SEC schedules assessed by Sporting News

Discussion in 'The Tiger's Den' started by red55, Jul 25, 2003.

  1. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    LSU has the toughest home schedule and the weakest road schedule. And he still has Marshall listed!

    http://www.sportingnews.com/voices/tom_dienhart/20030121a.html

    Pigskin Professor - Tom Dienhart
    OK, class, no more 2002 review like I had promised. Nope. It's time to focus on 2003, so I'm making a change to the syllabus. Starting with this lesson, I'll look at the schedules for each BCS league. I'll kick off with the SEC. No quiz to follow, but you should take notes.

    Toughest non-conference schedule: Florida. Yes, there's a game with I-AA Florida A&M and a visit from San Jose State. But a trip to Miami (Fla.) and a visit from Florida State make up for it.

    Honorable mention to Georgia, which goes to Clemson and Georgia Tech.

    Easiest non-conference schedule: Kentucky. The Wildcats have home games with Louisville, Florida Atlantic and Ohio and a road game at Indiana. But, hey, this is Kentucky, after all. Welcome back to college, Rich Brooks.

    Honorable mention to LSU (Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Louisiana Tech, at Arizona) and Ole Miss (Louisiana-Monroe, Texas Tech, Arkansas State, at Memphis).

    Best non-conference game: USC at Auburn, Aug. 30. Yes, the Trojans lost a lot on offense in quarterback Carson Palmer, running back Justin Fargas and wideout Kareem Kelly, but Pete Carroll has them humming and the defense looks good. Auburn may be a preseason top five team. The season opener will prove a lot for a Tigers team looking to pay back USC after losing in L.A. last season.

    Others to watch: Georgia at Clemson, Aug. 30; Florida at Miami (Fla.), Sept. 6; Oklahoma at Alabama, Sept. 6; Arkansas at Texas, Sept. 13; Tennessee at Miami (Fla.), Nov. 8; Florida State at Florida, Nov. 22.

    Worst non-conference game: I-AA Florida A&M at Florida, Sept. 13. Of course, the Gators may be beaten up after having played at Miami (Fla.) the week before. Or, Florida may be looking ahead to a visit from Tennessee. But neither of those things should keep Florida from whipping the Rattlers by four touchdowns.

    Best chance for an upset: Mississippi State is going to get someone this year. And that someone will be LSU when the Tigers visit Starkville on Sept. 27. The Bulldogs took their lumps last season during a 3-9 campaign, but look for both lines to be improved and for quarterback Kevin Fant to have a big day.

    Toughest home schedule: LSU has three killer SEC guests: Georgia, Florida and Auburn. Plus, Arkansas won't lie down. And Marshall has more backbone than many non-league foes. Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana Tech, always deadly with its passing game, round out the menu.

    Easiest home schedule: Ole Miss. There are just two scary teams: Alabama and LSU. Everyone else -- Louisiana-Monroe, Texas Tech, Arkansas State, Arkansas and South Carolina—could be had by Eli Manning, et. al.

    Toughest road schedule: Yes, Tennessee finishes the season by going to Kentucky. But before that, the Vols travel to Florida, Auburn, Alabama and Miami (Fla.). Good luck, coach Fulmer.

    Easiest road schedule: LSU can pack light for trips to Arizona, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Alabama and Ole Miss. The Tide tilt looks toughest, but the Rebels were the only 2002 bowl team, and they went 6-6 in the regular season in 2002.

    RANKING THE SCHEDULES

    1. Florida
    Home: San Jose State, Florida A&M, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Florida State
    Away: Miami (Fla.), Kentucky, LSU, Arkansas, South Carolina
    Neutral: vs. Georgia at Jacksonville, Fla.

    Comment: At LSU, at Arkansas and vs. Georgia between Oct. 11 and Nov. 1 could break Gators' backs.

    2. Tennessee
    Home: Fresno State, Marshall, South Carolina, Georgia, Duke, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt
    Away: Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Miami (Fla.), Kentucky

    Comment: If the Vols start 4-0 (Fresno State, Marshall, at Florida, South Carolina), it may be a big season. If not, look out.

    3. Auburn
    Home: USC, Ball State, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Louisiana-Monroe, Ole Miss, Alabama
    Away: Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, LSU, Georgia

    Comment: Must be 7-0 as they head to LSU on Oct. 25.

    4. Georgia
    Home: Middle Tennessee State, South Carolina, Alabama, UAB, Auburn, Kentucky
    Away: Clemson, LSU, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech
    Neutral: vs. Florida at Jacksonville, Fla.

    Comment: Only one game away from Athens looks like a sure win: Vandy.

    5. LSU
    Home: Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas
    Away: Arizona, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Alabama, Ole Miss

    Comment: The Bayou Bengals have a good chance to win each road game, but the home slate is rugged.

    6. South Carolina
    Home: Louisiana-Lafayette, Virginia, UAB, Kentucky, LSU, Vanderbilt, Florida, Clemson
    Away: Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Arkansas

    Comment: What, just eight home games? Why not nine or 10? Still, a 2-3 start is possible even with that cushy slate, as the Gamecocks open with Louisiana-Lafayette, Virginia, at Georgia, UAB, at Tennessee.

    7. Arkansas
    Home: Tulsa, North Texas, Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, New Mexico State, Mississippi State
    Away: Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Kentucky, LSU

    Comment: It's vital the Hogs beat Ole Miss, Kentucky, South Carolina, New Mexico State and Mississippi State in succession from Oct. 25 to Nov. 22 before closing at LSU.

    8. Vanderbilt
    Home: Ole Miss, Chattanooga, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Navy, Georgia, Kentucky
    Away: TCU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee

    Comment: The first three games are at home, but not even that will help Vandy.

    9. Alabama
    Home: South Florida, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Northern Illinois, Arkansas, Southern Miss, Tennessee, LSU
    Away: Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn, Hawaii

    Comment: The Tide play their first five games at home. Can you say "fast start"?

    10. Mississippi State
    Home: Oregon, LSU, Vanderbilt, Memphis, Alabama, Ole Miss
    Away: Tulane, Houston, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas

    Comment: Four of first six are at home; four of last six are on the road.

    11. Kentucky
    Home: Louisville, Florida Atlantic, Florida, Ohio, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Tennessee
    Away: Alabama, Indiana, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Georgia

    Comment: There's a good chance to go 5-2 at home and 2-3 on the road.

    12. Ole Miss
    Home: Louisiana-Monroe, Texas Tech, Arkansas State, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, LSU
    Away: Vanderbilt, Memphis, Florida, Auburn, Mississippi State

    Comment: The Rebels open with back-to-back road games, but they're at Vandy and Memphis. They have to make hay when they play four in a row at home -— Arkansas State, Alabama, Arkansas and South Carolina.
     
  2. max

    max Founding Member

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    Well, Mississippi State has improved their recruiting alot during the last two years, but I still think LSU will win like years past. LSU will be better than last year's team.
     
  3. lsulj

    lsulj Freshman

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    if there is one team in the sec that lsu owns, it is msu. what's jackie sherill's record against us? 1-12? this guy needs to do some research.
     
  4. TigerLifer3

    TigerLifer3 Founding Member

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    this is obiviously an old article or the guy is a big ass moron who don't do his research. If he did he would know we aren't playing Marshall anymore, cause they bailed on us.
     

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