ESPN covers the majority of the SEC action each fall, but starting in the second week of the season, CBS holds the rights to cover the marquee game each weekend in league play — the network expands its coverage to two games each weekend in November.

CBS does an excellent job of selecting some of the best matchups ahead of time, with official television lineups being announced weeks in advance once the season gets underway. Heading into the season, four games have already been announced as SEC on CBS games. With the exception of those four dates, all other games are up for grabs.

One note in the selection process: The CBS contract limits the network to five selections per school each season.

In total, CBS is scheduled to cover 16 regular-season SEC games this season. With four games already selected to be covered by the network, 12 remain open for selection. This article will forecast the games CBS is most likely to select to fill out its broadcast schedule. I ran this exercise last season and accurately predicted 8 of the 10 games CBS would ultimately broadcast, not including LSU’s trip to Florida which was canceled the week of the game.

Here’s my best guess on how the SEC on CBS schedule will play out for the 2017 season.

(Games marked in bold have officially been announced by CBS)

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Thoughts on each selection:

Week 4 – Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (Arlington) (second option – Mississippi State at Georgia)

There’s a good chance both teams enter the annual showdown in Arlington undefeated. The biggest hurdle for A&M will be the opener at UCLA; for Arkansas it’s the TCU game in the second weekend of the season. This game has served as a turning point of sorts for both schools in recent years and with both coaches facing some heat entering 2017, there’s an added level of intrigue to this matchup.

Considering the Razorbacks have yet to beat the Aggies since A&M joined the league, Bret Bielema badly needs to prove he can lead his program over that hump and finally win this game.

Week 5 – Ole Miss at Alabama (second option – Georgia at Tennessee)

This is another matchup of teams that should enter undefeated. These two schools have provided some of the most memorable games in the SEC in recent seasons and despite all the negativity surround the program in Oxford, that bad mojo won’t translate to the field unless the season falls apart in a hurry. The Rebels have no fear of Alabama and will be coming off a bye, giving the team two weeks to prepare for the trip to Tuscaloosa. Don’t be surprised if this game is another entertaining affair.

Week 6 – LSU at Florida (second option – Alabama at Texas A&M)

The SEC’s best cross-divisional rivalry at the moment, there’s little doubt CBS would jump at the chance to broadcast this game from the Swamp. We can only hope weather leading up to the game don’t force Florida to cancel again. The past five meetings have been decided by single digits.

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Week 7 – Auburn at LSU (second option – Arkansas at Alabama)

These two often compete in some of the most physical games the SEC has to offer early in the season. The winner of this game will establish itself as a true contender in the West. This date represents the latest in the calendar the two have met since 2011, when the schools met Oct. 22. Auburn hasn’t won in Baton Rouge since 1999.

Week 8 – Tennessee at Alabama (second option – LSU at Ole Miss)

Always a popular choice for CBS, the Third Saturday in October finally has some juice again now that the Volunteers are relevant. However, there’s a huge gap in being relevant and being an SEC championship contender. Until Tennessee ends its losing streak to Alabama, it’s hard to consider the Vols anything but a pretender in the pursuit of a championship.

The Vols nearly beat Alabama last time this game was played in Tuscaloosa, losing 19-14 in 2015. That year, Tennessee caught the Crimson Tide at the tail end of an eight consecutive game stretch. The same thing will happen this year as Alabama won’t reach its bye week until after facing the Volunteers.

Week 10 – Auburn at Texas A&M & LSU at Alabama

In what has to be one of the oddest stats in the conference, since A&M joined the SEC in 2012, the road team has won every matchup in the annual Auburn-Texas A&M series. These two schools were the main contenders for Jarrett Stidham last season; it will be interesting if the Auburn quarterback has any extra motivation heading into this game.

LSU and Alabama have been selected to play in prime time for seven consecutive seasons. There is little doubt this year will make it eight years and counting.

Week 11 – Alabama at Mississippi State & Georgia at Auburn

Nick Fitzgerald didn’t perform so well against Alabama’s defense last year, but the same could be said for every quarterback outside of Chad Kelly and Deshaun Watson. There have been quite a few prognosticators picking this game as a potential upset special, opening the possibility that this game is a better matchup than many may perceive heading into the season.

Georgia has won nine of the past 11 meetings vs. Auburn to take a 57-55-8 series lead.

The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry is a good bet to become CBS’s primetime game this weekend. Both teams appear poised to factor into their respective division races late into the season and this contest could well serve as a de facto elimination game for the loser. Gus Malzahn might not even make it to the Iron Bowl if Auburn drops its fourth consecutive game to the Bulldogs.

Week 12 – LSU at Tennessee & Kentucky at Georgia

This weekend features several cupcake games in league play, limiting the choices a bit. It’s also not often LSU gets to travel to Neyland Stadium. These two historically great SEC schools don’t compete often on the gridiron — they’ve met eight times since 2000, but outside of the 38-7 win LSU achieved over Tennessee back in 2011, the games between the two have provided epic matchups.

This weekend on the SEC calendar will feature plenty of dud non-conference opponents, making a second good game tough to find. However, Kentucky nearly tripped up Georgia last year and could enter this game with some momentum following a trip to Vanderbilt. On the other hand, the Bulldogs will be coming off a tough road trip to Auburn. The pieces are in place to suggest another great meeting this season.

Week 13 – Alabama at Auburn

Let’s not kid ourselves here, CBS is very unlikely to select any Week 13 game over the Iron Bowl. In fact, CBS has elected to cover it eight times over the past nine seasons — the lone exception being the 2014 Egg Bowl.