The SEC apparently is on a diet in 2016. As we peruse each team’s schedule, there aren’t many cupcakes to be found, and those that do partake usually offset it with a non-conference matchup against a Power 5 brand name.

While easy schedules are non-existent, some are more favorable than others based on factors such as the number of quality opponents, location of winnable games, the quality of quarterbacks they’re facing, etc.

Here are the five most favorable in the SEC in 2016.

1. Florida

The Gators don’t have to play Alabama, Ole Miss or Texas A&M, and their most difficult cross-over game (LSU) is at The Swamp.

Traveling to Florida State and Tennessee isn’t easy, but those are games the Gators could lose at home anyway, so better to have them on the road.

Opponents’ 2015 combined record: 69-78

Games vs. teams with losing records in 2015: 7

Games vs. expected ranked teams: 4

Non-conference slate: UMass, North Texas, Presbyterian, at Florida State

2. Mississippi State

Yes, the SEC West is a beast unto itself, but the Bulldogs catch a break in Year 1 AD (After Dak) by crossing over against rebuilding South Carolina (home) and traveling to consistently questionable Kentucky.

Traveling to BYU is no picnic, but it’s offset with games against South Alabama, UMass and Samford.

Opponents’ 2015 combined record: 87-64

Games vs. teams with losing records in 2015: 4

Games vs. expected ranked teams: 3

Non-conference slate: South Alabama, at UMass, at BYU, Samford

3. Missouri

The glass half-full perspective: The Tigers’ toughest games are on the road — LSU, Florida, Tennessee — games they probably wouldn’t win at home, anyway. So their quest to win six games and become bowl eligible means going 3-1 against non-conference opponents (two of which won just once last season), winning at South Carolina and beating Kentucky and Vanderbilt at home. Attainable goals in year one under Barry Odom.

Opponents’ 2015 combined record: 75-74

Games vs. teams with losing records in 2015: 5

Games vs. expected ranked teams: 4

Non-conference slate: at West Virginia, E. Michigan, Delaware State, Middle Tennessee

4. Vanderbilt

The Commodores’ schedule fits their profile — including a manageable non-conference slate — but it won’t necessarily translate into a more successful season.

Vandy crosses over with a game at Auburn and a visit by Ole Miss. Neither team cracked our way-too-early Top 25 but both received votes.

Opponents’ 2015 combined record: 85-66

Games vs. teams with losing records in 2015: 5

Games vs. expected ranked teams: 3

Non-conference slate: Middle Tennessee State, at Georgia Tech, at Western Kentucky, Tennessee State

5. South Carolina

Road openers are never easy, and ideally, no team would choose to spend the first two weeks away from home, but at Vanderbilt and at starting-from-scratch Mississippi State are two of the easier assignments in the SEC in 2016. Both opponents have new(er) quarterbacks who figure to be better in Weeks 8 and 9 than in 1 and 2.

Opponents’ 2015 combined record: 89-63

Games vs. teams with losing records in 2015: 5

Games vs. expected ranked teams: 4

Non-conference slate: East Carolina, UMass, Western Carolina, at Clemson