Alabama Football: Ranking the Tide's Remaining SEC Opponents

Alabama has officially entered the feared and respected SEC grind after opening up against Arkansas in a 38-14 rout, and it doesn't get any easier from here on out. 

The Tide still face seven more SEC opponents, including 12th-ranked Florida and No. 1 LSU.

Here's a look at those teams, ranked in order of least challenging to to "fight of your life."

Take this with a grain of salt, because this is the SEC. Any team can beat you on any day, underdog or not. 

No. 7, Ole Miss: Yet Another Program Houston Nutt Has Demolished

Ole Miss was looking for great things heading into 2010. They had picked up Oregon's stellar-yet-wayward son, Jeremiah Masoli, and were poised to start the year with a cupcake game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. 

As one announcer put it, "Everything's right with the world in Oxford...OR NOT!" After a rare overtime thriller, the Gamecocks came away with the win, 49-48. The game summery can be seen here. 

This was the first of three teams what would trounce Ole Miss that year, and it's only gotten uglier.

The "perennial bottom feeder" of the SEC, Vanderbilt, stomped them into the ground, 30-7, already this year. The Reb's gave up almost 300 yards rushing in that game and five turnovers.

You know Trent Richardson is licking his lips. 

No. 6, Vanderbilt: Are They the SEC Dark Horse?

Calling the Vanderbilt Commodores a dark horse may be a bit far-fetched, but don't count them out.  Stranger upsets have occured.

Vandy is 3-1, 1-1 SEC. Their only SEC loss was against South Carolina, 20-3, but they managed to come way with four interceptions. 

They also held "Mr. Heisman" Marcus Lattimore to 3.9 yards-per-carry. Ouch. 

'Bama should steamroll them, but if they get caught looking too far ahead in the schedule, they could be in for a very rude awakening. 

If anything, Vandy poses a threat in dropping the Tide in the polls, even if the Tide wins, and the polls may count for more than usual, as LSU is currently toting around the No. 1 ranking. 

No. 5, Mississippi State: Not Living Up to the 2010 Breakout Year Expectations

2010 saw Mississippi State rise from the deadly pits of the SEC into national recognition. They went 9-4, and 4-4 in the SEC. That's just one less loss than Alabama, and they only lost to ranked teams Alabama, Arkansas, LSU and Auburn. 

The Auburn and Arkansas games were decided by 10 total points.

They capped the season with a lopsided win against Michigan in the Gator Bowl, winning 52-14 during the "New Year's Day Massacre," where the SEC pummeled the Big 10 in bowl games. 

The 2011 season, however, hasn't been so kind. The Bulldogs have already racked up two losses against LSU and a very bad (subjective) Auburn team. They also scraped by with an overtime win over lowly Louisiana Tech. 

Alabama plays them in Starkville, and the 'Dogs are an SEC team. 

The Tide better be ready, or they'll be screaming "NO MORE COWBELL" until 2012. 

No. 4, Tennessee: Could They Bring a Scare Like They Did in 2009?

Forget 2010. Tennessee is a different team. They have a punishing offense with a reliable running back and a quarterback who is primed to become the best quarterback in the SEC. 

Tyler Bray, a sophomore, has put up almost 1,000 yards in just three games, including 288 against a stout Florida defense. 

In 2009 Tennessee traveled to Tuscaloosa and came closer than anyone else that year to ending the Tide's title hopes. 

The Vols look to do the same in 2011. 

No. 3, Florida: New Offense, No Tebow, No Problem

The Crimson Tide stomped the Florida Gators in 2010, but they are also a different team. 

No longer is their immobile quarterback stuck running a spread offense. Under new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, he will be playing with a running back and a fullback in the backfield with him. 

Gator quarterback John Brantley is hoping to live up to his high school hype, and this just might be the year he does it. This year he has completed 64 percent of his passes for 752 yards, and their super running back duo of lightning-fast munchkins, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, have been absolutely blistering on the ground. 

The Tide travels to the Swamp for the first time since 2006, and they bring in one hell of a crowd. With Arkansas in the dust, the Gators look to provide the biggest challenge thus far. 

No. 2, Auburn: Nation's Most Heated Rivalry Will Fuel the Tigers

Auburn get's the nod here at No. 2 for a simple reason:  Ask any Alabama fan what they think Auburn's plan each year is and they will tell you, "Lose every game and beat Alabama!"

The Tiger's snatched the Tide's title hopes away from them in 1989 with a 30-20 win. I believe that year marked a new level in the Iron Bowl rivalry. 

On the 20-year anniversary, in 2009, the Tigers almost upset the Tide again. If not for a clockwork eight-minute scoring drive led by Greg McElroy, the Tigers would have been happy as clams with their seventh Iron Bowl win in eight years. 

The Tigers are a far cry from what they were in 2010, and they are without Superman Incarnate, Cam Newton. 

This is the Iron Bowl, though. There are no guarantees. 

The Tide plays at Jordan-Hare, and things could get ugly. 

"Never again."

No. 1, LSU: Clash of the Titans

Year after year, LSU is always the big target on Alabama's schedule. Ever since Nick Saban dug them out of a ditch and made them into a national powerhouse, LSU has been a constant competitor. 

This year is no different, and once again, 'Bama is set to have a bye week before the game, as is LSU. 

The Tide have a few things to help them get a brief sigh of relief.

First, the game is in Bryant-Denny. That's a big one. 

Second, LSU's offense looks pretty terrible, at least compared to what a championship offense should look like. 

On the flip side, the Tigers' defense is monstrous. They pummeled Oregon in the season opener, and had LSU not forced so many turnovers, the Ducks would have certainly won. 

Come Nov. 5, everyone will get to see the de facto national championship.