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WILDCATS

SEC Rewind | Georgia the team to beat in East

Jonathan Lintner
@JonathanLintner
Georgia linebacker Shaun McGee celebrates with fans after beating Arkansas 45-32.

The nation's No. 1-ranked team is up next for the University of Kentucky's football team. Then to follow are Missouri and Georgia, the SEC East Division's top teams.

So while Saturday's loss at LSU was plenty humbling, the Cats don't have much time to dwell on it.

With a tough stretch on tap for UK, here's a look around the rest of the SEC:

EAST DIVISION

1. Georgia (6-1, 4-1) — The Bulldogs lost running back Todd Gurley to suspension and have since looked improved in victories over Missouri and most recently 45-32 at Arkansas. "We're a team that has heard a lot of naysayers, heard a lot of people that said we wouldn't be anything without No. 3," said senior receiver Chris Conley. Now they're the team to beat in the East. (http://bit.ly/1nvyIjV)

2. Missouri (5-2, 2-1) — The Tigers tallied a season-low 119 yards on offense, but the defense came up with six turnovers in a 42-13 rout of Florida in the Swamp. "We pride ourselves on takeaways," said linebacker Darvin Ruise. (http://bit.ly/1ojtuZf)

3. Kentucky (5-2, 2-2) — UK's 41-3 loss at LSU reminded the Cats, as Patrick Towles said afterward, that "you get humbled really quick in this league." Still, UK remains a win away from bowl-eligibility for the first time since 2010. (http://cjky.it/109NQct)

4. South Carolina (4-3, 2-3) — It didn't take Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier long in his postgame news conference after a 41-10 win over FCS Furhman to start looking ahead. Next comes a trip to Auburn, where South Carolina has never won. (http://bit.ly/10abIwG)

5. Florida (3-3, 2-3) — The Gators' worst home loss since 2002 could indeed prove the final straw for embattled coach Will Muschamp. It came on Homecoming weekend, in front of a crowd of 89,117 and amid some brief "Fire Will Muschamp" chants. (http://bit.ly/1whNWc4)

6. Tennessee (3-4, 0-3) — The Volunteers were the latest victim of a red-hot Mississippi school, with Ole Miss hosting a 34-3 rout. The Rebels actually trailed 3-0 in the second quarter before forcing four turnovers and sacking quarterback Justin Worley seven times. (http://bit.ly/1rT5Nl6)

7. Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-4) — The last-place Commodores had a week off, one that Tennessean sports writer Adam Sparks said is important for a new coaching staff to restore faith in players. "Time away from games could allow coach Derek Mason to re-sell his vision to the team," Sparks wrote. (http://tnne.ws/1tAaeIS)

WEST DIVISION

1. Ole Miss (7-0, 4-0) — The Rebels, taken aback by Tennessee's defensive schemes, eventually figured out the Volunteers' tendencies, allowing for a stretch of 34 straight points. Quarterback Bo Wallace eventually finished 13 of 28 for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns. (http://on.thec-l.com/1sZarmR)

2. Mississippi State (6-0, 3-0) — The Bulldogs, featuring a No. 1 ranking, had the week off. And it came with the distractions of becoming a top-ranked team. Sports Illustrated reported that quarterback Dak Prescott would consider leaving school after this, his junior season. (http://on.thec-l.com/1qUYGcN)

3. Alabama (6-1, 3-1) — The Crimson Tide posted its most lopsided SEC victory since 1969, routing Texas A&M 59-0, after coach Nick Saban insisted he'd let "the horses run." Alabama scored on its opening eight drives. (http://bit.ly/1qUYMAV)

4. Auburn (5-1, 2-1) — Freshman Roc Thomas had six carries for 42 yards in the Tigers' loss to Mississippi State but could see an expanded role off a bye week and heading into a matchup with South Carolina. One thing missing from Thomas' skill set — pass protection. (http://bit.ly/ZL6VRt)

5. LSU (6-2, 2-2) — The Tigers are 44-3 under coach Les Miles in Saturday night home games, and after thrashing UK, all three losses remain to teams ranked No. 1 at the time. That's in part thanks to Bradley Dale Peveto, formerly of UK, who now coaches special teams for LSU. (http://bit.ly/ZL6Ugn)

6. Texas A&M (5-3, 2-3) — What a time to reach a bye week. Coach Kevin Sumlin found few positives from a shutout loss at Alabama, except to say afterward, "Right now, I think this gives us an opportunity to take a step back from a coaching standpoint (and) from a player standpoint." (http://bit.ly/1zgZphr)

7. Arkansas (3-4, 0-4) — The Razorbacks lost the turnover battle to Georgia, 4-0, but posted a respectable final score after notching four touchdowns in the second half. (http://bit.ly/1CGCrwA)

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199. Follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner .