We are ranking every opponent on Missouri’s schedule from No. 12 to No. 1 before the start of the regular season. Here are the previous installments: The weak links, Feisty non-conference foes, The Volunteer State, Early litmus test, The Replacements and Road revenge.

Missouri’s SEC East chances come down to a three-game stretch at South Carolina, against Georgia and at Florida beginning in late September. The road/home split obviously is a factor, but whichever of those opponents turns out to be the strongest probably doubles as the toughest game of the year.

The Bulldogs are the most likely candidate.

No. 1: vs. Georgia

It’s going to be strange seeing the Bulldogs in action without Aaron Murray at quarterback. But Hutson Mason, who waited his turn since 2010, got some run at the end of last season after Murray tore an ACL.

Mason is surrounded with talent, as a plethora of skill players who struggled with injuries last year enter the season healthy, including running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.

Chris Conley, Michael Bennett, Malcolm Mitchell and others represent one of the deepest collection of receivers in the conference, if not the country.

Georgia’s offensive line is the only question mark, outside of the yearly health questions. John Theus at left tackle and Kolton Houston at right tackle are concerns against elite pass-rushers. Clemson has some of those, so we’ll get a look at that today, but Missouri ought to be able to put some pressure on Mason.

The Bulldogs’ defense kept UGA from winning the SEC East last year. Georgia gave up 38 to Clemson, 41 to LSU, 41 to Missouri and 43 to Auburn. Enter Jeremy Pruitt. Veteran defensive coordinator Todd Grantham vacated the position to join Bobby Petrino at Louisville in a move that Georgia fans may point to as one of the keys to their season after the year.

Pruitt, who has coached under Nick Saban and last year was part of Florida State’s national championship, needs to turn a talented collection of individuals into a disciplined, cohesive unit.

Ramik Wilson, a first-team All-SEC pick before the season and considered a strong candidate as the conference’s defensive player of the year, is listed as second team this week on the Georgia depth chart. Wilson missed two weeks of camp due to a concussion. Intentional or not, Pruitt and the coaches have presented a strong no-nonsense front to the defensive players.

Amario Herrera, another linebacker, is a candidate for postseason accolades, and Jordan Jenkins should be one of the top edge rushers in the SEC. The unit doesn’t lack athleticism.

Georgia and Missouri will have played at South Carolina already. If either of them wins in Columbia, S.C., the Gamecocks practically will be eliminated by the time the Bulldogs visit Columbia, Mo. The head-to-head winner between Missouri and Georgia could well find themselves in a two-team race with Florida for the SEC East title.