A Couple of Truly Shameful SEC Non-Conference Schedules

Outside of Florida’s trip to Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida and Vanderbilt have plumbed the Mariana Trench of non-conference cupcake scheduling.

This is so bad, I will let it speak for itself.  No, I lied.  These two are so bad, I have to comment.

Florida:  Idaho (1-11 last year), Eastern Michigan (2-10), Eastern Kentucky (FCS), at Florida State (this is a game).

Well, no one can gripe about scheduling tough games when defending national champion and in-state rival Florida State is on the schedule.  And the game is in Tallahassee.  But, come on,  that does not excuse the Idaho and Eastern Michigan games.  These two are  card-carrying members of the lowest ranked teams in the FBS every year.  I like both of these teams.  They are both really up against it and they both try really hard.  I give them a lot of credit.  But I would like to know when Florida scheduled these two games.  They really look like desperation scheduling of wins.  The EKU game is the standard FCS game, but Florida lost its standard FCS game last year to Georgia Southern, 26-20, in the Swamp, of course,  so maybe this is a tough game for the Gators.

Vanderbilt:  Temple (2-10), Massachusetts (1-11), Charleston Southern (FCS) and Old Dominion (new meat).

All at home.  Old Dominion is being thrown right on the grill.  Vandy is not Florida and only recently have they become good consistently.  But this is a weak sister schedule even if you are not playing the name game.   The Commodores could play a tougher schedule and still have a legitimate shot to win.  I just can’t feature the folks in Nashville would be excited going to these games.   You’re not pulling the wool over their eyes or dealing with a bunch of dumbbells there.