It’s a tradition as old as schedule releases themselves. The day the upcoming season’s schedule comes out, fans pull out their Sharpies and mark out the wins and losses on the schedule as they can best guess.

As we head into summer, it’s time for us here at SDS to do the same.

The East, just as it was last year, is wide open.

The division favorite, Georgia, doesn’t have a starting quarterback yet. Many people are once again overlooking Missouri, and Tennessee has to prove it can win in the SEC still.

The bottom of the division looks rough, with four teams marked with questions all over the roster. The division is going to be hard to project, but we’ll do our best to figure out which games each team in the East should win this fall.

Florida

Should win: New Mexico State (9/5), East Carolina (9/12), Vanderbilt (11/7), Florida Atlantic (11/21)

The Gators are going to need to clean up against the rest of their lower-tier SEC East brethren to earn bowl eligibility. Florida’s defense will still be strong with Geoff Collins running the show, but Jim McElwain and Doug Nussmeier will have to patch together an offensive line for Florida to compete.

Georgia

Should win: Louisiana Monroe (9/5), at Vanderbilt (9/12), South Carolina (9/19), Southern (9/26), Florida (10/31), Kentucky (11/7), Georgia Southern (11/21)

Georgia’s chances at winning the divisional crown are likely going to hinge on its two cross-divisional matchups: Alabama and at Auburn. Last year showed that just having the most talented team isn’t enough for the Bulldogs to make it to Atlanta; UGA has to take care of business in the SEC this year.

Kentucky

Should win: Louisiana Lafayette (9/5), Florida (9/19), Eastern Kentucky (10/3), at Vanderbilt (11/14), Charlotte (11/21)

This is the year that Kentucky should finally break through against Florida for its first win in the series since 1986. Mark Stoops has to make a bowl game this year after last year’s collapse, and like the Gators the Cats will be scrapping for wins against the lower tier of the SEC.

Missouri

Should win: Southeast Missouri (9/5), at Arkansas State (9/12), Connecticut (9/19), at Kentucky (9/26), South Carolina (10/3), Florida (10/10), at Vanderbilt (10/24), Mississippi State (11/5)

The Tigers should be 6-0 heading into their showdown with Georgia in mid-October; win that game and they’re in the driver’s seat for a third-straight East title. The end of the schedule is tough, with a neutral-site clash with BYU and games against the SEC’s dark horses, Tennessee and at Arkansas, to finish off the regular season.

South Carolina

Should win: North Carolina (9/3), Vanderbilt (10/17), Central Florida (9/26), Florida (11/14), Citadel (11/21)

The Gamecocks have a penchant in recent years for scheduling troublesome out-of-conference opponents. UCF will be no cakewalk, but as the home team South Carolina should have the edge. UNC is a neutral-site game in Charlotte, but the Tar Heels are coming off a down year. South Carolina will be facing an uphill climb against the majority of its SEC opposition.

Tennessee

Should win: Bowling Green (9/5), Western Carolina (9/19), at Florida (9/26), at Kentucky (10/31), South Carolina (11/7), North Texas (11/14), Vanderbilt (11/28)

If the Volunteers are going to challenge for the East crown, they’re going to have to prove it against the rest of the East’s upper crust. UT’s cross-divisional games at Alabama and against Arkansas will test an offensive line that struggled mightily last year.

Vanderbilt

Should win: Western Kentucky (9/5), Austin Peay (9/19), at Middle Tennessee (10/3)

Even without a power conference opponent on the OOC schedule, Vanderbilt still has to travel to Houston in what could be a tough outing for the Commodores. Derek Mason is going to have to find a way to win at least one SEC game; his job could depend on it.