FREDSPORTSEXTRA.COM’S SEC

Josh Heupel unloads a pass as Bubba Burcham blocks Nebraska’s Carlos Polk. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman Archives DOUG HOKE

I have had the Georgia Bulldogs as my benchmark for the best team in the country and with their close win at Kentucky last week, I still think they are the tops in both the conference and the nation.  This does not mean that they will stay there and I do believe that every week will bring new challenges to the team from Athens.  Teams that win games like the one with Kentucky are tested and Georgia has met their first test.  I like this team even if they will have a bruise or two through the season. 

In SEC play, I have Tennessee just too much for Oklahoma.  The Sooners offense is still not good enough to keep up with the Vols, even in Norman.  Look for a close game until the end when OU cannot come back.  Turnovers will be key for both teams and yes, OU could pull the upset with stellar defensive play. OU’s big SEC wins are still a few weeks away.  Give the Vols this one, 24 to 13.

Arkansas will win a significant game at Auburn.  Arkansas 38 to 24.

Oklahoma State will nip out a win at home with Utah.  The Pokes will finally get some good yards out of Ollie Gordon and the passing game will be too much for the Utes.  Pokes close, 30 to 27 in the best national game of the week.

My SEC rankings and National Rankings follow:

National Rankings for this week:

1.  Georgia

2.  Texas

3.  Ohio State

4.  Ole Miss

5.  Alabama

6.  USC

7.  Missouri

8.  Tennessee

9.  Miami (Fla)

10.  Oregon  

11.  Oklahoma State

12.  Utah

13.  Penn State

14.  Kansas State

15.  Oklahoma

16.  Nebraska

17.  Northern Illinois

18.  University of Central Florida

19.  Louisville

20.  Notre Dame

21.  LSU

22.  Iowa State

23.  Washington State

24.  Memphis

25.  Michigan

SEC rankings

1.  Georgia

2.  Texas

3.  Ole Miss

4.  Alabama

5.  Missouri

6.  Tennessee

7.  Oklahoma

8.  LSU

9.  Texas Aggies

10.  Arkansas

11.  South Carolina

12.  Kentucky

13.  Auburn

14.  Florida

15.  Vanderbilt

16.  Mississippi State

SEC Predictions

Florida 21 at Mississippi State 17

Kentucky 31 and Ohio 10

LSU 29 and UCLA 17

Arkansas 38 at Auburn 24

Missouri 33 and Vanderbilt 7

Tennessee 24 at Oklahoma 13

Texas Aggies 37 and Bowling Green 10

South Carolina 51 and Akron 0

Ole Miss 55 and Georgia Southern 17

Texas 49 and UL Monroe 13

Top 25 (ESPN) 

Nebraska 30 and Illinois 17

Oklahoma State 30 and Utah 27

Ohio State 47 and Marshall 10

Clemson 28 and N. C. State 14

Iowa State 24 and Arkansas State  7

Penn State 58 and Kent State 0

USC 41 and Michigan 24

Notre Dame 48 and Miami Ohio 7

Louisville 31 and Georgia Tech 23

N. Illinois 39 and Buffalo 21

Miami (Fla) 35 at South Florida 24

Kansas State 34 at BYU 24

Feature Photo: 

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OU FSU ORANGE BOWL: University of Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel greets the crowd after the Sooners defeated the Florida State Seminoles in the Orange Bowl. Staff Photo by Steve Sisney

STEVE SISNEY/THE OKLAHOMAN