2004 SEC Schedules
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama
9/4 Utah State
9/11 Ole Miss
9/18 W. Carolina
9/25 at Arkansas
10/2 So. Carolina
10/9 at Kentucky
10/16 Southern Miss
10/23 at Tennessee
11/6 Miss State
11/13 at LSU
11/20 Auburn
It's not that bad for a program looking to rebuild. With a few breaks, and if Arkansas can't reload, there's a chance the Tide can be 7-0 before facing Tennessee. O.K., so that's a bit optimistic, but there's no reason Bama can't finish with a winning season with this relatively easy slate.
Nastiest Road Game
at LSU
Cupcake
Western Carolina
Make or Break Game
at Arkansas Arkansas
9/4 N Mexico St
9/11 Texas
9/18 UL Monroe
9/25 Alabama
10/2 at Florida
10/16 at Auburn
10/23 Georgia
11/6 at S Carolina
11/13 Ole Miss
11/20 at Miss State
11/27 LSU
The Hogs have to reload in several key spots and could have a rough go of it with six bowl teams from 2003 and as bad a draw as it gets from the East playing Florida and Georgia. There's a brutal mid-season stretch that could be even worse if Alabama and South Carolina are strong, while Texas will be looking for early payback.
Nastiest Road Game
at Florida
Cupcake UL Monroe
Make or Break Game
Georgia
Auburn
9/4 UL Monroe
9/11 at Miss State
9/18 LSU
9/25 The Citadel
10/2 at Tennessee
10/9 La Tech
10/16 Arkansas
10/23 Kentucky
10/30 at Ole Miss
11/13 Georgia
11/20 at Alabama
Step one to reverse the problems of last year will be to hold serve at home. If Auburn can win games against LSU, Arkansas and Georgia in Jordan-Hare, there's a good chance it'll be an SEC West title season. The non-conference slate is a joke going against UL Monroe, The Citadel and Louisiana Tech.
Nastiest Road Game
at Tennessee
Cupcake
The Citadel
Make or Break Game LSU Florida
9/4 MTSU
9/11 Ea Michigan
9/18 at Tenn.
9/25 Kentucky
10/2 Arkansas
10/9 LSU
10/23 at Miss State
10/30 vs. Georgia
11/6 at Vanderbilt
11/13 So Carolina
11/20 at Florida St
It's Florida, so there will be easy tune ups getting MTSU and Eastern Michigan to slaughter before the annual showdown with Tennessee. Ron Zook can restore the aura of The Swamp with a win over LSU and must keep the hex over Georgia going. The finishing kick could be surprisingly tough.
Nastiest Road Game
at Tennessee
Cupcake
Eastern Michigan
Make or Break Game
LSU
Georgia
9/4 Ga Southern
9/11 at So Carolina
9/18 Marshall
10/2 LSU
10/9 Tennessee
10/16 Vanderbilt
10/23 at Arkansas
10/30 vs. Florida
11/6 at Kentucky
11/13 at Auburn
11/27 Georgia Tech
Considering Georgia has national title hopes and that the Dawgs play in the SEC, this slate isn't unmanageable with LSU and Tennessee coming to Athens. If Marshall rebounds, there's a chance Georgia will play eight bowl teams. The key will be finding a way to get past Florida in the Cocktail Party.
Nastiest Road Game
at Auburn
Cupcake
Georgia Southern
Make or Break Game
Florida Kentucky
9/4 at Louisville
9/18 Indiana
9/25 at Florida
10/2 Ohio
10/9 Alabama
10/16 So Carolina
10/23 at Auburn
10/30 at Miss St
11/6 Georgia
11/13 Vanderbilt
11/27 at Tenn.
Kentucky will be shooting for a winning season, but the schedule won't provide much help in the loaded East. Indiana and Ohio are the only 100% sure-thing wins, so Rich Brooks' team has to find ways to come up with great performances at home and a few road upsets to push for an above .500 finish.
