SEC Power Poll, Week 7: Tigers on Top After Bizarre Weekend; A Mississippi Tie at Second

SEC POWER POLL, WEEK 7

1. Auburn Tigers, 164 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Ole Miss Rebels, 152 (1)
2. Mississippi St. Bulldogs, 152 (1)
4. Alabama Crimson Tide, 132
5. Texas A&M Aggies, 116
6. Georgia Bulldogs, 109
7. Missouri Tigers, 81
8. Arkansas Razorbacks, 79
9. LSU Tigers, 73.5
10. Kentucky Wildcats, 65.5
11. Florida Gators, 53
12. South Carolina Gamecocks, 37
13. Tennessee Volunteers, 34
14. Vanderbilt Commodores, 12

And it's the Tigers at No. 1. Auburn becomes the third team to lead our poll, meaning that we're getting a new top-ranked team roughly every third week. It's been that kind of a season. The Tigers and their fans probably should enjoy it while it lasts.

We actually have two consensus teams in this week's poll: Vanderbilt in last place (nothing new there), and Alabama in fourth. Our voters aren't quite sure what to make of Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, but they know that all three of them belong ahead of Alabama, and the Tide belongs ahead of everyone else.

Here's another oddity in the ballots that might just be one of those fluke things: The voters who put Ole Miss and Mississippi State at No. 1 were not just the only ones to not give Auburn their top spot, they were the only ones to not give Auburn either of the top two places. Both put the Tigers in third. Didn't really mean that much in the end, and I'm not sure it means anything in the beginning, but it's an interesting pattern.

As for the changes in position, they're a bit on the wild side after a week like that, so stay with me. Alabama slides three spots after the loss to the Rebels, opening up the top position for Auburn. Ole Miss moves up three and Mississippi State moves up two to set up the tie for second place. Texas A&M moves down two spots after getting thrashed by the Western Division Bulldogs, while the Eastern Division Bulldogs stand pat at No. 6. Missouri leaps past a steady Arkansas to move into seventh place. (Don't ask me; both teams were on a bye week.) Those Tigers essentially trade places with the LSU brand, which slides two spots in the rankings. Kentucky jumps up three to grab 10th place. Florida moves ahead one space. South Carolina and Tennessee both fall two spots. Vanderbilt has last place in a hammer lock right now.

Voters?

ALABAMA

Oh ... that Lane Kiffin.--Georgia Sports Blog

Don't write off the Crimson Tide.  This team has a way to go to be like some of the Alabama teams of recent past, but they could still get right into the SEC West mix.--For Whom the Cowbell Tolls

A one-loss Alabama team is still very much in the conversation at this point.--Red Cup Rebellion

Christopher Hanewinckel -- USA TODAY Sports

ARKANSAS

The SEC West isn't looking any friendlier, Bert.--Get the Picture

The Razorbacks impressed two weeks ago, and now they will get a chance to show just how real they are with a matchup against Alabama.--For Whom the Cowbell Tolls

Is there anyone out there who doesn't think Arkansas is going to upset someone, and it's going to be bad?--Red Cup Rebellion

AUBURN

Auburn held LSU to 0-13 on third downs. The defense is in the top 10 in a number of categories. Now the offense is starting to click again. That's downright scary, y'all.--College and Magnolia

The Tigers will be tested on the road again as they travel to Starkville. Which team will show up? The team that played at Kansas State or the one who dismantled LSU at home. If being on the road is that big of deal for this team, it won't make the playoff cut. Props to tight end C.J. Uzomah for his "Lutzie" tribute for the deceased Philip Lutzenkirchen after hauling in a touchdown pass.--Arkansas Fight

Gus Malzahn emerged from week six like a NASCAR driver putting the hammer down at 200 mph while weaving through a 25-car pileup. Some men just thrive on carnage, adrenaline, and Cracker Barrel.--Dawg Sports

FLORIDA

Will Muschamp stared into the abyss -- and trolled Tennessee fans.--Get the Picture

Well, they won. I guess.--Rock M Nation

The fact that someone got to claim a "win" out of that Florida/Tennessee game is good evidence that the universe is fundamentally unfair.--Dawg Sports

Randy Sartin -- USA TODAY Sports

GEORGIA

[a droid with "SEC EAST" painted down its side projects a woman onto the Georgia practice field] "This is our most desperate hour. Help us, Todd Gurley. You're our only hope."--Rock M Nation

