Florida would be biggest loser in SEC's 10-game football schedule via one potential format

On Thursday, the SEC announced that it would go to a 10-game conference-only football schedule this season that won't start until Sept. 26 due to the coronavirus pandemic. That means each school would add two opponents from the opposite division, and if some reports are to be believed the University of Florida would be by far the biggest loser of these changes.

Paul Finebaum had reported that each school would add its cross-divisional rotating opponents for the 2021 and 2022 seasons to this year's schedule. However, he backtracked on that a bit, but it's still a very feasible option and the easiest route. Another scenario, if less likely according to ESPN, is for the league to devise a ranking system based on strength of schedule (good luck making any coaches happy there). Any plan must be approved by athletic directors. Regardless, the SEC will maintain its two-division structure.

Let's assume for these purposes the SEC goes with the cross-divisional rotating option. Why would Florida lose big?

First of all, let's mention the Gators will not play bitter rival Florida State for the first time since 1957 – this year it had been scheduled for Nov. 28 in Tallahassee. That means UF overall lost FSU, Eastern Washington, South Alabama and New Mexico State out of conference. The Gators would have been favored to win all four, and the latter three as massive betting favorites.

Secondly, Florida would easily add the two toughest combined crossover opponents of any school in the SEC: vs. Alabama (was to visit Gainesville in 2021) and at Texas A&M (was to host UF in 2022). The Crimson Tide are loaded per usual and are the -135 favorites on the William Hill moneyline odds to win the SEC Championship Game – which has been moved to Dec. 19 in Atlanta. UF is a +600 fourth-favorite. All odds are going to change some once the SEC finalizes the schedule (Florida's would get longer for sure if adding Bama and A&M).

The Gators have lost the past six against Alabama, covering only in a 29-15 defeat in the 2015 SEC title game. The schools haven't played in the regular season since 2014 and last did in the 2016 SEC title game.

Texas A&M (+1200) could be poised to take a big jump forward in Coach Jimbo Fisher's third season with a couple of terrific recruiting classes and one of the SEC's top returning quarterbacks in senior Kellen Monday. Of course, Fisher used to beat Florida often while coaching Florida State.

By comparison, Georgia (+450 to win SEC title) is per usual Florida's top/only competition (sorry Vols fans, maybe next year) to win the SEC East Division, and the Dawgs would luck out in this scenario by adding West Division schools Arkansas (Hogs to visit Sanford in 2021) and Mississippi State (UGA at Starkville in 2022). The Razorbacks last won an SEC game on Oct. 28, 2017 at Ole Miss, and the Bulldogs are somewhat in a rebuilding stage under first-year coach Mike Leach.

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