SEC Football: Team Defense Power Rankings Through Five Weeks of 2010 Season
Five weeks of the college football season has come and gone, and there are a few surprises in the SEC this season.
The SEC is still arguably the toughest conference in all of college football, and the reason for that is the defenses showcased every weekend during the season.
While perennial powerhouses Florida and LSU continue to struggle on offense, and others like Alabama, Arkansas, and Auburn still showing their offensive power, each teams' defenses continue to uphold the claim that the SEC is the conference to beat if you want to get to Glendale at the end of the season.
Let's take a look at the SEC defense power rankings going into week six of the 2010 season.
James Walker is a Syndicated and National Writer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on:
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No. 12: Vanderbilt Commodores
1 of 12Well, of course Vandy would be dead last in the conference. What else would you expect?
Currently, the Commodores are ranked No. 80 in the nation in total defense, and defend their 1-3 record as E. Michigan comes calling on Nashville this week.
That's going to be a barn-burner for sure.
No. 11: Tennessee Volunteers
2 of 12Fighting the Commodores for the cellar dweller position is the Tennessee Volunteers.
How the once mighty have fallen.
Now ranked No. 78 in total defense, they came very close to defeating LSU in Baton Rouge last week. Unfortunately, someone on the Volunteers thought you could have 13 people on defense towards the end of the game.
Come on, give them a break—it was just one play. LSU deserved to lose that game.
No. 10: South Carolina Gamecocks
3 of 12This is the first surprise of this power ranking. But then again, it is the OBC, the man famous for once telling a reporter: "Go ask (defensive coordinator), he coaches the defense; I coach the offense."
Well, Alabama comes calling on Columbia this weekend, and South Carolina better man up and bring more emphasis on defense, or they will be embarrassed just like Spurrier's alma mater, Florida, was last week.
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No. 9: Ole Miss Rebels
4 of 12Ole Miss started the season in the worst way possible, but now may have made the turn towards the better.
Currently ranked No. 63 in total defense, the Rebels of Ole Miss are on a bye this week.
No. 8: Auburn Tigers
5 of 12The Auburn Tigers are the surprise of the SEC this season. The team is riding the success of one Cameron Newton, their superstar quarterback who transferred from Binn College in Texas. He is also formerly of the Florida Gators.
Auburn better hope their offensive weapon makes it unscathed this season.
Auburn's defense is currently ranked No. 45 in total defense, and have a few play makers on that side of the ball. The question that Tigers fans do not want answered is: Can their defense carry the team if Cam Newton somehow was hurt and couldn't play?
No. 7: Georgia Bulldogs
6 of 12Another surprise: the Georgia Bulldogs falling as fast as they have. However, their defense isn't the entire reason why they are failing so badly this season.
Ranked No. 39 in the nation in total defense, the Bulldogs should be concerned with both sides of the ball.
Frankly, they should be searching for a new head coach.
No. 6: Mississippi State Bulldogs
7 of 12Make no mistake: The Mississippi State Bulldogs, under the direction of head coach Dan Mullen, are building a strong football program in Starkville, Miss.
The team's overall record is 3-2 and ranking is No. 32 in total defense. They travel to Houston this week, and it is a game they should win.
Watch out for the Bulldogs of Mississippi State, not that team in Athens, Georgia, in 2010.
No. 5: Kentucky Wildcats
8 of 12The Kentucky Wildcats started the season off well up until they traveled to The Swamp in Gainesville, Fla.
Giving up 44 to the Gators, the Wildcats fell back to earth and were defeated the following week by Ole Miss.
Currently ranked No. 29 in the nation in total defense, the Wildcats still have a shot at a bowl game come late December.
A bowl game in 2011 is bit of a stretch.
No. 4: Arkansas Razorbacks
9 of 12
The Arkansas Razorbacks have Ryan Mallett leading them up and down the field. Against Alabama, the Razorback's defense held Alabama at bay for three quarters until Mallett threw two interceptions that allowed the Tide to come back and win.
Coming off a bye week, the Razorbacks travel to College Station to defend the honor of the SEC as they face Texas A&M.
Arkansas will light up A&M as if it were Christmas.
No. 3: Alabama Crimson Tide
10 of 12Alabama comes in at No. 3 in the power rankings for total defense this week, and they will need it as they face the Gamecocks in Columbia. The OBC will coach the Gamecocks up and put on a show for a while, but will eventually lose.
The Tide better not get complacent after two huge conference wins.
No. 2: Florida Gators
11 of 12The Florida Gators defense is one area of the team in 2010 that is not questioned. The offense, on the other hand, needs a lot of work after being embarrassed in Tuscaloosa last week.
Ranked No. 19 in the country in total defense, it will be a battle when LSU comes to town this weekend. Both teams are struggling on offense, so expect a low scoring ball game.
The Gators should win this one; that is if they didn't have all the wind blown out of their sails last week against Alabama.
No. 1: LSU Tigers
12 of 12LSU is undefeated solely on the merit of their defense—make no mistake about it. As they travel this week to face the Florida Gators in The Swamp, there defense must be on point once again.
Ranked No. 6 in the country in total defense, they go up against a Gator offense that continues to struggle.
That being said, LSU is traveling to The Swamp, and eventually Les Miles' nine lives are going to be used up. He probably gave away half of those lives last week surviving that huge scare at home against Tennessee.
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