RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
A lot of great matchups. Sept 1, 8, and 15 should be especially fun:
30. Boise State at Washington, Sept. 8
It's Boise State's first shot to show 2006 wasn't a fluke.
29. BYU at UCLA, Sept. 8
If BYU wants to show it reloaded, this is the game to prove it.
28. Ohio State at Washington, Sept. 15
It's not OSU at Texas, but it's a long trip for the rebuilding Buckeyes and a chance for the Ty Willingham era to take off.
27. Utah at Louisville, Oct. 6
If the Mountain West wants to get on the national map, this is a game it must have. Utah might really be that good.
26. Nebraska at Wake Forest, Sept. 8
The Huskers will be looking ahead to the showdown with USC the week after. Wake Forest will be looking to show it's still the real deal.
25. Colorado at Florida State, Sept. 15
Colorado hasn't been afraid to go on the road and face some good teams. Now it has to show it can beat them.
24. Washington State at Wisconsin, Sept. 1
A sneaky-tough game for the Badgers in its first real, live regular season non-conference game since going to West Virginia in the 2003 opener.
23. Louisville at Kentucky, Sept. 15
This will be one of the most exciting shootouts of the early season. UK is desperate to prove it's on par with its in-state rival.
22. Kansas State at Auburn, Sept. 1
It's not a misprint. Kansas State is going on the road to face a non-conference opponent with a pulse.
21. Maryland at Rutgers, Sept. 29
The two teams should be excellent, but for Rutgers, this is a must-win before Big East play starts.
20. Boston College at Notre Dame, Oct. 13
Catholics vs. Catholics. This is a sandwich game for the Irish between a trip to UCLA and the showdown against USC.
19. South Florida at Auburn, Sept. 8
South Florida is the team no one will want to face. It's just good enough to ruin Auburn's season before it gets going.
18. West Virginia at Maryland, Sept. 13
Growing into a good interconference rivalry, Maryland will look to get the upper hand again after losing the last three years.
17. Notre Dame at Penn State, Sept. 8
Can you say payback? Penn State is still smarting from last year's 41-17 embarrassment in South Bend.
16. Alabama vs. Florida State (in Jacksonville), Sept. 29
It might not be the best game of the year, but it's a fascinating matchup. Alabama won the last showdown between the two ... in 1974. FSU went 1-10 while Bama went 11-1.
15. Clemson at South Carolina, Nov. 24
The Gamecocks broke through in the rivalry last year for the first win since 2001.
14. Notre Dame at UCLA, Oct. 6
If this is half as good as the final minute of last year's game, this'll be one of the most competitive games of the year.
13. Georgia at Georgia Tech, Nov. 24
Georgia Tech will likely be better than last year when it lost/gagged a tough battle with the Dawgs. This could easily be a BCS game type of matchup.
12. Texas A&M at Miami, Sept. 20
It's unlikely the Canes are still holding a grudge from the last time they played the Aggies ... a 70-14 defeat in 1944.
11. Oklahoma State at Georgia, Sept. 1
Shhhhh. Oklahoma State has the potential to be one of the nation's biggest sleepers. The offense should be phenomenal.
10. Georgia Tech at Notre Dame, Sept. 1
The Yellow Jackets were good enough to win last year's showdown and didn't get it done. They have to take jump-start what could be a great year by taking advantage of the rebuilding Irish.
9. TCU at Texas, Sept. 8
This is TCU's dream shot. A win over the Longhorns would likely springboard a run to the BCS, while this would be a great victory for Texas in the eventual BCS rankings.
8. Oregon at Michigan, Sept. 15
Michigan has lost its last three games against Pac 10 teams including a 31-27 defeat in Eugene. Oregon's good enough to win this.
7. Notre Dame at Michigan, Sept. 15
The Irish have to play four road games in five weeks and has to go to Ann Arbor after playing Georgia Tech and traveling to Penn State.
6. Florida State at Florida, Nov. 24
The Noles have lost three in a row to the Gators. Each team might have a conference championship to prepare for the following week.
5. USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 20
USC should be far, far better than the Irish, but strange things happen in this rivalry. The Trojans have won the last five.
4. Miami at Oklahoma, Sept. 8
The last time these two superpowers met, Miami won the national title in the 1988 Orange Bowl. The Canes have won three in a row over the Sooners.
3. Tennessee at California, Sept. 1
Tennessee announced it was back with a 35-18 win over a great Cal team in the 2006 opener. The Bears can show they belong in the spotlight, and in the national title hunt, with a win in Berkeley.
2. USC at Nebraska, Sept. 15
If Nebraska wants to be back to superpower status, this is the game it has to win. The Trojans will likely be No. 1 and can cement themselves in the spot with a victory.
1. Virginia Tech at LSU, Sept. 8
While Virginia Tech vs. LSU might not get the national attention this off-season like USC vs. Nebraska will, the two should be among the five best (at worst, ten best) in the country. This will have national title implications. The Tigers beat the Hokies 26-8 in the 2002 opener
30. Boise State at Washington, Sept. 8
It's Boise State's first shot to show 2006 wasn't a fluke.
