The SEC schedule is so tough that you have to be really brave to play a difficult non-conference slate. Every single team in the SEC plays a 1-AA school. Only Ole Miss and Mississippi State do not play a BCS team in the non-conference. LSU and Vanderbilt make up for that playing two games each vs. BCS schools. Here is how I rank each team's non-conference schedule from toughest to easiest.
1. LSU - This was easy. They play the defending PAC 10 champ and national championship runner-up in Week 1. Then they've got to play at West Virginia in week 4. Northwestern State and Western Kentucky should be nice breaks during difficult September and November stretches.
2. Georgia - Playing Boise State in the Georgia Dome will basically be a home game but it will be a tough one to win. Then at the end of the year they've got 'clean old-fashioned hate' with Georgia Tech. Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State should be gimme's.
3. Arkansas - UPig usually has one of the easiest non-conference schedules but they are playing Texas A&M this year in Dallas and they look to be a Top 10-15 team. They play Troy who usually contends for the Sun Belt title but this ranking is based on the A&M game, the other games are Missouri State and New Mexico.
4. Florida - Florida State is expected to be a Top 10 team this year, and the Gators host them at the end of the year. They've also got UAB in Week 2 who should be improved. Florida Atlantic and Furman round out the non-conference slate.
5. South Carolina - East Carolina is a decent C-USA team, and that game will be played on a neutral field in Charlotte in Week 1. The Gamecocks host Navy who is always good and then the Citadel. The end of the year clash at Clemson is where most of the meat is though.
6. Alabama - Kent State, North Texas, and GA Southern will be an excuse to bring 100,000 fans to Tuscaloosa. The only real game is at Penn State, who may or may not be able to match up with the Tide.
7. Auburn - They open with Utah State who is no good, but then they have to travel to Clemson to face a talented team who battled their national championship team to the end last year. Games with Florida Atlantic and Samford will be stat-book stuffers.
8. Ole Miss - BYU is Week 1 will be a tough game for Ole Miss to win, but it should be a good matchup. Beyond that they have what should be a win vs. Southern Illinois and then they travel to Fresno State. Louisiana Tech rounds out the non-conference.
9. Vanderbilt - Hopefully Vandy will take care of business against Elon in Week 1 and prepare for a tough game at home vs. UConn. They've got Army, then at Wake Forest to finish the year.
10. Tennessee - The Vols have Montana, Cincinnati, Buffalo and Middle Tennessee State. Cincy could be a stumbling block but the game is at home and so UT should win all of these games.
11. Kentucky - The Wildcats are going to have the usual again. 3 patsies and Louisville.
12. Mississippi State - State has decided to go with the lightest load possible this year, playing a horrible Memphis team, LA Tech, UAB, and UT Martin.
JB
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