The SEC launched its 2020 football schedule on Monday night, which is excellent news in and of itself.
However, not all 14 of the SEC schedules are developed equal. Some groups got a fairly easy road, while some frankly got jobbed.
As a refresher, here is the total schedule in fancy helmet logo kind (via SB Nations Nicholas Carr):.
With the caution that all SEC schedules are inherently tough, here are the 2020 variations, ranked from the majority of- to least-difficult:.
14. Arkansas: From the minute we learnt the SEC was going to a 10-game, conference-only schedule, we had a feeling the Razorbacks might go 0-10. And then we saw the schedule. Arkansas opens with Georgia and closes with Alabama (albeit both in the house). The Hogs likewise have Florida and LSU back-to-back in November. Worst of all, they dont play Vandy.
Ole Miss: Lane Kiffins Rebels play probably three of the leading five groups in the SEC in the seasons very first 5 weeks, hosting Florida in Week 1 and Alabama in Week 3 and traveling to Auburn in Week 5. The season-ender at LSU will be no picnic either.
Texas A&M: After alleviating into the schedule with Vanderbilt in Week 1, the Aggies turn around and travel to Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State the next three weeks. The middle of the schedule is relatively soft, but ending with LSU and Auburn wont be easy.
Missouri: The Tigers have about as rough a first 5 weeks as you can picture, though at least they get Vanderbilt in Week 4. Trouble is, that video game is crammed in between roadway video games with LSU and Florida.
South Carolina: The opener vs. Tennessee is as close to a toss-up as well see in what is forming up as a trash Week 1, but if the Gamecocks lose that one, theyre nearly definitely looking at 1-4. Week 3 vs. Vandy looks like a win, however you cant say the exact same about road games at Florida (Week 2), Auburn (Week 4) and LSU (Week 5).
Vanderbilt: As with Arkansas, we figured the Commodores would be hard-pressed to win a video game even before we saw the complete schedule. The next two video games, however, are their best shots at success, South Carolina in Nashville and at Missouri.
8. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are attempting to set up a new offense without having had spring practice, which is hard enough. They open with safeguarding nationwide champion LSU in Baton Rouge, following by 2 more road games at Arkansas and Kentucky. State likewise dips into Alabama and Georgia, along with arch-rival Ole Miss.
7. Tennessee: The Volunteers have a great chance at being 2-0 with South Carolina and Missouri out of eviction, however then things get hard, with Georgia and Alabama in 2 of the three next weeks. In November, they play Texas A&M and Auburn from the West and end the season in your home against Florida. A minimum of they get Arkansas and Vanderbilt, too.
6. Kentucky: The Wildcats will be a significant underdog at Auburn in Week 1, but should be on pretty even footing with four of their next 5 opponents– Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Missouri (Kentucky hosts Georgia in between the latter 2). Back-to-back at Alabama and Florida in November is rough.
Georgia: The Bulldogs get a veritable layup in Week 1 at Arkansas, however things get severe with Auburn coming to Athens in Week 2. The Jacksonville video game likewise means Georgia has only four real house games in 2020.
Alabama is at home. And the Tigers open with three straight video games (Mississippi State, at Vanderbilt, Missouri) in which they will be double-digit favorites, prior to the journey to Gainesville.
3. Auburn: The problem is that Auburn is one of the couple of teams in the SEC that does not have back-to-back home video games at any point. The bright side is that the Tigers toughest video games– at Georgia in Week 2, vs. LSU in Week 6 and at Alabama in Week 10– are spaced out quite well. The threat is Tennessee in Week 9 and/or Texas A&M in Week 11 end up as “trap” video games.
Florida: The Gators have a Charmin-soft schedule, with 5 true house games plus a neutral (however not really neutral) website game with Georgia. After the Georgia video game, the Gators complete with Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Alabama: Get your conspiracy theories ready– the Crimson Tide is one of just 2 SEC groups that does not play back-to-back road games this season. Alabama also gets a bye week before LSU (as does LSU prior to Alabama).
Week 3 vs. Vandy looks like a win, however you cant state the exact same about road games at Florida (Week 2), Auburn (Week 4) and LSU (Week 5). Ole Miss: Lane Kiffins Rebels play probably 3 of the top five teams in the SEC in the seasons very first five weeks, hosting Florida in Week 1 and Alabama in Week 3 and traveling to Auburn in Week 5. Texas A&M: After relieving into the schedule with Vanderbilt in Week 1, the Aggies turn around and take a trip to Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State the next 3 weeks. The excellent news is that the Tigers toughest games– at Georgia in Week 2, vs. LSU in Week 6 and at Alabama in Week 10– are spaced out pretty well. The threat is Tennessee in Week 9 and/or Texas A&M in Week 11 end up as “trap” video games.
