As this college football season has progressed it has become increasingly clear that the SEC can easily be divided into 3 tiers. In the top tier stands Alabama all alone. The Tide are just so balanced and sound in all facets of the game and no one else in the conference has shown that sort of consistency during this season. After Bama you have about 10 teams that can beat one another on any given weekend, and then there’s the bottom tier of just bad teams with Mississippi State, Arkansas and Kentucky. The way this college football season is shaping up though, if Alabama falters at all we may see the SEC shut out of the National Championship game, a ridiculous notion considering the conference’s national dominance in the BCS era.

Anyway, here’s my attempt to create a SEC power rankings list that kind of makes sense. (Movement from last week’s rankings is indicated in parentheses)

1. Alabama

Last Week: Won 45-10 over Tennessee

This Week: Bye

The Tide simply dismantled Tennessee last weekend. AJ McCarron and his receivers absolutely picked apart the Vols through the air. The defense suffocated the Vols any time they threatened in the first half and as a whole, Nick Saban’s team just seems to be playing at an unstoppable level. As of this week though, the SEC’s only hope for a National Championship is the Crimson Tide, who have a bye before their annual showdown versus LSU.

2. Auburn (+1)

Last Week: Won 45-10 over Florida Atlantic

This Week: 11/2 at Arkansas

Gus Malzahn’s team did what they were supposed to do against an over-matched opponent. Now they get to take on an SEC opponent in name only in the Arkansas Razorbacks. I say in name because Arkansas is pitiful. Auburn’s transition from the Gene Chizik era has gone smoother than anybody could have predicted as the Tigers’ offense is chugging along and their defense is improving as the season goes on.

3. Texas A&M (+1)

Last Week: Won 56-24 over Vandy

This Week: 11/2 vs. UTEP

The Aggies just kept scoring and scoring against an inferior Vanderbilt defense. Manziel did his thing in the passing game with four touchdowns. Now they get an easy game against UTEP before jumping back into the SEC schedule with Mississippi State.

4. South Carolina (+5)

Last Week: Won 27-24 over Missouri

This Week: 11/2 vs. Mississippi State

The Gamecocks make a huge jump in the power rankings after handing Missouri their first loss of the season. Connor Shaw is just a gamer and it is hard to not respect his ability to play through injuries and illness. More importantly, the Gamecocks kept their SEC hopes alive with the win over Mizzou with only one potential road block left on the SEC schedule with a home date versus Florida.

5. Missouri (-3)

Last Week: Lost 27-24 to South Carolina

This Week: 11/2 vs. Tennessee

Gary Pinkel’s Tigers collapsed on their way to their first loss of the year against the Gamecocks, a team that they were leading by 17 through three quarters. The Tigers are still in the driver’s seat for the SEC East division title going into their contest with the Vols. Important for the Tigers will be getting their offense back on track against a Vols defense that is coming off a poor showing in Tuscaloosa.

6. LSU (-1)

Last Week: Won 48-16 over Furman

This Week: Bye

The Bayou Bengals limped along in the first half against Furman before dispatching of the Paladins completely in the second half. Now Les Miles’ crew gets a bye week before their anticipated trip to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama.

7. Ole Miss (-1)

Last Week: 59-14 win over Idaho

This Week: Bye

Hugh Freeze’s Rebel Black Bears took care of business against the Vandals. The Rebels are one win away from bowl eligibility and should achieve that with ease considering 3 of their next 4 games are at home versus Troy and Arkansas and at Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.

8. UGA (-1)

Last Week: Bye

This Week: 11/2 at the World’s Largest Cocktail Party

The Bulldogs got a much needed respite from their rigorous schedule. Now, Mark Richt’s squad brings in a healthy Todd Gurley and potentially a few more players than they had when they took on Vanderbilt. Who would have thought after a 2010 season in which they went 6-7 that the Bulldogs would be looking for their third straight win over the Gators.

9. Florida (+2)

Last Week: Bye

This Week: 11/2 against UGA

The Gators’ upcoming game versus UGA sure has lost its’ luster since the beginning of the month. As banged up as UGA is, the Gators are even more beat up. Their once-vaunted defense has been decimated with injuries and is currently a shell of its former self. Unless the Gators pull something out of their backside, this team is probably looking at a 6-win regular season, which will make head coach Will Muschamp’s seat blazing hot heading into next year.

10.Tennessee (-1)

Last Week: Lost 45-10 at Bama

This Week: 11/2 at Mizzou

I dropped the Vols a spot because of how flat they looked last week at Alabama. The offense’s struggles to move the ball against the Tide did not shock me, but the defense’s inability to get any sort of stops in the first half was a definite step back for a unit that had shown much improvement from a year ago. Now the Vols are taking a true freshman on the road in Josh Dobbs to Mizzou. While Dobbs is more physically gifted than now injured starter Justin Worley, it is never ideal to have a freshman play his first career start away from home. The Vols’ defense will need to get back on track this week if Butch Jones’ team is to pull the upset in Columbia.

11. Vanderbilt (-1)

Last Week: Lost 56-24 at Texas A&M

This Week: Bye

The Commodores get a much needed break from their SEC schedule after getting waxed in College Station last week. James Franklin’s squad also gets an additional week to prep for their pending game versus a Florida team ravaged by injuries.

12. Mississippi State 

Last Week: Won 28-22 over Kentucky

This Week: 11/2 at South Carolina

The Bulldogs get to take on their second SEC East opponent of the year in South Carolina. Unfortunately for Dan Mullen and his cowbell loving fan base, the Gamecocks should easily dispatch of the Bulldogs at home.

13. Kentucky

Last Week: Lost 28-22 to Mississippi State

This Week: 11/2 vs. Alabama State

Mark Stoops’ team came oh-so-close to notching their first SEC win of his tenure, now the Wildcats get a date with FCS Alabama State, a team who is 6-2 and features former UGA stud running back Isaiah Crowell. The Wildcats should get their second win of the season…should.

14. Arkansas

Last Week: Bye

This Week: 11/2 vs. Auburn

Arkansas didn’t lose last week! They will this week though as the Gus Bus rolls into town with their fancy offense and ever-improving defense. Is it funny or sad that Bret Bielema is trying to get the SEC to bust Auburn for their video-taping practices? I’m thinking more on the side of sad…just sad.

Questions? Thoughts? feel free to leave a comment or holler at me on twitter @thomasduggins