Tennessee leads the way in first week rankings
1. Tennessee
Who else did you expect to see here? This isn’t Pat Summitt’s best team ever on Rocky Top, but it still has the goods to dominate the SEC. No. 5 UT (15-2, 3-0) has won six straight, including a 10-point win over Stanford — you know, the team that ended UConn’s 90-game winning streak a few games back. — James Kratch
2. Arkansas
Coming off an unspectacular 2009-10 campaign, No. 20 Arkansas (14-1, 2-1) looks to be in position for its best season in recent memory. With victories over Kentucky and Mississippi State in their last two games, the Razorbacks are already halfway to matching last year’s SEC win total. — Ryan Velasquez
3. Georgia
The Bulldogs narrowly defeated Kentucky on Sunday, and Khaalidah Miller was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive time for her 24-point performance against the Wildcats. Georgia (12-3, 2-0) will have an opportunity to rise in the rankings when it travels to Arkansas tonight. — Paulina Berkovich
4. Florida
Despite five losses during what has been a relatively easy schedule until this point, the Gators (12-5, 2-1) are just one game below the Volunteers for the top of the SEC. After coming from behind to beat the Gamecocks in Columbia by two, Florida should have some momentum going into the remainder of its conference schedule. — Isabelle Khurshudyan
5. Vanderbilt
Melanie Balcomb’s team has bounced back nicely from a loss at Ole Miss in the league opener, winning home games against Mississippi State and Auburn. It’s about to get difficult for the Commodores (11-5, 2-1), however. Following a meeting with Alabama in Tuscaloosa tonight, the next three are at Tennessee, home against Arkansas and then at Kentucky. — JK
6. Kentucky
Although it remains ranked in the top 20, No. 19 Kentucky enters the week riding a three-game losing streak as it prepares for tonight’s matchup against USC. If the Wildcats (11-4. 0-2) are to bounce back, a strong performance from senior forward Victoria Dunlap will likely be needed. — RV
7. Auburn
After winning its first two conference matchups against Alabama and Florida, Auburn couldn’t rally past Vanderbilt on Sunday, snapping a five-game winning streak. Auburn (9-7, 2-1) looks to get back on track when it hosts Ole Miss tonight. — PB
8. South Carolina
Boasting the hardest non-conference schedule in the SEC, the Gamecocks are battle-tested after losses to ranked teams Xavier, Stanford and North Carolina. With its two SEC losses coming in close games, should South Carolina (9-7, 1-2) find a way to finish on top in its close matchups, it can turn things around in SEC play. — IK
9. Ole Miss
The Rebels (8-6, 1-1) received a 40-point drubbing at the hands of Tennessee in their last game. They should be on better footing in the coming games, though. Their next three opponents (Auburn, USC and LSU) are a combined 29-20 overall and 4-5 in the SEC. — JK
10. LSU
After spending the last decade among the top programs in the country, LSU (11-6, 1-2) finds itself in unfamiliar territory after a 1-2 start to conference play. With a pair of road games against Mississippi State and Auburn upcoming, the Lady Tigers could find themselves in quite a predicament very quickly. — RV
11. Alabama
The Crimson Tide (11-5, 0-3) suffered a 29-point loss to LSU on Sunday to follow a 65-point loss to Tennessee the previous week. Alabama’s fortunes are unlikely to improve with upcoming matchups against Vanderbilt and Arkansas. — PB
12. Mississippi State
Coming off three consecutive losses, Mississippi State limps into Thursday’s matchup with LSU in desperate need of a win. Facing a struggling Lady Tigers squad, the Bulldogs could be in position to get back on track — RV