Ranking the SEC’s Top Opening Weekend Games

In celebration of ESPN’s delivery of the College Football’s week-by-week schedule and team schedules (we’re just trying to get our breath back!), we’re going to rank the SEC’s top games for the opening weekend.

We don’t know who the new Johnny, Jadeveon, or Tre’s going to be. Or the new AJ, Zach or Aaron is going to be. Or Connor, Odell, Jarvis or Jeremy. We don’t know how Derek is going to set out his D at Vanderbilt, or Jeremy at Georgia. You know, if there’s enough Georgia players not in jail. We don’t know.

But this delivery of schedule gives us one thing during the Madness of March: Adrenaline.

So, without further ado:

1) Texas A&M at South Carolina

A new era begins in both camps. Texas A&M will be unveiling the new Johnny Manziel, while South Carolina will begin life without Connor Shaw, or on the other side of the ball, Jadeveon Clowney. One thing for certain: It’s going to be really, really loud in Columbia

2) Georgia at Clemson

Georgia’s new QB might be Hutson Mason, who sounds like a Georgia frat boy, it might not be. Clemson’s starting life without Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins. Georgia needs a secondary, which is mostly spending its time getting arrested. Maybe this could be one of the greatest walk-on games in history.

3) LSU vs Wisconsin (at Reliant Stadium, Houston)

We’re not happy that this isn’t a home-and-home in Camp Randall and Tiger Stadium, but it’s still going to be a battle as to which fans can consume more booze (we’re taking LSU with spirits, Wisconsin with beers). Anyway, LSU will be needing a new QB, two great wide receivers, and will be introducing a pretty good running back kid could Fournette. We can’t wait.

4) Arkansas at Auburn

Last year’s National Championship finalists and current SEC champions play host to the guy who tried to slow down the Gus Malzahn offense. That’s right, folks. Bret Bielema’s not going to be popular in Jordan-Hare on August 30th. Mind you, his running back Alex Collins will be fun to watch. So will watching Bielema sweating it if Arkansas looks like it’s going to have another SEC 0-fer this season.

5) Ole Miss vs Boise State (in Atlanta)

Can’t wait to see Ole Miss back, and this offense should be flying after a season that promised much but really didn’t deliver a whole lot. On the other hand, Boise State’s starting a new era with new head coach Bryan Harsin after the departure of Chris Petersen to Washington. This could be pretty fun.

6) Alabama vs West Virginia (at JerryWorld in Arlington)

 

The “Who’s Alabama’s QB going to be?” intrigue would be far higher if Alabama didn’t have such a strong 1-2 punch at running back in Derrick Henry and TJ Yeldon (or the other way round). It might be intriguing to see how West Virginia’s DC, Tom Bradley, can stop Alabama’s offense. Bradley was a DC at Penn State, and very good one at that.

7) Temple at Vanderbilt

Derek Mason’s first game as coach at Vanderbilt, and this could be pretty interesting: Particularly as he doesn’t have talented receiver Jordan Matthews anymore. We can’t wait to see how Vandy’s defense is…which could be tested against Temple.

8) Idaho at Florida

This will only be interesting if either Florida can find a way to struggle against the Vandals in the first half, or if the Gators come out with something interesting offensively after a couple of years of some of the dullest football known to man, beast, or Gator.

9) Utah State vs Tennessee

Because there aren’t a lot of greater sights than Tennessee’s sea of orange in Neyland Stadium at night-time. And Tennessee fans will be looking forward to 2014….and praying it’s not a long one.

10) Southern Miss vs Mississippi State

More. Cowbell…..And Daz Prescott, the early SEC QB of the year candidate.

11) Tennessee Martin vs Kentucky

Kentucky made some steps in recruiting this year…can Mark Stoops turn it into victories?

12) South Dakota State vs Missouri

The Maty Mauk reign as Missouri quarterback starts here…..with what will be a monster victory over NOT NORTH Dakota State.