SEC Football: Power Ranking the 10 Best Matchups of the 2012 Season

The 2012 SEC football schedule is loaded with big games and exciting matchups.

As the 2011 season rolls behind us, we can now look ahead to what next season brings.

With big out-of-conference clashes, classic in-conference rivalries and the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M to the SEC, the 2012 Southeastern Conference schedule is stocked with big games.

The following slideshow power ranks the the 10 biggest matchups in the SEC for next season.

10. Missouri at Texas A&M

The Game: Missouri at Texas A&M (Nov. 24, 2012)

All-Time Series: Texas A&M leads 7-5

Last Game:  Missouri 38 Texas A&M 31 (2011)

The Matchup: This has been a intense and closely contested series, and it will only get more intense as the two switch over as the newbies in the Southeastern Conference. 

Both programs will want to win the battle of the first-year teams in the SEC.

It will be the start of a rivalry and a regional recruiting battle.

Texas A&M will most likely be favored and have the game at home, but the Tigers got the best of the Aggies last season and have the talent to do it again in 2012.

9. Florida at Texas A&M

The Game: Florida at Texas A&M (Sept. 8, 2012)

All-Time Series: Series tied 1-1

Last Game: Texas A&M 37 Florida 14 (1977)

The Matchup: This will be the first home game for Texas A&M as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They get a big-name SEC program to visit Kyle Field for the first time as a conference member.

The Aggie faithful will be amped up for this game and their official leap into SEC mania.

Florida coach Will Muschamp was a coach in waiting at Texas before taking over at Florida and is well aware of the home-field advantage that Texas A&M has with their "12th Man" crowd. Muschamp and the Gators need this win, and it will be a fight.

Can Florida get Texas A&M off to a rough start? Or will Texas A&M kick off their SEC era with a big victory?

8. Auburn at Alabama

The Game: Auburn at Alabama (Nov. 24, 2011)

All-Time Series: Alabama leads 41-34-1

Last Game:  Alabama 42 Auburn 14 (2011)

The Matchup: The last three seasons, the winner of the national championship has come from the Iron Bowl.

From the Auburn versus Alabama series, you have also seen three Heisman finalists and two Heisman winners over the past three years.

Auburn is 7-1 all time in Tuscaloosa and beat Alabama with a dramatic second-half comeback the last time this game was in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers should be improved next season and would love to get another rivalry road win in 2012.

Alabama must reload after losing so much talent to the NFL this offseason, but should be the favorite in this home matchup.

This is one you don't want to miss.

7. Arkansas at South Carolina

The Game: Arkansas at South Carolina (Nov. 10, 2012)

All-Time Series: Arkansas leads 13-7

Last Game: Arkansas 44 South Carolina 28 (2011)

The Matchup: These two programs were added to the SEC the last time the conference did an expansion and have been battling to prove which was the best addition.

Along the way, each program has built their teams to be contenders in their respective divisions.

In 2012, this game could be huge in determining the pecking order at the top of the conference, as they both return enough talent to challenge for titles.

Arkansas has had the upper hand in this series, but this game is in Columbia and should be a close and hard-fought contest.

6. Texas A&M vs. Arkansas

The Game: Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 29, 2012)

All-Time Series: Arkansas leads 41-24-3

Last Game: Arkansas 42 Texas A&M 38 (2011)

The Matchup: These teams have played each of the last three years, and Arkansas has won each of those games.

The games the past two years have been exciting matchups that came down to the wire. This regional battle has intensity.

Now Texas A&M has joined the SEC, and this becomes an even more pivotal game for both teams.

5. Alabama at Arkansas

The Game: Alabama at Arkansas (Sept. 15, 2012)

All-Time Series: Alabama leads 15-7

Last Game: Alabama 38 Arkansas 14 (2011)

The Matchup: Early in the season, just Week 3, we get a big-time matchup of SEC West contenders.

Alabama is reloading a bit more than Arkansas, but both teams have holes to fill.

Can Arkansas rebound from the beating they have received from Alabama the past two seasons? Its a home game for the Razorbacks, so that should help.

Alabama can prove it is at the top to stay, or they could show that 2012 will be a rebuilding year.

4. Alabama vs Michigan

The Game: Alabama vs. Michigan (Arlington, Sept. 1, 2012)

All-Time Series: Michigan leads 2-1

Last Game: Michigan 35 Alabama 34 (2000, Orange Bowl)

The Matchup: This is the national marquee game for the opening weekend of college football in 2012.

In Jerry Jones' house in Arlington, Tex., the Tide and Wolverines will battle for a huge Week 1 win.

Both teams will be ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation this preseason, and this game will receive tons of hype.

How quickly can Alabama reload after losing so many players to the NFL this offseason?

After beating Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl just weeks ago, can Michigan keep the upswing going and upset the defending national champion Crimson Tide?

3. Georgia at South Carolina

The Game: Georgia at South Carolina (Oct. 6, 2012)

All-Time Series: Georgia leads 43-16-2

Last Game: South Carolina 45 Georgia 42 (2011)

The Matchup: This game could be pivotal in deciding the 2012 SEC Eastern Division champion. The winner will have a leg up on the loser in the race to get to the conference title game in Atlanta.

Both teams return significant talent next season and will both most likely be ranked in the top 15 in the nation in the preseason.

This may be the toughest game on Georgia's schedule and should be one of the very best matchups of the SEC season.

2. LSU at Arkansas

The Game: LSU at Arkansas (Nov. 23, 2012)

All-Time Series: LSU leads 34-20-2

Last Game:  LSU 41 Arkansas 17 (2011)

The Matchup: LSU went undefeated in the regular season in 2011, and Arkansas has won 10 or more games the past two seasons.

Both teams bring back significant talent and could be primed to battle for the SEC Western Division title. It should be a big matchup of two thriving programs.

While LSU will be the better team, it will be very interesting in late November for the Tigers to have to travel to Arkansas in a game that could be pivotal in the SEC race.

The big difference from the lopsided game this past season could be new Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Haynes, who showed in the Razorbacks' bowl win that he can coach up the D.

1. Alabama at LSU

The Game: Alabama at LSU (Nov. 3, 2011)

All-Time Series: Alabama leads 46-24-5

Last Game: Alabama 21 LSU 0 (2011 BCS National Championship Game)

The Matchup: With these two teams splitting the 2011 games, this ends up being somewhat of a tie breaker. The season and players will be different and thus not a true tie breaker, but expect the media and fans to bring it up often.

This one will be intense and should have Tiger Stadium rocking in early November.

LSU returns more talent than Alabama in 2012 and should be favored at home. The question all season, and in this game, will be just how well Alabama can reload after losing so much talent to the NFL this offseason.