Best Conference Games

20. October 22nd: Tennessee at Alabama - Two years ago the Vols almost knocked off Bama in Tuscaloosa, and then last year they almost knocked off LSU in Baton Rouge. Could this be another October road game Tennessee unexpectedly holds their own?

19. September 24th: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt - Vandy has enough returning starters that it looks like they could have a chance at a bowl, but they need this game...and so does Ole Miss. Chances are the winner goes to a bowl and the loser doesn't.

18. October 22nd: Auburn at LSU - This is one of the best games every year, always entertaining.

17. October 8th: Georgia at Tennessee - This game could be the determining factor in which team goes to a bowl. Hard to believe this game has gone down that much.

16. November 19th: Mississippi State at Arkansas - If State can pull off a couple upsets before this game could be for the lead in the West, however, chances are that it will be a tough game Arkansas will have to get through before facing LSU.

15. September 15th: LSU at Mississippi State - This is almost never a good game, and the only time it was close in the last decade was the last time LSU came to Starkville. But this is the first meeting of the year between the 'Top 4' from the West, and it's on a Thursday night.

14. Septmeber 17th: Tennessee at Florida - This is the first real test for Will Muschamp and the Gators, how will they do? And how much has Tennessee improved, which direction will these teams go in 2011?

13. September 10th: Mississippi State at Auburn - This will be Auburn's first SEC game since winning the national championship. Being at home against a tough team how will they respond? Will MSU be able to overcome a road challenge in what has the potential for a really good year?

12. October 29th: Georgia vs. Florida - The largest outdoor cocktail party in the world has lost a good bit of it's luster. Either a UGA or UF fan would undoubtably have this game higher as they believe this will be big years for their schools. It could be a very important game in the SEC East race but both teams have a lot to prove in the weeks prior.

11. September 10th: South Carolina at Georgia - This is always the first SEC East game of the year, and so it is again this year. UGA is at home, and if they lose the opener to Boise State the pressure will be squarely on Mark Richt to make sure this one doesn't get away. USC definitely needs this one if it's going to be a banner year.

10. October 15th: South Carolina at Mississippi State - South Carolina should be favored in every game leading up to this one, and could be undefeated heading into Starkville with a Top 5 rating. This could be a stumbling block for them and a big time win for Dan Mullen, or it could be just another notch on the belt for Steve Spurrier.

9. October 1st: Alabama at Florida - Typically this game would be in the Top 5 for sure, but with Florida's poor 2010 performance this game's gone down a few rungs. If the Gators can get past Tennessee and Kentucky this could be a chance for Muschamp to make a name for himself quickly with a win over Alabama at home. For Bama, it's their first SEC road game and a week after their huge clash with Arkansas.

8. November 12: Alabama at Mississippi State - This is State's 5th and final appearance on this countdown, it's been a while since State has been good enough to warrant that. This has the potential to be a huge game in Starkville and if State comes in with a solid record it could possibly be a Top 10 matchup. Bama will be coming off their game with LSU and this one should have big SEC West implications.

7. October 8th: Florida at LSU - This is a big game every year, and it's always a classic at Death Valley. Florida will be coming off a big game with Alabama and LSU will be coming off a home date with Kentucky. This game has the potential to be a Top 10 matchup, or it could just as easily be two non-ranked teams coming in.

6. November 5th: South Carolina at Arkansas - I think this is the best inter-division game of the year, with the probability of it being a Top 15 or Top 10 matchup. This will be the tail end of three consecutive road games within the conference for USC. Arkansas will be coming off two winnable road games and should be poised to make a run at the West crown, and they will need this game if they want to have a chance.

5. November 12th: Florida at South Carolina - Some people are picking Georgia to contend for the SEC East crown, but chances are this game will have a lot to do with who wins the division, and for that reason I rank it this high.

4. November 26th: Alabama at Auburn - Auburn lost everyone from last year's championship team, but they should have molded into an experienced team by the time the Iron Bowl comes around. Add to it that it's in Auburn and this is the biggest rivalry in college football, this will be another great game.

3. Novmeber 26th: Arkansas at LSU - More excitement at the end of the year as there is a very real chance this game could be a play-in for the SEC Championship game. This is almost always a great game, and when the stakes are even higher it should be a must-see game.

2. September 24th: Arkansas at Alabama - Chances are both these teams will be undefeated going into this game, and ranked in the Top 10. Arkansas will be going into a hornet's nest, against a team they couldn't beat at home in a similarly big game last year. This games provides what could be the most exciting matchup of the year...Arkansas' great receivers vs. Alabama's great secondary. This game will be huge and will have major bearing on the SEC West race.

1. November 5th: LSU at Alabama - This is always one of the hardest hitting, best games of the year. And this year it matches two of the preseason favorites for the division, conference, and national championships. Obviously, this will have major SEC West implications.


JB