2012 SEC Schedule: Texas A&M Has Shot for Success with New Layout

The new 2012 SEC schedule was released earlier this morning, drawing the attention of sportswriters, analysts and fans alike. For new member Texas A&M, everything turned out much better than expected.

First, let's take a look at it ourselves:

"

Sept. 8: vs. FLORIDA

Sept. 29: vs. Arkansas (Location Undecided)

Oct. 6: at Ole Miss

Oct. 20: vs. LSU

Oct. 27: at Auburn

Nov. 3: at Mississippi State

Nov. 10: at Alabama

Nov. 24: vs. MISSOURI

"

The Aggies will have four home and four away games in what turned out to be an eight-game conference schedule. Arkansas will be either at Kyle Field or will remain at Dallas depending on how the dealings work out between the two universities, the conference and Jerry Jones.

Taking a first glance at the new lineup for A&M, you may notice that things turned out much better than some of us thought they would. The Aggies will be taking on Arkansas, LSU and Alabama non-consecutively, giving Sumlin time to prepare for the top three squads in the conference.

Additionally, Texas A&M will be playing LSU at home and Alabama away. This will help for the future as the Aggies will never have to play both squads away in a single season. Furthermore, the SEC placed Ole Miss, the division's last place member, the week before LSU, the division's first-place member. This gives Sumlin and company an "easy" game before taking on the possible national champions.

The same is true for Alabama. A&M may playing the Tide away, but Mississippi State occupies the week before. The Bulldogs are no pushover, but they did place fifth in the division and will provide a much weaker opponent before taking on one of the best in the nation at Tuscaloosa.

Missouri, A&M's Big 12 moving buddy, will once again play the Aggies at home. This makes it three years in a row for the Tigers. It will also be Thanksgiving weekend during Rivalry Week. Both teams leave behind historic matchups against Texas and Kansas that will be missed, but the excitement of their first season in the SEC easily makes up for the depression that may come from losing close friends and opponents.

Texas A&M is looking solid for next season as they go full-steam into the SEC. New coach Kevin Sumlin has to be ecstatic about the conference schedule and will start preparations as soon as humanly possible.

The inaugural SEC season is almost upon the Aggies and as they look into the teeth of the beast, it seems they aren't as sharp as they could have been.