Purple & Gold's SoCon Football Power Rankings

Welcome to this week's Purple & Gold SoCon Power Rankings for the week beginning 9-29-14. The power ranking are published weekly on Tuesday.

SoCon's Week 6 has three conference matchups and 2 teams playing out of conference games against Big South opponents.  Last week, The Citadel helped improve the SoCon record vs. the Big South with their victory over Gardner-Webb, and two wins this Saturday would even up the record at 4-4.

The Citadel will kick off the day at Wofford, which is probably the premier conference matchup of the weekend.  Then Western Carolina visits the state of South Carolina for the second consecutive week for the first of the day's two contest with a Big South teams, Presbyterian.  Later in the day, Mercer remains on the road as they make their first trip to Samford, then VMI hits the road to Chattanooga for what will be their third conference game of the season, and possibly their toughest opponent.  To round out the day, the Big South's nationally ranked #3 team, Coastal Carolina visits the offensively struggling Paladins in Greenville, SC.

1. (2)  Chattanooga 

Last Game: UTC 38 - Samford 24

Record: 2-2 (1-0 SoCon)  - Up next - VMI (1-4)
The Mocs are coming off a big win over one of their defending co-champions, Samford.  Chattanooga should have little problem with the Keydets, unless they look past VMI to Tennessee.   

2. (1)  Samford 

Last Game: Samford 24 - UTC 38

Record: 2-2 (1-1 SoCon) - Up next - Mercer (4-2)
The Bulldogs are coming off a disappointing loss to Samford, in a game many felt may determine the conference championship.  It was a big game, but not that big.  This weeks game against Mercer at home, should start the healing process caused by the UTC loss. 

3. (3)  Western Carolina 

Last Game: WCU 35 - Furman  17

Record: 3-1 (1-0 SoCon)  - Up next - at Presbyterian  (2-2)
The Cats are celebrating one of their biggest wins in recent history, breaking several negative streaks, on the order of a 22 game DI road loss streak, and a 15 game road loss streak to SoCon opponents.  If the Cats take it one game at time, and the offense continues to produce, they should increase their record to 4-1 after Saturday's game..

4. (6)  The Citadel 

Last Game: The Citadel 37 - GWU 14

Record: 1-3 (0-0 SoCon)  - Up next - at Woffford (2-2)
                            The Bulldogs rebound from a 2 point loss to crosstown rival Charleston Southern and  easily handled the Runnin' Bulldogs of GWU. This week's matchup against the Terriers should be a big indicator as to the direction of two of the SoCon's usual top tier teams.  A loss by either, will really hurt that team.  

5. (4)  Wofford 
Last Game: Wofford 49 - UVA Wise 15

Record: 2-2 (0-0 SoCon) - Up next - The Citadel (1-3) 

                     The Terriers cruised to victory over the out-manned UVA-Wise team as expected, but did that victory prepare Wofford of the rising Bulldogs of The Citadel?  

6. (5)  Furman 

Last Game: Furman 17 - WCU 35

Record: 2-3 (1-1 SoCon)  - Up next - Coastal Carolina (5-0)
The Paladins remain at home for the second consecutive week, and will have an even greater challenge that Western Carolina presented this past weekend.  The Paladins will meet the #3 ranked Coastal Carolina in Greenville, but the home field advantage will mean little.    

7. (8)  Mercer 

Last Game: Mercer 27 - VMI 24

Record: 4-1 (1-1 SoCon) - Up next - at Samford (2-2) 

                             The Bears won their first Southern Conference game last weekend against VMI, but the competition will be much stiffer this week, as the Bears will travel to Birmingham to meet the Samford Bulldogs.   

8. (7)  Virginia Military Institute 

Last Game: VMI 24 - Mercer 27

Record: 1-4 (0-2 SoCon) - Up next - at Chattanooga (2-2) 

                         The Keydets competition gets even tougher this week, as they travel to meet the Mocs in Chattanooga.  


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