SP ranks the SEC Schedules

cadillacattack · Jul 7, 2006

Southern Pigskin ranks the SEC Schedules from toughest to easiest. UF is easily #1 and LSU comes in at #3
http://www.southernpigskin.com/page.cfm?story=11170&cat=exclusives

SEC Schedule Rankings

By B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

Examining and ranking the schedules of each of the teams in the SEC.

1. Florida – The Gators already have to navigate through the ultra-competitive SEC East, throwing in the top three teams in the west (Alabama, Auburn, LSU) plus Florida State gives them a nearly impossible schedule. Florida will only play three games outside the state of Florida, which is a blessing, but considering six preseason top 25 teams dot their schedule, such convenience is only fair. While it’s easy to circle a half-dozen games on the schedule as must win, one date definitely stands out: November 11th. Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks will come to town in what will be a circus of a homecoming and a possible SEC East championship game.

2. Tennessee – If you are a season ticket holder at Neyland Stadium you will definitely get your money’s worth. Florida, Alabama, LSU and a west coast power California will all visit Knoxville. The Cal game is the season opener and may help dictate whether the Volunteers continue downhill or turn things around. The Golden Bears will bring offensive fireworks and a lofty pre-season ranking to town. There are three key road games: at Georgia, at South Carolina and at Arkansas. The ‘Vols will need to win two of three to make a real push towards Atlanta. Tennessee is one of just four SEC teams to not schedule a 1-AA opponent.

3. LSU – The schedule is nice in terms of sequence with two home games separating every road trip, but the away games are simply brutal. The Tigers will play at Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas in games that will determine the success of their season. The September 16th showdown with Auburn might be the SEC game of the year. Don’t underestimate what will be a major battle with a then-seasoned Arkansas team in Little Rock. The out of conference schedule has some unique pairings with Arizona and Fresno State coming to Death Valley.

4. Mississippi State – While the Bulldogs should be better, their schedule will make considerable improvement difficult. Mississippi State will play three top eight teams through their first six games. A home date with Auburn and road trip to LSU stand out in September while an early October visit from West Virginia doesn’t look good. The ‘Dogs will get to host a trap game in week one as they will open their season on primetime national television on Thursday night against South Carolina.

5. Arkansas – Four power programs are on the home schedule, including Southern California on opening day. The Razorbacks have had September 2nd scheduled since allowing 70 points to the Trojans last September. Alabama, Tennessee and LSU are also on the home slate, meaning the ‘Hogs can make major strides nationally just by defending their home turf. With eight home games on the schedule, Arkansas can hypothetically earn bowl eligibility simply by winning the majority of their games in front of the home faithful. Houston Nutt has been a thorn in the side of South Carolina; the Gamecocks will host Arkansas in a crucial cross-divisional game in early November.

6. Auburn – The SEC game of the year may come on September the 16th at Jordan Hare Stadium when the LSU Tigers come to town. The winner will have a huge leg-up in the race towards Atlanta and will become an early contender in the national championship race. The Tigers drew a brutal triplet of crossover games: at South Carolina, Florida and Georgia, the top three teams from the SEC East a year ago. Games against the Bulldogs and archrival Alabama in Tuscaloosa to end the year may serve as SEC Championship elimination games.

7. Kentucky – The Louisville rivalry has really turned lopsided. Though the Wildcats played in a thriller one year ago, Kentucky has only won one of the last seven meetings. Many believe this will be the best ‘Cat team to play the Cardinals in a few years. Road games against Louisville, along with Florida, LSU and Tennessee loom large. Rich Brooks and company should get three non-conference wins, meaning they will likely need a trio of SEC victories to get bowl eligible.

8. Alabama – Though just four road games grace the schedule, the quartet is quite daunting. The Crimson Tide play at Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and LSU in games that will likely determine their standing in the SEC West. The non-conference schedule is baffling, including a home date with Duke, though their conference slate simply doesn’t allow for many more tests. The season-ending game with Auburn has the potential to be as big as ever.

9. Georgia – In years past, the Florida and Tennessee games have been the crucial dates on the schedule. South Carolina has reached that level. The series has been close in Columbia the last few seasons, throw in the fact that the Gamecocks are making serious strides under Steve Spurrier and the Bulldogs will bring a young, inexperienced team to Williams-Brice Stadium and this game is as big as ever. If Georgia survives, expectations will remain the same; a loss would put the Bulldogs at an immediate disadvantage in the SEC East. As usual, conference rivalry games against Florida, Tennessee and Auburn will still be big. Non-conference games against Colorado and Georgia Tech are interesting.

10. Vanderbilt – It’s not going to be a pretty first few weeks of the season for the Jay Cutler-less Commodores. Vanderbilt opens with consecutive road games against Michigan, of all people, and Alabama, followed by a home game against rising Arkansas. There are winnable games against Tennessee State, Temple and Duke, but anything else will be icing on the cake. The ‘Dores play six road games, the most of any team in the SEC.

11. South Carolina – The season opener on the road against Mississippi State on Thursday night will be tricky. Should the Gamecocks survive that trap, their showdown with rival Georgia will be an early season divisional playoff game. Looking ahead to November, Carolina plays at both Florida and Clemson. The Gators will be looking for revenge from last season and will be primed and ready for the return of Steve Spurrier to The Swamp.

12. Mississippi – If all goes according to plan, the Rebels should be 4-0 heading into a home tilt with Georgia. Though the SEC West should be as tough as ever, head coach Ed Orgeron drew favorable games from the SEC East and has a more than manageable non-conference schedule. On paper, bowl eligibility looks like a realistic goal for Ole Miss.
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Tygrr · Jul 7, 2006

Geeze, reading that just makes me want the season to start even sooner. :bncry:
Somebody wake me in two months.

locoguano · Jul 7, 2006

this just shows that he SEC needs to go to a full 3 team non-divisional rotation.. its ridiculous that LSU plays UF every year... with a full rotation, maybe in those years when LSU plays a weaker SEC East schedule, they can schedule a good OOC opponent...

Tygrr · Jul 7, 2006

locoguano said:

this just shows that he SEC needs to go to a full 3 team non-divisional rotation.. its ridiculous that LSU plays UF every year... with a full rotation, maybe in those years when LSU plays a weaker SEC East schedule, they can schedule a good OOC opponent...
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I like our annual matchup with the Gators, especially since we took the last two in a row.:yelwink2:

cajdav1 · Jul 7, 2006

I-of-the-Tygrr said:

I like our annual matchup with the Gators, especially since we took the last two in a row.:yelwink2:
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Me too, as long as all of the top programs in the west play the 3 best programs in the east I really don't have any problem with it.

Aubie16 · Jul 10, 2006

Right. Since we have to play Georgia every year, and Alabama has to play Tennessee every year it all works out.

Now if LSU got to play Kentucky or something...then i'd get a little upset. But everybody that makes any noise from the west has tough games from the east.

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SP ranks the SEC Schedules

cadillacattack Illegitimi non carborundum est

Tygrr Win the West

locoguano Founding Member

Tygrr Win the West

cajdav1 Soldiers are real hero's

Aubie16 Founding Member

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