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Team Speed Kills’ 2018 SEC Week 4 Power Rankings

Consensus #1. Consensus #14. How’d the rest shake out?

LSU v Auburn Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Welcome to the Team Speed Kills 2018 Power Rankings! We’re through three weeks and on to Week 4, and that means a new round of Power Rankings are out!

12 ballots were cast by 12 members of the TSK crew. They are all listed below.

As always, off we go!


14. Arkansas Razorbacks

NCAA Football: North Texas at Arkansas Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Score: 14 | Last Week: 14 | Last Place Votes: 12

“That special teams... WOOF.” - Chris Novak

“It’s a definite year 0 here for Chad Morris. At least now he can truly experiment and let the team grow. They’ve got no where to go but up, because they’re at rock bottom.” - Tyler Williams

13. Tennessee Volunteers

UTEP v Tennessee Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images

Score: 12.9 | Last Week: 13 | Highest Vote: 12 | Lowest Vote: 13

“Hey, they’re 2-1! More progress.” - Chris Novak

“The biggest game of the season for the Vols is on Saturday in my opinion. Beating a Florida team that is currently in a similar position will do wonders for the psyche of the team and fans.” - Julian Mitchell

“The Volunteers doom stretch begins this week with Florida coming to town, then Georgia, Auburn, Bama, and South Carolina. They’re improving, but not fast enough.” - Tyler Williams

12. Ole Miss Rebels

Alabama v Mississippi Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Score: 11.3 | Last Week: 9 | Highest Vote: 10 | Lowest Vote: 13

“No shame in being zapped by the Flying Death Machine. That said... that defense... woof.” - Chris Novak

“They got run off the field against Bama, but luckily they won’t play them every week. It goes to show how much that offense means, since that defense can’t stop a nosebleed.” - Tyler Williams

11. Florida Gators

Charleston Southern v Florida Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Score: 10.8 | Last Week: 11 | Highest Vote: 9 | Lowest Vote: 12

“They kept things quiet after their loss to Kentucky. Pretty sound choice.” - Chris Novak

“The Gators blew out an inferior team. Now the level of competition ramps up and they have to play their first tough road game on Rocky Top. If they don’t get better on the ground, they are in trouble.” - Tyler Williams

10. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt v Notre Dame Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Score: 10 | Last Week: 12 | Highest Vote: 8 | Lowest Vote: 12

“Is Vandy the second-best team in the East? I mean, I won’t argue otherwise. They pushed Notre Dame to the absolute brink. Now time to see what happens in conference play.” - Chris Novak

“Vanderbilt is a good team, don’t get it wrong. Their issue is that due to their talent deficiency they still may lose a bunch of games. The Notre Dame game is cause for hope however.” - Tyler Williams

9. Missouri Tigers

Missouri v Purdue Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Score: 8.8 | Last Week: 6 | Highest Vote: 7 | Lowest Vote: 12

“Not sure how many woeful defensive performances under a defensive-minded coach are enough to raise eyebrows. But the list is growing in CoMO.” - Chris Novak

“The Purdue game exposes Missouri’s defense, but Drew Lock overcame that. I don’t think he can do that every week against more talented teams.” - Tyler Williams

8. South Carolina Gamecocks

Georgia v South Carolina Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Score: 8.7 | Last Week: 10 | Highest Vote: 7 | Lowest Vote: 11

“Bumping up in the rankings while remaining idle is a POWER MOVE.” - Chris Novak

“Hard to say if having a week off will help or hurt them following the Georgia game. Hopefully there was a lot focus on the running game in practice.” - Julian Mitchell

“The Gamecocks still have a ton of potential, but they have to find a way to run the ball.” - Tyler Williams

7. Kentucky Wildcats

Murray State v Kentucky Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Score: 7.2 | Last Week: 7 | Highest Vote: 6 | Lowest Vote: 10

“Kentucky vs. Mississippi State will be important for both teams. Just as we predicted.” - Chris Novak

“Mississippi State will be the first big test for a defense that has looked excellent so far. Can they hold up for 60 minutes?” - Julian Mitchell

“Until proven otherwise, Kentucky is the second best team in the East. Their upcoming matchup with Mississippi State is critical.” - Tyler Williams

“Kroger Field is still a ridiculous-sounding name. But there’s nothing else to complain about in Lexington right now.” - Zach Remelius

6. Texas A&M Aggies

Louisiana Monroe v Texas A&M Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Score: 5.8 | Last Week: 5 | Highest Vote: 4 | Lowest Vote: 8

“The good news is Kellen Mond could do well against ‘Bama like he did against Clemson. The bad news is that he’s facing ‘Bama and not Clemson.” - Chris Novak

