SEC: Asked and answered

photo Alabama quarterback Blake Sims (6) looks on ask he runs for a touchdown against Florida Atlantic during his game Sept. 6, 2014, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
photo SEC Southeastern Conference

After our week one overreactions, let's get back to questions and answers for the SEC teams based on our power poll.

1. Alabama (2-0; vs. Southern Miss): Do the Tide need to name a full-time starting quarterback? Certainly not before this week's massacre with Southern Miss, which had fallen faster than any program anywhere until Vanderbilt took a step off the Empire State Building with lead boots and steel pants. That said, there shouldn't even be a controversy at this point considering Blake Sims is ranked No. 6 in the country in pass efficiency.

2. Auburn (2-0; off Saturday): Are the Tigers ready to face the toughest schedule in the country? We think so. After two warm-up blowouts against SEC foe Arkansas and San Jose State -- less-talented foes, but hardly FCS schools -- the Tigers take Saturday off before facing No. 19 Kansas State on the road Sept. 18. It's the first of seven dates for Auburn against teams ranked in the Top 25. And the offense -- ranked No. 13 nationally in yards after two weeks and seventh in the country in rushing (330 yards per game) -- looks every bit ready for the challenge.

3. Georgia (1-0; at South Carolina): How will the Bulldogs handle being told how they great they are for two weeks after smashing Clemson in the opener? That will be the biggest challenge heading into the SEC East-shaping matchup in Columbia, especially considering how the Gamecocks got thrashed by Texas A&M and had to hold on against East Carolina.

4. Texas A&M (2-0; vs. Rice): Speaking of offense, can the Aggies keep up the run-and-gun show that has averaged 655 yards and 62.5 points in its two wins over the Ol' Ball Coach and some cat named Lamar? We feel certain they will this week against a wild Rice squad that will be cooked inside a minute.

5. LSU (2-0; vs. Louisiana-Monore): On a team flushed with talented freshmen, did we overlook sophomore Tavin Dural? Yes, yes we did. But that won't be the case moving forward considering Dural has made crazy big play after crazy big play so far this season. Dural has six catches in two games -- rather mortal numbers on the surface -- but those catches have gone for 291 yards and four TDs. Yes, Dural is averaging almost 47 yards per catch.

6. Ole Miss (2-0; vs. Louisiana-Lafayette): Want to know how one-sided the Rebels' 41-3 whipping of Vandy was? Three Rebels threw passes; nine Rebels ran the ball; eight Rebels caught passes. In fact, as one of the regulars on "Press Row" noted Monday, the only Rebel who didn't get to play was the punter. Ouch-standing.

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7. Mississippi State (2-0; at South Alabama): Is there a more regional schedule around than the Bulldogs' slate? The longest trip from Starkville is to Lexington to face Kentucky in October, because the Bulldogs' other trips are this weekend to South Alabama and then to LSU on Sept. 20, Tuscaloosa on Nov. 15 and Oxford to close the season on Nov. 29. Pass the gravy and biscuits, please.

8. Florida (1-0; vs. Kentucky): It was only one game against a dreadful Eastern Michigan team, but how much better did the Gators offense look under new coordinator Kurt Roper? Tons. Literally, tons better in every fashion to the backward, slow-motion nightmare that was last year. It was fast and energized and scored 65 points and 655 yards. It also produced the single most efficient debut in college quarterbacking history. Freshman Treon Harris threw two passes, completing them both, for 148 yards and two touchdowns. According to the NCAA QB efficiency scale, Harris' rating is 1,051.6. By comparison, among quarterbacks with enough attempts to qualify, Oregon's Marcus Mariota has a rating of 208.2.

9. Missouri (2-0; vs. UCF): Want to know about balance? Just ask Gary Pinkel and the Tigers' offense, which ranks 57th nationally in passing (251.5 per game) and 57th in rushing (196 per game). Side stat: Maty Mauk has eight TD passes in two games.

10. South Carolina (1-1; vs. Georgia): Can one game salvage a season? In this case, you bet it can. A debacle in the opener and a struggle against East Carolina are in the rearview, but the Gamecocks could grab control of the SEC East and get right back into the thick of things with an upset win over Georgia.

11. Tennessee (2-0; at Oklahoma): What's a reasonable expectation for a youthful Volunteers bunch against a seasoned and talented Oklahoma team? Vegas thinks there's a three-touchdown difference, and we certainly can see that. But for UT to continue to lay the foundation, beating lesser nonconference foes is the first step and competing with the heavyweights needs to be on the agenda. Is that a few bricks down the road or is that Saturday? Will this be a step or a stomping? More brick-by-brick or stick-by-stick?

12. Kentucky (2-0; at Florida): How big would an upset of the Gators be? Historically speaking it would be the football version of landing on the moon -- unimaginable until it actually happens.

13. Arkansas (1-1; vs. Texas Tech in Dallas): Can the Razorbacks keep the SEC's perfect nonconference mark against power conferences intact? We'll see, but we do know this: Arkansas can flat run the football.

14. Vanderbilt (0-2; vs. UMass): After two disastrous home losses by a combined 78-10, there are far more questions than answers for the Commodores, right? Will Vandy win more than two games? Will there be more than 20,000 people there Saturday? Will Vandy actually score an offensive touchdown this week? Is Derek Mason in so far over his head his nose could start bleeding at any time? Let's go with, No, No, Yes and Absolutely.

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