AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFive games you have to watch
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you can only watch five college football games this season (and if that’s the case, how sad for you), make sure you’re near a TV set (or in the stadium) for these:
1. Florida at LSU, Oct. 6: The defending national champions have two difficult games before this (Tennessee, Auburn) but both are in The Swamp. This will be the first tough road trip for the Gators against a team that some believe is good enough to win the national championship. And there is a better than even chance that we’ll see these two meet again in Atlanta for the SEC championship on Dec.1
2. Louisville at West Virginia, Nov. 8: This will be an incredible offensive shootout, probably with the Big East championship on the line. There will be a lot of future NFL talent on the field and Morgantown should be rocking on a cool Thursday night.
3. Virginia Tech at LSU, Sept. 8: The Hokies have never been to Baton Rouge and will be anxious to find out what all the fuss is about. Virginia Tech beat LSU in Blacksburg (26-8) in 2002. Some believe LSU can win the national championship. If the Tigers win this game, they just might get a shot.
4. Southern Cal at California, Nov. 10: If the No. 1 Trojans are going to stumble anywhere this season, this trip to Berkeley just might be it. The Bears of Jeff Tedford have played Southern Cal tough over the years and return eight starters from the Pac-10s best offense from a year ago. It will be the Trojans’ third road game in four weeks.
5. LSU at Alabama, Nov. 3: I don’t how good the game is going to be, but the drama will be off the charts. Since Nick Saban took the job at Alabama, LSU fans have talked about nothing other than this game. They desperately want to show up en masse in Tuscaloosa and spank their former coach for having the audacity to go to a rival school. LSU coach Les Miles, you might have heard, is not a big Saban fan. He has gotten a little tired of hearing that he’s winning with Saban’s players. The Tigers will be ready to play.
Okay. It’s your turn. Which great games did it leave out?
Comments
By Hazim
August 15, 2007 7:28 AM | Link to this
Where is GT vs Wake Forest?
By Hazim's daddy
August 15, 2007 7:41 AM | Link to this
It has to actually be a scheduled game. Didn’t you use the name Joe last week?!
By Nick Saban
August 15, 2007 7:47 AM | Link to this
Actually, King Nick is looking forward to this match-up as much as Cajun Potty Mouth.
http://sabanator.blogspot.com
By Roswell Ed
August 15, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this
Tony,
Although as an AU fan I think you can make a case for not putting the LSU UF of UA game on the list, I have to thank you for leaving off Notre Dame!
By SoccerDawg
August 15, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
I agree that all of these will be big games (although the AU v LSU is all hype) BUT if I’m only watching 5 games a year I don’t want three of them to be LSU.
I am as nig a fan of the SEC as anyone, but this list is shortsighted. Michigan vs. Wisconsin or Michigan vs Ohio State will likely decide a conference champion, and maybe send someone to the NC game.
By Eric
August 15, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
I hate LSU, but I hope they beat the freaking crap out of bama. War Eagle!!
By NikeDawgMan
August 15, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this
GA vs. FL in Jacksonville is always an instant classic. This year both teams have 2 of the best young QB’s in not only the SEC but in the country. The winner of the game will prove who the best QB in the SEC will be for the next couple of years and a lot should be on the line as usual, I’m thinking the SEC EAst title perhaps? My prediction is that Matthew Stafford will become the best QB in the SEC by season’s end and this game will go a long way in proving that.
By Billy Bob
August 15, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
Tennessee At Alabama. Fulmer’s first return to Tuscalosa since he ratted on Bama to the NCAA. I think there are plans to put him in jail.
By NikeDawgMan
August 15, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
One of the best weeks in college football this year will be Sept. 8. I’m intrigued by the Miami vs. Oklahoma game. Two of the best defenses in the country. Both teams are searching for an identity on offense. Randy Shannon in his first year in his first big game on the road. (and we all know the real ‘Canes show up on the big stage in road games). Many think it will be a low scoring defensive battle, but I think this game could be the best game of the week.
By Tray
August 15, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
FSU - BAMA in jacksonville. Bowden grew up a Bama fan, was on his way to sign a contract with Bama in 1985 when they reneged and signed Bill Curry but has never played Bama in over 25 years. Two storied, national dominant at times, southeatern type teams who haven’t played in over 25 years.
By joe
August 15, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
Nov 24 when the pups tuck tail between their legs as they sulk all the way back to Athens!!!
By wes
August 15, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
The most intriguing to me is #3.
By 2N4YEARS
August 15, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
OK, I can buy the FLA/LSU game & even the LSU/ALA game, and the LSU/VTech game should be interesting, but the others I wouldn’t rank anywhere near the top five games of ‘07. FLAST/ALA would be closer, as would UGA/TENN, or SCAR/FLA, or GaTech/ND. L’Ville/KEN should be a better game than L’Ville/WV. L’Ville/WV should make for a good Thurs. night game, but top five?? NO WAY!!
