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SEC Power Rankings following Week 4 of 2018: Vols still near bottom

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: David Reese II #33 of the Florida Gators recovers a fumble during the first quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: David Reese II #33 of the Florida Gators recovers a fumble during the first quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images /

Give credit to the Missouri Tigers. They moved up in our SEC Power Rankings because of their refusal to quit against the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend. Derek Dooley’s offense took off under Drew Lock, and it did a lot of damage against a great Georgia defense.

Sure, they lost the game, but Barry Odom’s team proved it could compete with top teams. And by playing Georgia closer than South Carolina did, Mizzou deserves to be one spot ahead of the Gamecocks in these rankings.

At 3-1, these guys now have their bye this week to get things right. That may not be a good thing since the offense is in such a rhythm at this point. However, should it use that time to get better, Mizzou has a favorable schedule to do big things in the league.

Remember, this team’s permanent SEC West opponent is the Arkansas Razorbacks. That game is at home at the end of the year and should be an easy fourth win. A rebuilding Memphis Tigers team at home is the final non-conference game, which should be a fifth win.

These guys did draw the Alabama Crimson Tide on the road this year from the West, which is bad. And after their bye, they have a tough game at South Carolina. But assuming they get the five wins we’re talking about, they also have a four-game stretch that includes games at the Florida Gators and Tennessee Vols but at home against the Vanderbilt Commodores. And it starts with a big home game against the next team in these rankings.

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