A good crossover draw always makes for offseason optimism.

Avoiding a team like Alabama, Auburn or LSU is enough of a reason for some SEC East teams to believe that the stars are aligning for them.

For others, a tough crossover draw can make it feel like the weight of the world is working against them.

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Here’s a look at the three SEC East teams with the toughest crossover matchups and how it could impact the division race in 2017:

3. Florida (vs. LSU, vs. Texas A&M)

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, optimistic Gators fan. Florida could easily win both of these games at home, and go on to win the East once again. But consider these two factors.

LSU will be coming off games against Syracuse and Troy when it comes into Gainesville in the first week of October. That team could be rested, and more important, it won’t forget the fact that the Gators made that their homecoming game. Can you imagine what that pregame speech from Ed Orgeron will sound like?

And the Texas A&M game could be penciled in as a win by many Gators fans, but the Aggies will be coming off the Alabama game. Depending on how SEC play starts for the Aggies, the Florida matchup could easily end up being a game in which they’re playing for Kevin Sumlin’s job.

Call me crazy, but that’s a load of visiting juice Florida will have to fend off from two of the SEC’s better programs.

2. Missouri (vs. Auburn, at Arkansas)

Mizzou gets to open SEC play with arguably the conference’s most intriguing team in Auburn. By then, the Tigers will have faced Clemson, but they’ll be coming off a game against Mercer. In other words, a potential top-15 team will be rested. Each week for Jarrett Stidham to gain reps in that offense will be key, and he’ll have plenty by the time Auburn heads to Columbia.

The Arkansas matchup is a bit of a wildcard. Yes, Mizzou beat the Hogs on that impressive second-half comeback to close out the 2016 regular season. But the Battle Line Trophy travels to Fayetteville this year, which doesn’t bode well for a Mizzou defense that surrendered 43.5 points per SEC road game last year. Either way, that game could have all sorts of offensive fireworks.

Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

1. Tennessee (at Alabama, vs. LSU)

Yes, poor Tennessee has to play Alabama every year. Fair or not, that’s the way it was drawn up. This year, it’s the Vols’ turn to hit the road. As Tennessee was reminded last year, it doesn’t matter where you play the Tide. Sixty minutes with Alabama isn’t any fun.

Sixty minutes against Dave Aranda’s defense and Matt Canada’s offense might not be very fun, either. With a mostly new staff, LSU could be a much better team in late November than it is in September.

Who knows what the narrative surrounding Butch Jones will be by Nov. 19? His seat could be hotter than ever if the Vols are stuck in neutral, or he could be earning himself an extension with a surprise SEC East run. Either way, nobody in the East has the crossover draw that Tennessee does in 2017.

So how does this impact the East race?

Glad you asked.

Tennessee went 0-2 against the West last year, costing the Vols a chance to win the East.

There’s a reason that so many people are high on Georgia. It isn’t just about the offensive playmakers and Year 2 of Kirby Smart’s defense. The schedule sets up better than either of the two main East contenders (Florida and Tennessee) for a run to Atlanta.

Yes, traveling to Auburn will be a challenge. That might be the second-toughest individual crossover matchup that any East team has. But I’m still not completely sold on the Tigers making a huge offensive leap under Gus Malzahn in 2017. I’m more sold on Georgia’s defense taking that next step on defense.

That game could help determine both division races more than any other matchup in SEC play.

Vanderbilt, Kentucky and South Carolina didn’t make this list, and none is considered a legitimate threat to contend for the East in 2017. Should they sweep their crossover games, however, that conversation could change a bit.

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to predict that Florida, Georgia and Tennessee all drop at least one crossover matchup. That could open the door for a surprise team to win the division.

But looking at this in August, Georgia could benefit the most from the 2017 crossover draws.