SEC Power Poll, Week 9: Contradictions

1. Alabama Crimson Tide, 112 points (unanimous)
2. LSU Tigers, 97.5
3. Georgia Bulldogs, 96.5
4. Florida Gators, 92.5
5. South Carolina Gamecocks, 81.5
6. Texas A&M Aggies, 71
7. Mississippi St. Bulldogs, 65
8. Mississippi Rebels, 55
9. Vanderbilt Commodores, 46
10. Arkansas Razorbacks, 34
11. Tennessee Volunteers, 33
12. Missouri Tigers, 32
13. Auburn Tigers, 12.5
14. Kentucky Wildcats, 11.5

[Editor's note: Apologies for not having this up earlier. Real-life intervening, etc.]

The key question our pollsters had to answer this weekend was summed up by Red Cup Rebellion, the SB Nation Ole Miss blog: "So Florida beat LSU who beat South Carolina who beat Georgia who beat Florida. How exactly are we supposed to rank those teams?" And not to put to fine a point on it, but Florida beat LSU who edged South Carolina who clobbered Georgia who beat Florida who clobbered South Carolina.

So putting South Carolina ahead of either Florida or LSU puts them ahead of two teams who beat the Gamecocks. But putting Florida ahead of South Carolina and Georgia ahead of Florida requires putting the Dawgs ahead of the Gamecocks after South Carolina won by 28 points less than a month ago. I, for one, just gave up for the week and ranked them all second and hoped that the GAME OF THE CENTURY (III) will help at least suggest where LSU should go. Others made different decisions. I'm not sure there's a wrong way to do it.

Voters?

ALABAMA

The only thing we all can be sure of right now is Alabama's dominance.--Red Cup Rebellion

For his next trick, Nick Saban will make John Gruden take the Tennessee job.--Georgia Sports Blog

ARKANSAS

We should all write a thank you letter to Bobby Petrino's motorcycle.--Red Cup Rebellion

So much for momentum.--Get the Picture

AUBURN

I talked to an Auburn fan last week who was seriously entertaining the possibility of losing to Alabama A&M in a few weeks. That pretty much sums up the emotional state of the Auburn Family right now.--SB Nation Atlanta

The only reason this year's Plainsmen aren't clearly the worst team in Southeastern Conference history is that this year's Kentucky team also is a part of Southeastern Conference history.--Dawg Sports

FLORIDA

Those guys in red? Yeah. Not on your team.--And the Valley Shook

And the 2012 University of Georgia Distinguished Alumnus Award goes to . . . William Larry Muschamp!--Dawg Sports

GEORGIA

If Jarvis Jones were an SEC team, I'd probably rank him second.--Get the Picture

One game mirage or the real Georgia team? We'll be asking that one all the way until January.--Georgia Sports Blog

KENTUCKY

Well, despite being 1-8 you're apparently still the kind of team someone thought it was worth making a T-shirt about. I guess that can keep you warm until basketball season starts.--SBN Atlanta

Yeah, I did it. I spent WAY too much time trying to figure out which one should be last. I decided both Kentucky and Auburn deserved to be last.--Georgia Sports Blog

LSU

Anyone who thinks the Tigers don't stand a chance of knocking off Alabama this weekend apparently has never heard the name "Les Miles" before.--SBN Atlanta

Couldn't score a single point in their bye week. Clearly, Miles should bench Mettenberger for these failures.--And the Valley Shook

MISSISSIPPI

That Hugh Freeze has this bunch on the cusp of bowl eligibility borders on the miraculous.--Get the Picture

Still have yet to beat an FBS team with a winning record, but they're on their way to a bowl invite in Hugh Freeze's first season, and if I were a Rebel fan that'd be all that mattered.--SBN Atlanta

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Was State exposed, or is Alabama just that good? Or is it both?--Red Cup Rebellion

Combined current record of MSU's first seven opponents: 20-37. Combined current record of their next five, including Alabama: 29-11. And there you have the story of State's 2012 season.--SBN Atlanta

MISSOURI

Mizzou is 4-4 right now; they could make a bowl.--Red Cup Rebellion

One whole SEC win! And it counts, too!--And the Valley Shook

SOUTH CAROLINA

The Marcus Lattimore injury is just one of those things that makes me want to stop watching football. Just awful.--And the Valley Shook

[nothing but prayers and the hope for Marcus Lattimore's recovery]--Georgia Sports Blog

TENNESSEE

Congrats, you are now the new Vanderbilt, minus the academic standards.--And the Valley Shook

I apologize for the visual, but how many Big Orange fans would like to wake up like Victoria Principal in "Dallas," find Phillip Fulmer in the shower, and be told it was all a dream?--Dawg Sports

TEXAS A&M

Proved they're more deserving of being in the conference than Auburn right now.--Get the Picture

Man, if the SEC wanted a team that would lie down and give the other members an easy win, maybe we should've added Texas instead.--And the Valley Shook

VANDERBILT

Now that we've gotten the cupcake out of the way, Vandy has some ground to make up if they want to go to Birmingham in December.--Georgia Sports Blog

The ‘Dores skunked winless UMass, 49-7. That's the new Vandy for you!--Dawg Sports