Which SEC teams have the easiest, most difficult rotating cross-over game in 2017?
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Ever since the SEC expanded to 14 teams in 2012, the schedule was remade so that each team had one permanent cross-division rival and the other six cross-division teams were rotated annually.
Beating the teams in one’s own division will often get you to Atlanta, but the cross-division rotation games can have an impact on the division race (just ask the 2012 Texas A&M Aggies).
RELATED: 2017 schedule for every SEC team
Here are how the cross-division rotation games rank in difficulty for each team, from easiest to hardest:
1. Alabama (at Vanderbilt on Sept. 23): Vanderbilt appears to be heading in the right direction as the Commodores beat Georgia and Tennessee last year and went to their first bowl game under Derek Mason. The game is in Nashville, but Vanderbilt Stadium is hardly known for providing any home field advantage. This is Alabama vs. the SEC East, and Nick Saban’s squad hasn’t lost to an opponent from the other division since 2010 against South Carolina.
The Tide will roll.
2. Auburn (at Missouri on Sept. 23): New Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham should be in sync with the rest of the offense by time Gus Malzahn’s squad rolls into Columbia for the battle of the Tigers. Auburn RB Kamryn Pettway led the SEC in rushing last season with 122.4 yards per game, and he could potentially run wild against Missouri, which ranked No. 13 in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing 232.8 yards per game. MU was also No. 14 in total defense (479.7 yards per game) and No. 12 in passing defense (246.8 yards per game).
3. Georgia (vs. Mississippi State on Sept. 23): While great things are expected from Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald in 2017, this is still a matchup of the likely SEC East favorite against a middle-of-the-pack SEC West squad. The UGA offense featuring Jacob Eason, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel will likely be too much for a suspect MSU defense on its third coordinator in four years.
4. Arkansas (at South Carolina on Oct. 7): Neither Arkansas nor South Carolina will feel particularly intimidated by this matchup. Returning starting QB Austin Allen knows what it’s like to play in a hostile environment, so rooster noises and “Sandstorm” won’t rattle him. The Hogs have a decent secondary that has faced quarterbacks comparable to Jake Bentley.
5. Florida (vs. Texas A&M on Oct. 14): Florida is fortunate to face the Aggies after Myles Garrett, Trevor Knight, Speedy Noil, Josh Reynolds and Ricky Seals-Jones have all departed from Texas A&M. The Gators have their questions at quarterback and on defense, but they should have an advantage in this one with the game being played at The Swamp.
Even better news for the Gators is that it comes in Week 7. Under Kevin Sumlin, the Aggies have a history starting the season strong and then crashing in October. For the last three years, Texas A&M has jumped out to a 5-0 record only to finish the year 8-5.
6. Ole Miss (at Kentucky on Nov. 4): Commonwealth Stadium isn’t the most hostile of environments, but Ole Miss will likely have its hands full. It’s neither the most intimidating nor favorable matchup from the Rebels’ perspective. Ole Miss will likely have the more talented athletes, but Kentucky the more experienced players and is the only team in this matchup coming off a bowl game.
7. Kentucky (vs. Ole Miss on Nov. 4): The Wildcats return most of their starters while Hugh Freeze’s squad is in rebuilding mode. Freeze rebuilds, however, with some of the best recruiting classes of the past four years. The Rebels will be working with new coordinators on both sides of the ball, making them somewhat of an unknown.
8. South Carolina (vs. Arkansas on Oct. 7): Playing at home against Arkansas should be a winnable game for South Carolina, but there’s no obvious mismatch favoring the Gamecocks. Will Muschamp’s squad exceeded expectations in Year 1, and he’s shown a long-term plan for building the program, but he’s working with limited resources due to his predecessor’s recruiting.
9. LSU (at Tennessee on Nov. 18): There’s nothing easy about trying to win at Neyland Stadium, but this would have been a bigger challenge for the Tigers last year. The Volunteers lose key starters on both sides of the ball in Derek Barnett and Josh Dobbs. LSU’s schedule could play a factor at this point, however. This will be the Tigers’ sixth game away from Tiger Stadium.
10. Texas A&M (at Florida on Oct. 14): Texas A&M’s passing attack against Florida’s pass defense would have been a great matchup in 2016. This year both units are rebuilding with key departures to graduation and early entry into the NFL. If Florida finds a quarterback to run Jim McElwain’s offense, it could be dangerous with returning play-makers at the skill positions and an experience offensive line. Most important, the Gators have played well at home under McElwain, going 11-1 in the coach’s first two seasons.
The Aggies will try to win on the road with another new quarterback, never an easy chore in the SEC.
11. Mississippi State (at Georgia on Sept. 23): Trying to contain Eason, Chubb and Michel will be difficult on the road. MSU might catch Georgia early enough that it still has issues on defense, especially against a dual-threat quarterback like Nick Fitzgerald. That’s the best hope for Dan Mullen’s squad in this one.
12. Tennessee (vs. LSU on Nov. 18): Even with home-field advantage, Tennessee will be facing an LSU squad loaded with blue-chip talent. Tigers RB Derrius Guice led the SEC in rushing yards (1,387) and yards per carry (7.6) last season, allowing LSU’s offense to roll along even with Leonard Fournette sidelined due to injury.
Tennessee’s rushing defense was No. 11 in the SEC last season, allowing 218.5 yards per game. The Vols are hoping that by this late in the season, their revamped offense (new coordinator, new quarterback) will be running much more smoothly than it would have in September.
13. Missouri (vs. Auburn on Sept. 23): Auburn is loaded with offensive playmakers, and transfer QB Jarrett Stidham looks to be the missing piece the Tigers have been searching for the past few seasons. If Stidham picks up where he left off at Baylor (68.8 completion percentage, 12-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio), there’s no doubt AU will put up points. And we know what that defense is capable of doing.
14. Vanderbilt (vs. Alabama on Sept. 23): Until proven otherwise, Alabama is the toughest cross-rotation draw for an SEC East team. In 10 seasons under Nick Saban, Alabama is 28-3 against the SEC East including the regular season and the SEC Championship Game. This is a tough break for a Commodores squad, which will be fighting hard to go to another bowl game.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
