| 12 February 2011
We take a first, quick look at the 2011 SEC football schedules. Are the schedules once again filled with cream puffs or the creme' de la creme?Are there any teams that have over loaded their schedules one direction or the other?
Taking a fast glance, what was the Athletic Director at North Texas thinking? Was he thinking with the cash till in mind?
Over all, we have seen better ... much better ... schedules. As a fan of the SEC, be prepared for the fallout that the 2011 season brings to the league.
Yes, the cat-calls will be brutal.
Alabama Crimson Tide: The Junction Boys take on Kent State in week one ... yeah ... Kent State. Expect this game to definitely be on regional pay-per-view at best ... was Sister's of the Poor busy on September 3rd? Seriusly, the cup cake in week one allows the team prepare for a Penn State team that does anticipate to be better than last year's version.
Kent State - Sept 3rd
@Penn State - Sept 10th
North Texas - Sept 17th
Arkansas - Sept 24th
@Florida - Oct 1st
Vanderbilt - Oct 8th
@Ole Miss - Oct 15th
Tennessee - Oct 22nd
Open Date - Oct 29th
LSU - Nov 5th
@Miss State - Nov 12th
Ga Southern - Nov 19th
@ Auburn - Nov 26th
The first thing that jumps out at me while scanning this schedule is the fact that the Tide must play eight consecutive games before reaching their open date ... regardless of the two early season cup cakes the team faces, eight games is eight games.
The away game versus the Florida Gators will prove to be a key game for both teams.
The Arkansas and @Ole Miss could prove to be trap games for the Tide.
At least there are only two bona fide B$ games on this schedule. Initial thoughts? 9-3-ish.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Arkansas will be rebuilding and they need a season of cake ... the first part of the season is full of money games for the Hawgs.
Mo State - Sept 3rd
North Mexico - Sept 10th
Troy - Sept 17th
@ Bama - Sept 24th
Texas A&M - Oct 1st
Auburn - Oct 8th
Open Date - Oct 15th
@Ole Miss - Oct 22nd
@Vandy - Oct 29th
South Carolina - Nov 5th
Tennessee - Nov 12th
Miss State - Nov 19th
@LSU - Nov 26th
How does Arkansas respond in the post-Ryan Mallet era? It all depends on the offensive line and the running game.
Two utter cream puff games start the season ... Troy might be tougher than expected, but it is at home.
I believe we all remember what happened the last time Arkansas visited Bama ... Texas A&M at home is for conference pride more than a rivalry from when before the players were born.
Other than the season ending finale at LSU, the Hawgs have a favorable schedule, catching the toughest games at home.
Intial thoughts? Too early to tell, but 8-4-ish is not outside of the realm.
Auburn Tigers: No Fairley on defense ... no Newton on offense ... welcome to the year after ...
Utah State - Sept 3rd
Miss State - Sept 10th
@Clemson - Sept 17th
Florida Atlantic - Sept 24th
@South Carolina - Oct 1st
@Arkansas - Oct 8th
Florida - Oct 15th
@LSU - Oct 22nd
Ole Miss - Oct 29th
Samford - Nov 5th
@Georgia - Nov 12th
Open Date - Nov 19th
Bama - Nov 26th
Good Lord ... Two early season money games sandwiched between two good teams. Just take a look at the "@'s" ... this schedule could be murder for the defending BCS Champs ... Initial thoughts - man ... tough call ... definitely rebuilding, but how bad?
LSU Tigers: At least the Tigers had enough sense to catch Oregon at home ... Even with the Ducks rebuilding to a certain extent, they are well coached. Plus, an early season visit to West Virginia could show Tiger Nation what this team is made of.
Oregon - Sept 3rd
NW State - Sept 10th
@Miss State - Sept 17th
@ West Virginia - Sept 24th
Kentucky - Oct 1st
Florida - Oct 8th
@Tennessee - Oct 15th
Auburn - Oct 22nd
Open Date - Oct 29th
@Bama - Nov 5th
Southern Miss - Nov 12th
@Ole Miss - Nov 19th
Arkansas - Nov 26th
Over all, this schedule is tough. The open date hits late enough in the season to allow the team to heal ... and prepare for the annual war with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: Dan Mullen showed the conference, and the nation, that the Bulldogs are not playing around. Does Mullen top last season's success?
@Memphis - Sept 3rd
@Auburn - Sept 10th
LSU - Sept 17th
La Tech - Sept 24th
@Georgia - Oct 1st
@UAB - Oct 8th
South Carolina - Oct 15th
Open Date - Oct 22nd
@Kentucky - Oct 29th
UT Martin - Nov 5th
Bama - Nov 12th
@Arkansas - Nov 19th
Ole Miss - Nov 26th
Mullen faces two road trips to start the season, only to catch LSU at home in the third. The home and away schedule are both fairly balanced and the open date falls exactly where this team will need it ... it is kind of embarrassing for an SEC school to have a road trip to UAB though.
Ole Miss: Does Ole Miss once again exhibit the bend-and-then-break defense of a year ago? Offensively, this team should be fine. More importantly, I wonder what the over/under will be on the number of times the television commentators will call them the Ole Miss Rebels this season?
BYU - Sept 3rd
Southern Illinois - Sept 10th
@Vandy - Sept 17th
Georgia - Sept 24th
@Fresno State - Oct 1st
Open Date - Oct 8th
Bama - Oct 15th
Arkansas - Oct 22nd
@Auburn - Oct 29th
@Kentucky - Nov 5th
La Tech - Nov 12th
LSU - Nov 19th
@Miss State - Nov 26th
Over all, of the six teams in the Western Division, there are 14 bona fide out of conference cup cakes on the schedules ... or right at 20% ... expect the jeers and sneers once the rest of the country figures out there are more than two ...
Can a BCS Champion come from this side of the conference? Yes, it could happen ... but with all of the late-late season open dates, it will be very tough ... and too early to call.
