College Football: Eight Biggest SEC Matchups of 2011

This year's SEC matchups are bigger then they've ever been.

With all the big-name teams that come out of the SEC, you can only imagine how intense this year's games with actually be.

The SEC had five teams that were within the top 15 AP rankings at the end of last season, including the National Championship won by the Auburn Tigers.

What SEC games should we mark on our calendar to watch?

In this article, I rank the top match-ups within the SEC this upcoming season.

8. Auburn at Arkansas: 10/8/11

With not only the first match up on my list but one of the earliest SEC match up of the season comes a game between two SEC West opponents in the Auburn Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

With the game coming very early in conference play, this game could determine the early lead runner in the SEC West standings.

With Auburn having the task of replacing a lot of its high-profile players and Arkansas returning with the talented team they have, it would seem as if this game was a no-brainer.

However, because of what Auburn has showed us in the past few seasons, especially with last year's national championship, we can never take them out of the game.

This game will be an early eye into who will have the hand up on the SEC West.

7. Alabama at Mississippi State: 11/12/11

The second game on my list of powerful SEC match ups of 2011 is the Alabama Crimson Tide vs Mississippi State Bulldogs.

A battle of two SEC West teams that comes only weeks before season ending, this game could turn out to be a heartbreaker for Alabama.

Coming back this season ranked 2nd in the preseason poll, if the Tide have a flawless season they will be ranked number 1 by the time this game happens.

However, this years Mississippi State team has the chance to become a real ball buster. 

A very talented team, I don't think Mississippi State will win the West but they could really ruin someones season.

6. South Carolina at Georgia: 9/10/11

This game is a match up of two teams from the SEC East involving the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Only being the second game of the season, this game will possibly help showing the front runner for the SEC East title. 

However, each team is going to have to go through many other different conference games before the end of the season, this will be a great way to start off conference play.

Georgia comes back from a disappointing 2010 season ready to become a force again in the SEC, while the Gamecocks try to make a run at another appearance in the SEC championship game.

5. South Carolina at Arkansas: 11/5/11

Next on my list is a battle of teams from both divisions in the SEC, the South Carolina Gamecocks vs the Arkansas Razorbacks.

This game is a match up of two powerful SEC teams that return some high profiled players from last years team.

This game could be a chance for both teams to win their division or put themselves out in front with only a few weeks of conference play remaining.

However, South Carolina will have to travel to Fayetteville for this years show off.

4. Arkansas at LSU: 11/25/11

Next on the list is a match up of teams from rival bordering states: the Arkansas Razorbacks vs. the LSU Tigers.

A game that sets up for the Iron Bowl the next day, this game will be a tossup considering that both teams are returning extremely talented teams.

Possibly a game that could mean a spot in the SEC Championship game for the winner, it will be a great kickoff to the weekend, the world will already know who will be in contention for the SEC West title.

This game will be very important considering we have two talented teams that both are ranked within the top 15 of the preseason polls.

3. LSU at Alabama: 11/5/11

With the third spot on my list comes a match-up of two SEC West teams: the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. the LSU Tigers.

With preseason rankings having LSU ranked fourth and Alabama ranked second, we can only imagine what could come from this late season match up.

With a win in this game for either team, it will pretty much lock up the West for the Dec. 3 game in Atlanta. 

However, if both teams have great seasons, this game could mean the lockup for a spot in the National Championship game.

This game is important because of the effect it can have on the rankings.  Don't be surprised if you see the winner of this game at the Superdome in Louisiana on Jan. 9, 2012.

2. Florida at South Carolina: 11/12/11

With a game that can mean a spot in the SEC championship comes our next big match up of the year, the Florida Gators vs. the South Carolina Gamecocks.

In a rematch of the 2011 College World Series, we will see two powerhouses out of the SEC East square off.

This year being a rebuilding year for the Gators, they look to improve from last season's 7-5 record with the addition of their new head coach, Will Muschamp. 

And after getting No. 1 prospect Jadeveon Clowney, the Gamecocks are ready to make another run towards the SEC championship.

With a win in the CWS and win in last year's match up, the Gamecocks are ready to continue their terror on the Gators with this last conference game of the year for both teams.

This game is of so much importance because of the fact it could determine who wins the SEC East and continues on to the SEC Championship game.

Most likely the winner of this game will be playing in Atlanta on Dec. 3.

1. Alabama at Auburn: 11/26/11

Always a classic comes my No. 1 SEC match up of the 2011 season, a battle of two Alabama powerhouses, the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. the Auburn Tigers, also known as the Iron Bowl.

With both teams in the preseason top 25 poll, we can only imagine how big this game will be for both teams.

With both teams losing some key players, we can't tell how the teams will fare throughout the season, however, the last game of the season couldn't be more exciting.

Defending national champion, Auburn Tigers, will be met by the 2009 National champion, Alabama Crimson Tide. We will see a hard battle between two teams who will be fighting for a spot in the SEC Championship Game.

This game is so important because it could possibly be the deciding factor of the SEC West champion.