Opponent Power Rankings: Week 14

BOL's weekly power ranking of Alabama's 14 opponents for the 2012 season.

Manziel and the Aggies move back to the top spot without having played a game.

1.] Texas A&M (Nov. 10: A&M 29, UA 24)
Last week: 2
In drawing OU, Aggies (10-2) get BCS-like matchup without BCS-like payout. Improbable matchup of probable Heisman winner (Johnny Manziel) vs. onetime Heisman hopeful (Landry Jones).
Bowl: Cotton vs. Oklahoma, Jan. 4, 7 p.m. CT/FOX.

2.] Georgia (Dec. 1: UA 32, UGA 28)
Last week: 1.
Seeing as how Wisconsin ran for 539 yards in its 70-31 win over Nebraska in B1G Championship Game, Todd Gurley's 2013 Heisman campaign should get off to a strong start in Orlando.
Bowl: Capital One vs. Nebraska, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET/ABC.

3.] LSU (Nov. 3: UA 21, LSU 17)
Last week's ranking: 3
Tigers deserve better than Atlanta on New Year's Eve. Dabo Swinney readily agrees.
Bowl: Chick-fil-A vs. Clemson, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET/ESPN.

4.] Notre Dame (Jan. 7, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
Last week's ranking: Not ranked.
Irish would be higher, but I made the mistake of watching ND-Pitt last week. In terms of intangibles, Notre Dame compares favorably with the three teams ahead of it on this list. In terms of personnel, nope.
Bowl: BCS Championship Game vs. Alabama, Jan. 7, 8:30 p.m. ET/ESPN.

5.] Michigan (Sept. 1: UA 41, UM 14)
Last week: 4
Wolverines (8-4) opened the season with a loss to an SEC team and a good bet to finish the season with one, too.
Bowl: Outback vs. South Carolina, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET/ESPN.

6.] Ole Miss (Sept. 29: UA 33, Ole Miss 14)
Last week: 5
Rebels (6-6, 3-5) will pay first visit to Legion Field since 1977, when it fell to Alabama, 34-13.
Bowl: BBVA Compass vs. Pitt, Jan. 5, Noon CT/ESPN.

7.] Mississippi State (Oct. 27: UA 38, MSU 7)
Last week: 6
Coming off a a loss to Ole Miss, it will be interesting to see how well State fans travel to Jacksonville compared to a few years back.
Bowl: Gator vs. Northwestern, Jan. 1, Noon ET/ESPN2.

8.] Tennessee (Oct. 20: UA 44, UT 13)
Last week's ranking: 7
In taking over a Tennessee program that is 5-19 in SEC play since 2010, Butch Jones inherits a much bigger challenge than he did at either Central Michigan or Cincinnati, both of which were in fine shape following departures by Brian Kelly.
Bowl: None.

9.] Arkansas (Sept. 15: UA 52, Arkansas 0)
Last week: 8
Bret Bielema's arrival from Wisconsin will add more black and blue to a division that was beginning to look a little Big 12 South-ish.
Bowl: None.

10.] Missouri (Oct. 13: UA 42, MU 10)
Last week: 9
With the Tigers losing long-time offensive coordinator David Yost, expectations for Gary Pinkel's team won't be very high in 2013.
Bowl: None.

11.] Western Kentucky (Sept. 8: UA 35, WKU 0)
Last week: 10
Bittersweet postseason for the Hilltoppers, who won a bowl bid before losing their head coach to South Florida.
Bowl: Little Caesars Pizza vs. CMU, Dec. 26, 6:30 p.m. CT/ESPN.

12.] Florida Atlantic (Sept. 22: UA 40, FAU 7)
Last week: 11
Carl Pelini's defense gave up 35 points to Louisiana-Lafayette in a loss, but that's still 35 points better than Carl's brother, Bo, gave up in Indy.
Bowl: None.

13.] Auburn (Nov. 24: Alabama 49, Auburn 0)
Last week: 12
The 2013 season will mark Gus Malzahn's fourth as Auburn head coach.
Bowl: None.

14.] Western Carolina (Nov. 17: UA 49, WCU 0)
Last week: 13
Catamounts will open the 2013 season at Virginia Tech, who will open the 2013 season against Alabama in Atlanta. Call it the "Six degrees of WCU".
Postseason: None.