SEC Power Rankings: Florida, Alabama and the 10 Dwarfs

Ahh, the SEC.  The conference is still considered a power conference due to the wealth of good teams. 

Dennis Dodd said that the conference has quickly become Florida, Alabama and the 10 dwarfs.  This isn't far from the truth.  This year could shake things up very quickly. 

Each team is followed by the record, Associated Press ranking, and last weeks power ranking, which will be N/A this week, for obvious reasons.

1.  Alabama (0-0, AP #1, LW N/A)

Alabama is the king until proved otherwise.  Mark Ingram has a knee injury, but Trent Richardson may be even better then Ingram. 

If the defense can maintain its dominance with nine new starters, then this team could roll to Atlanta.

2.  Florida (0-0, AP #4, LW N/A)

Florida has a chance to be a very explosive team.  If John Brantley is the quarterback that most people think that he is, he could (dare I say it) make the team an even better passing team. 

This is the team with the largest upside.  They are young, fired up, and prepped for a run. 

3.  Auburn (0-0, AP #22. LW N/A)

Auburn is another team on the rise.  Gene Chizik is an excellent coach, and there is a ton of offensive potential here.  Look for Auburn to seriously challenge Alabama this year.

Auburn is most like the dwarf "Sleepy".  Once this sleeping giant wakes up, there may be a new west champion.

4.  South Carolina (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

Yes, a very biased pick.  So sue me.  However, South Carolina returns most of their starting lineup from a talented (and underachieving) team.  A highly motivated team, South Carolina hopes to make up for its awful showing in the "Pizza Bowl".

South Carolina's dwarf would be "Grumpy".  Spurrier is an angry, angry man right now due to its last bow game, and this team has the look of a team on a mission.  Hopefully, that fire can last. 

5.  Arkansas (0-0, AP #17, LW N/A)

Ryan Mallet has the look of an NFL quarterback.  So did Javon Snead of Ole Miss.  Honestly, based on sheer talent, Arkansas could be third or fourth on this list. 

I just have a bad feeling about this year for them.  They have talent.  Are they too reliant on the passing game?  Defensively, there are many holes. 

Arkansas's dwarf?  I would go with "Bashful".  It seems like every time they are poised for a breakthrough, they choke.  Its like they shy away from the spotlight.  This could be the year though.

6.  Georgia (0-0, AP #23, LW N/A)

Georgia is relying on a freshman quarterback.  Usually a recipe for disaster in the SEC.  However, Aaron Murray could be different.  Georgia's defense, which was horrible last year, could show major improvement. 

Week two against South Carolina will decide who gets second in the east, with a chance to dethrone Florida.

"Happy" seems like a good dwarf fit.  The overall feeling for Georgia fans is that they are young enough and talented enough to rise back to the top.  The early season hype of UGA being ranked is enough for this team to feel good coming into the season.

7.  LSU (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

This year could mean more transition for LSU, who has disappointed as of late.  Gone is the explosive playmaker Brandon LaFell, an early candidate for starting receiver for the Carolina Panthers.

Defensively, LSU was stout.  However, they must improve on the 110th ranked offense.  The quarterback needs to continue growing after a decent year. 

This team's history, pride, and ability lead me to say that this team is comparable to "Doc".  However, they have also relied a bit on the status quo.  Hopefully, Les Miles opens up the offense. 

8.  Kentucky (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

There are plenty of playmakers on offense for this team.  Derrick Locke has the look of a star, and Mike Hartline could be very good this year. 

Defensively, the team is still weak, and no one is sure if Joker Phillips can step into the highly regarded Rich Brook's shoes. 

I have to go with "Sneezy", in terms of Kentucky's "dwarfdom".  It seems like every once in a while, like a violent sneeze, they get really good.  Then, suddenly, they go back to being average. 

Yep.  That's the best I can do.  

9.  Tennessee (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

Tennessee is up for a really tough year.  With player drama (yes, more so even then South Carolina and Alabama) and strange "goings ons" (Bryce Brown's issues, open letter to fans asking them to bear with them, oh, and Lane Kiffin's drama) it almost makes everyone else feel sorry for them.

New coach Derek Dooley has the potential to be a good coach.  Tennessee can always recruit well.  Once the stink from the pain train that is Lane Kiffin is gone, this program will be back on the map.  This year, look for a struggle. 

Sorry Tennessee fans... I have to go with "Dopey" here.  Why?  Well, because the school fell for the Kiffin thing last year. 

Until they rebuild, that make look like the worst coaching hire of all time... not based on the field product, but the damage done to the actual program. 

10.  Ole Miss (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

I am out of dwarfs.  Oh well. 

Ole Miss would be higher on this list if its criminal mastermind new quarterback could play this year.  However, he is still a year away.

They didn't prepare particularly well for the post-Javon Snead era... they didn't prepare well for the during Javon Snead era either.  This team will jump up the rankings once Jeremiah Masoli arrives.  Until then, this will only be the best team in Mississippi. 

Wait, that distinction belongs to Southern Miss.  Sorry. 

This team in like the evil dwarf in Narnia.  No one likes Houston Nutt, and no one likes Jeremiah Masoli.  Ginarrbrik, according to Google. 

11.  Vanderbilt (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

Wait... what?  Vanderbilt isn't the worst team in the SEC? No.  They have had a heartbreaking off season, losing a beloved coach in Bobby Johnson.  He made Vanderbilt relevant.

Not only do they have a bit of talent on the team, but they also have great academics. 

This team is a bit like "Frodo Baggins" from Lord of the Rings.  Tough to hate, easy to root for.  Not a particularly tough fighter, but scrappy.

Yes, I know he's not a dwarf.

12.  Mississippi State (0-0, AP N/A, LW N/A)

Mississippi State gets less press then Vanderbilt.  They also have less ability.  The Western Division is brutal this year.  In the rest of their schedule, only Memphis, Alcorn State, and UAB are games where they should be favored.

Alcorn State is the only "gimmie". 

With Georgia and Houston on the schedule this year, plus the rest of the west, look for a 2-3 win season. One of my good friends is a Mississippi State fan, and even he agrees. 

Mississippi State is Verne Troyer.