“Kellen Mond has been a revelation so far this season. He’s developed into a downfield passer and proved it against Clemson. Now he has to face Alabama. Can he perform at that level again?” - Tyler Williams

“Don’t get too discouraged after what Alabama is going to do to you, Aggie fans. You have a good team.” - Zach Remelius

5. Auburn Tigers

LSU v Auburn Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Score: 4.8 | Last Week: 3 | Highest Vote: 4 | Lowest Vote: 6

“LSU’s got their number. Plain and simple.” - Chris Novak

The Tigers are in need of Eli Stove and Will Hastings to return to 100% health. Once this happens, they’ll be pushing for the West again.” - Julian Mitchell

Auburn was in this spot last year and they won the West. They can still rally, but their schedule is daunting and Jarrett Stidham needs to improve in the big moments.” - Tyler Williams

4. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Louisiana Lafayette v Mississippi State Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images

Score: 4.6 | Last Week: 4 | Highest Vote: 4 | Lowest Vote: 6

“State’s been pretty dang impressive this season. We’ll finally get a taste of what they can do against SEC opponents this week.” - Chris Novak

“The offense looks dangerous, but they haven’t faced a team that can stop their rushing attack yet. When they do, I don’t think Fitzgerald can carry them with only his arm.” - Tyler Williams

“Kentucky-Mississippi State is going to be a blast, and no one can tell me otherwise.” - Zach Remelius

3. LSU Tigers

LSU v Auburn Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Score: 2.8 | Last Week: 6 | Highest Vote: 2 | Lowest Vote: 3

“LSU fans have been talking a lot of shit this week. And you know what? They should be.” - Chris Novak

“LSU has the best resume to date.” - Jess Leslie

“They’ve fully regained everyone’s respect. No way this team would lose to a game like Troy this season.” - Julian Mitchell

“The surprise team so far, beating two top-10 teams away from home in just 3 weeks. Joe Burrow’s stats are not good so far, and if they improve LSU could be dangerous. If they don’t, they could be exploited.” - Tyler Williams

“Is Joe Burrow the chosen one sent to save Baton Rouge from Nick Saban?” - Zach Remelius

2. Georgia Bulldogs

Middle Tennessee v Georgia Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Score: 2.2 | Last Week: 2 | Highest Vote: 2 | Lowest Vote: 3

“Georgia beat the snot out of someone again. Rinse, repeat.” - Chris Novak

“This team could trick us, since they don’t face great competition in the East. But they won’t, because they are for real.” - Tyler Williams

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (12)

Alabama v Mississippi Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Last Week: 1 | First-Place Votes: 12

“Flying. Death. Machine.” - Chris Novak

“I’m thinking A&M can hold them in the 40s this week. Some would even call this a clunker.” - Julian Mitchell

“They’re playing this game on easy mode, while everyone else plays on hard. As good as Georgia and all their West competition might be, they are in a class of their own.” - Tyler Williams

“Is this fun, Bama fans? Is it?” - Zach Remelius


Power Rankings Ballots - Week 5

Pollster Alabama Arkansas Auburn Florida Georgia Kentucky LSU Ole Miss Miss State Mizzou South Carolina Tennessee Texas A&M Vanderbilt
Pollster Alabama Arkansas Auburn Florida Georgia Kentucky LSU Ole Miss Miss State Mizzou South Carolina Tennessee Texas A&M Vanderbilt
Christopher Novak 1 14 4 10 2 5 3 11 7 12 8 13 6 9
Robert O'Neill 1 14 4 10 2 5 3 11 6 12 8 13 7 9
Cam Newton 1 14 4 10 2 5 3 12 7 11 8 13 6 9
Julian Mitchell 1 14 4 10 2 5 3 11 7 9 8 13 6 12
Alex Dusza 1 14 4 8 2 5 3 9 10 11 6 13 7 12
Matthew Gelenites 1 13 4 10 2 3 5 10 7 10 6 14 8 12
Erik Mauro 1 14 5 10 2 4 3 11 6 9 7 13 8 12
Jonathan Waldrop 1 14 5 9 2 3 4 11 8 10 7 13 6 12
Tyler Williams 1 13 4 10 2 5 3 11 8 9 7 14 6 12
Niesha Middlebrooks 1 14 4 12 2 5 3 10 7 9 8 13 6 11
Zach Remelius 1 14 4 10 2 5 3 12 7 9 8 13th 6 11
AVERAGE 1 13.8 4.2 9.9 2.0 4.5 3.3 10.8 7.3 10.1 7.4 13.2 6.5 11
#1 VOTES 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HIGHEST VOTE 1 14 5 12 2 5 5 12 10 12 8 14 8 12
LOWEST VOTE 1 13 4 8 2 3 3 9 6 9 6 13 6 9