far, although an outing against South Carolina's anemic offense can do wonders for defensive statistics. Rice has given up almost as many points as they've scored, so look for Chris Nickson and company to light it up and keep Rice out of the endzone enough to take this one and move a step closer to their first bowl berth since who knows when.

North Texas at LSU

Not much to say about this one. UNT has so far been pounded by Kansas State and Tulsa, so don't expect their luck to get any better in Death Valley. LSU will be prepping for the showdown with Auburn next week.

Idle: Florida

The Gators get a week off to prep for the Vols. By the way, that week CBS has decided to air Florida-Tennessee instead of LSU-Auburn as the SEC Game of the Week. Message to CBS: it's not the 90s anymore. Nobody cares about Florida-Tennessee as much as LSU-Auburn. LSU-Auburn has become one the conference's premier games over the past few years, a game that almost always delivers a close, exciting contest. What is CBS thinking?

As usual, visit the Open Thread during the game.

1. It's Vanderbilt. They never win. Never mind.

2. Chris Smelley. Truth be told, I feel better going into this game with Smelley under center than Beecher. Aside from what happened last week, Smelley has more experience and has actually started in the SEC -- something necessary for a conference road game, even one in Nashville. He goes up against a team that allowed 244 yards passing against a MAC team last week.

Continue reading this post »

I got together for an interview with the good folks at the Vanderbilt Sports Line. See what they had to say about Thursday's game after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

While the defense looked very, very good last night, there is one concern I have. Frankly, I think we looked a little slow on the edges as we pursued State's running backs, especially in the first half (although, granted, at one point the defense was spending way too much time on the field due to all the turnovers). Teams are aware that running up the middle against our massive defensive front won't work, so I expect that they, as State did a little bit last night, will try to hit the corners to take advantage of the fact that our linebackers are big and a tad on the slow side.

This could be a major problem against some teams. It wasn't a huge problem against State, as we were able to play to the run given State's almost non-existent passing game. However, a team with a quick back and a more balanced attack (i. e., Georgia if their receivers step up) could do some damage to us.

Hopefully, Ellis Johnson and Co. see this and will plan accordingly. I think that there are ways we can play around this problem, such as using our safeties more to back up our linebackers in run support. This is part of the idea behind the 4-2-5 package, to have a large, speedy defensive backfield that can contain teams that like to spread the field and run to the outside (as Florida does with Percy Harvin). We just need to be ready, because teams will try to take advantage of this. First up: Expect Chris Nickson of Vanderbilt to try to gauge us on the outside.

When you really get down to it, South Carolina and Kentucky have got nothing on Vanderbilt when it comes to futility.

All three of the teams have struggled against the titans of the SEC East since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. But Vanderbilt has the most stunning historical number of all of them, spanning back decades. The Commodores' bowl record is 1-1-1.

They have been to three bowl games. That's fewer than the number of bowl wins by either South Carolina (4-9) or Kentucky (7-5).

So the futility here did not begin with Bobby Johnson, and he has perhaps done more than any other Vanderbilt coach to try to reverse it. Vandy has fallen one game short of postseason eligibility in two of the last three seasons, and in 2006 they fell two short. For Nashville, this is progress.

Progress just in time, though, for a step back this season. There are few people who believe that Vanderbilt will be bad this year. The question everyone seems to be asking is: How bad? 2-10 bad? Or just 4-8 bad?

There seems to be a perception that this year is marking time, that Vanderbilt intends to make a run (if it ever will) in 2009. But the games in 2008 still have to be played.

So maybe, in 12 months, Bobby Johnson will be a happier man. In the meantime, he best keep some aspirin nearby.

Calm down, Bobby. Things will get better with time. Maybe.

