Ranking the SEC . . . right now

[VFL-82-JP]

This is meant to be an estimate of current strength as we get ready for bowl season.

Not based on the season's body of work, but on how the teams are doing right now. A "who will put up the best fight" kind of metric.

This means we don't just copy/paste the AP poll or CFP standings. Because even they, who say their selections are entirely current-day, are influenced by the totality of the teams' seasons.

For instance: Auburn is only 9-3 while Florida is 10-2. But I'd much rather face the gators right now than war eagle. The latter are on a roll, and in fact deserve to be above Bama at this moment. They showed that on the field.

In the same way, the Vols are hotter than A&M, though both teams are 7-5.

So here's how I'd rank them:

1. LSU
2. Georgia
3. Auburn
4. Bama
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Kentucky
8. A&M
9. Miss St
10. Mizzou
11. USCe
12. Ole Miss
13. Vandy
14. Arkansas

What do you think?

Go Vols!

 

[ptcarter]

Good analysis. I might throw Florida over Bama though. Someone posted this morning that Bama doesn't have a win over anyone currently in the Top 25. Florida played a tougher schedule.

 

[landscapingvol]

This is meant to be an estimate of current strength as we get ready for bowl season.

Not based on the season's body of work, but on how the teams are doing right now. A "who will put up the best fight" kind of metric.

This means we don't just copy/paste the AP poll or CFP standings. Because even they, who say their selections are entirely current-day, are influenced by the totality of the teams' seasons.

For instance: Auburn is only 9-3 while Florida is 10-2. But I'd much rather face the gators right now than war eagle. The latter are on a roll.

In the same way, the Vols are hotter than A&M, though both teams are 7-5.

So here's how I'd rank them:

1. LSU
2. Georgia
3. Auburn
4. Bama
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Kentucky
8. A&M
9. Miss St
10. Mizzou
11. USCe
12. Ole Miss
13. Vandy
14. Arkansas

What do you think?

Go Vols!

Looks pretty good to me but the gap between the top 5 and the rest is pretty drastic imho. I don't believe there is a huge difference between UT, Kentucky, and A&M

 

[BigOrangeAl 1979]

Looks about right but yea Florida over Bama they got a much better defense.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Good analysis. I might throw Florida over Bama though. Someone posted this morning that Bama doesn't have a win over anyone currently in the Top 25. Florida played a tougher schedule.

I'm with you, PT. Those two could flip-flop.

Looks pretty good to me but the gap between the top 5 and the rest is pretty drastic imho. I don't believe there is a huge difference between UT, Kentucky, and A&M

*nod* I agree on the size of that gap. But that's our next step: to get at least one more win, to 6-2...and that probably means Florida, unless Georgia takes a step back next season.

So it's a big step I agree, but it's the step our lads have gotta take between now and next September. Time to man up.

Go Vols!

 

[Big Orange Rock]

This is meant to be an estimate of current strength as we get ready for bowl season.

Not based on the season's body of work, but on how the teams are doing right now. A "who will put up the best fight" kind of metric.

This means we don't just copy/paste the AP poll or CFP standings. Because even they, who say their selections are entirely current-day, are influenced by the totality of the teams' seasons.

For instance: Auburn is only 9-3 while Florida is 10-2. But I'd much rather face the gators right now than war eagle. The latter are on a roll, and in fact deserve to be above Bama at this moment. They showed that on the field.

In the same way, the Vols are hotter than A&M, though both teams are 7-5.

So here's how I'd rank them:

1. LSU
2. Georgia
3. Auburn
4. Bama
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Kentucky
8. A&M
9. Miss St
10. Mizzou
11. USCe
12. Ole Miss
13. Vandy
14. Arkansas

What do you think?

Go Vols!

I agree except I would flip Florida over Bama right now especially without Tua. Tua makes that team. Especially with their noticeably weaker defense.

 

[zjcvols]

If we played Florida right now, they’d be favorites...but probably by a touchdown. I think it would be a good game

 

[Big Orange Rock]

If we played Florida right now, they’d be favorites...but probably by a touchdown. I think it would be a good game

I personally think we could be within a touchdown of anyone in the sec outside of LSU assuming we played a solid game.

 

[BeardedVol]

This is meant to be an estimate of current strength as we get ready for bowl season.

Not based on the season's body of work, but on how the teams are doing right now. A "who will put up the best fight" kind of metric.

