Every year there are games that define the college football season. They decide who plays for National Championships and who doesn't. These are my top 5, most important games in 2008.
5. Alabama @ Clemson- 8/30/08
Many people have Clemson in their top 10 and Alabama, well, not so much. Clemson's easy schedule allows them to have a chance at a National Championship game this season. Alabama hopes to show off their #1 recruiting class. This might be Clemson's only real chance at losing. Once they get rolling it will be hard for any ACC team to beat them. So Alabama will try and catch them off guard week 1 and ruin their National Chamionsip dreams. If not, it might be a long year for the Crimson Tide.
4. Missouri @ Texas- 10/18/08
Two top 10 teams in many peoples preseason top 25. This is a huge Big 12 match-up between teams dreaming big right now. Despite being on different sides of the Big 12 this game will provide a costly loss to one of the teams involved for a conference championship. The winner will likely be sitting pretty for a conference championship game bid, and maybe a National Championship game.
3. Texas @ Oklahoma- 10/11/08
You have to feel bad for Texas as they play two of the most important games of the year. Not only does this game have huge Conference and National Championship dreams on the line, it also has bragging rights in one of college football's best rivalries. Two top ten teams will be dueling out in, in my opinion, the most competetive conference in college football next season.
2. Ohio State @ Southern Cal- 9/13/08
One of the most anticipated non-conference games ever. Two top 5 teams will be playing for, most likely, the #1 ranking in college football. Ohio State looks to take an early edge over the field to return to the National Championship for the third straight season. While USC is trying to prove that they can get back for the first time since falling to Texas.
1. Florida vs. Georgia- 11/01/08
The reason this game gets the edge over OSU @ USC is because it's a conference game. And because Florida and Georgia are both in the SEC East means that only one of them can be in the Confernce Championship game, and most likely it will be the winner of this game. Not to mention it is one of the best rivalries in college football. And the battle between Heisman hopefuls Tim Tebow and Knowshon Moreno.
What about Georgia @ LSU? Many people are ready to write off my Tigers because Perrilloux is gone but what people seem to forget is that both offensive and defensive lines are intact (with the exception of one player from each side) which is where battles are won and lost in my opinion. If Jarret Lee can just stay as mistake free as possible they'll be a good team still. Also LSU is much like USC and Miami of old there is so much talent there its all about reloading not rebuilding.
All these games are can't miss and will all have an effect on BCS race. Clemson is my sleeper team next year. They should be in the title hunt. CJ Spiller is my pick to take home the Heisman.
LSU/UGA does not belong on this list. LSU will reload, but they've lost too much to compete for the SEC title, let alone the BCS title.
sls and edmon,
count them out if you want to. They havn't lost as much as you think. QB is an issue but since when did LSU have a great QB? As for reloading yes but LSU is rich in talent. Mark my words we aren't going to be a walk over team. Besides I like the under-dog status better anyway.
gambs,
I'm not saying they aren't going to be competitive. I'm saying they are going to lose one or two that they should have one. They will take a step back. Maybe not a big one, but they will lose three or four games.
1st of all, very nice blog redsox & very good choices (all 5 of em')! Gambitxxx, I am super pumped for UGA's visit to Baton Rouge & while I agree LSU simply RELOADS, w/so many Senior losses, I expect your Bayou Bengals to suffer 2 or 3 close losses but hey, what do I know?
Anyways, I am totally stoked for the opening game in the durty-durty, my hometown, ATL, GA for a classic SEC vs. ACC matchup btw. Clemson & Bama. You described the impact of this big game perfectly. MO vs TX; 2 teams w/the talent to win the Big 12 & possibly play for the MNC. Red River Shootout; winner (as usual) in the driver's seat to win the Big 12 South. USC vs. OSU; Biggest OOC matchup of the 08' season; #1 or at least #2 ranking on the line, can't argue w/that.
Finally, my favorite game to attend & the most anticipated SEC tilt of the entire season, the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. I am biased, of course, but redsox makes a great point for why this SEC border war is the biggest game of the 08' season. Only 1 of us can win the SEC East, much less the SEC Title which should mean a spot in the MNC game. That said, c'mon now Reverend, UGA has been the Gators beyatches for the majority of the past 18 years but it's time for the Dawgs to take it back to the big hair era of the 80's and remind yall swamp lizards who owns who in this tradition rich rivarly. I'll see ya down in Jax. on 11/1/08, til' then, good luck to your Gators!