OFFENSE

Offensive line. Vanderbilt's offensive line this year has as many combined career starts as the university has bowl appearances. Quick refresher for those with short-term memory issues: That's three, or fewest in the country, according to Phil Steele, who adds this typical understatement: "This figures to be a problem area in 2008." South Carolina's o-line is up a notch in 2008, but it doesn't really need to be to stack up favorably to the Dores. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

Quarterbacks. Vanderbilt actually has two experienced, semi-competent quarterbacks returning this year, in the forms of Mackenzi Adams and Chris Nickson. Neither has won the job, but either would have more experience than Tommy Beecher, who will still only be in his second game as a full-time starter. ADVANTAGE: VANDERBILT

Running backs. Cassen Jackson-Garrison had a great name, but pedestrian numbers, rushing for 650 on 148 carries last year. He scored five times in his final season. Vanderbilt has no returning back who rushed for more than 360 yards last year. (Though Adams ran for 397.) ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

Wide receivers. Earl Bennett was an incredible player for any team, much less for a perpetually downtrodden school like Vanderbilt. But he and his 830 receiving yards and five touchdowns are gone this year. The best returner in terms of yards is George Smith, with 397. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

DEFENSE

Defensive line. The Dores actually had a run defense that South Carolina fans would have taken last year: ranked 32nd in the nation, allowing 128.2 ypg on the ground. On the other hand, three of last year's four starters are gone. But non-starter Broderick Stewart brings back his team-leading six sacks and 8.5 TFL. And Steven Stone, who did start last year, was tied for second in sacks with four. But whether they can stop the run consistently is an open question with a defensive line until it has the playing time to prove itself. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

The key to Vanderbilt's defense line?

Linebackers. Patrick Benoist was the other man tied for second in sacks on the team, also with four. His 32 tackles, though, are also the most among the team's LBs. This unit obviously pales in comparison to one of the best in the SEC. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

Secondary. This is easily the strongest part of Vanderbilt's defense. They ranked 18th last year, allowing 197.1 ypg. The entire unit returns intact. That means CB D.J. Moore, SS Reshard Langford and company. Moore had six picks and was second on the team with 83 tackles. ADVANTAGE: VANDERBILT

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ryan Succop has almost 2.5 yards more on his average punt and had a FG percentage 11.5 points above his counterparts at Vanderbilt. The return game is pretty much a wash, and Vanderbilt has struggled on special teams for years. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

COACHING

Bobby Johnson is good, and he deserves better than what he's gotten at Vanderbilt. But you have to like Steve Spurrier's chances to reach his goals of SEC contention than Johnson's chances to reach bowl games on a regular basis. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

RESULT

Any South Carolina fan not scared by this game needs their head examined. Last year, this was the nightmare, the game that got away and ended up costing the Gamecocks a bowl berth. That said, Spurrier has no intention of dropping a game to the Dores for the second time in his career, and he will want to "hang half a hundred" on the board in Nashville. He won't, but the Gamecocks should win comfortably. LIKELY WIN

THE REST OF THEIR SEASON

Another long year. But then, Vanderbilt has come to expect those. They could start the season 2-1 or conceivably, with a few bounces, 3-1, opening at Miami (Ohio), vs. South Carolina, vs. Rice and at Mississippi. Then, after a bye week, they face a gauntlet: vs. Auburn, at Mississippi State and at Georgia. Duke gives a possible breather before the Commodores go back into the fire: vs. Florida, at Kentucky, vs. Tennessee, at Wake Forest. Not only is a 1-7 finish not out of the question, it's likely. Anything better than 3-9 should be considered a good season.

A brief romp through the 2008 schedule for the Gamecocks, with more complete previews, of course, coming as the season gets closer.

