SEC Football: 10 Non-Conference Games Football's Best Conference Could Lose

The Southeastern Conference heads into the 2012 football season looking to push for the seventh straight national title by the conference. Standing in the way of another title are 10 premier non-conference games that the SEC teams could lose this fall. 

With the new college football playoffs talk taking over the offseason, premier non-conference games may become a thing of the past. If teams appear to keep sure wins on the schedule now, wait until the playoffs begin. Schedule safe and win will be the focus. 

The non-conference schedule for the SEC this season has a lot of premier matchups scheduled in the first few weekends, with the remainder landing in the final weeks of the season. 

Here is a look at the 10 non-conference games that the SEC could lose in 2012. 

Alabama vs. Michigan 9.1.12

The Alabama vs. Michigan game is this year’s flagship kickoff game. The Crimson Tide and Wolverines are looking for championships this season. Their journeys begin in game one with both teams expected to start the season in the Top 10.

Both Michigan and Alabama are returning strong signal callers on offense in Denard Robinson and A.J. McCarron and built success in 2011 off of tough defense. Expect much of the same in Dallas when this game kicks off. 

The Wolverines are returning the majority of the 2011 defense, but holes along the defensive line will be a concern heading into the first game against the downhill rushing attack employed by Alabama. Conversely, the Tide will have gaps to fill in the secondary and at linebacker, making this a very intriguing matchup to start the season.  

Alabama will be the early favorite, but with the experience returning in Ann Arbor the Wolverines will give the Tide all they want and then some. Expect a Tide victory, but don’t be surprised if the Wolverines prevail. 

Auburn vs. Clemson 9.1.12

The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic is set to host the Auburn and Clemson in the Georgia Dome this fall. Both sets of Tigers are looking to jump-start a strong season, with Clemson being the early favorite in the game. 

This may be the closest contest of the opening weekend for the conference. 

Auburn was embarrassed by Clemson a year ago and is looking to start the season with a big win in Atlanta to return the favor. Clemson is the reigning ACC champion, so retribution won’t come easily.

Clemson has the advantage of returning a leading signal caller in Tajh Boyd and a host of proven offensive playmakers. Auburn has talent at every position, but a lot of questions need to be answered for Auburn in this first game. 

This is a tight game on paper, with the edge of experience landing in Clemson’s favor. Don’t count out the Auburn Tigers though—a big 2012 appears to be on the horizon. 

Kentucky vs. Louisville 9.1.12

Let’s face it, the unfortunate news is that this looks to be the first loss for the SEC of the season. The Wildcats are heading into the season with as much hope as any team, but it is not looking like the Kentucky team will be very dangerous this season. 

Louisville will look to stud signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater to lead the way against the Wildcats in this game. Bridgewater is a rising sophomore that came on strong for Louisville last season.

Kentucky has a lot of issues heading into the season and starting a game against a talented Louisville team is not the best option for the Wildcats. There are a number of gaps in the secondary for Kentucky and Louisville will exploit those holes. 

This game will not be a good showing for the SEC. 

Tennessee vs. NC State 9.1.12

The Tennessee Volunteers are struggling to gain an identity under Derek Dooley as Dooley enters his third season with the Volunteers. This would be a great start to season three and would provide a much needed win for the Vols to start the 2012 season. 

Tennessee brings in Tyler Bray and two of the most talented receivers in the conference and country with Da’Rick Rodgers and Justin Hunter on the outside. NC State returns scattered experience on both sides of the football, including the entire secondary. 

The Wolfpack will play the Vols hard in pass defense and may force some turnovers, but the overall favor has to fall with the Vols in this game. This may be a closer contest than most would expect, but the Vols should come out with the win. 

LSU vs. Washington 9.8.12

Washington is a Pac-12 conference-busting team this season. The first shot they will get at legitimate national exposure and respect will come against LSU. 

