SEC Power Rankings following Week 6 of 2018: Bye doesn't help Vols

SEC Power Rankings following Week 6 of 2018: Bye doesn’t help Vols at all

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Tennessee mascot Davy Crockett carries the flag across the end zone during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images /

The Mississippi State Bulldogs collapsed in two straight games only to rebound and prove that maybe they’re not so bad. Joe Moorhead’s offense came back to life against the Auburn Tigers, particularly the dominant rushing attack, and they put up 23 points.

That’s a solid number to have against a pretty good SEC defense, even if that offense is terrible. As a result, the unit led by Nick Fitzgerald is back in the top half of our SEC Power Rankings. Their two losses are to a team that is one play away from being undefeated and another team whose coach was their coach last year.

Those are understandable losses for now, and as a result, with a 4-2 record, beating Gus Malzahn’s team was enough for us to put these guys here. But they still have a heck of a lot more to prove going forward. Mississippi State has a bye this weekend, and down the stretch they have a sure win against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at home and an almost-sure win against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

That gets them six wins, and with the Alabama Crimson Tide a sure loss, they can define their season with a home game against the Texas A&M Aggies and the Egg Bowl, on the road agains the Ole Miss Rebels. But coming off their bye, they could really make a statement against the next team in our SEC Power Rankings.

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