Nastiest Road Game
at Auburn
Cupcake
Ohio
Make or Break Game Alabama
LSU
9/4 Oregon State
9/11 Houston
9/18 at Auburn
9/25 Miss State
10/2 at Georgia
10/9 at Florida
10/23 Troy State
10/30 Vanderbilt
11/13 Alabama
11/20 Ole Miss
11/27 at Arkansas
The defending SEC and national champs will certainly be pushed going on the road to face Auburn, Georgia and Florida. They won't get much of a chance to take advantage of the Death Valley crowd with a light home slate. LSU can win three of the road games, but all pulling off all four is too much to ask for.
Nastiest Road Game
at Georgia
Cupcake
Troy State
Make or Break Game
at Auburn Ole Miss
9/4 Memphis
9/11 at Alabama
9/18 Vanderbilt
9/25 at Wyoming
10/2 Arkansas St
10/9 at So Carolina
10/16 Tennessee
10/30 Auburn
11/13 at Arkansas
11/20 at LSU
11/25 Miss State
Ole Miss will be looking for payback to start off the season hosting Memphis. An oddly scheduled road game at Wyoming breaks up an easy first half of the season, but the second half is a bear. A four-week stretch of Tennessee, Auburn, at Arkansas and at LSU will show if the team was really able to get over Eli.
Nastiest Road Game
at LSU
Cupcake
Arkansas State
Make or Break Game Tennessee
Miss State
9/4 Tulane
9/11 Auburn
9/18 Maine
9/25 at LSU
10/2 at Vanderbilt
10/9 UAB
10/23 Florida
10/30 Kentucky
11/6 at Alabama
11/20 Arkansas
11/25 at Ole Miss
Sylvester Croom's first season might yield decent results if his team can win the non-conference games and pull off an upset or two. Vandy comes back loaded with experience, so that's not a gimme on the road. Getting Kentucky from the East is a nice break. Seven home games will help upset hopes against teams looking ahead to bigger dates.
Nastiest Road Game
at LSU
Cupcake
Maine
Make or Break Game
at Vanderbilt South Carolina
9/4 at Vanderbilt
9/11 Georgia
9/18 South Florida
9/25 Troy State
10/2 at Alabama
10/9 Ole Miss
10/16 at Kentucky
10/30 Tennessee
11/6 Arkansas
11/13 at Florida
11/20 at Clemson
This might be Lou Holtz's most experienced team yet, and he has the schedule to keep the Gamecocks in the thick of things. With Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas coming to Columbia, USC could be around 8-1 if it can hold serve at home before facing Florida and Clemson to finish. Yes, that might be a bit ambitious, but not unthinkable.
Nastiest Road Game
at Florida
Cupcake
Troy State
Make or Break Game Georgia
Tennessee
9/4 UNLV
9/18 Florida
9/25 La Tech
10/2 Auburn
10/9 at Georgia
10/16 at Ole Miss
10/23 Alabama
10/30 at So Carolina
11/6 Notre Dame
11/20 at Vanderbilt
11/27 Kentucky
This is a schedule conducive for a national title run. Tennessee certainly won't have an easy path to the Orange Bowl, but seven home games will help. Going on the road to deal with Georgia will test whether or not the Vols are serious about winning the SEC East, while the home stretch is nice and cushy not facing a 2003 bowl team from mid-October on.
Nastiest Road Game
at Georgia
Cupcake Louisiana Tech
Make or Break Game
at Georgia Vanderbilt
9/4 So Carolina
9/18 at Ole Miss
9/25 at Navy
10/2 Miss State
10/9 Rutgers
10/16 at Georgia
10/23 E Kentucky
10/30 at LSU
11/6 Florida
11/13 at Kentucky
11/20 Tennessee
With one of the most experienced teams in the country, Vandy will be a tough out for anyone hoping for an easy SEC win. It's Vanderbilt, so there aren't any sure things, but Navy, Mississippi State, Rutgers and Eastern Kentucky should lighten the SEC burden a bit. Forget about road dates at Georgia and LSU, but at Kentucky is certainly winnable.
