1. LSU — The passing game was off a bit, and the Tigers probably need wideout Early Doucet back for the stretch run, but Saturday’s 28-24 win over Florida sealed them as the No. 1 team in the country

2. South Carolina — The Gamecocks are in the East race to stay. Benching quarterback Blake Mitchell sure seems to be the correct call.

3. Florida — One clutch stop from taking down LSU. The Gators looked good and should stay in what’s become a wide open East race.

4. Kentucky — How do you get over an ugly loss to South Carolina and get your star back into the Heisman race? Upset LSU at home. Don’t bet on it, but don’t count it entirely out.

5. Tennessee — The local paper in Knoxville questioned the Vols’ attitude Saturday morning. The Vols played with a chip on their shoulders in trouncing Georgia that afternoon.

6. Auburn — Brad Lester has added depth to the backfield, and Brandon Cox looks much more comfortable under center than he did early on.

7. Georgia — Mark Richt said his team was inconsistent because it lacked maturity. We have no reason to disagree.

8. Alabama — “All we have to do is lose one more game and you guys all got me set up here, and then you can kill me,” coach Nick Saban said about the “unrealistic” expectations for John Parker Wilson and his team.

9. Arkansas — The Razorbacks took a sabbatical in beating North Texas and Chattanooga, but they’re back this week for Auburn.

10. Mississippi State — Can quarterback Wesley Carroll (9-12, 93 yards last week) step up if Tennessee stops the run like they did against Georgia?

11. Vanderbilt — The Georgia game will say a lot about the character of the Commodores.

12. Ole Miss — 232 yards of total offense on Louisiana Tech, simply put, is nothing to write home about.