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SEC Power Rankings following Week 3 of 2018: Vols still near bottom

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Kai Locksley #1 of the UTEP Miners tries to avoid a tackle from Defensive back Micah Abernathy #22 of the Tennessee Volunteers and Linebacker Jonathan Kongbo #99 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Kai Locksley #1 of the UTEP Miners tries to avoid a tackle from Defensive back Micah Abernathy #22 of the Tennessee Volunteers and Linebacker Jonathan Kongbo #99 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half of the game between the UTEP Miners and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 24-0. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images /

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs haven’t missed a beat. Sure, they had the greatest recruiting class in college football history this past year. But I thought that by replacing so many starters in the offseason on defense, they’d have a bit of a drop-off.

Now, to be fair, they have faced a Conference USA team and an FCS school en route to their 3-0 record. But against that CUSA school, they managed to cover a ridiculously high spread despite Hurricane Florence moving the game to noon and likely spelling a sluggish start for this team.

Add in the fact that their other win is a blowout on the road against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and these guys are clearly the real deal. However, with South Carolina a bit overrated, I do have my reservations about that one as well.

Let’s just say it. UGA has a clear road through the SEC East. Their toughest test is actually this Saturday, a road trip to the Missouri Tigers. The scores between these two schools were 9-6 and 28-27 in 2015 and 2016, and last year this team was down by only a field goal midway through the second quarter before a Drew Lock interception broke this game open.

So these guys are dangerous, and they’ll test the Dawgs. But after that, nobody will threaten. The Kentucky Wildcats on the road may have the best chance, and that’s sad. But the Tennessee Vols, Vanderbilt Commodores and Florida Gators will all get smoked.

As a result, this team’s season comes down to the other side of the division. The Dawgs always have to face the Auburn Tigers, but this year they have another brutal non-division match-up. And it’s at the next team in these SEC Power Rankings.

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