It’s never too early to look at next season’s schedules in the SEC, especially since spring practice starts in six short weeks. Fans often gripe about a division rival’s favorable road to Atlanta and this year’s no different — not all schedules are created equal.

Taking into account various factors including last season’s combined records and projecting matchups against ranked teams, here’s how we determine the SEC’s most favorable schedules in 2015:

1) MIZZOU

Two-time defending SEC East champion Mizzou has the easiest schedule in the league next season based on opponents’ 2014 winning (52 percent) and will likely be favored in six consecutive games to start the season before heading to Georgia on Oct. 17. A win over the nationally-ranked Bulldogs could put the Tigers 8-0 moving into November — counting home wins over Florida and South Carolina — with only a single victory over a ranked team.

Opponents’ 2014 combined records: 78-73
Games vs. teams with losing records in 2014: 4
Games vs. expected ranked teams: 3
Non-conference slate: Southeast Missouri State, at Arkansas State, UConn, vs. BYU

2) VANDERBILT

Coming off a winless SEC campaign during Derek Mason’s first season, avoids several landmines in SEC play next season including the big 3 — Alabama, Auburn and LSU — from the Western Division. The Commodores get East frontrunners Georgia and Mizzou at home, but do travel to Knoxville, a Tennessee team that will be ranked, in the regular season finale.

Opponents’ 2014 combined records: 87-66
Games vs. teams with losing records in 2014: 2
Games vs. expected ranked teams: 4
Non-conference slate: Western Kentucky, Austin Peay, at Middle Tennessee, at Houston

3) KENTUCKY

Kentucky’s opponents have the highest 2014 winning percentage of this group, but the Wildcats will only play one road game against a ranked team (Georgia, unless Mississippi State finishes higher than we expect) and will be double-digit favorites in three out of four non-conference games. Kentucky’s toughest game is likely its home date with Auburn in October.

Opponents’ 2014 combined records: 95-58
Games vs. teams with losing records in 2014: 2
Games vs. expected ranked teams: 5
Non-conference slate: Louisiana Lafayette, Eastern Kentucky, Charlotte, Louisville

4) LSU

By SEC West standards, LSU’s 2015 slate is manageable since the Tigers will only have one game against a ranked team on the road (Alabama). The other three come at home and we’ve all seen Les Miles’ confidence level when his team plays in Baton Rouge. The Tigers will likely be favored in at least nine games this fall, including six of the first seven.

Opponents’ 2014 combined records: 87-65
Games vs. teams with losing records in 2014: 2
Games vs. expected ranked teams: 4
Non-conference slate: McNeese State, at Syracuse, Eastern Michigan, Western Kentucky

5) GEORGIA

The non-conference schedule is laughable outside of the season finale at Georgia Tech for the Bulldogs next season and the most challenging game at home comes against an Alabama team breaking in a new quarterback in Week 5 — around the same time the Crimson Tide lost on the road last season (Ole Miss).

Opponents’ 2014 combined records: 93-61
Games vs. teams with losing records in 2014: 3
Games vs. expected ranked teams: 5
Non-conference slate: Louisiana-Monroe, Southern, Georgia Southern, at Georgia Tech

6) MISSISSIPPI STATE

Can the Bulldogs repeat another 10-win regular season? With road games against what will likely be four ranked teams, it isn’t likely, though Mississippi State will get four wins just by showing up during the non-conference portion. Next season’s schedule is front-loaded with half of the Bulldogs’ toughest games during the first five weeks.

Opponents’ 2014 combined records: 89-66
Games vs. teams with losing records in 2014: 3
Games vs. expected ranked teams: 6
Non-conference slate: at Southern Miss, Northwestern State, Troy, Louisiana Tech