As the season draws into it’s final third here’s how things stand so far in our SEC Power Poll vote.

1) Florida - “We just got our face stepped on by a hob-nailed boot and right in the eye. Our eyes have been gouged, our backs have been broken and our souls stolen by those damn dirty Gators. Oh God Almighty . . . I can’t see!”
2) Alabama - Take a week off, drop a spot in the polls.  How do you like dem apples?  That’ll teach you to rest.
3) LSU - The Tigers could have blown out Tulane with their third team.  Bama had a bye and LSU had a pseudo-bye week.
4) Auburn - In the up and down SEC this is a week where it’s time to buy Auburn stock.  Next week could be a sellers market though.
5) Tennessee - Coach Kiffin credited the Vols win in part to the inspired play of his team and in part on the protection spell conjured by his coalition of elves, faeries and leprechauns to offset the “magical flags” of the SEC Overlords.
6) South Carolina - A late season swoon to a team that starts well and is ranked by midseason.  I think we’ve seen this movie before.  Can Spurrier direct a different script in 2009?
7) Georgia - I’m fine with Richt breaking out the black helmets and pants. My issue is with his decision to sit the starting defense in favor of the cheer squad. Sure those girls are tougher but they don’t play disciplined assignment football.
8) Ole Miss - With every passing week the evidence continues to mount in favor of the theory that Jevon Sneed’s body has been possessed by the spirit of Jarrett Lee. 
9) Arkansas - Arkansas was unable to schedule a bye week in the middle of an 11 game stretch but they were able to schedule Easterm Michigan . . . the next best thing.
10) Kentucky - This Halloween the Wildcats decided to dress up as Vandy and drop a close game they should have won.
11) Mississippi State - Anthony Dixon has averaged over 150 yards rushing in his last two games against Florida and Kentucky. Although, 252 of those were against UK.  Do they even play run defense in Lexington?
12) Vanderbilt - For two quarters Vanderbilt played 11th ranked Georgia Tech toe to toe.  Unfortunately during the halftime celebration someone forgot to mention the need to score points in the second half.

It seems to me that after the top of the SEC (UF, LSU and Alabama) that there is little difference between the 4th and 10th team in the league.  The middle of the SEC looks like the ACC - any team could win on any given day.  The big game of the weekend and the game of the year in the West pits the LSU Tigers versus the Alabama Crimson Tide.  Gator fans should pay close attention as this could determine our opponent in the SECCG.  Arkansas and South Carolina could be an intriguing game on a regional level.  This is about the time of the yearly Gamecock swoon.  A loss to the Razorbacks combined with Florida and Clemson on the upcoming schedule could spell doom for the folks in Columbia.

As always check out the combined SEC Powerpoll on Wednesday at TeamSpeedKills.