This means we don't just copy/paste the AP poll or CFP standings. Because even they, who say their selections are entirely current-day, are influenced by the totality of the teams' seasons.

For instance: Auburn is only 9-3 while Florida is 10-2. But I'd much rather face the gators right now than war eagle. The latter are on a roll, and in fact deserve to be above Bama at this moment. They showed that on the field.

In the same way, the Vols are hotter than A&M, though both teams are 7-5.

So here's how I'd rank them:

1. LSU
2. Georgia
3. Auburn
4. Bama
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Kentucky
8. A&M
9. Miss St
10. Mizzou
11. USCe
12. Ole Miss
13. Vandy
14. Arkansas

What do you think?

Go Vols!

All of A&M's losses are to literal top 10 teams.

As much as I think Jimbo is overrated for the money they are paying him, I couldn't put them behind us and Kentucky.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I personally think we could be within a touchdown of anyone in the sec outside of LSU assuming we played a solid game.

That's it, exactly. We'd have to play that "complete game" CJP keeps talking about. The OL penalties would have to go away, the punting needs to be more dependably good, the QB play needs to be crisp and on-target from the beginning of the 1st quarter, not the middle of the 2nd. And so on.

We're not there yet. Really thinking another month of practices now, and then a good spring and summer, can get us there. Look out, gators and dawgs, we're coming for you. Hopefully, heh.

Go Vols!

 

[Ty4Vols]

As of right now:
1. LSU
2. UGA
3. UF
4. AUBURN
5. BAMA
6. VOLS
7. TA&M
8. KENTUCKY
9. MISS ST.
10. OLE MISS
11. MIZZOU
12. S. CAROLINA
13. VANDY
14. ARKANSAS

I still have Florida over Auburn after the head to head win and Auburn beating Bama without Tua doesn't change that for me. Also, a UGA win in the SEC Championship would flip flop them and LSU but a LSU win keeps the same order.
JMO

Go Vols

 

[Big Orange Rock]

That's it, exactly. We'd have to play that "complete game" CJP keeps talking about. The OL penalties would have to go away, the punting needs to be more dependably good, the QB play needs to be crisp and on-target from the beginning of the 1st quarter, not the middle of the 2nd. And so on.

We're not there yet. Really thinking another month of practices now, and then a good spring and summer, can get us there. Look out, gators and dawgs, we're coming for you. Hopefully, heh.

Go Vols!

I agree we are not far off. Not far at all IMO. What we lacked most of all was belief. I think we crossed that hurdle the last half of the season.

 

[YankeeVol]

This is meant to be an estimate of current strength as we get ready for bowl season.

Not based on the season's body of work, but on how the teams are doing right now. A "who will put up the best fight" kind of metric.

This means we don't just copy/paste the AP poll or CFP standings. Because even they, who say their selections are entirely current-day, are influenced by the totality of the teams' seasons.

For instance: Auburn is only 9-3 while Florida is 10-2. But I'd much rather face the gators right now than war eagle. The latter are on a roll, and in fact deserve to be above Bama at this moment. They showed that on the field.

In the same way, the Vols are hotter than A&M, though both teams are 7-5.

So here's how I'd rank them:

1. LSU
2. Georgia
3. Auburn
4. Bama
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Kentucky
8. A&M
9. Miss St
10. Mizzou
11. USCe
12. Ole Miss
13. Vandy
14. Arkansas

What do you think?

Go Vols!

 

[VFL-82-JP]

He's almost right, Yankee.

Just kidding...it's a good list, too. I like mine better (maybe flipping Florida and Bama), but his list is arguable, too.

(I think he gives Ole Miss too much credit, that's the single biggest difference between us. Plus I'm pretty sure Auburn is the better team right now than Florida).

I still have Florida over Auburn after the head to head win and Auburn beating Bama without Tua doesn't change that for me. Also, a UGA win in the SEC Championship would flip flop them and LSU but a LSU win keeps the same order.
JMO

Go Vols

*nod* If we were giving credit for the season's worth of work, I'd agree with you on Florida vs Auburn. But today, today I think Auburn's the stronger team. They're hot, and they know it, and they'll play like it.

 

[pharmDvol11]

Who da thunk we’d be ranked right behind Bama in the “Power Rankings” at the end of the season?

