SEC: Asked and answered

SEC Southeastern Conference

Here's our weekly ranking of the SEC football teams (with record and this week's EDT schedule) and questions facing each this week:

• 1. Auburn (5-0, 2-0; at Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m.): Are we ready for a situation where the winner of the Auburn-Mississippi State game takes the first step toward Atlanta and the winning QB takes the first step toward the Heisman ceremony? Sure, why not. We also believe there almost assuredly will be 70 points scored in this one. Buckle up, buttercup; or in this case, clamp it down, cowbell.

• 2. Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0; vs. Auburn, 3:30 p.m.): We will break this game down more this week, but here's a question for you -- what would have happened if Cam Newton had gone to Mississippi State as was expected? We think the Bulldogs could have won the 2010 BCS title considering where they finished -- No. 15 in the country with a New Year's Day Bowl win over Michigan -- with arguably the single best season in SEC history.

• 3. Ole Miss (5-0, 2-0; at Texas A&M, 9 p.m.): How will the Rebels handle the tidal wave of emotion, and will Katy Perry make the trip? Man, "College Football GameDay" is a spectacle, right? Perry stole the show from Lee Corso. We have a joke here, but we will let it slide.

• 4. Alabama (4-1, 1-1; at Arkansas, 6 p.m.): What will Alabama's defense do against this crazy, old-fangled I-formation offense Arkansas runs? In truth, this will be the Tide's only SEC game against a traditional, two-back offense, and that old-is-new-again scheme has helped Arkansas run wild over defenses that more and more have to be ready for spreads and shotgun option sets.

• 5. Texas A&M (5-1, 2-1; vs. Ole Miss, 9 p.m.): Is it against school policy for an Aggies defender other than Myles Garrett to tackle anyone? While that may be a stretch, the young and struggling secondary is about to get an up-close and personal look at an Ole Miss receiving corps that is legit and then an Alabama group that has the best wideout in the country in Amari Cooper. As good as Kevin Sumlin's offense may be, the Aggies defense simply must improve. Like now.

• 6. Georgia (4-1, 2-1; at Missouri, noon): Is this a must-win for Georgia? You bet it is. In fact, you can make an argument that this is the biggest game left on the Bulldogs' schedule in that a loss Saturday in Columbia means Missouri would have a two-game lead in the loss column and the tiebreaker over Georgia in the East standings. Despite the up-and-down play on each side of the ball, all of Georgia's goals are still out there. But that ends if the Bulldogs lose Saturday.

• 7. Missouri (4-1, 1-0; vs. Georgia, noon): Can these Tigers slow down Todd Gurley? Notice we did not say stop, because no one this side of Mike Bobo truly stops Gurley. In truth, it's the biggest question for every Georgia foe because the rest of the red-and-black attack looks positively pedestrian. And the Tigers can generate a pass rush with just the defensive line so the linebackers and safeties can stay at home for draws and misdirection runs.

• 8. LSU (4-2, 0-2; at Florida, 7:30 p.m.): How do Les Miles and Co. bounce back from the record blasting they received from Auburn? Miles' Tigers were thumped 41-7 in Jordan-Hare last week, and it was a perfect blend of circumstances. Auburn played very well; LSU started a true freshman QB who struggled. And once the host Tigers started clicking, well, it snowballed. Now LSU is faced with a daunting schedule and a host of freshmen and the real possibility of facing Arkansas in November needing a win to be bowl-eligible. Wow.

• 9. Arkansas (3-2, 0-2; vs. Alabama, 6 p.m.): Is it a good thing or a bad thing to get Alabama this week after that emotional roller coster at Oxford? While the emotions -- and the Tide injuries -- were high last week, we're still going to say it's the best time to take on the Tide. Simply put, we expect the Razorbacs to get a focused and intense effort from Alabama, which has lost three of its last seven games.

• 10. Florida (2-1, 3-1; vs. LSU, 7:30 p.m.): Who in a million years expected LSU-Florida to be on the SEC Network? Wow, if there's not a more clear statement of the craziness of the first half of 2014 than that, well, we'd like to hear it. That said, this game may not be for those looking for offense. With Treon Harris suspended and Jeff Driskel left as the Gators' starting QB -- and the known struggles of LSU's QB situation -- the first team to 17 has to feel really good about its chances.

• 11. Kentucky (4-1, 2-1; vs. Louisiana-Monroe, noon): How great does this schedule fall for the Wildcats? After an emotional and physical win over South Carolina, UK gets ULM. We believe in the Chinese calendar, so this may be the year of the Wildcat, considering the recent rolls for Kentucky, Arizona, Northwestern and Kansas State. War Wildcats.

• 12. South Carolina (3-3, 2-3; off): Can it get much worse for the Gamecocks? In the glass-half-full category, we believe that with this off week and Furman next week before a trip to Auburn on Oct. 25, Steve Spurrier and Co. have started practicing for the No. 2-ranked Tigers this week. Write this down: The Gamecocks will go to Auburn with three weeks of preparation for a potential season-saving victory and more than a few Spurrier tricks up their sleeves.

• 13. Tennessee (2-3, 0-2; vs. UTC, 4 p.m.): Of the four SEC coaches in their second season, where does Butch Jones rank in the order of bricks? Well, Gus Malzahn obviously is tops among the sophomore coaches, but he inherited a bigger mess off the field and a ton more talent on it. We'll give the second spot to Mark Stoops with Butch and Bret Bielema tied for third. Thoughts?

• 14. Vanderbilt (1-5, 0-4; vs. Charleston Southern, 7:30 p.m.): Want the definition of bad balance, or in this case balanced badness? Vandy's offense is 110th or worse among the 128 FBS teams in per-game averages in passing yards (114th with 155.0), rushing yards (110th with 110.5) and scoring (118th with 17.0). Anchor down in the mouth.

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.