SEC Football: Top 5 Conference TV Games of First 3 Weeks

The early-season SEC landscape came into focus on Monday when the SEC released the kickoff times and television networks for the first three weeks of the season.

Some of the times were already known, including most of the Week 1 kickoffs and out-of-conference matchups. But now that the first three weeks are known, what are the best SEC games and game times?

We take a look at the top five games and game times of the first three weeks in this slideshow. Click here to see the full list of the first three weeks of game times and networks.

5. Auburn at Mississippi State

Auburn and Mississippi State will kickoff at noon ET on ESPN on Sept. 8 in Starkville, in a game that will establish the direction of both teams.

Both teams are hoping to get back into contention in the SEC West, and a win for either team could vault them into dark-horse consideration for the SEC West title. A loss, however, would almost certainly eliminate the loser from SEC West contention, considering Alabama, LSU and Arkansas remain on the schedule for each team following the matchup.

Auburn opens the season in the Georgia Dome against Clemson, so there won't be many secrets on either side of the ball when the Tigers roll into Starkville in Week 2.

Mississippi State, on the other hand, opens with Jackson State; so expect the Bulldogs to save some things for this meeting.

This is a big early-season SEC West meeting, and the early kickoff will certainly take away some of the home-field advantage at Davis Wade Stadium.

4. Florida at Tennessee

For the first time since 1995, Florida and Tennessee will not be featured as the nationally-televised network game on CBS. Instead, the two rivals will meet on cable at 6:00 p.m. ET on Week 3 on ESPN.

This game is always big for both sides, but this season in Knoxville, it carries a meaning that is a bit unorthodox for this rivalry.

For Florida, it is a chance to test Brent Pease's new offense against a Vol defense that is supposed to be revitalized under new defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri. Pease has vowed to establish the run, and the Gators are likely to be coming off of a shootout vs. Texas A&M.

Will Mike Gillislee be the feature running back? Is there still a quarterback battle? These are questions that we will likely be answered in this game, if they aren't answered before.

Tennessee opens in the Georgia Dome at N.C. State, so there will be no secrets when the Vols host Florida.

This is a critical game for head coach Derek Dooley. If Tennessee loses to the Wolfpack to start the season, the game against Florida may be the pivot point that determines whether his seat stays hot or cools off a bit.

The Vol offense can be potent if it can establish a running game, but Florida's front seven is no joke. This one should be fun to watch.

3. Florida at Texas A&M

Texas A&M's first conference game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET vs. Florida in Week 2 on ESPN.

It won't be a night game, which always takes away a slight home-field advantage, but there's no doubt that Kyle Field will be electric when the Gators roll into College Station.

Florida's defense is expected to be one of the best in the SEC, and it will certainly be a tough test for Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

The new Aggie offense is predicated on getting the ball into the hands of playmakers in space. Can the Aggies find space against the big and fast Florida defense? We will see.

Something tells me that this game will be a wake-up call for the Aggies.

2. Georgia at Missouri

Missouri will host Georgia in the first SEC game ever played in Columbia, Mo., at 7:45 p.m. ET on ESPN on Sept. 8.

While Missouri may not have the name recognition of its fellow SEC newcomer Texas A&M, its game versus Georgia will carry huge implications in the SEC East race.

The Bulldogs are considered one of the favorites to win the division due in large part to a schedule that doesn't feature games versus Alabama, LSU or Arkansas. If some team can spring an upset of the Bulldogs, the entire division will be thrown up for grabs.

Who's the most likely candidate to upset the Bulldogs? The Missouri Tigers.

Georgia will likely be without safety Bacarri Rambo, linebacker Alec Ogletree and cornerback Sanders Commings. That is bad news considering the Tigers feature a potent offense behind quarterback James Franklin, running back Kendial Lawrence and wide receivers T.J. Moe and Dorial Green-Beckham.

The fact that this game is at night will only make it bigger. This has a "Game of the Century" feel for Missouri, which makes it a dangerous spot for the Bulldogs.

1. Alabama at Arkansas

If you want to know what the biggest early season game in the SEC is, it will be played on Sept. 15 on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Alabama vs. Arkansas in Fayetteville. Winner gets the inside track for the SEC West championship, and the loser has an uphill climb.

This game comes at the worst possible time for Alabama. The Crimson Tide will be looking to fill in the holes vacated by defensive lineman Josh Chapman, linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw, cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie and safety Mark Barron.

While the players filling those holes are talented and relatively experienced, they'll be under fire in Week 3 when they face an Arkansas team that is loaded on offense and coming off of cupcake games versus Jacksonville State and ULM.

The return of running back Knile Davis should take a lot of pressure off quarterback Tyler Wilson, which will allow him to find wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, tight end Chris Gragg and the rest of the Razorbacks' offensive cast.

The Hogs are still a legitimate title contender until they prove otherwise. We will know one way or the other after this game.

Follow @BarrettSallee