Labor Day weekend will be popping off with a legion of interesting SEC games.

Alabama-Florida State, Florida-Michigan, Texas A&M-UCLA, Tennessee-Georgia Tech and LSU-BYU make up some of the most anticipated football games 2017 has to offer. And all of these come a mere week into the college football season.

Some conference teams will save their delectable matchups for Week 2. See: Arkansas, Auburn and Georgia. Even with a tough second week game, the Bulldogs shouldn’t look over an upset-minded Appalachian State team that almost beat Tennessee on the road in 2016.

Only Florida, South Carolina and Texas A&M will head into their opening games as an underdog. There are a few exceptions to that statement, which you will see below.

Here’s the projections for biggest margin of victory ranked from 14-1. The higher the number, the more likely a close win. Some teams are projected to lose, thus their high ranking.

14. Florida

Opponent: Michigan

Bovada line: +5.5

Why: This game could be hard to watch for Gators fans. The suspensions keep coming for Florida, which will have 10 players suspended. Antonio Callaway is still one of them.

The game is a combined 2,000 miles away from the campuses, but both fan bases will travel well. Just don’t expect the ones in blue and orange to leave the game happy. Michigan goes home with a W.     

13. South Carolina

Opponent: N.C. State

Bovada line: +5 

Why: Some think N.C. State isa sleeper pick for a College Football Playoff appearance. Most college pundits believe they have a top 10 worthy defensive line. For South Carolina, that spells trouble since it gave up the most sacks in the SEC last season.

Sophomore Jake Bentley showed why he earned the starting role as a true freshman last year. He needs to take advantage of a depleted Wolfpack secondary, though he might not have time with constant pressure in his face. It will be a close game, but N.C. State is the more talented team.       

12. Texas A&M

Opponent: UCLA

Bovada line: +3 1/2 

Why: You might not find a college football game all season with coaches on hotter seats than Jim Mora and Kevin Sumlin. It’s a game both programs need to kick off their season, but only one can leave victorious. Sumlin got the better of Mora last season and now the Bruins coach is going to return the favor in 2017.

Texas A&M has quarterback issues. UCLA’s Josh Rosen is healthy and could be a top 5 pick in this year’s upcoming NFL Draft.

The Bruins get the Aggies at home and also have last year’s painful loss stinging in the back of their mind. Expect the game to favor UCLA right around the Bovada listed line. Even with a number of issues, Texas A&M should put up a fight, but come up short in the end.

11. Tennessee

Opponent: Georgia Tech

Bovada line: -3  

Why: Butch Jones and Tennessee are tired of hearing how they blew it last season. Derek Barnett, Jalen Hurd and Joshua Dobbs are gone, but this roster still has talent.

It won’t be easy going against a staunch Georgia Tech team with a confusing offense, but the Volunteers will be ready to play. Georgia Tech running back Clinton Lynch status is uncertain for the game, hurting the running back depth as talented Dedrick Mills was dismissed a couple of earlier in August.

Oh, and it doesn’t looks like Georgia Tech has their quarterback position figured out.

Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano will likely both see the field Monday night at quarterback. Though they might not dazzle, look for the Volunteers to squeak this one out.

10. Vanderbilt

Opponent: Middle Tennessee State

Bovada line: -3 1/2  

Why: While this game is not considered a rivalry, these schools are less than 50 miles from each other. The Commodores dominated the Blue Raiders last season, and now it’s MTSU’s shot for revenge at home. Unfortunately, the opportunity will be wasted.

Vanderbilt ended the season on a high note and has too many starters returning to lose this game. The Commodores take on FCS Alabama A&M next week, leaving no reason to look ahead.

Vanderbilt wins this game by single digits despite a desperate fight from the Blue Raiders.

9. Alabama

Opponent: Florida State

Bovada line: -7

Why: Que the angry Crimson Tide fans who think they will blow out Florida State and Alabama deserves to be the most confident heading into to opening weekend. The Seminoles are too talented for that to be the case, though numbers below illustrate how dominate Alabama has been in opening games under Nick Saban.

