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Thursday, April 3, 2008
Breaking down schedules in the SEC West
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let’s break down the schedules in the SEC West. This was tougher than the East because so many of the schedules were similar. Let me know what you think.
SEC WEST
1. ALABAMA
Non-conference: Clemson (Georgia Dome), Tulane, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State.
SEC Home: Kentucky, Ole Miss, Miss. State, Auburn.
SEC Road: Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU.
SEC East: Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee
DNP: Florida, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
Comment: Bama has the toughest SEC road schedule in the division and plays Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee in the East. Add a non-conference game with Clemson (at the Georgia Dome), the ACC favorite, and you’ve got a pretty tough schedule.
2. LSU
Non-conference: Appalachian State, Troy, North Texas, Tulane
SEC Home: Miss. State, Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss
SEC Road: Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas
SEC East: Georgia, Florida, South Carolina
DNP: Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Comment: The Tigers also play a very tough SEC road schedule and play Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina from the East. Alabama gets the edge for playing a BCS non-conference game and for having to play LSU on the road, where coach Nick Saban will get a “warm” reception.
3. AUBURN
Non-conference: La. Monroe, Southern Miss, at West Virginia, Tennessee-Martin
SEC Home: LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia
SEC Road: Miss. State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Alabama
SEC East: Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
DNP: Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina
Comment: The non-conference schedule includes a trip to West Virginia, where there is a new coaching staff, but the SEC home schedule of LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia is the toughest in the division. The SEC road schedule is not as strong as LSU’s.
4. OLE MISS
Non-conference: Memphis, at Wake Forest, Samford, La. Monroe
SEC Home: Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Auburn, Miss. State
SEC Road: Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, LSU
SEC East: Florida, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
DNP: Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee
Comment: Wake Forest will not be an easy trip and the SEC road schedule will be very difficult. That gives the Rebels a slight edge over Arkansas.
5. ARKANSAS
Non-conference: Western Illinois, La. Monroe, at Texas, Tulsa
SEC Home: Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, LSU (Little Rock)
SEC Road: Auburn, Kentucky, South Carolina, Miss. State
SEC East: Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina
DNP: Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Comment: The Hogs go to Texas, which is the toughest non-conference road game in the division. But they don’t have to play Tennessee or Georgia from the East and the SEC road schedule is a little easier than that of Ole Miss.
6. MISS. STATE
Non-conference: at La. Tech, SE Louisiana, at Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee
SEC Home: Auburn, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Arkansas.
SEC Road: LSU, Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss
SEC East: Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
DNP: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
Comment: Another tough SEC road schedule with trips to LSU, Tennessee, and Alabama plus the rivalry game at Ole Miss. But the Bulldogs miss both Georgia and Florida in the SEC East. Mississippi State is the only team in the division playing two non-conference road games.
