Last week we looked at the out of conference schedules for the teams in the SEC West, this week it’s the turn of the SEC East which in recent years has been living in the shadow of its rival division. The last SEC East team to win the SEC was Florida in 2008, the Tim Tebow years, as the West has won the last six.
2015 SEC East Out of Conference Schedules
So how strong is the out of conference schedule for the teams in the East who are looking to break into the playoff this year?
Florida Gators: New Mexico State (Home), East Carolina (Home), Florida Atlantic (Home) and Florida State (Home)
The Gators get four home games this year including an intriguing matchup with East Carolina. The bowl game between the sides last season was a feisty affair so it has the potential to be a good game. The Pirates have lost their star Quarterback Shane Carden to the NFL draft which may help the Gators but they will still rank as a good quality of opponent. New Mexico State and Florida Atlantic should be routine victories but the Florida State game gives them an elite opponent.
Georgia Bulldogs: UL Monroe (Home), Southern University (Home), Georgia Southern (Home) and Georgia Tech (Away)
The Bulldogs came close to the SEC East title last year but lacked consistency in their performances over the whole season. They will be looking to avenge their overtime loss in 2014 to rivals Georgia Tech again on rivalry week. Once again the Yellow Jackets look like a quality opponent but aside from that it’s a schedule of games that should see them win three easy non-conference games early in the season but does lack a second quality opponent.
Kentucky Wildcats: LA Lafayette (Home), Eastern Kentucky (Home), Charlotte (Home) and Louisville (Home)
Kentucky is a team that annually has a rivalry match with Louisville which always looks good on their schedule. That’s saved for the end of the season, before that they face three very winnable games at home. Charlotte is joining the FBS in 2015 so will be in Conference USA so Eastern Kentucky is there FCS opponent this season. The Wildcats will be aiming for bowl eligibility before they face their rivals on the final game of the regular season.
Missouri Tigers: SE Missouri State (Home), Arkansas State (Away), Connecticut (Home) and BYU (Neutral)
Just recently the SEC agreed that independent team BYU would count along with Notre Dame as a Power 5 quality opponent under their new rules that apply from 2016. The Tigers game against BYU is taking place in Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs from the NFL. The worry for Missouri is that their schedule is dependent on BYU having a good season as Arkansas State, Connecticut and SE Missouri State aren’t adding any credibility. If BYU struggle to just six wins through a brutal schedule for example, Missouri could struggle to break into the playoff if they are being compared to a team with a stronger strength of schedule.
South Carolina Gamecocks: North Carolina (Neutral), UCF (Home), Citadel (Home) and Clemson (Home)
The Gamecocks arguably have the hardest non-conference schedule in the SEC East, if not the whole country. Two power 5 conference teams including Clemson who will be ranked in the top 25 pre-season. Plus UCF who have been turned into AAC title contenders in recent years.
If the Gamecocks were to complete a miraculous turnaround from a 6-7 season last year then they’d definitely have the strength of schedule required for the college football playoff committee. Although if they fail to become bowl eligible then this tough schedule could come back to haunt them.
Tennessee Volunteers: Bowling Green (Home), Oklahoma (Home), West Carolina (Home) and North Texas (Home).
The Volunteers once again have a marquee matchup on their early season schedule with the Oklahoma Sooners coming to town. They lost heavily in Norman last year but will be hoping to improve upon that this year with an improved roster and a win over a college football powerhouse like Oklahoma would be hugely impressive. Elsewhere, Tennessee shouldn’t have too many problems facing the likes of Bowling Green from the MAC and North Texas from Conference USA.
Vanderbilt Commodores: Western Kentucky (Home), Austin Peay (Home), Middle Tennessee (Away) and Houston (Away).
The way Vanderbilt’s season went in 2014 it looks like the Commodores wins are going to have to come out of conference. The games against Western Kentucky and Houston will be tough for the Commodores given their issues currently. Last year they barely escaped against UMass and Charleston Southern so it’s probably unfair to criticize them for not having a Power 5 Conference opponent on their schedule.
GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 15: Treon Harris #3 of the Florida Gators attempts a pass during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