Nastiest Road Game
at Georgia
Cupcake Troy State
Make or Break Game at Auburn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama
9/4 Utah State
9/11 Ole Miss
9/18 W. Carolina
9/25 at Arkansas
10/2 So. Carolina
10/9 at Kentucky
10/16 Southern Miss
10/23 at Tennessee
11/6 Miss State
11/13 at LSU
11/20 Auburn
It's not that bad for a program looking to rebuild. With a few breaks, and if Arkansas can't reload, there's a chance the Tide can be 7-0 before facing Tennessee. O.K., so that's a bit optimistic, but there's no reason Bama can't finish with a winning season with this relatively easy slate.
Nastiest Road Game
at LSU
Cupcake
Western Carolina
Make or Break Game
at Arkansas Arkansas
9/4 N Mexico St
9/11 Texas
9/18 UL Monroe
9/25 Alabama
10/2 at Florida
10/16 at Auburn
10/23 Georgia
11/6 at S Carolina
11/13 Ole Miss
11/20 at Miss State
11/27 LSU
The Hogs have to reload in several key spots and could have a rough go of it with six bowl teams from 2003 and as bad a draw as it gets from the East playing Florida and Georgia. There's a brutal mid-season stretch that could be even worse if Alabama and South Carolina are strong, while Texas will be looking for early payback.
Nastiest Road Game
at Florida
Cupcake UL Monroe
Make or Break Game
Georgia
Auburn
9/4 UL Monroe
9/11 at Miss State
9/18 LSU
9/25 The Citadel
10/2 at Tennessee
10/9 La Tech
10/16 Arkansas
10/23 Kentucky
10/30 at Ole Miss
11/13 Georgia
11/20 at Alabama
Step one to reverse the problems of last year will be to hold serve at home. If Auburn can win games against LSU, Arkansas and Georgia in Jordan-Hare, there's a good chance it'll be an SEC West title season. The non-conference slate is a joke going against UL Monroe, The Citadel and Louisiana Tech.
Nastiest Road Game
at Tennessee
Cupcake
The Citadel
Make or Break Game LSU Florida
9/4 MTSU
9/11 Ea Michigan
9/18 at Tenn.
9/25 Kentucky
10/2 Arkansas
10/9 LSU
10/23 at Miss State
10/30 vs. Georgia
11/6 at Vanderbilt
11/13 So Carolina
11/20 at Florida St
It's Florida, so there will be easy tune ups getting MTSU and Eastern Michigan to slaughter before the annual showdown with Tennessee. Ron Zook can restore the aura of The Swamp with a win over LSU and must keep the hex over Georgia going. The finishing kick could be surprisingly tough.
Nastiest Road Game
at Tennessee
Cupcake
Eastern Michigan
Make or Break Game
LSU
Georgia
9/4 Ga Southern
9/11 at So Carolina
9/18 Marshall
10/2 LSU
10/9 Tennessee
10/16 Vanderbilt
10/23 at Arkansas
10/30 vs. Florida
11/6 at Kentucky
11/13 at Auburn
11/27 Georgia Tech
Considering Georgia has national title hopes and that the Dawgs play in the SEC, this slate isn't unmanageable with LSU and Tennessee coming to Athens. If Marshall rebounds, there's a chance Georgia will play eight bowl teams. The key will be finding a way to get past Florida in the Cocktail Party.
Nastiest Road Game
at Auburn
Cupcake
Georgia Southern
Make or Break Game
Florida Kentucky
9/4 at Louisville
9/18 Indiana
9/25 at Florida
10/2 Ohio
10/9 Alabama
10/16 So Carolina
10/23 at Auburn
10/30 at Miss St
11/6 Georgia
11/13 Vanderbilt
11/27 at Tenn.
Kentucky will be shooting for a winning season, but the schedule won't provide much help in the loaded East. Indiana and Ohio are the only 100% sure-thing wins, so Rich Brooks' team has to find ways to come up with great performances at home and a few road upsets to push for an above .500 finish.
