SEC Power Ranking: Conference title game matches No. 2 and No. 4

Saturday's SEC Championship Game in Atlanta matches the No. 2 and No. 4 teams in our power ranking, Alabama and Georgia.

By Larry Hartstein

Nov 25, 2012 at 7:36 pm ET • 2 min read

Here's CBSSports.com's Rapid Reports SEC power ranking:

1. Texas A&M (10-2, 6-2 SEC): Redshirt freshman QB Johnny Manziel finished the regular season with 4,600 yards of total offense, 43 TDs (19 rushing), and an upcoming ticket to New York to likely collect the Heisman. Last week's power ranking: 1. Next up: Bowl game TBA.

2. Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC): The Tide’s 49-0 whipping of Auburn came at a price, as WR Kenny Bell broke his left leg. The injury leaves Alabama thin at wideout after Amari Cooper and Kevin Norwood. Last week's power ranking: 2. Next up: Georgia, SEC Championship Game, Atlanta, 4 p.m. ET (CBS).

3. LSU (10-2, 6-2 SEC): After not getting any help last Saturday, the Tigers are headed to the Capital One, Chick-fil-A, Cotton or Outback bowls. Last week's power ranking: 3. Next up: Bowl game TBA.

4. Georgia (11-1, 7-1 SEC): S Bacarri Rambo had a monster game Saturday (INT, 2 forced fumbles), then provided Alabama bulletin board material, saying: “I feel like we’re more talented (than Alabama). We have better players at each position across the board, especially on defense.” Last week's power ranking: 4. Next up: Alabama, SEC Championship Game, Atlanta, 4 p.m. ET (CBS).

5. Florida (11-1, 7-1 SEC): After another big fourth-quarter surge, the Gators are almost certainly headed to the Sugar Bowl. Last week's power ranking: 5. Next up: Bowl game TBA.

6. South Carolina (10-2, 6-2 SEC): Backup QB Dylan Thompson threw for 310 yards and three TDs at Clemson, but Connor Shaw (foot) will start the bowl game, coach Steve Spurrier said. Last week's power ranking: 6. Next up: Bowl game TBA.

7. Vanderbilt (8-4, 5-3 SEC): The Commodores have won six straight for the first time since 1955, and reached eight wins for the first time since 1982. They scored at least 40 points five times, which had not happened in nearly a century. Last week's power ranking: 8. Next up: Bowl game TBA.

8. Ole Miss (6-6, 3-5 SEC): The Rebels are headed to a bowl game for the first time since 2009 after their emphatic Egg Bowl win. Last week's power ranking: 9. Next up: Bowl game TBA.

9. Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4 SEC): The Bulldogs closed with four losses in five games, but WR Chad Bumphis set a school career record with 2,252 receiving yards, including 146 yards and two TDs in the Egg Bowl. Last week's power ranking: 7. Next up: Bowl game TBA.

10. Missouri (5-7, 2-6 SEC): The blowout in College Station, Tex., sent Mizzou to its first losing season since 2004. Last week's power ranking: 10. Next up: End of season.

11. Arkansas (4-8, 2-6 SEC): AD Jeff Long hopes to have a new coach hired within 10 days. The Razorbacks, along with Tennessee, are believed to be pursuing Jon Gruden. Last week's power ranking: 11. Next up: End of season.

12. Tennessee (5-7, 1-7 SEC): The new coach’s first job will be convincing QB Tyler Bray and WRs Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson to bypass the NFL draft. Last week's power ranking: 12. Next up: End of season.

13. Auburn (3-9, 0-8 SEC): Gene Chizik’s firing came swiftly, one day after the second-worst Iron Bowl loss in school history. Last week's power ranking: 13. Next up: End of season.

14. Kentucky (2-10, 0-8 SEC): “Given a chance, this thing can be good.” -- Joker Phillips on Kentucky football in his final news conference as Wildcats coach. Last week's power ranking: 14. Next up: End of season.

For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.