It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

Unless he could see the future, Charles Dickens knew nothing of SEC football when he published “A Tale Of Two Cities” in 1859. But he described the conference’s annual November schedule pretty well.

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Normally, SEC fans are force-fed tryptophan — the week before Thanksgiving, in the form of opponents like Eastern Kentucky, Charleston Southern and South Alabama. This year’s “calm before the storm” week is drowsy as usual.

SEC purists hoping to feast on leftover turkey while watching multiple conference teams on the same field also are disappointed. Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina face in-state ACC rivals during the final week of the regular season.

But there are plenty of delightful conference rivalries that same weekend, including the Egg Bowl and Iron Bowl.

Here are five conference matchups we can’t wait to see in November:

NOV. 7: LSU AT ALABAMA

Last meeting: The Tigers kicked a go-ahead field goal with 50 seconds remaining. But long Blake Sims completions to Christion Jones and DeAndrew White set up a gave-saving field goal for the Tide, who then won in overtime with the game’s third offensive touchdown.

At stake: Alabama has compiled a four-game win streak against LSU. It doesn’t feel that way thanks to two dramatic comebacks. But if Nick Saban can stretch that to five, Les Miles will get even more heat from Tigers fans. Bama can afford one regular-season stumble and still make the SEC title game — we’ve seen that before — but with road games against Auburn and Georgia, it can’t come here.

Entertainment factor: 4.5 out of 5

NOV. 14: GEORGIA AT AUBURN

Last meeting: Usually, at least one fan base has plenty to celebrate on a given Saturday in Novvember. But this day represented a bad time for both programs. UGA unleashed Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb as co-stars for the first and only time after Gurley returned from his NCAA suspension, but the former tore his ACL. Their combined production was enough to pummel Auburn, 34-7, on the scoreboard and perhaps seal the fate of Tigers defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. Having finished the conference schedule at 6-2, Georgia hoped to clinch an SEC East title, but Missouri held off Texas A&M, and so the Bulldogs were forced to endure two more weeks of eventual disappointment as those Tigers wouldn’t lose.

At stake: The preseason SEC favorites — Alabama, Auburn and Georgia — play a regular-season round robin. This is one of three games involved. The loser of this game could drop a pair of close games to Top 10 teams, and just like that, the greatest dreams for the 2015 season would vanish. We’ll see if the Bulldogs and Tigers remain relevant in their respective divisions at this point in the year. Also, a UGA road win would strike an important blow for the perception of the SEC East relative to the West.

Entertainment factor: 5 out of 5

NOV. 21: LSU AT OLE MISS

Last meeting: The Rebels entered Death Valley at 7-0, including an upset home win against Alabama, and feeling primed to stay in the SEC West race deep into November. And who can blame Ole Miss, which everyone figured would shut down LSU’s shaky pass offense? Instead, the Tigers ran the ball effectively and turned the tables on Rebels quarterback Bo Wallace, intercepting a final effort near the goal line to preserve a 10-7 win.

At stake: Alabama and Auburn enter the 2015 season as the division favorites. But if there’s going to be a relative surprise in the dead-even SEC West, one of these two teams likely will produce it. Beyond that, Ole Miss surely wants revenge. And depending on whether either team gets adequate quarterback play, this game — just like in ’14 — could be held up as a snapshot for how important it is to take care of that position.

Entertainment factor: 4 out of 5

NOV. 28: ALABAMA AT AUBURN

Last meeting: The Iron Bowl turned into a Pac-12 facsimile with 762 combined passing yards and 99 total points. Or maybe more like the NBA playoffs: Auburn receiver Sammie Coates managed 206 yards and two scores, but Alabama receiver Amari Cooper was the best player on the field (224 yards, three touchdowns).

At stake: Potentially, an SEC West title and the continued opportunity to earn a College Football Playoff spot with a win in Atlanta. Also, this marks an early tiebreaker between Nick Saban and Gus Malzahn, as the coahes have split their first two head-to-head meetings. A win for either coach could be more symbolic than usual within the state, if that’s possible.

Entertainment factor: 5 out of 5

NOV. 28: OLE MISS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE

Last meeting: Clanga took longer to erode after both teams sprinted to the top of the polls midseason, entering the final regular-season game at 10-1 and still harboring hopes of a back-door College Football Playoff invite. But Ole Miss exercised some of its frustrations in this Egg Bowl, hanging 24 second-half points behind huge days from tight end Evan Engram and running back Jaylen Walton.

At stake: There’s an outside chance that one of these teams could remain in play for an SEC West title. (I won’t say which to keep from upsetting Bulldogs fans. Wait … oops!) Regardless, this should be a farewell of sorts for the state of Mississippi — QB Dak Prescott (for sure), WR Laquon Treadwell, DT Robert Nkemdiche and OT Laremy Tunsil are among the respected standouts who could be playing their final regular-season college game.

Entertainment factor: 4 out of 5