We examined the 112 SEC games scheduled prior to the conference championship game, set for Dec. 7 in Atlanta, and came up with the top 10 must-see games of 2013.
10. Ole Miss at Mississippi State, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN -- Championship implications? Don't expect any. But after you've stuffed yourself with turkey on Thanksgiving night, the annual Egg Bowl rarely disappoints. This year, MSU coach Dan Mullen looks to stem the momentum Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze established in his first season.
9. Texas A&M at Ole Miss, Oct. 12, time/network TBD -- Pac-12 fans of pinball-quick scoring will be surprised the SEC can produce a shootout like the one this will provide. Both teams run hurry-up, no-huddle offensive attacks. The Johnny Manziel Show will (presumably) take center stage for TAMU, but the Rebels' connection of quarterback Bo Wallace to star receiver Donte Moncrief will light up the Oxford sky, as well.
8. South Carolina at Tennessee, Oct. 19, time/network TBD -- The head-to-head matchup between Tennessee left tackle Antonio Richardson and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney may be the most highly anticipated one-on-one battle of the year in the SEC. Last year's game was a 38-35 thriller, with the Gamecocks hanging on at home.
7. LSU at Georgia, Sept. 28, time/network TBD -- Can Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray slice up the LSU defense? If he can, his ultimate place in UGA quarterback history takes a step up. The last time they played, in the 2011 SEC title game, the Tigers took Murray's lunch money and stomped on his sophomore glasses (four sacks, two interceptions).
6. Florida at LSU, Oct. 12, time/network TBD -- Last year's two hard-luck runners-up in the SEC divisional races (they combined to go 21-3, and one of those three losses was at the hands of the other) clash in LSU in what may be a classic defensive struggle. The LSU offense disappeared in the Swamp last year as UF won 14-6.
5. South Carolina at Georgia, Sept. 7, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN -- The first real tone-setter game in either SEC division, the loser of South Carolina-Georgia often finds itself playing catch-up the rest of the season in the division standings. Georgia fans with long memories will never forget some of the poundings Steve Spurrier issued to UGA while coaching the rival Gators. That factor alone will help electrify Sanford Stadium.
4. Texas A&M at LSU, Nov. 23, time/network TBD -- The last of four brutally tough SEC games on LSU's schedule (Florida, Georgia and Alabama are the others), this one could have SEC West implications if either of these teams has beaten Alabama by this point in the season. If Alabama's power-rushing attack exposes TAMU's defense on Sept. 14, you can bet LSU will look to do the same.
3. LSU at Alabama, Nov. 9, time/network TBD -- These two rivals have split their last four meetings 2-2, and last year's game came down to the final minute when T.J. Yeldon made his signature play of Alabama's season with a late, game-winning touchdown. If Zach Mettenberger plays as well against Alabama this year as he did last year, expect another photo finish.
2. Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Nov. 2, 3:30 p.m., CBS -- The annual, neutral-site clash of SEC East rivals should once again have division-title implications. The Bulldogs' offense against the Gators' defense will get top billing, and rightfully so. If South Carolina loses to Georgia on Sept. 7, Gamecocks fans may have a vested interest in rooting for UF.
1. Alabama at Texas A&M, Sept. 14, 3:30 p.m. EST, CBS -- The vaunted Alabama defense looks to exact revenge on Johnny Football, in Johnny Football's own house. What could be better college football theater than that? Texas A&M radio voice Dave South recently called it quite possibly the biggest game in Kyle Field history.