By jabster
August 15, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
VT@GT! Road to Jax goes through the ATL on 11/1.
By Quaildawg
August 15, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Sept 8th GT vs. Samford is a “Must See” My gosh they are giving away Pizza and Cokes and all that stuff. I’ll bet if they throw in free cigarettes they’ll have every panhandler in ATL there. Go Jackets!!!!
By SpeeDemon
August 15, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
South Carolina @ UGA will be a great game, but admittedly, it won’t garner the national attention of all the other games you mentioned. SC will be way underrated going into this game and no one will be expecting them to stay with the Dawgs. The game will be close and the outcome will be crucial for the winner over the course of the season. After the Cocks win this one, they will have several games in the top 5 “must watch list”, including:
Florida @ USC Spurrier’s last home game against his former school brought a major upset and last year’s game was arguably the best SEC game in 2006. This will be a game that gets the attention it deserves and most likely will be the Gameday broadcast site. In fact, if USC beats UF, it might just be the Gamecocks in that SEC championship game.
And yes, I am a South Carolina grad. :)
By Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 15, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
Number 3. That one is going to be slobberknocker. Defense at its finest.
By JB
August 15, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
I called the Tech Ticket office about some tickets to some of their games, and I ask what time they started, and she ask me” What time can you be here” !!!!!!
By BullDawg Rick
August 15, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
4 is silly.. UCS’s toughest competition in the PAC 10 is Cal!! Nuff said.. USC plays a relatively easy sked.. If they were playing SEC teams LSU, UF, AU, UGA, UT, they would not go thru unblemished.. But with their PAC 10 sked.. UNDEFEATED!!By Britt
August 15, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
Billy Bob, Bama beat UTK two years ago in dramatic 6-3 fashion. So Fat Phil is coming back for a second helping this yr.
By War Eagle
August 15, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Bama is all JOKE, hire Big $$$$ coach, beat poor Western Carolina to death and guess what, they are going to win the National championship.You have to realize, Bama has the lowest non-graduate fan base in the SEC, maybe the Nation.
By gdawginkalamazoo
August 15, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
War Eagle, I think that besides #1, that that #5 game will be one of my favorites to watch. I just wonder what Les is going to do, run up the score and gain admiration from the LSU crowd or play it safe and just win with a margin. He better run it up if he knows what is best for him. Not that it would happen but he could go 1-11 and you can guess which game that 1 win better be.
By Larry
August 15, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? TECH AND WAKE FOREST! (TWO MULES FIGHTING OVER A CARROT IN AN ALLEY)
By AltamahaDawg
August 15, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
SpeeDemon, Nobody will expect them to stay with the Dawgs?? You must not have been reading the sport page anywhere if you havent seen the hype for SC this year, or noticed that was the “sexy” upset pick, as Barnhart calls it.
By Luda
August 15, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this
Hey Hazim! HA! HA! HA!
By alabamadawg
August 15, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this
1.) Georgia vs Florida 2.) Georgia vs Auburn 3.) Georgia vs Tenn. 4.) Georgia vs Bama 5.) Georgia vs Tech tie Georgia vs Okla. State
By My View
August 15, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this
These may not be top 5, but must see none the less… MIA VS TEX A&M, MIA V OU, USC V NEB, FSU V BAMA, UGA V OSU, CAL V UT, ALLBARN V USF. Big conference games are always must see TV.
By biggest patsy of the year
August 15, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this
Georgia vs poor Western Carolina
By ABC
August 15, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
Zoo, I hope UGA beats Bama 40-0, LSU will have no mercy, Suitcase Saban is not very popular down in Cajun country. Bama could lose to Vandy at Nashville??
By Know It All
August 15, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
Florida will win alot of games this year, but this won’t be one of them.
West Virginia 173 Louiville 170
If Glennon thinks Georgia’s defense is scary….
I see that Cal’s biggest win ever is still its 2003 loss to USC. The most overrated program in America loses once again.
LSU will lose a one or two games this year, this won’t be one of them.
By aujoe
August 16, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
Can’t wait for Auburn vs. Arkansas Cox and Dick going head to head.
By SOS
August 16, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
GA vs. SC and FLA vs TENN are always the best September games in the country…
By AFnPC
August 17, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this
aujoe… That made me laugh out loud! I hadn’t even thought of that one…We’ll see which team has teh biggest balls to back’em up! War Eagle!
By toby young
August 26, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
South Carolina grad????that means your ither a Lawery or Highway patrolman.The
By toby young
August 26, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
South Carolina grad?.that means your ither a Lawery or a Cop.The Cop catches the crook and the Lawery gets him back on the team.
By toby young
August 26, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
South Carolina grad?.that means your ither a Lawery or a Cop.The Cop catches the crook and the Lawery gets him back on the team.