By Olin Buchanan, Special to SI.com, Rivals.com

5. Mississippi State

Mississippi State schedule Date Opponent Aug. 30 LSU Sept. 8 at Tulane Sept. 15 at Auburn Sept. 22 Gardner-Webb Sept. 29 at South Carolina Oct. 6 Ala.-Birmingham Oct. 13 Tennessee Oct. 20 at West Virginia Oct. 27 at Kentucky Nov. 10 Alabama Nov. 17 at Arkansas Nov. 24 Ole Miss

Behind the ranking: Mississippi State must play two bona fide national championship contenders in LSU and West Virginia. They also face four teams that won at least 10 games in 2006. However, the competition will ease up with Division I-AA Gardner-Webb and Conference-USA opponents UAB and Tulane.

Toughest game: The Bulldogs aren't lacking for candidates with LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, West Virginia and Arkansas on the agenda, but we'll say the Oct. 20 trip to Morgantown is most intimidating. They will face Steve Slaton and Pat White, who last year led West Virginia to more than 300 rushing yards per game. The Mountaineers have national championship aspirations, and Big East teams are always looking to prove they're not inferior.

Cakewalk: When Division I-AA Gardner-Webb opens the season against Ohio University it will mark the first game in school history against a Division I-A opponent. Mississippi State will be their second. Gardner-Webb was 6-5 last season and 2-2 in the Big South Conference.

Trap game: A year ago the Bulldogs were upset by Tulane in Starkville. This time they face them in New Orleans -- between games against LSU and Auburn.

Changes from last season: The non-conference schedule is virtually the same, but this year requires a trip to West Virginia. Tennessee enters as an Eastern Division opponent while Georgia exits.

6. Kentucky

Kentucky schedule Date Opponent Sept. 1 E. Kentucky Sept. 8 Kent State Sept. 15 Louisville Sept. 22 at Arkansas Sept. 29 Florida Atlantic Oct. 4 at South Carolina Oct. 13 LSU Oct. 20 Florida Oct. 27 Miss. State Nov. 10 at Vanderbilt Nov. 17 at Georgia Nov. 24 Tennessee

Behind the ranking: Louisville heads an otherwise mediocre list of nonconference opponents. The SEC portion of the schedule is rugged, but at least the Wildcats can find solace in playing eight home games.

Toughest game: The Wildcats face LSU, Louisville, Florida and Georgia, but their toughest game has to be against Tennessee -- which they haven't beaten in 26 years. They came close last season, but fell 17-12. Does that close call signal the streak is close to ending? More likely, it just reinforces that Tennessee always finds a way to beat the Wildcats.

Cakewalk: Only once has Kentucky scheduled in-state little brother Eastern Kentucky, and that 1998 matchup ended with the Wildcats rolling to a 52-7 victory. This year's season-opener figures to have similar results. Then the Wildcats get to follow that up with Kent State.

Trap game: Kentucky was a 38-26 winner over Vanderbilt in '06. This year the Wildcats go to Nashville, though. The venue will change, but the offensive production probably won't. That game falls a week before Kentucky travels to Georgia.

Changes from last season: Rather than staying home to face Ole Miss from the Western Division, the Wildcats must go to Arkansas. Tough exchange. In non-conference action, MAC champion Central Michigan is replaced by MAC also-ran Kent State.

7. Georgia

Georgia schedule Date Opponent Sept. 1 Oklahoma State Sept. 8 South Carolina Sept. 15 Western Carolina Sept. 22 at Alabama Sept. 29 Ole Miss Oct. 6 at Tennessee Oct. 13 at Vanderbilt Oct. 27 vs. Florida Nov. 3 Troy Nov. 10 Auburn Nov. 17 Kentucky Nov. 24 at Georgia Tech

Behind the ranking: Props for having to face Tennessee in Knoxville and Alabama in Tuscaloosa -- and Florida at a neutral site. But Georgia Tech in Atlanta is a pseudo-home game. Five teams that won bowl games last year are on the docket this year.

Toughest game: Tennessee routed the Bulldogs 51-33 in 2006, and now the venue changes to Knoxville.

Cakewalk: Western Carolina is coming off a 2-9 record in Division I-AA and is playing Georgia for only the second time in history. The Bulldogs romped 48-0 in 1991, and this year it probably won't be that close.

Trap game: The Dawgs will be looking to avenge last year's 24-22 loss to Vanderbilt, which was just Vandy's fourth victory ever in Athens. But Georgia's trip to Nashville comes after a game at Tennessee and precedes the annual showdown with Florida. Still, Vanderbilt hasn't beaten Georgia in consecutive years since 1956-58, so that upset can't happen again. Can it?

Changes from last season: An exchange of Big 12 foes -- Oklahoma State for Colorado -- adds a little more difficulty, although the Bulldogs had to rally to beat the 2-10 Buffaloes last year. Alabama replaces Mississippi State as an inter-divisional opponent.

8. LSU

LSU schedule Date Opponent Aug. 30 at Miss. State Sept. 8 Virginia Tech Sept. 15 Middle Tennessee Sept. 22 South Carolina Sept. 29 at Tulane Oct. 6 Florida Oct. 13 at Kentucky Oct. 20 Auburn Nov. 3 at Alabama Nov. 10 Louisiana Tech Nov. 17 at Ole Miss Nov. 23 Arkansas

Behind the ranking: Virginia Tech is a marquee opponent, but no other nonconference foe will offer much of a challenge. The Tigers face four teams that won at least 10 games in 2006, but all of them travel to Baton Rouge.

Toughest game: There are several possibilities, especially with Florida and Auburn on the schedule. But the first test may also be the sternest because of timing. LSU will have a new starting quarterback in Matt Flynn and will be replacing two receivers who were first-round choices in the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech returns eight starters from the nation's top defensive unit.

Cakewalk: Louisiana Tech has lost 16 out of 17 games against LSU. Coming off a 3-10 finish in 2006 -- and with a new coach -- the second win isn't coming this year.

Trap game: A 49-0 pasting of Kentucky last season may leave the Tigers feeling very confident when they go to Lexington on Oct. 13. Perhaps they could be overconfident. That game also falls between contests with Florida and Auburn.

How it compares to last year: Adding Virginia Tech is an upgrade from Arizona. That sets up one of the nation's most-anticipated nonconference matchups. The Tigers lose Tennessee from the East and gain South Carolina. Most importantly, they get Florida and Auburn in Baton Rouge this season.