redandblack.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2018
B2 THE RED & BLACK
Playbook POWER RANKINGS
STAFF PICKS
Tommy Boyd
Michael Hebert
Collin Huguley
Janey Murray
Kelsey Russo
Football Beat Writer
Assistant Sports Editor
Football Beat Writer
Assistant Sports Editor
Football Beat Writer
No. 24 Auburn vs. No. 5 UGA
28-24, UGA
34-16, UGA
35-17, UGA
27-10, UGA
34-21, UGA
South Carolina vs. No. 15 Florida
31-24, Florida
27-21, South Carolina
24-20, Florida
24-21, Florida
21-17, South Carolina
Wisconsin vs. No. 20 Penn State
38-21, Penn State
24-13, Penn State
28-17, Penn State
21-17, Wisconsin
34-28, Penn State
Oklahoma State vs. No. 6 Oklahoma
45-35. Oklahoma
38-31, Oklahoma
45-34, Oklahoma
35-21, Oklahoma
42-21, Oklahoma
S TA F F R E C O R D S
25-15
27-13
26-14
21-19
29-11
The Red & Black football writers and editors make picks for this week’s games.
Each week of the 2018 season, The Red & Black ranks the teams of the Southeastern Conference. This week, The Red & Black surveys the conference after the 10th week of the college football season.
Tier One: Alabama The Crimson Tide have looked like the best team in college football all year long and somehow looked even more spectacular in a 29-0 beatdown of thirdranked LSU on Nov. 3. Tua Tagovailoa is seemingly cruising to a Heisman Trophy win, and instead of finding teams that can beat Alabama, it might be more doable to find the few that can even compete with it. Nick Saban’s crew is in a class of its own in the SEC and in all of America. — Collin Huguley
Tier Two: LSU, Georgia These two teams are trending in different directions after last week’s action. LSU is reeling following a suffocating 29-0 defeat at the hands of Alabama, while Georgia is flying high with another SEC East title after a 34-17 road win at Kentucky. LSU still holds the second spot for now, due to the head-to-head result, but that could change in the coming weeks if the Tigers don’t rebound after their loss to the Crimson Tide. — Jed May
So fresh and so clean
Freshman Bulldogs provide depth to positions hit by injury Janey Murray Assistant Sports Editor One factor separates this year’s Georgia team from last year’s: youth. In 2017, Georgia’s defense was led by experienced players like nose tackle John Atkins and linebackers Roquan Smith, Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter. On offense, Isaiah Wynn led the offensive line to success. This season, Georgia has relied on younger players, inserting freshmen to replace injured starters at several positions. For the most part, those freshmen have succeeded. “I think those guys are growing up, getting better, and I said it after the game last week, some guys got in the game that hadn’t been getting in the game, because we have had to use them,” Kirby Smart said. “They have some attributes that we need, and I’m pleased with those guys’ growth.” The depth has been significant on the offensive line, where multiple freshmen have been forced into important roles. After injuries to sophomores Andrew Thomas and Ben Cleveland, freshman Cade Mays stepped in. When senior Lamont Gaillard hyperextended his knee against Kentucky, freshman Trey Hill took over at center and, after a few early snap issues, rose to the challenge. The youth of the team has also played an important role on the other side of the ball. Freshmen Channing Tindall and Brenton Cox each recorded sacks against Kentucky. On a thin defensive line that has also been affected by injuries, freshman Jordan
WEEK 5: ALABAMA TIGHTENS GRIP ON TOP SPOT
Tier Three: Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn Kentucky’s loss to Georgia did little to change its place within the power rankings. The Wildcats’ second-place finish in the SEC East puts them with Auburn and Mississippi State, each of which have worse overall records at 6-3 but play in the tougher side of the conference. These three have little more than bowl aspirations to play for now, although Auburn can still spoil a season for a team or two with games left against No. 6 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama before the season’s end. — Tommy Boyd
Tier Four: Florida, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Missouri Georgia defensive back Tyson Campbell makes a tackle in a game against LSU on Oct. 13 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. T O N Y W A L S H / S T A F F Davis has stepped up, starting against Florida and Kentucky and has accumulated 18 tackles this season. Freshman Tyson Campbell has started every game at cornerback. He ranks fourth on the team with 35 total tackles, and teammates have praised his maturity and confidence. “He’s taking stuff a little bit more seriously than he was at the beginning,” Reed said. “He’s learning how to watch film, he’s learning how to practice, which is a big thing for young guys.” A reason so many freshmen have been able to contribute is the fact many of them enrolled last January, Smart said. Coming to campus early gave them more time to acclimate. “You want to bring good players in your program, but it’s not just getting them here,” Smart said. “It’s getting
them bought into the principles and values and doing what the seniors want and then buying in and also learning and dealing with the frustration of being away from home.” The contributions from freshmen have been crucial in 2018, as Georgia has remained the team to beat in the SEC East, despite losing key players to graduation and the NFL draft. While it may not have been in the original plan to play so many freshmen this season, one statement Reed made regarding Campbell illustrates the importance of just getting out on the field and playing early and often. “I only got confidence in myself by getting beat and going back out there,” Reed said. “So the more he plays, the more he learns the game, the more confidence he’ll have in himself.”
Besides Florida, these teams are trying to claw their way to bowl eligibility. The Gamecocks won against Ole Miss 48-44, but the tight win highlighted defensive concerns. Florida fell a tier after a decisive loss to Missouri, 38-17, and Missouri showed its offensive potential in the victory. Texas A&M lost its second consecutive game when it fell to Auburn in a 28-24 result. With these results, Florida is still bowl eligible, and the other three are one more win away from joining. — Kelsey Russo
Tier Five: Ole Miss, Tennessee, Arkansas, Vanderbilt At this point, the bottom feeders of the SEC have established themselves, with little hope for much improvement. Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt all have just one conference win, while Arkansas has yet to get that elusive first SEC win. Ole Miss’s close loss to South Carolina didn’t help its resume. Tennessee won but only put up 14 points against Charlotte. Arkansas and Vanderbilt were both on bye this week, and the Razorbacks have a tough matchup with LSU Nov. 10 while the Commodores travel to Columbia, Missouri. — Janey Murray
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