Must See Games This Year

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Must See Games Involving Southern Teams

1. Florida vs Georgia-The Cocktail Party could host its biggest game to date this season. Both these teams are bound to be preseason top 5 by most publications and could be #1 and #2 entering this game. Not only does the game feature great teams, but it also has some superstar names in it. You have the returning Heisman winner in Tebow, the nation's best RB in Moreno, and maybe the #1 NFL QB prospect in Stafford. To go along with all of this you have the storyline of the Bulldogs TD celebration last year. As usual the crowd will be 50/50 on a neutral field. What isn't to like?

2. Alabama at LSU-Nick Saban returns to Tiger Stadium. Even if the 2 teams were winless at this point this game would still be one of the more entertaining games of the season. You've got to think those Cajuns will have something special for Saban's return in College Football's most intimidating atmosphere. ESPN, please do everyone a favor and use one of your passes over CBS for this game.   This game has to be played at Night!!

3. Missouri at Texas-2 very good QBs on the field in what could become the biggest game in Missouri Football history. Win this game and the Tigers will be looking at a 2nd straight Big 12 North Title and possibly another shot at the Oklahoma Sooners.

4. Auburn at West Virginia-One of the best Thursday Night Games ESPN has ever offered. WVU has always offered one of College Football's best home fields and hosting a SEC team will make it even better. Auburn is a good bet to be a contender for the SEC West title and WVU is a good bet for another BCS bowl game. Could be a game between 2 top 10 teams and we all know how Tubby does in those kind of games.

5. Clemson vs Alabama- ESPN's College Gameday should pay a visit to the Georgia Dome for this clash of Southern Football Titans.    The Tigers are legit National Title Game Contenders, The Tide are in year 2 with Nick Saban. Can Saban's defense stop one of the nation's best backfields? Will Clemson continue its struggles against non Gamecock SEC teams? We'll know these questions early

6. LSU at Auburn- The home team has won every game in this series since 2000. The past 4 games have been decided by an average of 3 points. The winner will likely be in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.

7. Florida at LSU-The 2 Buckeye Beaters meet for a October 11 showdown at the Swamp. Even though LSU lost a top 10 NFL pick last season, they still are loaded on the defensive side of the ball and could give Tebow some problems. Les leads Urban 2-1, but in the Swamp things could very well even out between the 2

8. Georgia at Arizona State-For the first time in a few decades the Dogs step outside the South for a regular season game. Arizona State should be one of the PAC 10's top teams this year as it was last. In big games Sun Devil Stadium can get very rowdy so the Dogs need to be ready.

9. Tennessee at UCLA-This will be the 6th time since 1985 that these 2 teams have met. In that 23 year span the Vols are 4-1-1 against UCLA. Rick Neuheisel is in his first year with the Bruins and a win against a tradition rich program like UT would certainly build momentum for UCLA.

10. Texas at Texas Tech-Many are calling this Mike Leach's best team yet. If inded the Red Raiders are ready to make the jump to the nation's elite then they have to win this game. It's possible TT could be 9-0 going into this game and a win over the Horns would setup a huge showdown with Oklahoma.

11. USF at West Virginia-The game is being played on December 6. While the Big East doesn't have an actual championship game, this game could determine who get the BCS bid. USF's schedule is favorable to have the Bulls undefeated at this point. If WVU can get past Auburn, it could be a NC contender. The Big East's top coach vs its newest

12. Texas vs Oklahoma-The Red River Shootout once again is one of College Football's top games. Stoops is 6-3 against Brown, but Mac has won 2 of the last 3 in the series

13. Clemson at Wake Forest-The 2 best teams in the Atlantic Division of the ACC meet in Winston Salem for a big Thursday night game. On paper Clemson is clearly the more talented team, but in the past Grobe has had a way of giving Bowden fits despite the 2-5 record against Bowden's Tigers.

14. Southern Cal at Virginia-While the Hoos aren't at the level of Southern Cal, they do have enough talent to stay on the field with the Trojans at home. Sanchez has yet to prove he can be a winner as a starter at Southern Cal and this game could provide us with a big upset. In the end the Trojans are likely to win, but keep an eye on this one.

15. Georgia at Auburn-The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry gives us a possible SEC CHampionship game preview. The Dogs have won the last 2 in one of the closest series in college football history.

16. Georgia at South Carolina-Last year a Jasper Brinkley led Gamecock Defense shutdown the Dogs in Athens and kept UGA out of the National Championship game. The Gamecocks usually play the Dogs tough and we all know Spurrier is at his best when the Dogs come up on the schedule. USC does have some serious questions on offense, but an improved defense led by the talented Ellis Johnson at DC will keep the game close.

17. Arkansas at Texas-It's a shame this rivalry is no longer played every year. At one time it was one of college football's biggest. Texas has dominated the series alltime, but the Hogs have won 3 of the last 4. The offensive mastermind of Bobby Petrino will get his first road test in Austin against the defensive genius in Will Muschamp.