Game 1: vs. N.C. State (Thursday)
C&F is beginning to doubt more and more his wisdom in thinking that the Wolfpack might be a surprise team. N.C. State returns 10 starters to a team that finished 5-7 in 2007. They keep most of their running attack and quarterback, but lose a good chunk of the WR corps. The defense was hit hard by the end of last season; only four starters return. ADVANTAGE: GAMECOCKS

Game 2: at Vanderbilt (Thursday)
This could be a long year for Bobby Johnson. Again. QBs Mackenzi Adams and Chris Nickson returns, but RB Cassen Jackson-Garrison and WR Earl Bennett are gone. The Dores needed the upset in Columbia to fall one game short of a bowl (again) in 2007. South Carolina will be looking for revenge, though this is easily a trap game. ADVANTAGE: GAMECOCKS

Game 3: vs. Georgia
A team that went 11-2 last year returns 17 starters, among them a talented QB (Matthew Stafford), a Heisman-hyped RB (Knowshon Moreno) and the makings of a tough defense. The spelling-challenged Dawgs are legitimate national title contenders. ADVANTAGE: SPELLING-CHALLENGED DAWGS

Game 4: vs. Wofford
The Terriers scared the Gamecocks in 2006, and South Carolina has a habit of performing in underwhelming fashion against DIAAFCSETC teams. The hope, of course, is that Ellis Johnson can put a stop to that (or at least the defensive side). A scary game. ADVANTAGE: GAMECOCKS

Game 5: vs. UAB
Returning 16 starters is usually a good thing. But that can be an open quesiton when those starters were partially responsible for a 2-10 debacle. According to Phil Steele, the Blazers are 8-38 against BCS squads and are on a seven-game losing streak. ADVANTAGE: GAMECOCKS

Game 6: at Mississippi
Houston Nutt and Ole Miss have both been problems for South Carolina, even when they shouldn't be -- and they shouldn't be. But Ole Miss is struggling to overcome an abysmal period under the Orgeron. Nutt will start to turn the team around by the end of 2008, but largely with moral victories. ADVANTAGE: GAMECOCKS

Game 7: at Kentucky
The Wildcats lose QB Andre Woodson, RB Rafael Little, WR Steve Johnson and WR Keenan Burton. The bottom will probably not fall out this year, and a bowl game isn't out of the question by any means. But South Carolina has an eight-game winning streak against Kentucky, and there's little reason to think that the Cats depleted offense can snap the streak this year. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

Game 8: vs. LSU
The season begins to turn. The Bayou Bengals do lose QB Matt Flynn -- and, it turns out, QB Ryan Perrilloux -- RB Jacob Hester and WR Early Doucet. But this is LSU. Losing more than four games would be stunning, and it's incredibly unlikely that one of those defeats will come in Columbia. ADVANTAGE: TIGERS

Game 9: vs. Tennessee
The near-consensus for placing the Vols among the top 3 in the SEC East confuses C&F. This team showed weaknesses last year and stumbled to a division championship that should also be credited to timely losses by Georgia and Florida. With the loss of QB Erik Ainge and OC David Cutcliffe, it could be tough for Tennessee to stave off South Carolina again, especially with the game in Columbia. ADVANTAGE: PUSH

Game 10: vs. Arkansas
The Gypsy Coach of the South brings his team to the WB -- assuming, of course, that he's still with the Hogs this laste in the season. GCOTS will likely have trouble successfully installing his offense with Houston Nutt's recruits, and a bowl game would be an incredibly good job for this team. Oh, yeah, and they lost some players named McFadden and Jones. ADVANTAGE: GAMECOCKS

Game 11: at Florida
Steve Spurrier returns once again to the Swamp were he juuuuuuuust barley missed beating the Gators the last time. The Gators are stacked, though; QB Tim Tebow and utility player Percy Harvin are among 16 returning starters and the defense should improve with age. This could be Urban Meyer's best team so far. Only a loss to the spelling-challenged Dawgs will keep them out of Atlanta and Miami after the regular season. ADVANTAGE: GATORS

Game 12: at the Team from the Upstate
Yeah, the Tiggers should be good this year. Good offense, quality defense, etc. Yeah, you know how C&F is going to lean on this one. ADVANTAGE: GAMECOCKS.