Nastiest Road Game
at Auburn
Cupcake
Ohio
Make or Break Game Alabama
LSU
9/4 Oregon State
9/11 Houston
9/18 at Auburn
9/25 Miss State
10/2 at Georgia
10/9 at Florida
10/23 Troy State
10/30 Vanderbilt
11/13 Alabama
11/20 Ole Miss
11/27 at Arkansas
The defending SEC and national champs will certainly be pushed going on the road to face Auburn, Georgia and Florida. They won't get much of a chance to take advantage of the Death Valley crowd with a light home slate. LSU can win three of the road games, but all pulling off all four is too much to ask for.
Nastiest Road Game
at Georgia
Cupcake
Troy State
Make or Break Game
at Auburn Ole Miss
9/4 Memphis
9/11 at Alabama
9/18 Vanderbilt
9/25 at Wyoming
10/2 Arkansas St
10/9 at So Carolina
10/16 Tennessee
10/30 Auburn
11/13 at Arkansas
11/20 at LSU
11/25 Miss State
Ole Miss will be looking for payback to start off the season hosting Memphis. An oddly scheduled road game at Wyoming breaks up an easy first half of the season, but the second half is a bear. A four-week stretch of Tennessee, Auburn, at Arkansas and at LSU will show if the team was really able to get over Eli.
Nastiest Road Game
at LSU
Cupcake
Arkansas State
Make or Break Game Tennessee
Miss State
9/4 Tulane
9/11 Auburn
9/18 Maine
9/25 at LSU
10/2 at Vanderbilt
10/9 UAB
10/23 Florida
10/30 Kentucky
11/6 at Alabama
11/20 Arkansas
11/25 at Ole Miss
Sylvester Croom's first season might yield decent results if his team can win the non-conference games and pull off an upset or two. Vandy comes back loaded with experience, so that's not a gimme on the road. Getting Kentucky from the East is a nice break. Seven home games will help upset hopes against teams looking ahead to bigger dates.
Nastiest Road Game
at LSU
Cupcake
Maine
Make or Break Game
at Vanderbilt South Carolina
9/4 at Vanderbilt
9/11 Georgia
9/18 South Florida
9/25 Troy State
10/2 at Alabama
10/9 Ole Miss
10/16 at Kentucky
10/30 Tennessee
11/6 Arkansas
11/13 at Florida
11/20 at Clemson
This might be Lou Holtz's most experienced team yet, and he has the schedule to keep the Gamecocks in the thick of things. With Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas coming to Columbia, USC could be around 8-1 if it can hold serve at home before facing Florida and Clemson to finish. Yes, that might be a bit ambitious, but not unthinkable.
Nastiest Road Game
at Florida
Cupcake
Troy State
Make or Break Game Georgia
Tennessee
9/4 UNLV
9/18 Florida
9/25 La Tech
10/2 Auburn
10/9 at Georgia
10/16 at Ole Miss
10/23 Alabama
10/30 at So Carolina
11/6 Notre Dame
11/20 at Vanderbilt
11/27 Kentucky
This is a schedule conducive for a national title run. Tennessee certainly won't have an easy path to the Orange Bowl, but seven home games will help. Going on the road to deal with Georgia will test whether or not the Vols are serious about winning the SEC East, while the home stretch is nice and cushy not facing a 2003 bowl team from mid-October on.
Nastiest Road Game
at Georgia
Cupcake Louisiana Tech
Make or Break Game
at Georgia Vanderbilt
9/4 So Carolina
9/18 at Ole Miss
9/25 at Navy
10/2 Miss State
10/9 Rutgers
10/16 at Georgia
10/23 E Kentucky
10/30 at LSU
11/6 Florida
11/13 at Kentucky
11/20 Tennessee
With one of the most experienced teams in the country, Vandy will be a tough out for anyone hoping for an easy SEC win. It's Vanderbilt, so there aren't any sure things, but Navy, Mississippi State, Rutgers and Eastern Kentucky should lighten the SEC burden a bit. Forget about road dates at Georgia and LSU, but at Kentucky is certainly winnable.
Nastiest Road Game
at Georgia
Cupcake Troy State
Make or Break Game at Auburn