18. Miami at Florida-Another rivalry that we need to see more of. The Canes were a dissapointing 5-7 last year, so this game isn't as big as one might have thought when it was scheduled. Still plenty of talent on both teams and a good chance for us to see this rare Sunshine Rivalry game.

19. Clemson at Florida State-Bowden Bowl X comes to us from Tallahassee. This could be the only game Clemson isn't favored to win this season. Daddy leads the series 6-3, but Tommy has won 3 of the last 4 in the series. Last year's game featured a dominant first half by Clemson and a dominant 2nd half by the Noles.

20. Georgia at LSU-The Dogs have such a tough schedule this year and once again they show up on our list. By this time LSU will have broken in a QB and should be ready for the Dogs in a game between 2 great defenses in Tiger Stadium

21. Ole Miss at Arkansas-Airplanes with banners, texting news ladies, running off local stars, transferring to Oklahoma State, and losing to Vandy......These are just a few reasons Arkansas fans love to hate Houston Nutt. It will be interesting to see the reaction the man who spent a decade coaching the Hogs gets when he steps on field to play the school he grew up loving. Nutt inherits a talented group from Coach "O", while Petrino inherits a run based offense and a lack of good defensive players.

22. Alabama at Auburn-6 straight wins for the Tigers in this series. It's the most ever by the program over its rival. This is the South's best rivalry and Nick Saban needs to win this one. It appears as if Bama is on the right path, but losing a 7th game against Auburn would hurt.

23. Miami at Texas A&M-While neither team is likely to compete for a championship this year, this still should be a fun game to watch between 2 historic programs from 2 BCS conferences. Miami won the game between the two last year, but this year A&M gains the 12th Man

24. Texas Tech at Oklahoma-Last year the Sooners were upset in Lubbock and TT showed it was ready to compete against the big boys of the Big XII. Another big test for Mike Leach, who in the past hasn't won many in big games.

25. Virginia Tech at North Carolina-My most improved team gets a big home game in September. Win this one and Butch Davis and the Heels could be headed to the ACC Championship game in year 2. VT does lose some talent on both sides of the ball, but they still have a great coaching staff and once again will be a BCS Contender

Big Games Involving Non BCS Teams

1. South Florida vs Central Florida-The Bulls take their first trip to UCF's new on campus stadium. USF has owned this rivalry, but Bright House Networks Stadium has become one of the toughest small stadium atmosphere in College Football

2. Troy at Florida Atlantic-This game features the 2 best programs in the Sun Belt Conference. Rusty Smith leads the way for the Owls against a tough Troy defense. This is a Tuesday Night Game, so turn off that episode of "House" and tune into this big SBC game.

3. Boise State at Southern Miss-2 of the best Non BCS programs in College Football meet. Last season Boise had little trouble with the Eagles, but that wasn't at "The Rock" USM has made some expansion and facility upgrades and this will no doubt be big game for first year coach Larry Fedora.

4. Tulsa at Arkansas-Do you like offense? Do you like storylines? Well, this game will have both. Gus Malzahn's Hurry Up No Huddle offense against Bobby Petrino's power spread offense. Malzahn is the former legendary Arkansas High School football coach of Mitch Mustain and won multiple state titles. Malzahn then took the job of OC at Arkansas, but left after 1 season because he never had full control of the offense.

5. TCU at Oklahoma-The last time the Horned Frogs were in Norman they beat the Sooners 17-10 in Lincoln. Gary Patterson's record of 62-25 is one of the best in college football this decade. If Stoops isn't careful we could see another upset in Norman.

6. West Virginia at East Carolina-The Pirates will likely be hosting a top 10 team in Greenville for week 2. Last year Skip Holtz's team played the Hokies tough, but came out short in the end on an emotional day at VT. This year the game is at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, which can be a very tough place for opponents to play.

7. Texas at UTEP-The Miners play host to the Longhorns for the first time in school history. The 2 programs haven't met since 1933 and the Sun Bowl will be filled with Miner fans and Horn fans. Texas definitely has the edge in talent, but still this is a big game for the city of El Paso.

8.East Carolina at UCF-The winner of this game could become the winner of Conference USA and earn a trip to the Liberty Bowl.

9. Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech-Possibly the biggest game to be seen in Ruston, LA as this game will be on national TV on ESPN. Plenty of cowbells will make the trip to play Derek Dooley's Dogs(son of Vince). Dooley improved the Dogs by 2 games last season and this year should improve them a bit more.

10. Appalachian State at LSU- Don't expect App State to go into Death Valley and beat LSU. Yes, they beat Michigan, but the Tigers see Southern Speed every game. They will be prepared. This is still an interesting game as you'll have 2 National Champions playing each other during the opening week of the season.

Matt Barber
Dixiefriedsports@gmail.com