2012 SEC Football Schedule: Matchups Guaranteed to Shape BCS Picture

That’s right college football fans, the SEC has announced their 2012 conference schedule and there are plenty of games that just can’t be missed.

The SEC is the home of some of the biggest powerhouses in college football like LSU and Alabama, but they also are the home of some serious duds.

With all of this talent in one conference, the outlook of the BCS championship picture will depend on how the SEC schedule plays out.

You will notice teams like Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are not on the list. That’s because they will be nowhere near serious BCS consideration this season.

All of the following are sure to be be barn-burners, so get the preparation in gear for a wild SEC year!

Check back for more on the NCAA Football as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s College Football Page to get your fill of College Football.

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Georgia at Missouri—September 8

While this game will be important to Georgia’s BCS hopes and dreams for 2012, this is the first conference game for the newest team on the SEC block, the Missouri Tigers.

Mizzou makes the jump from the Big 12 in hopes of finding football dominance and a much better paycheck of course. Their first game against a SEC foe will be the true test.

If the Tigers get blown out, it will be the end of their dream maiden voyage in the SEC. It would be a good start for the Bulldogs, though.

Alabama at Arkansas—September 15

Depending on what happens in the BCS National Championship game, this meeting between the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks could be huge.

It will already be an event of epic proportions, but if Alabama wins the National title and loses in Arkansas, the Razorbacks would become BCS favorites.

The SEC is always rich with storylines, but with two teams playing in the national title game, matchups like Alabama vs. Arkansas are something fans dream about.

LSU at Auburn—September 22

The LSU Tigers will begin their 2012 SEC conference schedule with a tough stretch that would send most programs in the country to their knees. LSU has a chance to win all three.

Starting in Auburn, LSU looks to return to dominance by sending the overrated Auburn Tigers a message filled with dominance.

Auburn will be a stepping stone all season, but they will manage to steal a top 25 spot at the end of the year. LSU’s BCS dreams stay alive and Auburn continues to be terrible.

Georgia at South Carolina—October 6

The Georgia Bulldogs started 2011 with two losses, but they finished the season as one of the hottest in the whole nation before losing against LSU in the SEC Championship.

With No. 16 Georgia traveling to the No. 9 South Carolina Gamecocks for a serious war, the Bulldogs have to learn from last year’s loss. The Gamecocks beat Georgia 45-42.

If this game is anything like last season’s matchup, SEC and college fans all over the country will be watching what could be the game of the year.

LSU at Florida—October 6

I almost put Florida on here out of memory of what the Gators program used to be, but this could be a trap game for LSU if they don’t play it smart.

While Gator nation won’t want to hear this, there team last season will be better than this season’s version which means even less success. If that is even possible for Florida.

LSU will walk into the Swamp and rout the Gators. This game will be a highlight game for LSU and the downfall of a season for Florida.

South Carolina at LSU—October 13

This could be the biggest game of the season for both teams, but this is South Carolina’s ticket to a BCS Championship game.

If the Gamecocks can make it to this game with no losses or at most one and then beat LSU, running the remainder of the schedule would mean a BCS Championship berth for sure.

Imagine the vindication for Steve Spurrier and South Carolina if they could shock LSU in the Bayou.

Alabama at LSU—November 3

A regular season rematch of the 2012 BCS National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers. SEC, you sly dog.

The reason we love SEC football so much is because they give the fans what they want. Why wouldn’t we want another meeting between two of the greatest programs in the United States?

While I would say this game puts the winner in the BCS National Championship game, there is recent evidence that both the winner and the loser could make it. What a shocker!

Texas A&M at Alabama—November 10

After a heartbreaking season in 2011, the Texas A&M Aggies are going to have to prove they can play with the big boys. While next season will be better, it won’t be perfect.

With Texas A&M starting the season with the ability to come into Alabama on a hot streak, the Crimson Tide must brace for a game that could be a trap game.

If Texas A&M can travel to Alabama to beat a team that just played LSU in a rematch of the BCS National championship a week before, A&M would be looking at a nice BCS berth.

Auburn at Alabama and LSU at Arkansas—November 24

The final weekend of regular season SEC conference play makes all other conferences in the USA look like pee-wee squads.

While other groups are putting the final touches on their seasons, the SEC is pitting its top two teams against some of the best talent in the conference. While Alabama will destroy Auburn, LSU will have their work cut out for them against Arkansas.

This could very well decide which team plays for a BCS National title next season, so a big thank you to the SEC for making the Thanksgiving holiday exciting!