Easiest home schedules in the SEC this season

Last week, we looked at the toughest home schedules in the SEC this season. To no surprise, three of the five were from the deeper SEC West, including the two toughest: No. 2 Auburn and No. 1 Texas A&M.

The Aggies have to host both Auburn and Alabama. No one else can say that.

Now we’ve ranked the five easiest home schedules for 2015. There’s no reason these teams — well, except that school in Nashville — can’t run the table at home. And to little surprise, this is SEC East heavy.

5. ARKANSAS

Schedule: Sept. 5 vs. UTEP, Sept. 12 vs. Toledo, Sept. 19 vs. Texas Tech, Oct. 24 vs. Auburn, Oct. 31 vs. Tennessee-Martin, Nov. 21 vs. Mississippi State, Nov. 27 vs. Missouri.

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 55-35 (.611)

Overview: The Hogs jumped from three wins to seven last year and look capable of another multiple-game jump in 2015 by sweeping this home slate, although the Razorbacks have one of the five toughest road schedules. Auburn is the only opponent against which Arkansas could be a home underdog. The Tigers beat the visiting Hogs, 45-21, to open last season. It’s an easier opener this time in UTEP, which is a 33-point underdog. Don’t sleep on Toledo, which was Sports Illustrated’s choice to win the Mid-American Conference. I’m counting that as home game even though it’s off campus in Little Rock.

4. OLE MISS

Schedule: Sept. 5 vs. Tennessee-Martin, Sept. 12 vs. Fresno State, Sept. 26 vs. Vanderbilt, Oct. 10 vs. New Mexico State, Oct. 24 vs. Texas A&M, Nov. 7 vs. Arkansas, Nov. 21 vs. LSU.

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 40-49 (.449)

Overview: The Rebels have the toughest road schedule in the SEC because they have to visit both Auburn and Alabama. Avoiding those two in Oxford, this home schedule is as easy as Ole Miss could ask for as long as it plays in the SEC West — and I don’t think realignment is coming. Plus there’s no Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina or Florida from the East Division.

3. SOUTH CAROLINA

Schedule: Sept. 12 vs. Kentucky, Sept. 26 vs. Central Florida, Oct. 10 vs. LSU, Oct. 17 vs. Vanderbilt, Nov. 14 vs. Florida, Nov. 21 vs. The Citadel, Nov. 28 vs. Clemson.

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 47-40 (.540)

Overview: South Carolina’s home schedule would have ranked at least one spot higher if not for the regular-season finale against Clemson, a team many believe is the best in the ACC and a legitimate contender for the College Football Playoff. The Tigers ended a five-game skid in the series with a win over USC in 2014. But getting Kentucky and Vandy at home should mean two easy wins. There’s no Georgia or Tennessee visiting Columbia from the SEC East and no Alabama, Auburn or Ole Miss from the West Division. WE didn’t include the neutral-site season opener against North Carolina.

2. VANDERBILT

Schedule: Sept. 3 vs. Western Kentucky, Sept. 12 vs. Georgia, Sept. 19 vs. Austin Peay, Oct. 24 vs. Missouri, Nov. 14 vs. Kentucky, Nov. 21 vs. Texas A&M.

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 43-34 (.558)

Overview: Circle that Nov. 14 game against Kentucky, as that could be Vandy’s only chance to avoid going winless in the SEC for a second straight season. All three of the Commodores’ win last year were against non-Power 5 schools. Their only two at home this year are likely to be Western Kentucky and Austin Peay (and at Middle Tennessee) — and that’s giving them credit for beating a terrific Hilltoppers team.

1. MISSOURI

Schedule: Sept. 5 vs. SE Missouri State, Sept. 19 vs. Connecticut, Oct. 3 vs. South Carolina, Oct. 10 vs. Florida, Nov. 5 vs. Mississippi State, Nov. 21 vs. Tennessee.

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 38-37 (.507)

Overview: Maybe the Tigers can win a third straight SEC East title. All of Mizzou’s tough SEC East games other than Georgia are at home. The only team from the SEC West to visit Faurot Field is Mississippi State, and many project the Bulldogs to finish last in that division with the fewest returning starters in the conference. We didn’t include a Nov. 14 game against a good BYU team that’s essentially a home game in Kansas City.