Tennessee football up two spots in SEC Power Rankings after Week 5 of 2020
Lost to Florida Gators 38-24
Similar to the Missouri Tigers, the South Carolina Gamecocks get more credit as an 0-2 team than the Kentucky Wildcats or Vanderbilt Commodores due to schedule strength. Once again, you’re looking at a team who has lost to two teams that are both 2-0, and they also were playing both of those teams tight towards the end of the game.
Against Tennessee football, Will Muschamp’s team could have had a game-winning drive were it not for a late fumble on a punt return. That and a pick-six are why they lost. Last weekend, they were in the red zone with two minutes to go and two timeouts, and a touchdown would have made it a one-score game. Simply put, they had their chances.
By playing their opponents a lot closer, South Carolina deserves to be ahead of Mizzou as well in our SEC Power Rankings. We can use the Vols alone as a measurement given the fact that, while they were a couple of plays away, the Tigers never really threatened. Still, this USC team is in trouble and needs a turnaround fast.
With Vanderbilt on the road this week, they have a chance to get to 1-2, but if they want to get to .500 on the season, they’ll have to win one of their next three games after Vandy. That includes hosting the Auburn Tigers, visiting the LSU Tigers and then hosting the Texas A&M Aggies. Somewhere, they need an upset.