You can’t win the conference championship in September, but
you can certainly lose it.  With the SEC
West being as deep as it has ever been, the race for Atlanta starts just two
weeks into the season with LSU traveling to Starkville to take on Dak Prescott
and the Bulldogs.  What other September
games will help decide who meets in the Georgia Dome on December 5th?  Here’s a look at the top six:

No. 6 – Tennessee at
Florida

September 26, 2015

For all the hype the Volunteers are receiving, this is a
prove-it game for them as they try to take out their nemesis Florida in The
Swamp.  While the Gators are down, they
still have the talent to win games – just ask Georgia.  Tennessee hasn’t beaten Florida since 2004,
and has won only two times in its last 14 visits to Gainesville.  If Butch Jones’ bunch want to be contenders,
this is a must win. 

No. 5 – Auburn at LSU

September 19, 2015

Auburn catches a break with the game being a 2:30 CST
kickoff instead of a dreaded night game in Death Valley.  However, LSU is still difficult to beat in
Baton Rouge, and the Bayou Bengals will be looking for payback after last
year’s thumping in Jordan-Hare.  With a
big game and victory, Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson could put his name near
the top of the Heisman list early in the season.

No. 4 – LSU at
Mississippi State

September 12, 2015

Dak Prescott returns at quarterback for the Bulldogs, and
Mississippi State wants to put the latter part of last season behind it.  An early Heisman favorite, Prescott will be
the main focus for the fierce LSU defense. 
If LSU can figure out its’ quarterback situation by this game, it will
come down to the wire.  I hope Les Miles prepares
his team for some cowbells.

No. 3 – Texas A&M
at Arkansas

September 26, 2015

It will be a battle of Allens at quarterback as senior
Brandon Allen returns for Arkansas and the Aggies bring back sophomore Kyle
Allen.  Both are talented passers, with
Brandon having the advantage of playing with one of the better backfields in
the country.  Jonathan Williams and Alex
Collins both rushed for over 1,000 for the Razorbacks, and A&M’s defense
struggled against the run.  Will new
Aggie defensive coordinator be able to stop the talented Hogs? 

No. 2 – Mississippi
State at Auburn

September 26, 2015

A battle between big quarterbacks will take place in
Jordan-Hare, and both teams will be coming in with a major test already under
their belt.  The Bulldogs jumped to a
quick 21-0 lead last year on their way to an easy 38-23 win in Starkville.  Gus Malzahn will have his offense ready to
go, and new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will have his defense focused
on Prescott.  This could be a high
scoring affair.

No. 1 – Ole Miss at
Alabama

September 19, 2015

Nick Saban doesn’t forget, so expect the Crimson Tide to be
extra prepared for this game after last year’s loss in Oxford.  Alabama will have to figure out what they
have at the quarterback and receiver position early in the season, and it might
prove difficult against an Ole Miss defense that led the nation in scoring
defense last year and returns a lot of key players.