SEC Power Rankings for 2019 preseason: Should Vols start in bottom tier?

Preseason SEC Power Rankings for 2019: Should Vols start in bottom tier?

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers brings his team onto the field prior to a game against 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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

Our bottom tier for the SEC Power Rankings entering the 2019 season may be a bit unfair to the South Carolina Gamecocks. After all, they are in the top 50 in terms of overall returning production from a 7-6 team, including senior quarterback Jake Bentley. And while having a middle of the pack recruiting class in the league, it was No. 17 overall.

However, Will Muschamp’s team’s last outing was a 28-0 Belk Bowl loss to the Virginia Cavaliers. If we solely based it on the outing, there would be a case to make for South Carolina to be even further down the list, as the Vanderbilt Commodores did look better in their bowl loss. So those offseason successes did actually move them up the list.

With Bentley entering his senior year, this season is on Muschamp to prove what happened in 2017 wasn’t a fluke. Remember, they cashed in on an easy schedule that year with the Vols and Florida Gators both being at low points. UT was once again at a low point last year.

Still, they nearly beat S.C. on the road, and Florida did beat them. With both teams figuring to be better, Muschamp has to keep up. Otherwise, this program will fall even further down our list here, and it could happen early on.

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