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Three coaching changes since last season and at least one other coach facing questions about turning the corner after multiple lackluster seasons mark the identity of the SEC East. The division kicks off the season in its usual spot on a Thursday, but there are other important games for each team dotted throughout the schedule.
A likely favorite over the summer, will Tennessee make its first appearance in the SEC Championship Game since 2007? Will Missouri surprise the league under Barry Odom and return to Atlanta since back-to-back appearances in 2013 and 2014? Can Kirby Smart duplicate Jim McElwain’s first-year success and get the Bulldogs back to Atlanta for the first time since 2012?
All those questions will be decided in these important games for the division.
South Carolina at Vanderbilt, Week 1
South Carolina found a home on the early season Thursday night ESPN game under Steve Spurrier, and the Gamecocks are continuing the practice under Will Muschamp. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is looking to avoid a third straight slow start under Derek Mason. Last year, the Commodores started 1-4 and two years ago 1-5, but last year finished with one more SEC victory than the Gamecocks.
Mason is trying to turn around his 7-17 career record, while Muschamp is out to prove his time at Florida was an aberration. South Carolina without linebacker Skai Moore and Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurman are among the on-the-field questions to be answered.
This isn’t the first meeting between the coaching staffs. In 2014, Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper at Florida beat Mason and Vanderbilt 34-10.
Kentucky at Florida, Week 2
This will be the first chance to see if Kentucky’s offseason coaching changes and the move to Drew Barker at quarterback made a difference. It will be televised in the marquee CBS 3:30 p.m. slot, so it’ll get some attention on an otherwise soft schedule week aside from the “Battle at Bristol” between Tennessee and Virginia Tech in primetime.
Kentucky hasn’t beaten Florida since 1986. After Kentucky couldn’t pull out a win in triple overtime in 2014, some wonder what it might take for the Wildcats to beat the Gators.
Florida at Tennessee, Week 4
There hasn’t been a closer series the past two years, as the Gators have won two one-point decisions. All that’s done is add to the building frustration for Tennessee, which has lost 11 straight in the series. Winning the East will require outside help for the loser of this game.
Tennessee at Georgia, Week 5
If things go as Kirby Smart plans, the Bulldogs should have no more than one loss entering this game, if that. Against North Carolina in Atlanta, and road games at Missouri and Ole Miss could see a loss among them. But the easiest path to winning the East goes through this game. The Volunteers could also potentially have a loss after games against Virginia Tech and Florida.
Georgia has had the upper hand recently, winning six of the past eight games. Joshua Dobbs will test Georgia’s secondary after he torched the Bulldogs last season for a career-high 312 yards passing, 118 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
It doesn’t get any easier for Tennessee the next two weeks, either. The Vols travel to Texas A&M in Week 6 before returning home to face Alabama in Week 7.
Georgia vs. Florida, Week 9
The meeting of former Alabama assistants will be a key storyline, particularly if this game is for first place in the SEC East. Winning this will go a long way toward building goodwill among the Georgia fan case for Kirby Smart after Florida’s won six of the past 10 meetings.
Missouri at South Carolina, Week 10
Missouri’s difficult road schedule with games at LSU, Florida and Tennessee makes this game especially important because the Tigers would be doing well to win one of those three.
This game could help determine bowl eligibility for both, which missed the bowl season last year. The teams have plenty in common between questions at quarterback, new coaches as former defensive coordinators and a disappointing 2015 season following a stretch of better-than-expected results. Drew Lock, in fact, started in this game last season, a 24-10 Missouri win.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
