SEC Power Rankings: Alabama, Missouri and a Mess After

Oct 19, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman

(80) celebrates defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

10. Tennessee Volunteers

Record: 4-3 (1-2)

Previous Ranking: 12

Last Week: Tennessee 23, South Carolina 21

This Week: at #1 Alabama

Next Week: at Missouri

Butch Jones: Hero.

Tennessee is playing over their head with the way they played against Georgia and South Carolina. But not too far.

While their quarterback play is a mess, they do have a very strong offensive line and running game. When you put those things together in Knoxville, then you’re going to have yourself one really tough game. Georgia and South Carolina will attest to that.

The road may be a different story. Aside from Alabama, which is clearly the superior team at this point, Tennessee also has Missouri and Kentucky on their road schedule. Vanderbilt and Auburn are their two remaining home games. Beat both Auburn and Vanderbilt at home and Kentucky on the road and Tennessee will be feeling pretty good about themselves heading into 2014.

Beat either Alabama or Missouri on the road to go with it, and add their very talented recruiting class, and Tennessee may be in the mix for the 2014 SEC East title.