Thanks to all who voted in the poll. It may only be clear as mud, but it certainly is fun to speculate; both as to what a schedule might look like and which format would be better overall.
And I don't envy the admins of the SEC for determining which is better, the current 6-1-1 format or a nine game format like a 6-2-1. I tend to side with Saban in that the fans are what matter most when it comes to the schedule. Tickets are expensive. Taking your family and joining your friends for a gameday is even more so. It just makes sense for the game that every Saturday is centered around to be worth the time and money invested. In other words, less Buffalos and more SEC West foes.
But enough of my opinion. I've put together mock 2015 schedules based on the current skeleton at FBS Schedules. I'm a visual learner, so seeing it laid out helps me get a better grasp.
Completely Circumstantial 8 game 2015 schedule
Sept 5 - Southern Jaguars
Sept 12 - South Carolina
Sept 19 - at Alabama
Sept 26 - BYE
Oct 3 - Missouri
Oct 10 - at Tennessee
Oct 17 - at Vanderbilt
Oct 24 - Buffalo
Oct 31 - Florida
Nov 7 - ULM Warhawks
Nov 14 - at Auburn
Nov 21 - Kentucky
Nov 28 - at Georgia Tech
Completely Circumstantial 9 game 2015 schedule
Sept 5 - Southern Jaguars
Sept 12 - South Carolina
Sept 19 - at Alabama
Sept 26 - Arkansas
Oct 3 - Missouri
Oct 10 - at Tennessee
Oct 17 - at Vanderbilt
Oct 24 - BYE
Oct 31 - Florida
Nov 7 - ULM Warhawks
Nov 14 - at Auburn
Nov 21 - Kentucky
Nov 28 - at Georgia Tech
Both of those give UGA seven home games, something McGarity has also put an emphasis on. What it boils down to is, would you rather play an additional SEC West team (and not have to wait a decade to do so) or suffer through another patsy.
*the Alabama game is based on McGarity's recent comments that hint at the 2014 schedule having the Crimson Tide in it. Potentially.
