SEC Rating Game for Nov. 15, 2011

1. ALABAMA (9-1, 6-1 SEC)

Bama’s chances of a second straight ‘do over’ are very real.

2. GEORGIA (9-1, 7-1)

Bulldogs lurking in BCS weeds, waiting for someone to slip up.

3. FLORIDA (9-1, 7-1)

Gimpy Gators beat LSU, A&M, but wouldn’t want to play them now.

4. LSU (8-2, 4-2)

Tigers hitting stride, but may be too late for anything but Cotton.

5. TEXAS A&M (8-2, 5-2)

For his next trick, Johnny Football will cure male baldness.

6. SOUTH CAROLINA (8-2, 6-2)

Wofford gives Spurrier week to prepare new material for Dabo.

7. MISSISSIPPI STATE (7-3, 3-3)

’Dogs should beat Arkansas, but last 3 games have taken a toll.

8. VANDERBILT (6-4, 4-3)

Did the Mayans predict Vandy would go 8-4 in 2012, too?

9. OLE MISS (5-5, 2-4)

Will LSU, State freeze Rebels’ charge at respectability?

10. MISSOURI (5-5, 2-5)

One more win and it’s Shakespeare’s pizzas for everyone.

11. ARKANSAS (4-6, 2-4)

Having to win out for bowl wasn’t on Arky preseason radar.

12. TENNESSEE (4-6, 0-6)

End, new beginning can’t come soon enough for woeful Vols.

T-13. AUBURN (2-8, 0-7)

Auburn has one more win than Kentucky, but ...

T-13. KENTUCKY (1-9, 0-7)

... misery on this grand a scale deserves company.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

Saturday

Ole Miss at No. 8 LSU, 2:30 p.m. (CBS)

Arkansas at Mississippi State, 11:21 a.m. (SEC Network)

Western Carolina at No. 4 Alabama, 11:21 a.m. (SEC Network)

Jacksonville State at No. 7 Florida, noon

Wofford at No. 12 South Carolina, noon

Georgia Southern at No. 5 Georgia, 12:30 p.m.

Alabama A&M at Auburn, 1 p.m.

Sam Houston State at No. 9 Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m.

Tennessee at Vanderbilt, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)

Syracuse at Missouri, 6 p.m. (ESPNU)

Samford at Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.

All times Central

GAME OF THE WEEK

Ole Miss at LSU

2:30 p.m. Saturday, Tiger Stadium (CBS)

In a weak week for SEC football, the renewal of this ancient rivalry is the best of a mediocre lot. The Rebels have made huge strides under first-year coach Hugh Freeze, a win from bowl eligibility after going 2-10 in 2011. QB Bo Wallace leads an Ole Miss offense averaging 413.2 ypg, including 247.6 passing. Meanwhile, LSU’s offense has finally gained a long-sought balance with QB Zach Mettenberger, who has thrown for 571 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs the last two games.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

• After becoming bowl eligible with a 27-26 win at Ole Miss last week, Vanderbilt will go to bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever.
• Eight SEC teams are currently bowl eligible. Missouri and Ole Miss need one more win to get there, while Tennessee and Arkansas each need two more wins. Auburn and Kentucky have been eliminated.
• LSU (4-2) would win a three-way tie with Alabama and A&M in the SEC West at 6-2 if LSU wins out, A&M beats Missouri and Alabama loses to Auburn. With all three teams having beat each other, the first viable tiebreaker is best divisional record. LSU and A&M would both be 5-1, eliminating Alabama (4-2). The next tiebreaker would be to head-to-head, with the Tigers going to the SEC Championship Game because they beat the Aggies.