Well, there's really no way to tell for certain. The Ole Miss game time has been announced, but that's really early in the season. Here's a rough outline of how it may work:
1) Utah State- As could be expected, this won't be a big game as for as TV goes. Since it is the opener, however, I'm sure it will get picked up by somebody. Hopefully it won't be a Jefferson-Pilot game, but that's possible. If that doesn't happen, it'll probably end up on ESPN2 sometime in the afternoon.
2) Ole Miss- ESPN or ESPN2, night game.
3) Western Carolina- Probably destined for pay-per-view in mid-afternoon. That week Florida plays Tennessee and LSU plays Auburn, so those two games will occupy the CBS and ESPN slots, and truthfully it's such a low-key game that no one else will pick it up.
4) Arkansas- This is probably our best chance to get the CBS game early on in the year. Obviously they'll pick an SEC game, and this one is the best of the week. Aside from us and Arkansas, the biggest games are Florida v. Kentucky and MSU v. LSU, so we'll likely get CBS for that game, and at the very least an ESPN night game.
5) South Carolina- Unfortunately, while this game may seem to be a good one, it's likely going to lose out to other games that week. That week, LSU plays Georgia and Arkansas plays Florida, so those two games will almost certainly take the CBS and ESPN slots. Moreover, Auburn plays Tennessee in Knoxville, which will likely garner the ESPN2 slot. Unfortunately, this will probably be an 11:30 kickoff on JP.
6) Kentucky- Hopefully this game in Lexington won't be a Jefferson-Pilot game, but we're going to have to just hope for a night-game on ESPN2. Tennessee v. Georgia and LSU v. Florida are certain to take the CBS and ESPN slots.
7) Southern Miss- With any luck, we'll be able to get the Southern Miss game on ESPN2 for a night game. Arkansas v. Auburn and Tennessee v. Ole Miss will, more than likely, take the ESPN and CBS slots, but we should be able to beat out South Carolina v. Kentucky and Vanderbilt v. Georgia to get the night game on ESPN2. On a side not, Tennessee will not have an off-week before they play us this season.
8) Tennessee- At the very least, the Tennessee game will be the ESPN game. Essentially it is going to be a race between our game and Arkansas v. Georgia as to who will get the CBS spot. Whoever loses out there will certainly get the ESPN game at 6:45.
9) MSU- As for the Mississippi State game, it's really hard to say. There are no marque matchups that week, aside from Notre Dame at Tennessee which will take the CBS game. We may be able to pull an ESPN or ESPN2 kickoff or so, but it's hard to say. While there is no stiff competition that week, this game could easily match up two teams with losing records, so that's unattractive. However, perhaps the media will make a deal out of the Croom/Shula/UA relationship, and maybe that'll get the game on ESPN. If not, be ready for an 11:30 kickoff.
10) LSU- As is usual with most games from Tiger Stadium, this one is likely to be a night game on ESPN. LSU is certain to be very strong again next year, and if we can surprise some folks and have a good record going into this game, we may be able to pull out the CBS game. However, it's likely that slot will be reserved for the Auburn v. Georgia game. Our game and Arkansas v. Ole Miss will get the ESPN slots, so at least we don't have to worry about an early kickoff.
11) Auburn- Fortunately, the Iron Bowl will likely be another CBS game for us. There are several big games that week, such as Florida at Florida State, but fortunately they will be covered by other networks. If Ole Miss has a strong season, and then the LSU v. Ole Miss game has a greater significance, and could possibly be the CBS game. However, I doubt that will happen, as I figure LSU will have pretty much locked up the West by then. Fortunately, it will likely be a 2:30 kickoff on CBS, and at worse, a 6:45 kickoff on ESPN.
There's a rough draft for you. Certainly it is subject to change depending on how we and other teams are playing throughout the eyar, but that can kinda give you the jist of it.
[This message has been edited by mib3fan (edited 06-12-2004).]