A stretch of six weeks away from Athens will tell us if UGA is Atlanta-worthy or Nashville-bound for bowl season.--Georgia Sports Blog

My Heisman front-runner Todd Gurley, which based on current projection models means he will lose his starting role next week, has thrown the longest ball on the season for the Dawgs.--Arkansas Fight

KENTUCKY

Six weeks into the season Kentucky is a missed delay of game call from being undefeated and in control of their destiny in the SEC East. Let that sink in a bit.--College and Magnolia

Give Stoops credit, he's raised Kentucky to the point where they can take advantage of opponents wetting the bed rather than dutifully joining in. That's probably good for third in the SEC East at a minimum.--Dawg Sports

The Wildcats are a team that is putting it all together. They should reach bowl eligibility, which was unthinkable earlier this year.--For Whom the Cowbell Tolls

LSU

It's time to face reality. It's a rebuilding year in Baton Rouge.--Get the Picture

We're all waiting for the bounce back that's surely coming soon. It's gotta be. It'll be here any week, just you wait.--Rock M Nation

Here's the thing: LSU is 0-2 in the SEC right now, and they're looking like the SEC West's worst team, but I still can't shake the idea that they're going to do something inexplicable like beat Alabama by 10.--Red Cup Rebellion

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Asked and answered, Bulldogs. Asked and answered. Of course, that just brings us to this week's question.--Get the Picture

Two signature wins are over a team that has struggled defensively all year, and a team that looks suspiciously like they belong in the SEC East, but they have two signature wins.--Georgia Sports Blog

The Bulldogs have the two most impressive victories of SEC play on their resume. Beating Auburn this weekend would add No. 3. Dan Mullen is looking like the favorite for the Michigan job. Only joking Bulldog fans, but he's due a raise assuming the wheels don't fall off the wagon in the remainder of the season.--Arkansas Fight

MISSOURI

If there was a week to have a bye, the Tigers sure picked a good one.--Get the Picture

No bye week bumps for teams that lose to Indiana.--Georgia Sports Blog

Without a loss to Indiana, where is Mizzou ranked? They're definitely in the Top 10 at that point.--For Whom the Cowbell Tolls

OLE MISS

That Bo Wallace was the better QB on the field Saturday is all you need to know about The Win.--Georgia Sports Blog

While the outcome of their win over Alabama is the takeaway from Oxford, the real story of the day is the journey of Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium's field goal posts. You knew it would get weird if the Rebels won, and boy did it ever.--Arkansas Fight

Yes, Ole Miss seems to wait until the fourth quarter to handle business, but they are handling it.--For Whom the Cowbell Tolls

Christopher Hanewinckel -- USA TODAY Sports

SOUTH CAROLINA

At least one of Steve Spurrier's goals -- a good tee time at Augusta National -- is still in front of them.--Get the Picture

In Steve Spurrier's defense, he's been trying to tell us for weeks that his team isn't very good.--Rock M Nation

South Carolina is profoundly average right now, which unfortunately for them is a fairly common thing in the SEC East right now.--Dawg Sports

TENNESSEE

Sylvester Croom had to be nodding his head in admiration at the Volunteer's offensive ineptitude Saturday.--Georgia Sports Blog

Week to week you're still unsure of what to expect out of the Vols. Those orange-and-white checkered overall wearing fans will have to wait at least another year to beat Florida. It's now been a solid decade since the last time that happened.--Arkansas Fight

Tennessee fans are a bit surly and who can blame them? Blowing a lead against this Florida team is like losing a cooking contest to a guy who made ramen and forgot to add the flavor packet.--Dawg Sports

TEXAS A&M

I'll bet drawing back-to-back games against MSU and Ole Miss looked pretty lucky in the preseason, didn't they, Aggies?--Rock M Nation

The Aggies are a dangerous team, but Mississippi State just dominated them. Put this team in the East, and they are in the Top 10 hunting for a trip to Atlanta.--For Whom the Cowbell Tolls

Against State, the Aggies couldn't bail themselves out on the back of their offense, something they've grown accustomed to for the past two seasons.--Red Cup Rebellion

Marvin Gentry -- USA TODAY Sports

VANDERBILT

According to Sagarin, there are 18 FCS teams better than the Commodores. That seems low.--Get the Picture

The football is abysmal, but the case study on Dr. Bo that they're publishing later this year should be fantastic.--Rock M Nation

Watching this Vanderbilt football team is a pastime for people who found the first ten minutes of "Up" too much zany fun to deal with.--Dawg Sports