29. BYU at UCLA, Sept. 8
If BYU wants to show it reloaded, this is the game to prove it.
28. Ohio State at Washington, Sept. 15
It's not OSU at Texas, but it's a long trip for the rebuilding Buckeyes and a chance for the Ty Willingham era to take off.
27. Utah at Louisville, Oct. 6
If the Mountain West wants to get on the national map, this is a game it must have. Utah might really be that good.
26. Nebraska at Wake Forest, Sept. 8
The Huskers will be looking ahead to the showdown with USC the week after. Wake Forest will be looking to show it's still the real deal.
25. Colorado at Florida State, Sept. 15
Colorado hasn't been afraid to go on the road and face some good teams. Now it has to show it can beat them.
24. Washington State at Wisconsin, Sept. 1
A sneaky-tough game for the Badgers in its first real, live regular season non-conference game since going to West Virginia in the 2003 opener.
23. Louisville at Kentucky, Sept. 15
This will be one of the most exciting shootouts of the early season. UK is desperate to prove it's on par with its in-state rival.
22. Kansas State at Auburn, Sept. 1
It's not a misprint. Kansas State is going on the road to face a non-conference opponent with a pulse.
21. Maryland at Rutgers, Sept. 29
The two teams should be excellent, but for Rutgers, this is a must-win before Big East play starts.
20. Boston College at Notre Dame, Oct. 13
Catholics vs. Catholics. This is a sandwich game for the Irish between a trip to UCLA and the showdown against USC.
19. South Florida at Auburn, Sept. 8
South Florida is the team no one will want to face. It's just good enough to ruin Auburn's season before it gets going.
18. West Virginia at Maryland, Sept. 13
Growing into a good interconference rivalry, Maryland will look to get the upper hand again after losing the last three years.
17. Notre Dame at Penn State, Sept. 8
Can you say payback? Penn State is still smarting from last year's 41-17 embarrassment in South Bend.
16. Alabama vs. Florida State (in Jacksonville), Sept. 29
It might not be the best game of the year, but it's a fascinating matchup. Alabama won the last showdown between the two ... in 1974. FSU went 1-10 while Bama went 11-1.
15. Clemson at South Carolina, Nov. 24
The Gamecocks broke through in the rivalry last year for the first win since 2001.
14. Notre Dame at UCLA, Oct. 6
If this is half as good as the final minute of last year's game, this'll be one of the most competitive games of the year.
13. Georgia at Georgia Tech, Nov. 24
Georgia Tech will likely be better than last year when it lost/gagged a tough battle with the Dawgs. This could easily be a BCS game type of matchup.
12. Texas A&M at Miami, Sept. 20
It's unlikely the Canes are still holding a grudge from the last time they played the Aggies ... a 70-14 defeat in 1944.
11. Oklahoma State at Georgia, Sept. 1
Shhhhh. Oklahoma State has the potential to be one of the nation's biggest sleepers. The offense should be phenomenal.
10. Georgia Tech at Notre Dame, Sept. 1
The Yellow Jackets were good enough to win last year's showdown and didn't get it done. They have to take jump-start what could be a great year by taking advantage of the rebuilding Irish.
9. TCU at Texas, Sept. 8
This is TCU's dream shot. A win over the Longhorns would likely springboard a run to the BCS, while this would be a great victory for Texas in the eventual BCS rankings.
8. Oregon at Michigan, Sept. 15
Michigan has lost its last three games against Pac 10 teams including a 31-27 defeat in Eugene. Oregon's good enough to win this.
7. Notre Dame at Michigan, Sept. 15
The Irish have to play four road games in five weeks and has to go to Ann Arbor after playing Georgia Tech and traveling to Penn State.
6. Florida State at Florida, Nov. 24
The Noles have lost three in a row to the Gators. Each team might have a conference championship to prepare for the following week.
5. USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 20
USC should be far, far better than the Irish, but strange things happen in this rivalry. The Trojans have won the last five.
4. Miami at Oklahoma, Sept. 8
The last time these two superpowers met, Miami won the national title in the 1988 Orange Bowl. The Canes have won three in a row over the Sooners.
3. Tennessee at California, Sept. 1
Tennessee announced it was back with a 35-18 win over a great Cal team in the 2006 opener. The Bears can show they belong in the spotlight, and in the national title hunt, with a win in Berkeley.
2. USC at Nebraska, Sept. 15
If Nebraska wants to be back to superpower status, this is the game it has to win. The Trojans will likely be No. 1 and can cement themselves in the spot with a victory.
1. Virginia Tech at LSU, Sept. 8
While Virginia Tech vs. LSU might not get the national attention this off-season like USC vs. Nebraska will, the two should be among the five best (at worst, ten best) in the country. This will have national title implications. The Tigers beat the Hokies 26-8 in the 2002 opener
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