We’ve only just flipped the college football calendar from September to October, but I’m prepared to skip ahead to December right now.

The only worthwhile matchup worth seeing in the SEC Championship Game is Alabama vs. Georgia, as they’re clearly the two best teams in the conference at this point. Anything else would be considered an upset, not to mention a disappointment.

The Crimson Tide — the league’s defending champs three years running — have been positively terrifying the last two weeks. Finally getting into SEC play, they humbled Vanderbilt 59-0 in Nashville and then destroyed Ole Miss 66-3 in Tuscaloosa. On offense, defense and special teams, they were nothing short of dominant.

‘Bama is essentially too big to fail right now under coach Nick Saban. He has lapped the rest of the West time and again.

But in the East, the Bulldogs might actually have what it takes to make the conference title game a worthwhile exercise. The Tide have won the last three by an aggregate score of 125-44, and none were competitive for very long.

It took Jacob Eason getting hurt for Jake Fromm to rise at quarterback, but UGA has been much better offensively as a result. On the other side of the ball, coach Kirby Smart — Saban’s defensive coordinator for close to a decade — is doing sensational things with a deep and experienced bunch. The Dawgs just gave up 3 points combined to Mississippi State and Tennessee.

Fortunately, the list of genuine contenders in either division is short. Maybe Auburn in the West. Perhaps Florida in the East.

Arkansas? Unable to take the next step. LSU? Ed Orgeron’s first club looks a lot like Les Miles’s last. Ole Miss? Inevitable NCAA sanctions haven’t proven to be motivating. Mississippi State? Not deep enough. Texas A&M? Too inconsistent.

That being said, Auburn does appear to be improving. Jarrett Stidham, the QB transfer from Baylor, just put together his best performance — rejoice, a downfield passing game — and still has upside. The defense is legit, no question about it. Even if Daniel Carlson has missed some kicks, he’s one of the elite specialists in the country.

Fortunately, the list of genuine contenders in either division is short. Maybe Auburn in the West. Perhaps Florida in the East.

The Tigers host Big Al in the Iron Bowl, too. What a Thanksgiving weekend that could be if both squads do indeed hold serve.

Kentucky? That last-second defeat to Florida was telling for both programs. Missouri? Dumpster fire. South Carolina? Not ready for the leap. Vanderbilt? Come on already. Tennessee? Rocky Top will never be home sweet home to Butch Jones.

Don’t underestimate Florida, though — especially at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Yes, the Gators are the only 3-0 team in league play, even if it hasn’t necessarily been pretty along the way. But new playmakers are emerging on offense, plenty of talent remains on D and they owned the red and black during the Mark Richt era.

However, it’s the Smart (below) era now. He came back to drag his alma mater past 10 wins and into the College Football Playoff discussion, and he’s on his way.

Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Needless to say, Alabama-Georgia would be doubly interesting due to the dynamic between Saban and Smart. The latter coached under the former at several stops both college and pro, including 2007-15 in the shadows of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Saban has already taken out a former protégé this year in Jimbo Fisher — a national title-winning coach in his own right — when the Crimson Tide waxed Florida State 24-7 in Week 1. Still, Saban and Fisher haven’t been on the same staff since 2004 at LSU. Conversely, Smart won his fourth ring alongside Saban as recently as two years ago.

With apologies to aforementioned Auburn, these are the conference's two most dastardly defenses. This league appreciates an old-fashioned slugfest, as well.

The only person who knows Saban’s defense as well as Saban himself is Smart, who helped turn it into an annual brick wall.

Gridiron geeks everywhere are hoping for ‘Bama and Clemson in the CFP National Championship a third straight year because they both appear to be a cut above the rest yet again. In many ways, the rubber match would make for great theater.

But whatever happens, don’t give us Tide-Gators III in Atlanta. The first two were awful to watch — the 29-15 final score in 2015 was deceptively close — and provided little drama. Alabama fans were quite comfortable making travel arrangements for the Final Four before Saban and Co. ever stepped foot inside the Georgia Dome.

With the Georgia Dome now retired, brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium deserves a thriller for its first SEC title game.

There’s every reason to believe that the Bulldogs can give Alabama a real four-quarter fight. With apologies to aforementioned Auburn, these are the conference’s two most dastardly defenses. This league appreciates an old-fashioned slugfest, as well.

Naturally, the possibility of another Crimson Tide annihilation always exists, no matter the opponent. Jalen Hurts — it’s time to start giving him more love at the game’s most important position — is directing an offense that’s yet to commit a single turnover. The defense surrendered just 331 yards combined to Vanderbilt and Ole Miss.

Who’s to say ‘Bama won’t put together another wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am performance and neuter UGA to the tune of, say, 44-10?

But this litter of Dawgs is different. Richt, accused of being complacent with double-digit wins, is gone. Smart, who suffers from the same joyless pigskin obsession that afflicts Saban, has brought a certain killer instinct back to Athens.

Let’s face it, the SEC is no longer the best conference in America — at least not unquestionably, like it was previously. Not only has there been too much separation between West and East, but the Tide have separated themselves too far from the other 13 member institutions. The league has been top-heavy thanks to Saban.

Georgia may be the first worthy challenger to Alabama in years. Move, Auburn. Scram, Florida. You can only get in the way.