SEC Schedule 2012: A Preview of Next Season's Best SEC CFB Matchups

With only the bowl games left, the college football season is rapidly coming to a close.

As we look towards the 2012 college football schedule, there is no conference that is more appealing than the SEC. It's already considered the best conference in the sport by many, but it should be even better next year with the additions of Texas A&M and Missouri. This conference just continues to get even stronger.

There are quite a few matchups that we can't wait to see.

Here are the top five games in the SEC next season.

LSU vs. Arkansas

This rivalry just recently took off when Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992, and they have played every year since 1996. This game is for the Golden Boot, which weighs a ridiculous 175 pounds, making it one of the heaviest trophies in all of sports.

Not including this year's game, the last six matchups in this series have been decided by a margin of 21 points, and these two teams are generally two of the best in the SEC. 

LSU leads the overall series 34-20-2 and the battle for the Golden Boot series (10-6) as well.

With Arkansas returning the majority of their players and getting a healthy Knile Davis back, they will be ready for a rematch next season.

Texas A&M vs. LSU

The Texas A&M Aggies versus the LSU Tigers is a great rivalry that used to be played almost every year until 1995. Then you had to wait for these two teams to meet up in a bowl game, otherwise this matchup wouldn't happen.

Not anymore. With the Aggies in the SEC now, this matchup will take place a lot more often and give fans a taste of a classic rivalry game.

Geography and the early emphasis on football at both schools made them natural rivals. Southeast Texas was full of folks with LSU ties, while the reverse could be said of Southwest Louisiana.

This matchup has happened 49 times, with LSU leading the series 27-19-3.

Florida vs. Georgia

This game has been played nearly every year since 1915 and is known as the "world's largest cocktail party." It's one of college football's greatest rivalries, and since it's held in Jacksonville every year, it's one of the very few neutral-site rivalries in the sport.

There have been several memorable moments in this game. Most recently, Georgia coach Mark Richt sending his entire team out on the field to celebrate a touchdown in a winning effort over Florida. The next season, Florida coach Urban Meyer called two timeouts when the clock was winding down to give Gators fans more time to celebrate the win and Bulldogs players more time to suffer. 

It doesn't get much better than that.

Although Florida has dominated the recent history of the series, Georgia still leads 48-40-2.

With both of these teams back on the rise, this is a must-see SEC game.

Alabama vs. Auburn

Oh yes, the Iron Bowl. It's one of the greatest college football rivalries of all time, and it doesn't matter who joins the conference—this is one of the most-anticipated matchups of the whole SEC schedule.

The name "Iron Bowl" comes from Birmingham's historic role in the steel industry. When you sign up to play for the Auburn Tigers or the Alabama Crimson Tide, this is the first game you circle on your calendar.

The game is normally played during Thanksgiving weekend, and what a treat it is.

These two teams have met 70 times, with Alabama leading the series 40-29-1.

Alabama may be the more polished team for now, but Auburn is talented and should provide more of a challenge next season.

Alabama vs. LSU

These are currently the top two teams in the country and with the loaded defenses staying mostly intact, you can expect more of the same next season. Many may not like this matchup because there aren't a lot of points scored, but that's what happens when two great defenses go at it.

Regardless of who wins the national championship this season, this matchup will be the most anticipated in the SEC next year.

The winner may very well once again come out of the West Division. 

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]