SEC Football: Updated 2016 Football Power Rankings

SEC football is quickly approaching. We gave a power ranking last month for all 14 SEC football teams, but things have changed since then.

We’ll do the power rankings for all the SEC football teams like we did last time. We’ll give a few reasons why they’re there, though we’ll it in three sentences or less.

14. Missouri

The transition to Barry Odom has one major benefit: the defense should remain lights out. Promoting a defensive coordinator, though, doesn’t help their atrocious offense.

13. South Carolina

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Will Muschamp and Kurt Roper will have success. Muschamp will win more than any other coach, besides Spurrier. It just won’t happen in year one due to the mess Spurrier left.

12. Kentucky

I predicted Kentucky would make a bowl and the conference would send 11 teams bowling. With these power rankings, though, 12 would go bowling. Vanderbilt is going to surprise some people.

11. Vanderbilt

Derek Mason has convinced me his quarterback play won’t be atrocious. The Commodores already have a dominant D and solid running game. With the addition of decent quarterback play, look out for Vandy in an upset or two.

10. Arkansas

New quarterback, running backs, tight end and a defense that failed to impress last season + an SEC West schedule? Good luck Razorbacks.

Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain pose with the SEC trophy between the SEC coaches press conference at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

SEC East: Projecting the Order of Finish (July)

The SEC East is ripe for the taking by any team in the division. The Gators, Bulldogs and Volunteers are favored -- can a surprise team emerge?

9. Auburn

If John Franklin is a legit SEC West quarterback, all bets are off. I don’t see him having the same success, though, as Cam Newton and Nick Marshall. The carousel at defensive coordinator doesn’t help matters, either.

8. Mississippi State

Everything I just said about Arkansas + their quarterback was the best player in school history. Mullen always manages to keep the Bulldogs out of the cellar, though, so expect the Bulldogs to at least make a bowl game.

7. Florida

Less than three weeks from the season and we don’t have a clue who the Gator’s quarterback will be. It worked out last year with Grier, but that happening twice in a row is doubtful.

6. Georgia

Kirby Smart enters his debut season with two stud SEC football running backs. Unfortunately, though, both of those studs are coming off major injuries. Georgia will be competitive, they just won’t compete for an SEC Championship.

Dec 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Michael Nysewander (46) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Florida Gators in the 2015 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Alabama won 29-15. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

SEC West: Projecting the Order of Finish (July)

The SEC West is the deepest and most competitive division in all of college football. Who will be able to make their claim as division king in 2016?

5. Texas A&M

Vandy and TAMU moved up the SEC Football rankings for me in the past month because of quarterback confidence. Trevor Knight will get them off to a fast start and I think Chavis will lead Garrett and Co to a great (by Aggie D standards) defensive season.

4. LSU

The Tigers are absolutely loaded with NFL talent, which is why I had them at #2 in my last SEC football power rankings. Until Brandon Harris proves he is capable of running an offense, though, my bet will be against the Tigers. I’m nervous about this one, but I think Cam Cameron will prove me right.

3. Tennessee

Bring out the boo birds as many likely believe Tennessee should be #2. As soon as Joshuas Dobbs completes more than 60% of his passes, I’ll believe. You just can’t win enough games without a legitimate passing attack anymore.

2. Ole Miss

The Rebels return the best quarterback in both the SEC West and in all of SEC football, which will help them offset the offensive losses of Tunsil and Treadwell. Until their identity changes, bet on the Rebels beating one of the two teams ahead of them but losing a game they shouldn’t. This power ranking speaks more to my lack of confidence in the rest of the SEC football quarterbacks.

must read: Mississippi State Fall Camp Questions

1. Alabama

Not having a quarterback going into the season seems to impact every team but Alabama. This will be their least experienced backfield in quite some time. But Saban basically wins a national Championship every other year in Tuscaloosa..

Obviously the power rankings weren’t based on how teams will finish in their division, as that would have put Tennessee at number 2. I think this is the year for the SEC East to break their streak of being dominated and for an SEC West team to topple Alabama. I just can’t bring myself to actually rank them like that. Alabama has been too consistent and the SEC East has been too atrocious.

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