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SEC Football: 5 most important SEC East games for 2017

By Erich Hilkert

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 29: Head coaches Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs and Jim McElwain of the Florida Gators shake hands after the game at EverBank Field on October 29, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 29: Head coaches Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs and Jim McElwain of the Florida Gators shake hands after the game at EverBank Field on October 29, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – SEPTEMBER 19: Antonio Callaway #81 of the Florida Gators runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – SEPTEMBER 19: Antonio Callaway #81 of the Florida Gators runs with the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

No. 5 – Florida at Kentucky (Sept. 23)

Among the SEC East darkhorse candidates, Kentucky sits at the top. Florida, having won the East the last two years, is the favorite until other teams prove otherwise.

Kentucky returns 16 starters from last season’s squad that finished with a 7-5 overall record. While Kentucky lost Stanley ‘Boom’ Williams, but returns Benny Snell. Snell set the Kentucky freshman rushing record (1,091) and should be one of the top running backs in the SEC this season.

Admittedly, Kentucky has not defeated Florida in 30 years. However, the Wildcats have a relatively easy non-conference schedule (except for Louisville) and play Ole Miss and Mississippi State from the SEC West. They also get Florida at home. The Gators were just 2-3 on the road last season. Kentucky is Florida’s first true road game of the season.

Florida has plenty of talent on offense, but a major question mark at quarterback. They lost a lot of talent on defense as well. They’ll be good, but how good remains to be seen.

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