Saban did lose to Florida State his inaugural year as Alabama’s head coach 21-14 and Jimbo Fisher was the offensive coordinator of the Seminoles at the time. The win was taken away because of NCAA academic violations. They have not met sense.

According to SB Nation’s Alex Kirshner, Nick Saban is 10-0 when taking on former assistants who ascend to the head coaching ranks. Fisher was Saban’s offensive coordinator at LSU.

This game will be a duel between two talented sophomore quarterbacks — Deondre Francois and Jalen Hurts. Bet on Saban and the Crimson Tide to pull it out, even though they face a talented Seminoles team. Based on the talent and coaching Florida State offers, it’s hard to see Alabama winning by more than 10 points.         

8. Kentucky

Opponent: Southern Miss

Bovada line: -10  

Why: Kentucky participated in a bowl last season for the first time since 2011. Its success should continue through the first game of 2017, despite starting the year on the road.

The Wildcats return four offensive lineman who paved the way for two 1,000 yard rushers last season. Benny Snell Jr. looks to expand on a great freshman season and garner more carries with Boom Williams gone. He should have a productive day against the Eagles.

Mark Stoops is 2-2 during openers at Kentucky. Vegas believes Kentucky will avenge last season’s opening loss. Make that 3-2.

7. LSU

Opponent: BYU

Bovada line: No line.  

Why: Ed Orgeron was 3-0 in openers as Ole Miss head coach. That will now jump to 4-0 overall. LSU will start out on a high not the first full season under “Coach O.”

Sure, the Cougars only lost four games by a combined 8 points last season, but LSU basically gets home field advantage with the site moved to Baton Rouge because of Hurricane Harvey. BYU has a solid defense that will give new offensive coordinator Matt Canada trouble at first. Eventually the Tigers will get the passing game going to combine with the ground game of Heisman Trophy candidate Derrius Guice.

Expect a close game, but one with the Tigers pulling away late.

6. Georgia

Opponent: Appalachian State

Bovada line: -14 1/2 

Why: Butch Jones and Tennessee survived against Mountaineers last season in overtime. Now it’s Kirby Smart and Georgia’s turn to take on Appalachian State.

They are projected by many to win the Sun Belt after finishing 10-3 last season. Taylor Lamb is back for his senior season bringing a multitude of game experience and over 80 total touchdowns in his career. He will be looking for a senior moment to remember, but won’t get it in Samford Stadium.

Even though the Bulldogs take on Notre Dame next week, Smart will his team ready go after the lapse Tennessee almost suffered last season.

All that being said, don’t underestimate the Mountaineers. Just ask Michigan what happens when you do.

5. Ole Miss

Opponent: South Alabama

Bovada line: -24 

Why: Though there was an excessive amount of turmoil for the offseason, this performance will subside some of it momentarily. Shea Patterson might have his best game of the season as Ole Miss will roll in this one. The new dawn of Rebels football under Matt Luke starts with a convincing win.  

4. Auburn

Opponent: Georgia Southern

Bovada line: -34 

Why: Like Arkansas, the Tigers face their first true test the second week of the season, when they travel to Clemson. Jarrett Stidham should gain some early confidence when the Tigers pound the Eagles Saturday. No need to fret Auburn fans.

3. Arkansas

Opponent: Florida A&M

Bovada line: No line listed against FCS teams.

Why: Bret Bielema and the Razorbacks have crushed FCS opponents since he took over, by an average by of 38 points. This game won’t be close folks. Arkansas wins big.  

2. Missouri

Opponent: Missouri State

Bovada line: No line listed against FCS teams.  

Why: The Tigers were dealt the misfortune of playing in Morgantown against West Virginia’s high-powered offense last season, losing the first game of Barry Odom era. Missouri State is no West Virginia, as the Bears finished 4-7 last season. Easy answer — Missouri dominates moving Odom’s record to 1-1 in openers as Missouri’s coach.

1. Mississippi State

Opponent: Charleston Southern 

Bovada line: No line listed against FCS teams. 

Why: Stud quarterback Nick Fitzgerald against a FCS defense. Need I say more? Bulldogs by a landslide, the SEC’s biggest blowout in Week 1.