SEC Football Viewing Guide: Planning your Week 1 Saturday

The first of SEC football is nearly here and we get you ready for the entire day. Our SEC Week One viewing guide takes you through your itinerary.

This weekend, all will be right with the world and college football will be back. I know you are busy so I have taken the liberty of planning your entire Saturday as it marks the first full day of games for the 2015 season.

Yes, you’re welcome.

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All times are in Central time since that is the timezone the majority of SEC schools operate in. During certain time slots you will see the term “second screen”. This lets you know there is an SEC game going on at the same time, but you would be better served to have that game on laptop, tablet or phone. Let’s get started.

8:00 AM CT: ESPN College GameDay

What has become a weekly tradition for college football fans, ESPN College GameDay is the perfect way to start off your football Saturday. This year, there is even more intrigue of how the viewing experience will be with Rece Davis replacing long time host, Chris Fowler. Personally, I think a nice cup of french press coffee is the perfect compliment to College GameDaybut tweet me your perfect college football morning food and beverage.

This opening College GameDay is particularly interesting to SEC fans as the crew will be broadcasting live in Ft. Worth, Texas near AT&T Stadium where Alabama will take on Wisconsin. It’s hard to imagine Lee Corso putting anything on other than an elephant head.

11:00 AM CT: Louisiana-Monroe at Georgia, SEC Network

You will overlook the fact that Georgia is playing Louisiana-Monroe because you have been without football for so long. When in doubt, live by this motto this season: Any Nick Chubb is better than no Nick Chubb. At the very least, it gives you the opportunity to see whoever Georgia rolls out at quarterback as well as Chubb run over an entire defense.

Second Screen: Ole Miss kicks off at the same time against Tennessee Martin. It will mark quarterback Chard Kelly’s debut in Oxford so it is worth keeping an eye on the game while you are watching Chubb run over the world.

2:30 PM CT: Auburn vs. Louisville, CBS

This is one of the most exciting games of the day. After becoming one of the SEC offseason darlings, we get to see Auburn put to the test early. It also marks the start of the Jeremy Johnson era at Auburn.

Since this game is sponsored by Chik-fil-A, I would recommend their chicken sandwich to keep you company or if you are with friends go all out with a nugget trey. No, Chik-fil-A is not one of my sponsors despite this being the second straight article where I mention the chicken heaven of the South.

Second Screen: Southeast Missouri State takes on Missouri for the state championship, and the game begins 30 minutes prior to the Auburn kickoff. UTEP plays at Arkansas at the same time on ESPNU. At 3:00 PM CT, Bowling Green plays at Tennessee on the SEC Network. This one my actually be a sneaky good game, but none of these match-ups should take priority over Auburn against Louisville.

6:00 PM CT: Arizona State vs. Texas A&M (in Houston), ESPN

You may have to get a bit creative as there is always the chance the Auburn game is in the closing minutes right as the Aggies kickoff. I trust that you have had years of practice in these crucial situations, so I will let you decide how to handle it should this happen.

Despite the neutral site games of Auburn and Alabama getting most of the publicity, this game will likely be the most entertaining. Arizona State is good and definitely has a chance of winning the Pac-12. Texas A&M’s new defensive coordinator John Chavis will be put to the test early with the Sun Devils offense.

Second screen: At the same time, Kentucky hosts Louisiana-Lafayette on ESPNU. At 6:30 PM, New Mexico plays Florida on the SEC Network. Also at 6:30 PM you can see the start of Leonard Fournette’s sophomore season as LSU takes on McNeese State. McNeese State’s helmets are pretty great, so there’s that.

7:00 PM CT: Alabama vs. Wisconsin, ABC

This is where your ability to multi-task will be put to test. For most of us, this exact scenario necessitates a second screen any way we can find it. In fact, I am curious of your Saturday set-up. Tweet me a photo of your set-up so I can steal some of your bright ideas and enhance my viewing experience. Wait, you thought this was all about you?

Part of me thinks this game could end up closer to the Alabama opener against Michigan in 2012 rather than their 2014 opener against West Virginia. I hope I am wrong as I would really like to see a great game between these storied programs.

9:30 PM CT: Mississippi State vs. Southern Miss, Fox Sports 1

Push through the pain! You’ve got one more game in you. SEC fans typically are not in these sort of late-night predicaments, but nothing cures a day of watching nothing but football than more football.

There was a time when Southern Miss was a very difficult place to play a road game, particularly at night. That time seems to have passed, but at least Dak Prescott is a fun player to watch. It will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs do with amount of turnover they have experienced from last season’s team.

There you have it. You’re entire Saturday has been planned. Remember it’s a marathon not a sprint so take a walk outside every so often. Saturday Blitz needs you in peak form when November hits and the College Football Playoff is being decided. Don’t forget to tweet me your must-have game day food and beverages as well as a photo of your game day room set-up.

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