Mississippi State and Ole Miss remained atop the SEC West for another week, scoring significant wins over Auburn and Texas A&M to maintain their hopes of crashing the College Football Playoff party. Over in the East, Georgia dominated Missouri on both sides of the ball despite playing without star running back Todd Gurley, proving the Bulldogs are more than a one-man show. Georgia is the class of the East and a clear frontrunner. The West? Still very much in the air.
1. Mississippi State (6-0, 3-0 in SEC)
Up next: at Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 25
The skinny: Heisman Trophy candidate Dak Prescott threw two interceptions last week, but had a huge game as a rusher to help the Bulldogs nip Auburn.
2. Ole Miss (6-0, 3-0)
Up next: vs. Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: The Rebels' defense, particularly in the secondary, has made big strides this season and should have its way with an inconsistent UT offense.
3. Auburn (5-1, 2-1)
Up next: vs. South Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 26
The skinny: The Tigers get a week off to regroup after being knocked off the defending SEC champion perch by Mississippi State.
4. Georgia (5-1, 3-1)
Up next: at Arkansas, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: A 34-0 thrashing of Missouri last week combined with Alabama's 14-13 escape of league-winless Arkansas merits a move up this week for the East-favorite 'Dawgs.
5. Alabama (5-1, 2-1)
Up next: vs. Texas A&M, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: This is nothing short of a make-or-break game in the SEC West race for the Crimson Tide; lose this one, and the key to the trophy case can stay in the drawer for another year.
6. Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2)
Up next: at Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: The Aggies look to snap a two-game losing skid marked by offensive turnovers and a porous defense.
7. LSU (5-2, 1-2)
Up next: vs. Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: The Tigers desperately need more from the quarterback position. The status quo could spell a home loss to the improved Wildcats.
8. Kentucky (5-1, 2-1)
Up next: at LSU, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: Beating South Carolina was a watershed moment for UK, but beating LSU on its home turf would be even bigger.
9. Missouri (4-2, 1-1)
Up next: at Florida, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: Coach Gary Pinkel's team has to regroup in every way after a blowout loss to Georgia last week, but Florida might not prove capable of exposing the Tigers' apparent issues.
10. Florida (3-2, 2-2)
Up next: vs. Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: If Missouri QB Maty Mauk doesn't play better than he has in his last two outings, UF might actually have -- welp -- a quarterback advantage in this one.
11. South Carolina (3-3, 2-3)
Up next: vs. Furman, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: It's not South Carolina's year, clearly, but the FCS Paladins should provide some feel-good tonic for Gamecocks fans.
12. Arkansas (3-3, 0-3)
Up next: vs. Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: After narrow losses to Texas A&M and Alabama, the Razorbacks will try to crack the SEC win column for the first time since 2012 against the Bulldogs.
13. Tennessee (3-3, 0-2)
Up next: at Ole Miss, Saturday, Oct. 18
The skinny: The Volunteers look two years away from competing for an SEC East title and have little chance against what might be the best team in the league Saturday.
14. Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-4)
Up next: at Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 25
The skinny: The Commodores nipped Charleston Southern by a point last week, but are running out of non-conference games with which to fill the win column.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