GOOOOOO DAWGS!
SIC EM!
WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
Hey...I like these choices, except for #5. I don't see Bama being a major player, but hey, it's all subjective. I think #1 or #2 could be interchangeable, but like the Heisman angle big time as the deciding factor! Nicely done! :)
What about Nebraska Vs. Virginia Tech? Many think Nebraska is out of the picture, but Nebraska has talent, the offense is going to be one of the best in the Nation, if the defense gets it together....
Nebraska could be 10-2 or undefeated by years end. The Big 12 North is going to be very tough next year. Georgia Vs. LSU is a big match up and don't forget Auburn
I agree. Although the Clemson vs. Bama game is not the matchup it could be if Bama was what it once was. If they win I still don't see them in a BCS game but laying it out as you did I agree that it is a huge game for Clemson as they seem to have the inside track to the ACC title. I also can't wait for the Auburn/WV game. We will see if Auburn belongs in the title picture and it could help or hurt WV's chance at the title as well.
The O-Cry-O State game vs Southern Cal is the biggest game of the year. Two defending conference champs with BCS title implications.
I'll take the Auburn at West Va over the Mizzou/Oklahoma game. Let's see if Auburn can shake up the Big East standings on the road in Morgantown.
Honorable Mentions are:
Tennessee @ UCLA
UGA @ Arizona State (I smell upset on this one)
Michigan @ Ohio State (I'm biased but things will be back to normal in the Big 10 when Michigan wins the title again this season).
Mizzou doesn't play OU. The Mizzou/Texas is huge but so is Mizzou/KU as it may be for the North title. UCLA will be bad this year but I agree that the ASU/UGA will be big as well. U of M will be down this year without a QB that has played in college and you think they beat an OSU team that is almost all Juniors and Seniors????
Go Blue92, I would take Auburn vs WVU over Mizzou vs Texas as well.(I think thats what you meant) Both good games but the Texas Oklahoma game will be the better game in Big 12 competition. Nice to see a Wolverine fan who is still dreaming of a victory over the Buckeyes. Always a contest but UofM will not prevail in 2008. Maybe '09. Maybe not. There is nothing normal about OSU vs UofM.
Lisa, I like the Clemson Alabama game. (Of course my son is a Clemson grad so I am biased.) Clemson is an habitual wanna be and this game will tell us if their ACC championship in 08 is real.
Gambit, no disrespect to the current national champs but your 2008 schedule is a bit boring. Might like to watch you play Appy State to see if they can pull another upset. LSU Georgia is a great game, no doubt, but the Florida Georgia game has more interest with the Heisman angle and the SEC east on the line.(And there is also the cocktail party we can't talk about.)
I like the list and also agree wit GOBLUE92. The UGA @ ASU game will be huge. SEC vs. Pac-10 will be a showcase as both teams should be in the title hunt. These are definatly two of the top conferences and it will be fun to watch this game. Watch out for the upset as I think the Devils can come up big.
You missed one. Ohio State-Youngstown State should be on that list. Ok just kidding. I'm just pissed that I just read an article on Bucknuts.com that defended big BCS teams playing 1-AA teams... I know Bucknuts is an OSU homer site, and they usually have good articles, but this is a joke. Scheduling 1-AA teams should automatically disqualify a BCS team from playing in the NC game. OSU fan or not, these games are a joke.
Anyway, I can't wait for all of these games, except for maybe Clemson-Bama. If Clemson is any good, they should win fairly easily, as I don't think Bama is there quite yet. OSU-USC is obviously my #1, but Georgia-Florida is right behind and I think the winners of those 2 games will meet in the NC game.
GAMBIT...EXPECTING LSU TO BE NATIONALY CONSIDERED A CONTENDER AFTER LOSING ALL THE PLAYERS THEY DID IS NOT REALISTIC....they will have to prove it on the fireld.....however osu was predicted 3rd in the big ten last year and did a little better so...with a good coach like miles and a deep talent pool who knows
Yes Megabuckeye> It does make a difference when you actually have to play good teams on your regular season schedule- doesn't it? It's much easier to make it the NC game year after year to get blown out when youngstown state and Indiana are two regular season games you worry about.
