Unless you’re basing is solely on opponents’ winning percentage from the previous season, which means next to nothing this year, there’s no fool-proof way to rank SEC schedules in August.

Considering the value that’s been placed on the Western Division during the preseason, it’s safe to project tough schedules for each of those seven teams.

Looking at the league team-by-team, here’s how we rank the SEC schedules this fall:

Ranking SEC schedules toughest to easiest

1. Arkansas — There’s a chance the Razorbacks play a college football-high five ranked teams on the road or at a neutral site this season, a nightmarish task in the nation’s toughest division. The bye week comes at an ideal time sandwiched between gargantuan games against Alabama and Auburn.

RELATED: Arkansas schedule analysis

2. Alabama — In addition to the challenging West slate, the Crimson Tide take on the two most talented teams from the East including Georgia in Athens on Oct. 3 — perhaps the biggest cross-divisional game of the season in the SEC. Luckily for the Crimson Tide, many of their toughest contests will be played in Tuscaloosa including Ole Miss and LSU.

RELATED: Alabama schedule analysis

3. Auburn — Gus Malzahn will know early what kind of team he’s going to have this season thanks to three games against possible ranked teams in September. The home stretch is particularly treacherous and features matchups against Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama.

RELATED: Auburn schedule analysis

4. Texas A&M — It’s true the Aggies leave the state of Texas a grand total of zero times during the first seven weeks of the season, but included in that stretch are matchups Arizona State, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Alabama. Two road trips to LSU and Ole Miss won’t be easy during the season’s second half.

RELATED: Texas A&M schedule analysis

5. Georgia — The silver lining for the Bulldog is that this team will know where it stands by its only weekend off in late October coming off three consecutive games against nationally-ranked foes, including Alabama. Road games at Auburn and Georgia Tech in November could prove damaging considering there’s a chance both rivals are ranked inside the Top 10.

RELATED: Georgia schedule analysis

6. Kentucky — It’s toss-up between the Wildcats and Bulldogs for the Eastern Division’s toughest schedule, but at least Kentucky doesn’t have to play Alabama (like Georgia does) and gets Auburn on a Thursday night. The home stretch is easier than last fall with three winnable games to conclude the season.

RELATED: Kentucky schedule analysis

7. South Carolina — The Gamecocks are the only SEC team to play three bowl teams from last season during the non-conference and that’s in addition to a loaded league schedule with four road games against possible ranked teams — Georgia, Mizzou, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

RELATED: South Carolina schedule analysis

8. Tennessee — If the Vols expect intend turning it around as a relevant SEC ‘dark horse’ this season, they’ll have to earn it. Right out of the gate Tennessee hosts Oklahoma in Week 2 then travels to Florida two weeks later to try and snap a decade-long skid. The Vols gets Arkansas and Alabama from the West — not the best cross-divisional draw.

RELATED: Tennessee schedule analysis

9. LSU — Back-loaded with four possible nationally-ranked teams dotting the November slate, the Tigers have a very winnable five-game stretch from Sept. 26 through Oct. 24 if they maneuver through early-season contests against Mississippi State and Auburn unscathed.

RELATED: LSU schedule analysis

10. Mississippi State — Dan Mullen’s squad faces one of the toughest four-game stretches in college football, but gets its bye week on Halloween to prepare the season-defining final month. October is a relative cakewalk outside of a trip to Kyle Field.

RELATED: Mississippi State schedule analysis

11. Ole Miss — It’s unfortunate for the Rebels that their bye week doesn’t come until Week 11 this season, but they’ll at least get the luxury of playing just one nationally-ranked opponent during the first seven games (Alabama). Three SEC games prior to the bye will determine where Ole Miss finishes.

RELATED: Ole Miss schedule analysis

12. Vanderbilt — The Commodores’ non-conference slate is considerably tougher than last season’s list by comparison, but there’s a couple SEC games that are winnable (we use that loosely) and the schedule’s well-balanced with no real crippling patches.

RELATED: Vanderbilt schedule analysis

13. Florida — Like Mizzou, the Gators don’t have to play preseason Western Division frontrunners Alabama and Auburn this season and play the majority of their most difficult games — Ole Miss and Tennessee — at home.

RELATED: Florida schedule analysis

14. Missouri — Credit to the Tigers for scheduling BYU during non-conference play, but it’s another relatively easy slate this fall by SEC standards. Mizzou likely won’t face a ranked team until Week 7 in Athens and gets Arkansas and Mississippi State from the West — teams who aren’t as favorably perceived by the experts as Alabama, Auburn and LSU comparatively.

RELATED: Missouri schedule analysis