LSU gets this game at home and the Tigers are a favorite to return to the national title game. Don’t expect this game to bring Huskies fans to their feet often as LSU looks to beat Washington handily in Death Valley this year. 

Washington will be a good squad in 2012, but the Zach Mettenberger-led Bayou Bengals will be a long step above. Expect this game to play close early, but the Tigers will run away with a win in the final half of the contest. 

Missouri vs. Arizona State 9.15.12

Missouri will face its first big test of the new SEC non-conference schedule when the Tigers host the Sun Devils. 

The Sun Devils make the long trip to Missouri looking to start off the season well, ushering in the new Todd Graham era at Arizona State. The Missouri offense will look to attack the pass defense of the Sun Devils as it was a severe weakness a season ago. 

Arizona State has a very dangerous rushing attack with senior Cameron Marshall in the backfield. Missouri has a very young defensive front—look for the Sun Devils to attempt to challenge the Tigers front with their rushing attack. 

This will be a tough road contest for the Sun Devils with a new coach and philosophies present in Tempe, Arizona. This will be the third game for the Sun Devils, but they won’t be completely settled on offense and defense by game three. 

Missouri should be the favorite in this game, but this non-conference contest will be one to watch in mid-September. 

Ole Miss vs. Texas 9.15.12

While this contest will provide excellent exposure for the Rebels, it will also provide the second sure loss of the season for the SEC against non-conference foes. 

Hugh Freeze did a great job as the head coach at Arkansas State, turning around a Red Wolves program into a bowl contending team. At Ole Miss it will be a little more difficult to build relevance and a championship worthy program. 

Texas is in the national elite but the Longhorns have stumbled a bit lately. The Longhorns are also facing a quarterback controversy with Case McCoy and David Ash battling for the starting position. 

The Rebels may put up a strong game, but expect the Longhorns to win this one convincingly. 

South Carolina vs. Clemson 11.24.12

This is one of the bigger non-conference contests of the season every year in the SEC. Clemson and South Carolina always have a great on-field battle for the state bragging rights. 

This season looks to be no different. Clemson makes the list for a second time, and with the talent that is found in Sammy Watkins on the perimeter and Andre Ellington in the backfield, the Tigers will be a contender to win this ballgame. 

South Carolina will rely on Marcus Lattimore to grind out tough yards, but if the Gamecocks want to win big they will need for quarterback Connor Shaw to find a his touch on the long ball early in the contest. 

This will be a very tough end-of-the-season battle, but the Gamecocks are the likely victor. 

Florida vs. Florida State 11.24.12

Florida returns a very talented defense this season that will be led up front by Ronald Powell. The Gators also have talent at the skill positions offensively, but a quarterback battle between Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel has the offense facing leadership issues. 

Florida is facing a very talented Florida State team that has national aspirations this season and carries a lot of promise inside the ACC. This will be a very tough contest for the Gators. 

The Seminoles will head into this game as the likely favorite with a ton of proven talent on the field. By the end of the season the rushing attack for Florida State will have to be established if this game is to end favorably for them. E.J. Manuel will also need to play with more consistency than in the past. 

This will be a highly touted and heavily followed game to finish the season. Expect fireworks and tough football in this matchup. 

Vanderbilt vs. Wake Forest 11.24.12

This will be a season-ending battle that could contain two bowl game bubble teams. The Commodores will be much improved over a season ago, with this game finalizing James Franklin’s second season in Nashville. 

The Commodores will look for veteran running back Zac Stacey to play a major role in the offense. The Dores will also look to junior quarterback Jordan Rodgers for a spark in the passing game. 

The game is in Winston-Salem, N.C. this year, giving the home-field edge to the Demon Deacons. The Deacons return the majority of the defense from a year ago, with All-Conference selection Nikita Whitlock anchoring the line up front. 

It will be tough for Vanderbilt to find rushing lanes against the Wake Forest defense. This will be a tough win for the Commodores, but in the end Vanderbilt should walk away with the victory. 

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