Roughly halfway through the season, the standings look nothing like they typically do. Three of four teams still unbeaten in SEC play are Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri. Meanwhile, Alabama and LSU have lost three of four SEC games between them. The vaunted SEC West looks as deep as it ever has, and the East perhaps as weak as ever. Although Missouri is at the top of the SEC East, the Tigers have played just one SEC game with seven to go, and something doesn't smell right about that loss to Indiana. This week will be telling for those at the top: Missouri takes on Georgia, Ole Miss gets Texas A&M and Mississippi State draws Auburn.
1. Auburn (5-0, 2-0 SEC)
Up next: at Mississippi State, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: Gus Malzahn's offense might meet its match in a Mississippi State defensive front that has played outstanding.
2. Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0)
Up next: vs. Auburn, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: If the Bulldogs can pull off back-to-back wins against Texas A&M and Auburn, it's an entirely new day in Starkville, and they'll be at home for both games.
3. Ole Miss (5-0, 2-0)
Up next: at Texas A&M, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: The Rebels have no time to celebrate a win over Alabama before traveling to College Station for what could be an even tougher game.
4. Alabama (4-1, 1-1)
Up next: at Arkansas, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: The Crimson Tide tries to pick up the pieces from a stunning loss to Ole Miss, and in facing Arkansas, its defense gets a break from the hurry-up, no-huddle attacks on the schedule.
5. Georgia (4-1, 2-1)
Up next: at Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: The Bulldogs won't be overlooking a Tigers team that beat them in Athens last year, nor should they, given that they've already found a way to lose to a weakening South Carolina team.
6. Texas A&M (5-1, 2-1)
Up next: vs. Ole Miss, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: If the Aggies can't rebound at home for one Mississippi team after getting upset by another, it will be another Chick-fil-A Bowl kind of season.
7. Missouri (4-1, 1-0)
Up next: vs. Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: Quarterback Maty Mauk played miserably in his last outing, yet the Tigers still found a comeback path against South Carolina.
8. LSU (4-2, 0-2)
Up next: at Florida, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: LSU is 0-2 in conference play and the Gators are 2-1, but does anyone really think Florida is the better team?
9. Kentucky (4-1, 2-1)
Up next: vs. La.-Monroe, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: The Wildcats are an improving team with rising confidence after beating South Carolina, and thus rank above a reeling Florida team to which it lost on the road in overtime.
10. Florida (3-1, 2-1)
Up next: vs. LSU, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: After a narrow 10-9 win at Tennessee, Florida has lost the spark that ignited the win (freshman quarterback Treon Harris) to an indefinite suspension.
11. South Carolina (3-3, 2-3)
Up next: vs. Furman, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: What looked like a promising season went entirely off the rails in a loss to Kentucky, but the Gamecocks have what it takes to play the spoiler role.
12. Arkansas (3-2, 0-2)
Up next: vs. Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: The Razorbacks still don't have an SEC win under Bret Bielema, but there is no doubt Arkansas is playing better football this year than last.
13. Tennessee (2-3, 0-2)
Up next: vs. Chattanooga, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: Butch Jones' team looked at least two years away from SEC competitiveness in losing to a woeful Florida team Saturday.
14. Vanderbilt (1-5, 0-4)
Up next: vs. Charleston Southern, Saturday, Oct. 11
The skinny: The Commodores have gone back to being the doormat of the league in just one year, and Charleston Southern could be the second of a three-win season.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
