Ranking the SEC’s non-conference match-ups

 

 

Now the Spring Games are finished, it’s time to think about the schedules. We don’t know right now who is in the conference schedule, so we rank the games in order of what we’re excited about.

I’m usually less-than-excited about games played on a neutral field, but this year, I’ll make an exception….

THE FANTASTIC 

Georgia vs Clemson (September 4): This is going to be a monster. Both teams are expected to compete/ get into the play-off, and we can’t wait to see some of the best players in the country. Drool.

Auburn at Penn State (September 18): Auburn play a Big Ten team in regular season play for the first time since 1931 (they played a 7-7 against Wisconsin). This year, there’s going to be a White Out, and feature two of the most unpredictable quarterbacks in football in Bo Nix and Shaun Clifford.

THE POTENTIALLY CRAZY

Ole Miss vs Liberty (Nov 6): Both high-octane offenses, and the return of Hugh Freeze against Ole Miss. This will be a fun game. We don’t think College Gameday will go there, but it damned well should do.

Florida vs Florida State (Nov 27): By the end of this season, we will know what both sides will look like. Florida State recruited well in 2021, and they’ve got some talent. Both sides hate each other, which helps.

LSU at UCLA (September 4): If LSU loses this one, the knives will be out for Ed Orgeron. But personally, we can’t wait to see WR Keyshon Boutte. Also, watch out for Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the UCLA QB. He’s incredibly fun to watch.

Ole Miss vs Louisville (September 6): Ole Miss is always fun, and we’ll see if Scott Satterfield has any answers. It will be interesting to see what the Rebels’ wide receiving help looks like now Elijah Moore’s gone, early on in the season.

THE OLD EVIL SWC RIVALRY GAME

Texas at Arkansas (September 11): Arkansas fans despise Texas A&M. We know that because they are fuming every time they lose to the Aggies. But in the life of the Southwest Conference, which Arkansas belonged to from 1915-1991, Texas and Arkansas played each other almost every year. They’ve also played each other for 5 years since the Razorbacks’ move to the SEC. Here’s why it’s interesting: Texas will still be trying to work out who it is offensively and facing Barry Odom’s defense will be its biggest test yet. Fayetteville is not going to be an easy place to try and bring home victory.

THE JERRY JONES BOWL

Miami vs Alabama (September 4): It will be interesting to see what Alabama’s new offense looks like with Bryce Young quarterbacking. We don’t know how healthy Miami’s brilliant QB D’Eriq King will be, though. It’s going to be played in JerryWorld. So……apologies. If D’Eriq King is back, this moves up the list.

THE BORING NFL SITE BOWL WHICH ISN’T JERRYWORLD

Texas A&M vs Colorado (September 11): This game was changed to a boring NFL stadium from beautiful Boulder. Still, the air will be fine, and we get to see how Kellen Mond’s replacement is faring.

THE INTRIGUE GAMES

Pittsburgh at Tennessee (September 11): Both sides will have found a bit of their identity, and if Tennessee’s off to a hot start, Neyland Stadium will be rammed to the rafters. Athlon Sports commented that Tennessee’s legendary head coach Johnny Majors also coached Pitt, if you’re interested.

THE TRAP GAME

Missouri at Boston College (September 25): Boston College is an interesting place to play, because at the best of times, Boston College doesn’t how know how it’s going to play. Missouri will have some identity – it hopes – but it’s going to be missing a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. In the words of Star Wars: “It’s a trap! It’s a trap! It’s a trap!”

Mississippi State at Memphis (September 18): Just pick the over.

THE YEARLY RIVALRY GAME THAT’S ACTUALLY PRETTY FUN

Kentucky at Louisville (November 27th): The Governor’s Cup is generally a fun time. In the all-time series it’s pretty split, with Kentucky having won 17 and Louisville 15, although the last two games Kentucky has blown Louisville out of the water (the year before Louisville did the same to Kentucky).

‘THE RIVALRY GAME THAT’S GOTTEN VERY ONE-SIDED’

Georgia at Georgia Tech (November 27)

Georgia has hammered Georgia Tech over the last three years 38-7, 45-21 and 52-7. There’s no evidence that the beatings will stop in 2021. Especially with Georgia gunning for a play-off place and Georgia Tech probably in the usual obscurity. However, the rivalry name beats the lot: “Clean, Ole-Fashioned Hate’. Oh, and Georgia fans laugh at Georgia Tech for being nerds, but Georgia Tech grads make $65,800 on average when leaving, while Georgia grads make around $48,800. Georgia’s more fun times, though.

South Carolina at Clemson (November 27)

Clemson has annihilated South Carolina over 5 of the last 6 games (the other won it won 37-32). There is the blind hope that South Carolina at that time will have figured things out offensively, but then again, Clemson will be going to impress the voters, and will want to batter their SEC rival. Again.

THE RICH KIDS GONNA MAKE MONEY GAME

Vanderbilt vs Stanford (September 12)

This isn’t necessarily about the players going to make money after football, but the student bodies. Both student bodies are rich kids with money to spend. One will go and work for Goldman, the other side will work for Google. Oh, and the football will be…fine. They’ve never played each other, by the way.

THE ‘FIRST GAME COACH’ GAME

East Tennessee St at Vanderbilt (Sept 4): Clark Lea’s first game at Vanderbilt.

Bowling Green at Tennessee (Sept 4): Josh Heupel’s first game at Tennessee.

Akron at Auburn (Sept 4): Brian Harsin’s first game at Auburn, featuring a new offense that will make Bo Nix a dark horse for the Heisman.

Eastern Illinois at South Carolina (Sept 4): Shane Beamer’s first game at South Carolina.

THE REST THAT MIGHT BE KINDA GOOD

Florida vs South Florida (September 11): If you love jorts.

UAB at Georgia (September 11): Because everyone should love UAB head coach Bill Clark.

Georgia Southern at Arkansas (September 18): The 8-5 Eagles roll into Arkansas. We don’t anticipate a slip-up, but Arkansas has been known to screw up.

Troy at South Carolina (October 2): Well, Troy as beaten a SEC team on the road in the past….

The rest of the games utterly suck ass.