Welcome to the footballtime.com SEC power rankings. All topics and rankings are solely based on my observations of all the SEC teams after each week. These are in no way correct opinions, just the way I view the pecking order of the nation’s most dominant college football conference. Week 2 of SEC play brought a mixed bag of results with another SEC team losing to an ACC team and one SEC team re-establishing themselves as SEC and potential National Title contenders.

1. Alabama

Last Week: Bye

This week: 9/14 at TAMU

Nick Saban and Kirby Smart took this past week to lock themselves in a dark room to study film and conjure up a gameplan to contain Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel and his slew of offensive weapons. The Tide’s offensive line has also had a week to fix the continuity issues that plagued them in their 35-10 win over Va. Tech. This has been the most hyped matchup of 2013 since the Aggies’ upset of Alabama in Tuscaloosa last November, and signs point to this game living up to the hype.

2. LSU

Last Week: 56-17 Win over UAB

This Week: 9/14 vs. Kent St.

The Bayou Bengals took care of business against UAB and easily dispatched of the Blazers. Zach Mettenberger continues to signs of becoming a quality quarterback, which only means that Les Miles’ team is becoming more dangerous. Their matchup with UGA in three weeks will be must see TV. This week however, the Tigers get another tune up game against Kent State.

3. Texas A&M

Last Week: Won 65-28 over Sam Houston State

This Week: 9/14 vs. Alabama

The Aggie offense looks prime and ready for its’ highly anticipated matchup against Bama. Johnny football looks as confident as ever and will likely be a major nuisance for the Tide this weekend. However, the A&M defense has left a lot to be desired, giving up more than 500 yards rushing in their first two games against bottom-tier FBS competition. That does not bode well going into a game against a line as big and talented as Bama’s and against a stable of running backs as good as any in the nation.

4. Georgia

Last Week: Won 41-30 over South Carolina

This Week: Bye

Aaron Murray and UGA bounced back from their season-opening loss to Clemson in a major way, defeating the Visor and his Gamecocks for the first time since 2009. The offense carried the team and the defense made some plays and now UGA is in the driver’s seat for the SEC East title. The Dawgs out-executed the Gamecocks down the stretch and now get a bye week to rest up before a beatdown of North Texas.

5. South Carolina

Last Week: 41-30 loss to UGA

This Week: 9/14 vs. Vandy

The Gamecock defense was picked apart and bullied by a talented UGA offense en route to their first loss to the Bulldogs since 2009. Jadeveon Clowney simply does not look right after 2 games. This week’s game against Vanderbilt will not be easy by any means, but the Gamecoks should be able to run against the ‘Dores and should enjoy the benefits of being at home. Every SEC game is a must win for the Gamecocks now if they are to win the SEC East, given the unlikelihood that UGA loses two SEC contests going forward.

6. Florida

Last Week: Lost 21-16 to Miami

This week: Bye

The Gator offense was painful to watch in their loss to Miami. If this Gator team doesn’t find more success running the ball they won’t win many games that matter. Driskel looks completely lost when he has to pass and the lack of receiving talent around him is glaring. The Gators defense looks strong again, but as everyone knows, you have to score to win ball games and the Gators are going to have to solve their offensive issues or this season will go down in flames.

7. Ole Miss

Last Week: Won 31-13 over SE Missouri State.

This Week: 9/14 at Texas

The Rebel Black Bears cruised to a nonchalant win in week 2. Texas just came off a Sal Sunseri worthy performance against BYU. All of the sudden the Rebels look like they have a chance to take this game against a defense that looks lost and without a semblance of an idea of how to play. Hugh Freeze looks for a statement win for his program. Meanwhile, Mack Brown somehow still has a job.

8. Vanderbilt 

Last Week: won 31-3 over Austin Peay

This Week: 9/14 at So. Carolina

The Commodores did what they were supposed to do against the governors. Now they get a shot at an SEC big-boy. Vanderbilt has not beaten a ranked team under James Franklin and now they have an opportunity to take a game from a South Carolina team that isn’t clicking on all cylinders. The ‘Dores will have to find a way to slow down a strong Gamecock rushing attack to get a win Saturday.

9. Auburn

Last Week: Won 38-9 over Arkansas State

This Week: 9/14 vs. Hail State.

The Tigers enjoyed another nice win against Arkansas State. Now things get taken up a notch with SEC play beginning. Mississippi State is as mediocre as they come, but the Tigers could really start generating more positive momentum for new coach Gus Malzahn by taking a winnable game.

10. Miss State

Last Week: Won 51-7 over Alcorn State

This Week: 9/14 at Auburn

The Bulldogs easily dispatched of lowly Alcorn State and now kick off SEC play against Gus Malzahn and his Tigers. This game represents an opportunity for Dan Mullen and his program to start their 2013 SEC campaign on the right foot.

11. Tennessee

Last Week: Won 52-20 over Western Kentucky

This Week: 9/14 at Phil Knight’s flying V

Some quick takeaways from the Vols’ win over WKU. This Vols team has already shown more resolve in two games under Butch Jones than they did in three years under Derek Dooley. They capitalized on WKU’s mistakes and punished them for those mistakes, which is something winning football teams do (Don’t believe me, go read Neyland’s maxims). Yes the defense gave up some yardage to WKU, but when you think about how long the Hilltopper offense was on the field because of the turnovers and the fact that the D only gave up 20 points, it was a good performance for John Jancek’s D against the offensive wizardry of Bobby Petrino. Worley’s qb play leaves a lot to be desired, but I doubt Vol fans see a change at that position until the South Alabama game.

The Vols took a couple steps up in level of competition from their win over Austin Peay to their win over WKU. Now the Vols take the competition level up another notch (or 5) going against the Oregon offensive machine, and they look terrifying. The key will be to not let this week’s result set this team back going forward to Gainesville to face a Florida team that looks more vulnerable than previously thought.

12. Missouri

Last Week: Won 38-23 over Toledo

This Week: Bye

The Tiger offense put up solid number against the Rockets, but there’s no real read on this team yet because of how over-matched their opponents have been. I just don’t think this team will be very successful once SEC play kicks up.

13. Arkansas

Last Week: Won 31-21 over Samford

This Week: 9/14 vs. Southern Miss

The Razorbacks struggled to score a win over FCS foe Samford. Luckily, they play Southern Miss, a team that is as bad as any team in the nation. Once SEC play kicks up though, don’t expect much (if any) success.

14. Kentucky

Last Week: Won 41-7 over Miami (OH)

This Week: 9/14 vs.Louisville

The Wildcats won one of the two winnable games on their schedule. They get to be slaughtered by Louisville this week. Welcome to reality Mark Stoops.

Questions? Thoughts? don’t hesitate to leave a comment or holler at me on Twitter.