SEC Football: Who Is Better Than Their Record?

The SEC is still the best conference in all of football and many are questioning several teams ranked in and out of the Top 25 BCS standings.

Who is overrated and underrated at the moment? Does Arkansas have any shot at reaching a BCS bowl? Is the SEC East still a two-team race? 

I answer all of these questions and more as I analyze whether a few of the under-the-radar SEC teams are under or overrated.

No. 7 Arkansas Razorbacks

Overall Record: 7-1 (3-1)

The Razorbacks are eighth in both the Coaches' and Harris Poll, however they are seventh in the computers and therefore are ranked as such in the BCS standings.

Tyler Wilson has taken his shots in the pocket and yet he has found All-American-caliber wide receiver Jarius Wright early and often this season (44 receptions for 709 yards, seven TDs).

Dennis Johnson looks to be the main ball-carrier though he shares the backfield with Ronnie Wingo Jr. They need to improve upon their 83rd-ranked rushing offense, but the bottom line is they know how to score points and win the close ballgames.

With a big test at home against South Carolina, we will soon find out if they are worthy of their Top 10 ranking. Don't count out the Razorbacks of reaching consecutive BCS bowls since they have LSU in Baton Rouge and a victory there will certainly lift them in the Top Five.

It would be interesting to see what happens if LSU beats Alabama, but then loses to Arkansas. If we have three one-loss SEC teams, we could see what happened to the Big 12 three seasons ago with the lowest-ranked team left out of the BCS.

Drama's Call: Underrated for now

They arguably should have three more losses, but they always seem to show up and finish or find ways to win the crucial SEC games. If they lose to South Carolina they will drop far out of the Top 10, but a win will only help them inch closer to LSU and Alabama.

While I may not necessarily have them ranked seventh in my personal poll, they are deserving of their ranking (for now).

No. 9 South Carolina Gamecocks

Overall Record: 7-1 (5-1)

Since losing Stephen Garcia and Marcus Lattimore, the Gamecocks have done nothing but win. Their offense was expected to take a turn for the worst immediately, but thanks to a sensational defense they still are top the SEC East.

Their front four is ferocious and they have a secondary that ranks second in the nation in interceptions (16).

Melvin Ingram, Devin Taylor, Jadeveon Clowney, Travian Robertson, Chaz Sutton and Aldrick Fordham have wreaked havoc all season giving the secondary opportunities to make big plays.

Brandon Wilds is a true freshman who has helped them in the backfield alongside Kenny Miles and Bruce Ellington.

Luckily, quarterback Connor Shaw can scramble when the pocket collapses (which happens a bit), but let us not forget it was Shaw who took a lick that forced him to leave the game in mop-up time against Arkansas one season ago.

If Shaw can get some payback by finding star receiver Alshon Jeffery, don't be shocked to see South Carolina pull off the upset in Fayetteville.

Drama's Call: Overrated for now

However, if the Gamecocks do pull off the upset and win out pre-SEC championship, they would be ranked among the top teams in the nation. This weekend will decide their SEC East fates.

No. 18 Georgia Bulldogs

Overall Record: 6-2 (5-1)

There are two computer pollsters in the BCS that have the Bulldogs ranked at No. 15. Boise State has become their biggest fans, but UGA can win out and play in the SEC championship (South Carolina needs to lose once). 

If you would have asked anybody in early September nobody would have stated that the Bulldogs had much of a chance to play in the SEC championship. Georgia still must win out and beat Auburn, but their ability to shut teams down defensively has given them an edge.

Using the "us against the world" mentality always is helpful, especially since Mark Richt was "supposed" to get fired back in September. Nobody thinks Georgia is any good, yet they have won six straight (wins speak volumes regardless of who you play). 

Drama's Call: Underrated

Although 4-22 may be the record of the SEC opponents that Georgia has faced, they can't help who they play. The bottom line is Georgia's defense has been sensational (seventh total defense) and with wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell returning they will only get better offensively (Crowell will be back after one-game suspension vs. NMST).

If the special teams improves before the end of November, there is an excellent chance Georgia plays in the SEC championship and a slight chance they are ranked right around the Top 10. Plus, if you asked the average expert, they why say they have no chance against the SEC West so why bother even playing the game?

Note: Lower-ranked teams are 5-14 against the favorites and the SEC East holds an 11-8 edge over the West in SEC championship history. Possible upset city?

Vanderbilt Commodores

Overall Record: 4-4 (1-4)

Though the BCS has them at just No. 54, the Commodores are likely to reach just their second bowl game since 1982!

It could also be just the fifth bowl appearance in the program's history, but they need to beat Kentucky and Wake Forest with Florida and Tennessee being possible road losses.

The Commodores blew an opportunity against Arkansas as they had a chance to go up 35-20, but instead fumbled at their own 3-yard line in which Jerry Franklin had a game-changing and backbreaking 94-yard scoop-and-score.

I think Vandy will be favored to beat both Kentucky and Wake Forest (pick 'em) and will be on their way to a bowl game in the first year under James Franklin.

Drama's Call: Underrated

Tennessee Volunteers

Overall Record: 3-5 0-5

Derek Dooley's Volunteers may not have a victory in the SEC yet, but they have three winnable games coming up to reach a bowl game.

Kentucky and Vanderbilt are both in the basement of the East Division and Tyler Bray should be back for both of those games.

While the rushing offense has been inept (119th) this has been a heavy-pass team (45th) all season long despite a talented runner in Tauren Poole. 

This team is extremely young on both sides of the ball and they have been riddled by a bevy of injuries.

Still, I would not jump off the bandwagon yet to go as far as saying they will miss a bowl game. They will get two conferences wins at the end of the season and can still finish above .500 if they win their bowl game.

Drama's Call: Underrated (assuming they reach a bowl)