 

[Big Orange Rock]

The best thing about this list is there are now 8 teams that someone seemingly in the know thinks that we are ahead of. We closed the gap big time this season. Next season I think we pick up one more sec win and beat one of the 5 ahead of us on the list. If that happens then look out. The recruits will follow. I also think we close strong in recruiting this year. Wont be top 10 class but I think it will be just outside of it. After the start we had to the year that is solid work.

 

[aaronvol]

interestingly...i would play georgia right now out of all of those in the top 5.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

interestingly...i would play georgia right now out of all of those in the top 5.

That is interesting, Aaron. And I think i can see your angle. I mean, Fromm's just not who he was early in the season. They look more vulnerable for a team with a good defense (and I think we've gotten to the place where we can say we're a team with a good defense).

Yeah, I can see that angle. Totally.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

The best think about this list is there are now 8 teams that someone seemingly in the know thinks that we are ahead of. We closed the gap big time this season. Next season I think we pick up one more sec win and beat one of the 5 ahead of us on the list. If that happens then look out. The recruits will follow. I also think we close strong in recruiting this year. Wont be top 10 class but I think it will be just outside of it. After the start we had to the year that is solid work.

Well, yes. I mean, consider this:

Two years ago today, we were 0-13 if you looked at our most recent meeting with every other SEC school.

Today, we are 6-7 if you check the most recent meetings. We've beaten Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Mizzou, and Vandy in our latest matches with each of them. And I'm pretty positive we could add Ole Miss and Arkansas to that list if were were to play them today. With A&M as a *who knows shrug*.

So yeah, we are legitimately far beyond where we were the day CJP was hired. Next step is the big one, though, breaking into the big boy ranks.

Go Vols!

 

[Nationdom]

This is meant to be an estimate of current strength as we get ready for bowl season.

Not based on the season's body of work, but on how the teams are doing right now. A "who will put up the best fight" kind of metric.

This means we don't just copy/paste the AP poll or CFP standings. Because even they, who say their selections are entirely current-day, are influenced by the totality of the teams' seasons.

For instance: Auburn is only 9-3 while Florida is 10-2. But I'd much rather face the gators right now than war eagle. The latter are on a roll, and in fact deserve to be above Bama at this moment. They showed that on the field.

In the same way, the Vols are hotter than A&M, though both teams are 7-5.

So here's how I'd rank them:

1. LSU
2. Georgia
3. Auburn
4. Bama
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Kentucky
8. A&M
9. Miss St
10. Mizzou
11. USCe
12. Ole Miss
13. Vandy
14. Arkansas

What do you think?

Go Vols!

1.LSU
2.UGA
3.Florida
4.Auburn
4.Bama
6.Tennessee
7.A&M
8.UK
9.USC
10. Mizzou
11. Mississippi state
12. Ole Miss
13.Vandy
14.Arkansas

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Good analysis. I might throw Florida over Bama though. Someone posted this morning that Bama doesn't have a win over anyone currently in the Top 25. Florida played a tougher schedule.

Florida at # 3.

 

[Big Orange Rock]

That is interesting, Aaron. And I think i can see your angle. I mean, Fromm's just not who he was early in the season. They look more vulnerable for a team with a good defense (and I think we've gotten to the place where we can say we're a team with a good defense).

Yeah, I can see that angle. Totally.

I am not scared of anyone in the top 5 on that list but LSU. Simply because LSU is going to hang 30+ on anyone they play regardless of the opposing defense. We can not hang offensively with them and their D would get enough stops to win. No one else in that top 5 can say that. Our D is good enough to play with any of them outside of LSU. The only question would be whose defense leaked the most. Fromm seems to have lost his way and GA does not seem to be running the ball like they normally do. I have admittedly not looked at the rushing stats for GA but that is my gut feeling based on watching them.

 

[aaronvol]

That is interesting, Aaron. And I think i can see your angle. I mean, Fromm's just not who he was early in the season. They look more vulnerable for a team with a good defense (and I think we've gotten to the place where we can say we're a team with a good defense).

Yeah, I can see that angle. Totally.

everything i was thinking. they're just not as good right now as when we played them. in fact...i think they get leveled in SEC championship game.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

Good analysis. My only change would be to move aTm up to a tie with us. I think we’d have a dogfight with them. IMO they are better than KY.

 

[zooguy]

As mentioned, the Aggies have only lost to top 10 teams. They might not have any good wins, but they don’t have the 2 bad losses the Vols have. The two teams wins are about the same.