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The Southeastern Conference schedule is always filled with great matchups. These games provide memorable moments and huge implications. SEC fans are some of the most passionate in sports and have witnessed some of college football’s biggest regular season games over the past decade. With the 2014 kickoff hours away, we look at the best SEC home schedules for fans. The criteria for this list is based on two factors: 1. Big game feel. 2. Winnable games. For instance, despite being the home team, Arkansas will likely not be heavily favored against Alabama. However, a matchup between two top-ranked teams is a plus.
5. Florida: Four SEC home games (Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina)
The Florida Gators are one of the biggest enigmas entering the 2014 season. Fans hope to see the an improvement from last season as the Gators, uncharacteristically, struggled to a 4-8 (3-5) record. Will Muschamp will be coaching to save his job. Fortunately, he will have plenty of talent for a turnaround. With four home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida is capable of sending fans home satisfied with favorable matchups against Kentucky (Sept. 13) and possibly Missouri (Oct. 18). Against LSU (Oct. 11) and South Carolina (Nov. 15), Florida will likely be the underdog. However, if the Gators stay healthy, they could steal the surprisingly open SEC East.
4. Auburn: Four SEC home games (Arkansas, LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M)
The reigning SEC champions play four conference home games at Jordan-Hare Stadium this season. The Tigers host Arkansas (Aug. 30) in a matchup between last season’s first and last place SEC West teams. Auburn will follow with games against LSU (Oct. 4) and South Carolina (Oct. 25). Both matchups are expected to have major SEC Championship game implications. Auburn’s matchup against Texas A&M should be favorable, as A&M’s defense struggled to match Nick Marshall and the high-powered Tigers offense.
3. LSU: Four SEC home games (Mississippi St., Kentucky, Ole Miss and Alabama)
The LSU Tigers look to contend in a tough SEC West. Last season, the Tigers were 10-3 overall, however, finished third in the division with a 5-3 conference record. LSU is one of the most consistently dominant programs in the SEC and should continue that success this season. The Tigers face favorable matchups against Mississippi State (Sept. 20) and Kentucky (Oct. 18) before hosting Ole Miss (Oct. 25) and Alabama (Nov. 8). The latter games will definitely provide big game appeal, especially if Ole Miss lives up to its high preseason expectations. Plus, playing in Death Valley doesn’t hurt.
2. South Carolina: Four SEC home games (Texas A&M, Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee)
South Carolina enters the 2014 season with an 18-game winning streak at Williams-Brice Stadium. Tonight, the Gamecocks will look to extend that streak to 19-games in their season-opener against Texas A&M (Aug. 28). South Carolina will host its remaining three SEC home games against Georgia (Sept. 13), Missouri (Sept. 27) and Tennessee (Nov. 1). The first three games all feature matchups against preseason top-25 teams while the Tennessee-South Carolina rivalry has become increasingly heated since Steve Spurrier’s arrival to Columbia in 2005.
1. Alabama: Four SEC home games (Florida, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Auburn)
Fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide always pack Bryant-Denny Stadium. The dominance over the course of Nick Saban’s tenure has made the Tide one of the most feared programs in the country with a passionate fan base to boot. Alabama will host Florida (Sept. 20) and three SEC West rivals. Texas A&M (Oct. 18) returns to Tuscaloosa for the rubber match of its 1-1 series with Alabama sans Johnny Manziel. Mississippi State will face the Tide on November 15. Are we forgetting something? Oh, that’s right. A little game known as the Iron Bowl against state-rival Auburn on Nov. 29. The biggest rivalry game in college football may have reached its highest point last season as Auburn bested the Tide on a game-winning field goal return. If the Iron Bowl itself wasn’t enough, Alabama will have the revenge factor and home-field advantage as well.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
