Ohio StateUSC showdown kicks off another exciting season
editor1 |Aug 24,2008
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By Jim Ralabate
PA SportsTicker College Football Editor
Every college football season produces a handful of memorable
games. Although it is doubtful that those listed below - in
chronological order - all will be classic contests, they are the
15 most anticipated matchups heading into the campaign.
1. Ohio State at USC, September 13 - This showdown could go a
long way in determining whether either of these teams ultimately
reaches the BCS championship game. The No. 1 question mark
heading into the contest will be the health of Trojans
quarterback Mark Sanchez, who is trying to recover quickly from
a dislocated kneecap suffered in training camp.
2. LSU at Auburn, September 20 - The winner of this annual
matchup has gone on to win the SEC West Division in six of the
past eight seasons. LSU won this rivalry contest in thrilling
fashion last season on Demetrius Byrd's game-winning TD catch
with one second left. It marked the eighth straight year that
the home team won this game.
3. Ohio State at Wisconsin, October 4 - The Buckeyes' Big Ten
schedule includes several potential dangerous road games, and
this one likely will be the toughest of them all. The Badgers
have won three of the last five meetings and owned a 17-10 lead
in the second half last year before surrendering four unanswered
touchdowns.
4. Clemson at Wake Forest, October 9 - This Thursday night game
likely will determine who wins the ACC Atlantic Division.
Clemson routed Wake Forest, 44-10, last season and is 7-2
against the Demon Deacons under head coach Tommy Bowden.
5. Texas vs. Oklahoma, October 11 at Dallas, Texas - One of the
fiercest rivalry games in college football, this year's version
of the Red River Rivalry once again will go a long way in
deciding which of these powerhouses takes the Big 12 South
Division crown. The Sooners posted a 28-21 victory last year
and have won six of the last eight meetings with the Longhorns.
6. LSU at Florida, October 11 - The Tigers erased a 10-point
halftime deficit in Baton Rouge last season to win, 28-24, and
win for just the fifth time in their last 20 games with Florida.
Look for Tim Tebow and the Gators, who figure to battle Georgia
for the SEC East, to be hungry for revenge in the rematch.
7. Arizona State at USC, October 11 - Arizona State is shaping
up as the No. 1 candidate to unseat the Trojans in the Pac-10.
If the Sun Devils, who have and eight-game losing streak against
USC, want to be seriously considered as a BCS contender, a win
in the Los Angeles Coliseum would go a long way.
8. Auburn at West Virginia, October 23 - Outside of the Ohio
State-USC matchup, this figures to be the most important
non-conference game of the season from a BCS perspective.
9. Texas Tech at Kansas, October 25 - This one probably won't
have much bearing on the national championship picture. But
with Graham Harrell and Todd Reesing at the controls, this could
be one of the highest-scoring
shootouts of the year.
10. Florida vs. Georgia, November 1 at Jacksonville, Florida -
Every college football fan should have this game circles on
their calendars. In a game where they riled up the Gators
courtesy of some excessive celebrating, the Bulldogs pulled off
a stunning 42-30 victory last year and went on to earn a Sugar
Bowl berth. Tebow, Urban Meyer and Co. will definitely have
revenge on their minds in this year's version of the World's
Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
11. Georgia at Auburn, November 15 - This closes out a
treacherous four-week stretch for the Bulldogs, who also have
road games at LSU and Kentucky sandwiched around the Cocktail
Party. Auburn has lost four of its last six meetings with
Georgia, including two of three at home.
12. Michigan at Ohio State, November 22 - Welcome to college
football's biggest rivalry, Rich Rodriguez. The Buckeyes have
won the last four meetings with the Wolverines and are 6-1 vs.
Michigan under coach Jim Tressel. Even if the Wolverines have a
losing season, Rodriguez will more than endear himself to
Michigan fans if he can pull off an upset in this one.
13. Texas Tech at Oklahoma, November 22 - The Red Raiders all
but ended Oklahoma's national title hopes last season, knocking
out quarterback Sam Bradford and running back DeMarco Murray en
route to a 34-27 upset. Look for the Sooners, who have won
eight of their last 10 games with Texas Tech, to avenge that
loss when the series returns to Norman.
14. West Virginia at Pittsburgh, November 28 - The Panthers
marched into Morgantown last year and squashed the Mountaineers'
bid for a BCS title game appearance. This year's version of
"The Backyard Brawl" should be just as intense, plus Pat White
and LeSean McCoy could be bidding for the Heisman Trophy in this
one.
15. Kansas vs. Missouri, November 29 at Kansas City, Missouri -
This is the country's second-oldest rivalry game, and this
edition likely will determine the Big 12 North Division winner
once again. The Tigers topped the Jayhawks last year, only to
lose to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game.
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