This weekend, four SEC teams — Alabama, Auburn, Florida and South Carolina — will play lesser non-conference opponents.

That’s because in Week 13, Auburn and Alabama play each other, Florida has Florida State and South Carolina plays Clemson — all very difficult games.

However, ESPN analyst David Pollack isn’t a fan of that aspect of many teams’ schedules, saying on ESPN on Wednesday that he thinks the cupcake games should happen earlier in the season:

“I’m not a fan of cupcakes,” he said. “I don’t like cupcakes in real life or on the schedule. I’m fine with the rest for the body and you see all the injuries and the accumulation. Play these at the beginning of the season. I like to see conference games, games that matter, late in the season, especially when we’re deciding between Playoff teams. That would be my advice.”

Indeed, playing lesser foes this weekend won’t help either Auburn or Alabama in the eyes of the College Football Playoff selection committee, but their Iron Bowl showdown in two weeks certainly will.

Cupcakes are a part of college football and aren’t going away, but perhaps Pollack is right about making sure they don’t happen on the third Saturday in November.