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Tennessee football rises by default in Week 3 SEC Power Rankings

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football
Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) during a NCAA football game against Tennessee Tech at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.Kns Tennessee Tenn Tech Football /
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Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh (6) moves the ball down the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game between South Carolina and Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Sept. 18, 2021. Georgia won 40-13.News Joshua L Jones
Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh (6) moves the ball down the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game between South Carolina and Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Sept. 18, 2021. Georgia won 40-13.News Joshua L Jones /

850. . 2-1 (0-1). Previous: . Gamecocks . 11. team

Last week: Lost to Georgia Bulldogs 40-13

We did all that talk about separating Tennessee football and Missouri only to have the South Carolina Gamecocks come between them. Okay, USC has by far the most impressive loss of any of these three teams, losing to Georgia. However, they lost in a blowout, and while it was expected, it doesn’t speak well of Shane Beamer’s team.

Then you have to look at USC’s other wins. Like Mizzou and Rocky Top, their FCS win is over a winless team, the Eastern Illinois Panthers. Meanwhile, they barely escaped the East Carolina Pirates last week, and ECU is finally got a win by beating the Marshall Thundering Herd last week.

Now, not only is USC’s loss better than UT’s or Mizzou’s, but they actually beat an FBS team that has a win against another FBS team. That could have been enough to move them up. On the other hand, recency still matters, and last weekend’s loss is part of that.

A home matchup with Kentucky this weekend is a huge opportunity for them to see where they stand in the SEC Power Rankings. Given how UK just struggled, USC could be in four a four-game winning streak, as after facing the Wildcats, they get to host the Troy Trojans, Tennessee football and Vanderbilt.

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