I like Bobby. He's an amazing guy. I saw his profile on a FREE & HOT celebrity dating site called ' R i c h M a t c h M a k in g . co m'. But I don't know if it is him. You may go there and check if it is just a rumor
"And Keith, he's only a June-YUH!"
I miss the announcers back in the one game a week years. They were freaks.
A&M/Texas is Thanksgiving week and it's a great in state hate game. Families are split and I know plenty of grads from both schools. I sit on the sidelines and watch them yell at each other.
Well its seems as if alot of poster are cocerned about The Georgia and LSU game its Simple.The Dawgs will bring it to Death Valley. Simple pick on the posted five games
5. Bama vs Clemson = Bama Roll Tide
4. Mo Vs Tx = Texas no problem
3. Tx vs Ok = OK Sooners
2. Ohio St vs USC = USC
1. Ga Vs Fl = Georgia Tebow eats more dirt this year !!!!
I do have to agree with the comment about Neb. Virginia Tech.....Anyone who knows anything about Big 12 football had better not count out the Huskers...thats how they'll get ya....Bam-Shazzamm!!!
ReverendRhythm ur comment amuses me for 2 reasons. First in ur own words you say you are going to the "Georgia game." Is this b/c GA owns the game? lol Y wouldn't u refer to it as the Fla game? But on a bigger note. I don't kno exactly what u meant when u said that UGA was the Gators bi tches, but from my experience w/ fla fans naive thinking I would say u r refering to Wins Vs. Losses. In that case, u need to do some research. Yes in the past 16 or 17 yrs Fla has only lost 3 games. But if u ck into it UGA still leads the win column. It's only fact. So once u realize that, if u thought more into the whole thing u would realize that 16 or 17 years ago UGA led Fla w/ about 22 wins. Now isn't that funny. So in the end, it is Fla who is still our bi tches.
OSU-USC will be the biggest game of the year bar none because it's the earliest one that means anything. Bama-Clemson? Nobody cares about them, and Alabama is gonna get creamed. In the USC-OSU game, both will be unbeaten while I don't think both teams in your other picks will be. Texas could lose BOTH of those games. FLA-UGA? Please! the SEC is about survival if nothing else.
Georgia @ Arizona State is going to be a huge early season matchup. They will have to earn that win in Tempe. They lose that one and they are going to have to win out to have any shot at the National Championship Game.
In the USC-OSU game we'll get to see Malauga, or however his name is spelled vs Wells, that will be more fun that watching Tebow and Moreno take turns.
USC by 14. FLA by 10. yada yada yada
REDSOX AWSESOM: IT SOUNDS LIKE OSU-theNUTSEEDS HAVE BEEN AT 1 ALL THE TIME AND USC IS JUST SOME BACK SEAT DRIVER. WEEL SINCE 2002 1 HAS GONE THRU USC:
2003- 1 - SHARED
2004- 1 UNDEFEATED
2005- 2 LOST 1 BY BAD CALLS.
2006- 4 LOST TO UCLA TO LET FLORIDA IN THE GAME
2007- 2 BROKEN FINGER GAME LET OSU IN.
OSU LOST BOTH GAMES BIGTIME AND NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. USC OR GEORGIA SHOULD PLAYED LSU.
LSU AND OSU LOST IN NOVEMBER WITH NO BROKEN FINGER QB'S.
the NUTSEEDS HAVE A LAST CHANCE SEPT 13. THEY SHOULD WIN. USC CAN SURVIVE AND COME BACK AND BE IN THE TOP 4. OSU HAS NO RETURN. JUICE WILL SEE THEM AT HOME.
OSU IS A BIG BLOWHARD. JUST LIKE WOODY HAYES. HE BLOWHARDED HIS WAY INTO BEING VOTED #1 AND HEISMANS MANY TIMES. THE PRESS WAS IN THE TANK FOR WOODY.
JOHN MCKAY WAS A BETTER COACH- NEVER HIT A PLAYER, NEVER HAD TEMPER OUTBREAKS.
