College Football: Is the SEC Afraid To Fly for Non-Conference Trips?

Everyone who knows anything about College Football knows that when it comes to the best conference in the land there isn't one better than the SEC.

They boast teams like defending BCS National Champion Alabama, among other recent champions Florida and LSU. They also have a host of other schools steeped in tradition and high expectations.

That being said, aside from what could be a brutal conference slate for any school anywhere, the non-conference schedule just isn't all that impressive.

For starters, how far do the SEC juggernauts actually go to play an opponent? Sure Alabama hosts Penn State but where are they going this year? Who do they play on the road?

If you answered not very far or no one very important you'd be correct. In fact, four SEC teams do not even play a true non-conference road game.

This slideshow represents a ranking of the toughest non-conference foes that the SEC will be venturing to play in the 2010 season.

Truly Fearful: Teams Who Don't Play a Non-Conference Road Game

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks talks with his team during a time out against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 33-30

Teams like Florida, LSU, Auburn, and Arkansas don't have to go very far to take on their non-conference foes. They barely have to leave their dorm rooms.

None of those teams will play a true road game in any of their none-conference games. The closest that any of them will come is Arkansas and LSU who play non-conference games on a neutral site. 

For Arkansas that includes Louisiana Monroe and Texas A&M and for LSU that includes North Carolina.

Come on Arkansas, you can't just go to Louisiana Monroe and play? Should be an easy win for the Razorbacks, so what is the problem? You could probably even take a bus.

LSU shows the biggest guts in playing a very talented, if not mentally shaky, North Carolina squad that, if they can overlook the NCAA probes, could beat the Tigers.

Florida and Auburn don't even try to take to the road against any of their non-conference foes.  I guess it pays to play in the SEC and be the biggest, baddest teams in it.

No. 8: Tennessee Vs. Memphis

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: A young female Tennessee Volunteers fan holds up a sign to show her support from the stands during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2009 in Atlan

Game- Tennessee vs. Memphis November 6. Distance of travel- About 391 miles via I-40 West which equates to slightly more than six hours of driving time.

Any risk of upset for the SEC team? There is a slight chance of an upset but chances are this game will feel more like the Vols are playing at Neyland Stadium West. Memphis fans may want to wait until basketball season for this matchup.

Conclusion- Tennessee makes the long trip from Knoxville to Memphis in a late non-conference matchup. Memphis should feel like an additional open week.

Considering Tennessee is enduring a major change for a second straight year, it isn't surprising to see them not stepping out of conference to play elite programs. The recent news that they are going to opt out of a contract to play border rival North Carolina means they aren't going to push their luck any time soon either.

This should be a victory.

No. 7: Alabama Vs. Duke

Dave Martin/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - APRIL 17: Coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide watches during the Alabama spring game at Bryant Denny Stadium on April 17, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Dave Martin/Getty Images)

Game- Alabama vs. Duke Sept. 18. The defending champs take the trek to Wallace Wade Stadium to play a rebuilding Duke program.

Distance of travel- Roughly 600 miles, so you can bet the champs will be flying for this one.

Any risk of upset for the SEC team?- Virtually no risk of an upset here.

Conclusion- Duke is a respectable program these days with SEC and Alabama Alum David Cutcliffe at the helm, but they're no match for the defending champs. This game will either show the Blue Devils giving the Tide fits for a quarter or two before being blown away, or it will be a blow out from the opening kick.

Nice trip down memory lane for Alabama but this game would have meant more circa 1942.

No. 6: Ole Miss Vs. Tulane

Dave Martin/Getty Images

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 10: Coach Houston Nutt of the Mississippi Rebels talks with his offense during their game with the Alabama Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 10, 2009 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Dave Martin/Getty Images)

Game- Mississippi vs. Tulane Sept. 11.

Distance of travel - About 350 miles or roughly six hours travel time via road.

Any risk of upset for the SEC team?- Not much of one, unless quarterback Jeremiah Masoli parties too hard on Bourbon Street with the rest of the boys.

