If there’s one thing we all know by now, it’s that what seems like a sure thing in August might look a lot different come October. Games that look like snoozers in the preseason often turn out to be the most memorable, and sometimes the ones we pencil in to be classics end up as duds.

We all know this. We’ve seen it after year after year. Would anybody have guess that Mississippi State at LSU in September would’ve charted a course for both teams in 2014? Or that the SEC East title might’ve been decided by Missouri vs. Arkansas — after the Tigers lost to Indiana on the same night the Bulldogs were upsetting LSU?

Probably not.

And yet, here we are, only human. Kickoff is 9 days away and we’re beyond antsy. Let’s kill some time by looking at some of the most intriguing divisional games on this year’s SEC slate.

Sept. 12

LSU at Mississippi State, 9:15 p.m. ET

Conference play begins in Week 2 this year and the Saturday nightcap is our game of the week when it comes to divisional play. Last year the Bulldogs stunned Tiger Stadium and the rest of the SEC by jumping out to a 17-0 lead and rolling up 570 yards of total offense in a 34-29 win. That win put Mississippi State on the path toward one of its most successful seasons in school history, while it could be argued that LSU never fully recovered.

Sept. 19

Ole Miss at Alabama, 9:15 p.m. ET

The SEC West is virtually wide open as we approach the 2015 season. Too many teams come in with too many valid question marks to stake one to the claim of clear favorite. One thing we feel pretty sure about: Ole Miss and Alabama are going to be tough on defense. The Rebels scored 13 unanswered in the fourth quarter and Senquez Golson’s end zone interception sealed a 23-17 win for Ole Miss last year. This year’s contest will be the conference opener for both teams.

Sept. 26

Tennessee at Florida

This one doesn’t imply quite the same glamour that it did when Danny Wuerffel, Phillip Fulmer, Peyton Manning and Steve Spurrier were at the center of the rivalry. But it should be a captivating proving-ground game for the 2015 versions of both teams. It’ll be the SEC opener for Butch Jones and the Volunteers, a trendy pick to sneak up and take the East this year. Tennessee will get a test against Oklahoma in Week 2, but regardless of that outcome, it won’t carry the weight of what transpires in The Swamp.

Oct. 3

South Carolina at Missouri

If preseason projections are to be believed, the Tigers’ second defense of the SEC East crown features a progressively more challenging schedule, leading up to the Oct. 17 showdown with Georgia, this year’s division favorite. Missouri opens SEC play at Kentucky on Sept. 26, then faces South Carolina, Florida and Georgia in a stretch that will likely decided the Tigers’ fate this season. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks should be well-tested after opening the season with North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Central Florida.

Oct. 10

Georgia at Tennessee

Though Georgia has won the last five against the Volunteers, none of the last four have been decided by more than eight points, and the Bulldogs squeaked through by a field goal in each of the last two. That’s part of the reason no Georgia fan relishes a trip to Knoxville. This year’s edition is expected to have plenty at stake: namely, the SEC East. Georgia is the presumptive favorite, but Tennessee’s strong finish in 2014 turned heads and has expectations on the rise in Year 3 under Butch Jones.

Oct. 17

Missouri at Georgia

Somehow, in all this talk about Georgia and Tennessee, it feels like Missouri is being forgotten again. That’s Missouri, back-to-back winners of the East, lest we forget. The Tigers go to Athens this year with the Bulldogs coming off a 1-2 punch of Alabama and at Tennessee — meaning Georgia could be wobbled by back-to-back tough games or riding a wave of confidence coming off two impressive wins. Regardless, don’t expect the Bulldogs to be cowed: they won at Missouri last year, 34-0, in Nick Chubb’s coming out party.

Oct. 24

Auburn at Arkansas

It’s always fun when Gus Malzahn comes back to Arkansas, and sniping between the two coaches shortly after Bret Bielema joined the league only made it more so. That feud seems to have cooled somewhat, and we made it through last year’s game without any phantom injuries or misguided player safety cracks, but tensions should be high in the Ozarks when these teams meet in late October. The date comes right in the middle of an unforgiving stretch for Arkansas and starts one for Auburn.

Oct. 31

Florida at Georgia

Georgia had won three straight Cocktail Parties before getting buzzed by the Gators last year in a loss that effectively costed the Bulldogs the East Division. This year, both teams get a bye date before the game. The outcome could again be pivotal in determining division pecking order.

Nov. 7

LSU at Alabama

Until further notice, LSU and Alabama can be penciled in as the SEC game of the week every time they meet. Partially due to the Nick Saban factor and partially due to the Tide’s four straight wins in the series dating back to the 2011-12 championship game, there is no team LSU fans would rather beat. Count on big hits, tough yards and a close game; seven of the last 11 have been decided by a touchdown or less.

Nov. 14

Arkansas at LSU

The Battle for the Boot always seems to be competitive; the Hogs and Tigers have split the last eight games in the series, and eight of the last 11 have been decided by eight points or less. Both teams should be coming off of physical contests the previous week, as Arkansas plays at Ole Miss and LSU is at Alabama. LSU was held to 36 rushing yards on 32 carries in last year’s 17-0 loss to the Hogs.

Nov. 21

LSU at Ole Miss

No rest for what should be a weary Tigers team by this point. Don’t expect many passing yards in this one. Both teams are expected to field stout defenses again this fall, and they were two of the best in the conference against the pass last season. LSU outgained the Rebels by nearly 100 yards last year, but needed an Anthony Jennings-to-Logan Stokes touchdown toss midway through the fourth quarter to escape with a 10-7 win.

Nov. 28

Alabama at Auburn

Obvious choice here. The West Division winner has been one of these teams each of the last three years and six of the last seven. The Tide and Tigers are the favorites again this year, and if the Iron Bowl produces another SEC champion in 2015, it won’t come as a surprise.