We’re hitting the stretch run where so many games have so much importance you just have to find a television or some other device and devour as much college football as you can. There are a couple of big ones in the SEC West, but they are far from your only options. We’ve learned a few things about each of the conference’s teams in the first half of the season, and now we’ve rated all eight of the games involving SEC teams on watchability.

These rankings are subjective but factor in league and national impact along with how exciting and how close the games will be. Games are ranked on a 1-5 Georgia Dome scale (the site of the SEC Championship Game), with 5 being the most watchable game and 1 being the least.

5 GEORGIA DOMES

No. 3 Alabama at No. 20 Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS — The Bulldogs have an opportunity to play spoiler and make the SEC West race quite interesting. Dak Prescott is the kind of quarterback who can give the Crimson Tide trouble, but Alabama’s defense has been so good lately it’s hard to pick against the Tide. You know the cowbells will be extra loud when this one kicks off in Starkville, and it will be interesting to see who can set the tone early on. Both teams are on a roll and have played their best football of the season in recent weeks. It might not only be the best SEC game of the week, it has potential to be one of the best of the year.


4 GEORGIA DOMES

Arkansas at No. 9 LSU, 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN — The Tigers aren’t out of the the mix for the College Football Playoff, but they need to avoid a letdown against a hot Arkansas team. It took them awhile, but the Razorbacks have gotten it together and are coming off a huge win against Ole Miss. That one had big implications on both the SEC West race and the national playoff picture. Can Brandon Allen and the Hogs do it again or will Leonard Fournette rebound after the first bad game he’s had all season?


3 GEORGIA DOMES

BYU vs. Missouri, 7:30 p.m. ET, SECN — This one really doesn’t have any strong implications on any conference race or the national picture, but after the tumultuous week at Missouri in which players were at one point threatening to boycott the game, it will be interesting to see what happens when the teams take the field. The game will be in Kansas City, which presents a much different atmosphere than if it had been on campus, but the events in Columbia will certainly be hanging over everyone on the field.

No. 11 Florida at South Carolina, Noon ESPN — Florida has the SEC East locked up and should roll over the Gamecocks, even though last week against Vandy was more of an adventure than anyone expected. But each game the Gators play between now and the SEC Championship Game is important as it helps shape the playoff picture. Florida still has an opportunity to play its way into the four-team tournament, but even if it doesn’t, its upcoming games against Florida State and the SEC West champion mean the result of this one has big implications in multiple conferences.


2 GEORGIA DOMES

Georgia at Auburn, Noon CBS — This one looked like one of the games of the year heading into the season, but it’s been a year of disappointments for both Georgia and Auburn. However, each team is coming off a much-needed victory and is working hard to salvage some kind of success they can cling to heading into next season. The winner of this game gets to continue feeling good while the loser is probably heading back into a feeling of despair.


1 GEORGIA DOME

North Texas at Tennessee, Noon SECN —  The Vols don’t want an upset here as they try to pull out an eight-win regular season. That shouldn’t be a problem against a team that fired its coach weeks ago, but consistency hasn’t been Tennessee’s strong point.

Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 4 p.m. ET, SECN — Kentucky can’t afford to lose this one if it wants to get back to a bowl game for the first time in five years, but the way the Commodores defense has played, it won’t be an easy game to win. Either way, it’s not a priority unless you are quite concerned with who avoids the SEC East basement.

Western Carolina at Texas A&M, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU — If you are an Aggies fan, you want to watch just because it seems like it has been forever since you’ve seen your team play well. Texas A&M should have an opportunity to work out some of the kinks against an overmatched FCS opponent.