JOHN MCKAY PLAYED AND BEAT THE BEST MOST OF THE TIME:
WOODY, THE BEAR, BO, DAN DEVINE, ROYAL, SWITZER, BROYLES, ND ARA,
HE BEAT THEM ALL WHILE WOODY HID IN THE BIG TEN.
ND WAS ONLY A SHORT BUS RIDE AWAY, AND HE WAS THE COWARD.
FIGHT ON.
Lisa,
as a bama fan I agree with you, but for other reasons, if not for the QB hitting the ball with his knee, OSU wouldve been playing someone else?
but the writer states Clemson has chance for NC, but bama could spoil, but turns around like bama will not matter in the rest of the season? what beat bama and you are in NC, loose to Bama and wow?
What's the big deal? Clemson over Alabama. Texas over Mizzery. Oklahomo over Texas. USC over OSU. Florida-Georgia tie...cuz nobody wants to see those two loser schools play anyways.
Alabama and Clemson?? What are you smoking? Alabama is only the third best football team in the state of Alabama. They have to make it by the powerhouse LaTech first, and must win at least one time in the last 7 attempts with Auburn.
Auburn/LSU, Georgia/LSU, Auburn/Georgia, heck, just about any SEC game is more important than the Alabama/Clemson game.
There's so much parody in today's college game which leads me to a very impetuous prediction. So do not be astonished when the following comes to fruition. It's very dangerous to overlook anyone in the SEC, but remember this admonishment...Sylvester Croom at Mississippi State is tactfully and quietly building another Virginia Tech in Starkville. The defense is already in place with two, equally competitive units. This same defense last year only rushed three or four guys and still got immense pressure on some pretty good QB'S such as Ainge, Woodson, Mitchell, Wilson, and Schaeffer. Running Back Anthony Dixon could be one of the most underrated backs in the SEC, and Derek Pegues is unequivocably the most complete and versatile athlete in the SEC. Numbers don't lie.
I can't wait for the season to start. The SEC rivalry between Florida and Georgia has to be the best game in college football. My prediction.....UGA with a WIN and Knowshon Moreno for Heisman.
GoBlue92....In your dreams brother! Ya don't have a QB, your coach is worried about the millions he will lose from chumpimg out at WV and basically, Michigan is toast...history...no mas!!! So keep your crack pipe full that you have there, and maybe youe hallucinations will win you a NC!!!!!
I understand fans staying loyal to thier teams and bashing other teams, like michigan hatin ohio, Ga hatin fla, Texas hatin Oklahoma, and etc. But I've had about enough of SEC haters. I wish the SEC would pull out Vandy and replace w/ any team in the nation. Except ohio, they have already prowen they can't handle the SEC. lol But put michigan, usc, oklahoma, texas, I don't care who. Let them play a SEC schedule and lets see how well they come out. We have too much talent on too many teams to always be prepared for. Thats why a LSU team may win what is expected to be a close/hard game and then the following week lose to say Mississippi State or Alabama or whom ever which they may have been expected to roll over. I respect all the conferences and I have many teams that I admire in different conferences. And maybe I'm bias b/c I'm a dawgs fan. But even tho I hate the Fla Gators I have to respect them for thier talent and SEC schedule.
Now I don't kno which conference I would say is next best to the SEC. When you got PAC 10's (USC, UCLA, CAL, ARIZONA, & ARIZONA STATE) BIG 12's (OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, TEXAS TECH, & TEXAS A&M) OR ACC's (MIAMI, VA TECH, FSU, VIRGINIA, MD) But no conference has the depth of talent that the SEC does.
I think Bama will be a big surprise next year. Tho we did have our downfall last year to certain teams do remember that Georgia was taken to OT and LSU enjoyed a late funble in the Bama game last year in route to their national championship. Clemson had better watch out. Bama will roll.
My predictions are as follows....
A bunch of speds will come on here claiming that their team is the best and therefore whoever they play will be the biggest games of the year
Everyone associated with the SEC (even loosely) will say they are the best conference in football (and they probably are) and any losses their team suffers is a direct result of this
Ohio State will get pounded by the posters regardless of the fact that they could very well be the best team in the country. why? Jealousy
My Seminoles will have to forfeit 2 games because they won't have enough players to field a team (due to suspensions)
I was born in Florida and went to college at UF. I used to live in Boston and Philly. I now reside in Houston, TX.
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