A couple of general notes: all but two SEC schools play seven home games (the outliers are TAMU, with six, and Vanderbilt, which plays eight) and the art of scheduling truly wretched non-conference games seems to be reaching new heights, as you will see.
All schedules are via fbschedules.com.
ALABAMA
The combined 2013 record of Alabama’s non-conference opponents is 13-35. The cross-division games feature two programs that weren’t bowl eligible this season. There’s an open date before the road test at LSU. Nick Saban has time for this shit. Favorability grade: A.
ARKANSAS
The non-conference slate isn’t too embarrassing, with one game on the road and an above-average MAC squad. Fairly tough draw out of the East isn’t optimal, but at least the Hogs managed to schedule open dates before their games with LSU and Alabama. Not that it’s likely to do them much good. Favorability grade: C.
AUBURN
Fess up – you thought for sure the Tigers had eight home games this year, right? Well, they don’t, and they drew two of the better East teams to boot. The KSU game is intriguing, but the non-conference schedule doesn’t look too daunting. Starting in October, they play six straight conference games with a bye week tossed in before seeing Samford and then hitting the Iron Bowl. Favorability grade: B.
FLORIDA
The Gators drew the short straw on the cross-division games next season. The good thing is that the first three games of the season are soft and should let them build a little momentum before traveling to Tuscaloosa. The bad thing is that trip starts a run of seven straight conference games. And the season ends with a visit to Tallahassee. At least there is the traditional bye week before the Cocktail Party. Favorability grade: D+.
GEORGIA
Georgia is the only SEC team playing two BCS conference schools on its non-conference schedule. Even with that and the game in Jacksonville, though, there are still seven home games on the schedule, so McGarity’s work is done in that department for next season. And there’s no Alabama, LSU or TAMU to worry about. Favorability grade: B-.
KENTUCKY
The non-conference slate is weak, but how much difference will that make? Favorability grade: C.
LSU
Hard to see what Les will complain about next year. Even the open dates, before Alabama and Texas A&M, are well-placed. Slightly lower grade than Alabama due to tougher non-conference opponent in Wisconsin. Favorability grade: A-.
MISSOURI
The Tigers were able to use their early schedule to build a lot of momentum for their success this season, and they look to follow a similar path in 2014, as their first four games feature non-conference foes. Toledo on the road is a little weird, and they need to keep an eye out for UCF, but overall, things look manageable. The two open dates break up the eight-game conference run. Favorability grade: B.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
South Alabama on the road? Ho-kay. Other than that, things lay out about as well as the Bulldogs could hope. Which means they’re still gonna have to beat some teams from the West to get anywhere. Favorability grade: A.
OLE MISS
The story here isn’t the matchups, which are pretty good, but the way the schedule lays out. The open dates are before Memphis and Arkansas. Mississippi has a five-game run starting in October that features Alabama, TAMU, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. Favorability grade: B-.
SOUTH CAROLINA
I guess the OBC will be doing a little grousing about the cross-division games next year. The ‘Cocks open with Texas A&M, so it’s hard to see how much preseason attention Spurrier can devote to preparation for the meeting with Georgia. East Carolina was a double-digit winner in 2013, so he can’t exactly ignore that game, either. Favorability grade: C-.
TENNESSEE
At least the Vols scheduled themselves an open date between Oklahoma and Georgia. Other than that, they aren’t getting many favors. Even November looks tougher than usual, with South Carolina and Missouri waiting. Favorability grade: C-.
TEXAS A&M
The neutral site game is against Arkansas. The non-conference schedule, even with a trip to SMU, is sorry. They have an open date before meeting LSU. Favorability grade: B.
VANDERBILT
Hands down, the most embarrassing schedule in the conference. Well done, ‘Dores. Favorability grade: A+.
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