SEC Power Poll ballot, Week 3: LSU on top

1. LSU (2-0, 0-0) -- The Tigers' defense may a little off its normal dominating pace right now, but their offense is much better. There's a lot of football to play, but at this moment and with a small sample size, they look like the SEC's best team.

2. Alabama (1-0, 0-0) -- Crimson Tide fans will be the first to tell you that their offensive line has a lot of work to do, and in the SEC, that's a significant issue. If 'Bama beats Texas A&M on the road, we'll probably move them up, but the LSU game were this weekend, it would be hard to pick a Tide win.

3. Georgia (1-1, 1-0) -- What a difference a week makes. The Dawgs' defense is not up to normal SEC championship standards, but with an offense that good, it might not matter.

4. Texas A&M (2-0, 0-0) -- The Ags also have a dynamic offense and a suspect defense, but right now, the Dawgs' seems more likely to hold up in a head-to-head matchup. A&M hasn't played anyone of consequence yet, but like the Tide, if the Aggies win this weekend, they'll likely move up.

5. South Carolina (1-1, 0-1) -- The Gamecocks find themselves behind the 8-ball at 0-1 in the division with a loss to their top competition. But, the rest of their conference schedule is much more manageable than Georgia's. Perhaps the trend of the UGA-SC loser advancing to Atlanta will continue for a third straight year.

6. Ole Miss (2-0, 1-0) -- Texas just gave up 679 yards to BYU, and the Rebels average 510 per game. Does anyone really think Ole Miss can't win in Austin Saturday night?

7. Florida (1-1, 0-0) -- The Gators look pretty much like the same team as last season, when they somehow won 11 games in spite of a putrid offense. Unless they make some adjustments, this feels more like a 7-5 year for Florida.

8. Vanderbilt (1-1, 0-1) -- While the Commodores aren't a lot worse than last year's version, getting back to a bowl game could be a tough task. The game against Mizzou later in the year will probably make a difference.

9. Auburn (2-0, 0-0) -- The Tigers are getting better faster than expected. Auburn won't be a contender this year, but if Nick Marshall improves as a passer, Gus Malzahn and co. could pull a big upset at some point.

10. Missouri (2-0, 0-0) -- Toledo actually outgained the Tigers by three yards, but three turnovers sank Toledo. Honestly, we have no idea what to make of this team.

11. Arkansas (2-0, 0-0) -- The Hogs looked better than expected in Week 1, but a tough fight against Samford may be a more accurate indication of what fans will see in Fayetteville this season.

12. Tennessee (2-0, 0-0) -- If it hadn't been for five turnovers in a six-play stretch by Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers could have claimed a victory at Tennessee. The Vols haven't played a tough schedule so far, but things get real Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

13. Mississippi State (1-1, 0-0) -- The Bulldogs' defense looks stout, especially on the line, but is the offense good enough to win against the tougher SEC competition? We'll find out starting this weekend.

14. Kentucky (1-1, 0-0) -- ["Big Blue Nation can't wait for basketball season" joke goes here.]