Conclusion- Ole Miss isn't an elite team but that doesn't stop them from staying close to home like many of their SEC brethren. This matchup certainly isn't a very exciting one, except for the fact that it is in New Orleans.

No. 5: Kentucky Vs. Louisville

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 28: Rich Brooks the Head Coach of the Kentucky Wildcats looks on during the SEC game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Commonwealth Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Game- Kentucky vs. Louisville Sept. 4.

Distance of travel - About 76 miles or an hour and a half.

Any risk of upset for the SEC team?- There is a possibility that the Wildcats could get knocked off here by state rival Louisville. Then again maybe not. Louisville has a new man at the helm just like Kentucky so this game could be a coin toss.

Conclusion- This game should slightly favor Kentucky, but it is also the first game for both head coaches. This isn't Bobby Patrino's Cardinals but they should be a lot better with a former Florida assistant running the show.

This game is too close to call.

No. 4: Mississippi State Vs. Houston

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 31: Anthony Dixon #24 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs runs with the ball during the SEC game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on October 31, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Game- Mississippi State vs. Houston Oct. 9

Distance of travel - About 570 miles or a nine and a half hour drive.

Any risk of upset for the SEC team?- The Bulldogs are a middle tier SEC program  who will be taking on the cream of Conference USA.  That means the Bulldogs should win this one, although there might still be a chance that the Cougars pull out a victory.

Conclusion- Houston got some votes to be in the preseason AP Top 25. Mississippi State did not. If you believe those numbers then Houston should be a better team, but playing in the SEC should give the Bulldogs the edge barring significant injury.

No. 3: Georgia Vs. Colorado

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 29: UGA IV, the Georgia Bulldog mascot watches play from the sidelines against the Mississippi Rebels at Sanford Stadium on September 29, 2007 in Athens, Georgia. Georgia won 45 - 17. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Game- Georgia vs. Colorado Oct. 2

Distance to travel- About 1,479 miles, so no way they are driving.

Any risk of upset for the SEC team?- Any time you travel halfway across the country to play in a thinner atmosphere, there is a chance your team will be beat. The biggest risk would be to UGA as the bulldogs don't do well on planes.

Conclusion- Georgia should have another good team while Colorado is still trying to find their footing in the last remaining year of the Big 12 as we know it. The boys from Athens should be able to pull out a victory, although in the higher elevations it may be closer than most would think.

Georgia certainly makes the longest journey for any SEC non-conference game. Had they have played a more talented team this game may have been higher.

No. 2: Vanderbilt Vs. UConn

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 31: Larry Smith #10 of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates against the Boston College Eagles during the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl at LP Field on December 31, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Game- Vanderbilt vs. UConn Oct. 2

Distance of travel- About 1,025 miles or 17 and a half hours: You bet they are flying.

Any risk of upset for the SEC team?-  There is a clear and present danger here for Vanderbilt. New coach, tough opponent, and long trip does not a favorable formula make.

Conclusion- This game could be really close, but should be a loss for the SEC. UConn has been anywhere from decent to very good with Randy Edsall at the helm. The distance alone combined with the sudden last minute resignation of their coach makes Vandy vulnerable.

No. 1- South Carolina Vs. Clemson

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 14: Stephen Garcia #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drops back to pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 14, 2009 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Game- South Carolina vs. Clemson

Distance to travel- About 130 miles or two and a half hours.

Any risk of upset for the SEC team?- It's a rival game: most definitely.

Conclusion- Although the trip isn't very long from Columbia to Clemson, the trip back is always potentially eternal if the Gamecocks pick up the loss.

There is a real risk as Clemson appears to be primed to make a run at an ACC title, while South Carolina still has many questions. For example, can quarterback Stephen Garcia step up and make the Gamecocks' offense go?

Always a feisty non-conference rivalry, this proves to be the most entertaining and biggest challenge of all the SEC's few non-conference road games in 2010.