SEC Football: Top 10 games of the 2017 season

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 29: Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators players line up before a snap during the first quarter of the game at EverBank Field on October 29, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 29: Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators players line up before a snap during the first quarter of the game at EverBank Field on October 29, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 11
Next
JACKSONVILLE, FL. – OCTOBER 28 (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL. – OCTOBER 28 (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /

1. Georgia vs. Florida (Oct. 28)

The Iron Bowl and Alabama/LSU game are considered by most to be the top two games of the SEC football season, but here’s how I see it. Even if LSU or Auburn to happen to knock off Alabama, it may not even get them to Atlanta. The Crimson Tide had already clinched the SEC West before last season’s Iron Bowl.

More from Southbound and Down

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is sure to decide the SEC East, making it the most important game of the 2017 season. While this game always has a lot of fanfare, it hasn’t produced any great games the last few seasons. Florida has pretty much dominated the last three seasons, winning these games by a total score of 89-33, including a 24-10 win last season.

Florida has dominated for most of recent history as well, winning 21 of the last 27 matchups. Georgia appeared to finally get the Gators out of their heads by winning three in a row from 2011-2013, but if Florida wins this season, the Bulldogs’ 2017 senior class will have played their entire career without beating the Gators.

Georgia returns 17 starters, which is tied with Kentucky for the most in the SEC. They also return 10 starters on a defense that was fourth in the SEC and 16th nationally in total defense.

Next: Georgia building momentum on recruiting trail

The Gators’ defense won’t be able to carry them this season. They’re going to have to create some sort of offense if they’re going to compete with Georgia and the rest of the SEC.