Most Anticipated Remaining College Football Games of 2011

Before the season began, I laid out my top ten most anticipated match-ups of the 2011 season. With the first BCS rankings being released, we're about at the halfway point of the season. Now, we have a better of idea of which teams are contending and which ones are fading. The games I'm anticipating basically fall into two categories: games between two top contenders and games that are an unbeaten team's last real chance at being upset.

Here are the top ten games I'm looking forward to as we wait for the BCS selection show:


10. Houston at Tulsa, November 25

They won't get in, but Kinne and TU could impact the BCS.

Yes, this game could have a BCS impact. Houston is sitting there quietly at 19th in the BCS with a 6-0 record. The fact is that if a team keeps winning, it's only going to climb. Don't be shocked if we get to the day after Thanksgiving, and Houston and snuck its way into the top ten, not because the Cougars are that great, but because they would have kept winning while big conference schools have knocked each other off. Considering Tulsa's losses all came to teams in the top five in the BCS, the Golden Hurricane is better than its 3-3 record. Tulsa could wreck any dreams Houston has of grabbing a BCS bid and maybe even steal the Conference USA West title if things play out right.

9. TCU at Boise State, November 12
This game was on my preseason list. It makes this list, too, but I'm not quite as excited about it. This is the only game on Boise State's schedule in which it is remotely possible that the Broncos could lose. No one else in the Mountain West will be within two touchdowns of Boise State. Based on what I've seen from TCU's defense, I'm not sure the Frogs will either. But, the game is worth watching because TCU at least has an offense that could give the Broncos a scare.

8. Clemson at Georgia Tech, October 29
Clemson looks more impressive every week, and the Yellow Jackets (recently upset by Virginia) are the conference team most likely to upset the Tigers. If Georgia Tech wins, there's a good chance these two could have a rematch in the ACC Championship, but any hope Clemson had of playing for the national title would be long gone.

7. Notre Dame at Stanford, November 26

Luck and the Cardinal have two huge games remaining
that could boost their computer numbers in the BCS.

At the risk of sounding like a huge Notre Dame homer, there is a decent chance Notre Dame could enter this game at 9-2, meaning a win over Stanford could get the Irish into the BCS. Cue the groans from all non-Notre Dame fans. I'm not saying the Irish would deserve it, but you and I both know that a 10-2 Notre Dame team will get a BCS invite (and possibly get crushed by a legit team like all three of their previous trips to the BCS). In all honesty, when Notre Dame doesn't turn the ball over, it can score enough points to beat a team like Stanford. The Irish still have to get past USC this week, but this game could be Notre Dame's chance to prove itself BCS-worthy.
Oh yeah, and Stanford could be 11-0 with a shot at the national championship game, too. So, this game could mean a lot for Stanford. Not only could it boost the Cardinal's BCS ranking, but it will also be a chance for Andrew Luck to showcase himself for Heisman voters.

6. Big Ten Championship Game, December 3
Yes, the Big Ten has a championship game now. It's going to be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It's pretty obvious that it's Wisconsin and then everyone else in the Big Ten. If the Badgers can finish the season undefeated, they still might be on the outside looking in at the BCS title game. This would be the last chance for them to get tripped up. Maybe it's Michigan State, or maybe it's Michigan. Maybe Nebraska pulls itself together and gets there. No matter who the opponent is, crazy things tend to happen in these championship games that alter the BCS picture.

5. Oregon at Stanford, November 12
The injuries Oregon is dealing with make me wonder if this game will be as great as we thought it could be back in August. While Darron Thomas and LaMichael James both indicate they'll be back sooner rather than later, Oregon needs to be healthy heading into this one. These two teams are clearly the class of the Pac-12. Much like the LSU/Alabama game in the SEC, the winner of this game should win its division and the conference. If Stanford wins and remains undefeated, the Cardinal will still have national championship dreams. An Oregon win could give the Ducks an outside shot at the BCS title, but they would need a lot of help to get there.

4. Alabama at Auburn, November 26

Alabama and LSU both have national championship talent,
but both teams have roadblocks, including each other.

As usual, no conference will have more to say about the national championship picture than the SEC. The Iron Bowl is just one of three SEC games in my top four. Alabama is certainly a national title favorite, and the Tide's regular season finale against hated rival Auburn will be a tricky speed bump. Auburn could not only knock Alabama from the national title picture with a win, but War Eagle could possibly steal the SEC West crown.

3. Arkansas at LSU, November 25 
Don't look now, but Arkansas is quietly lurking in the SEC West. Already with a win over Auburn, Arkansas could really shake up the national title picture if it knocks off an unbeaten LSU team. That could cause a three-way tie in the SEC West, and Arkansas could even sneak into the SEC title game. The bottom line, though, this could be LSU's next to last speed bump on the way to the national title game in New Orleans if the Tigers get past the number two game on my list...

2. LSU at Alabama, November 5
National Semifinal #1, as I like to call it. If the winner of this game does not play for the national championship, I will be extremely disappointed. These two teams have talent on both sides of the ball that almost no one can match. (Note to Sooner and Cowboy fans: I said "almost" no one.) The winner of this game will instantly become the national title favorite, and it will just be a matter of holding serve through the SEC Championship Game.

1. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, December 3

This year's Bedlam game could be a national semifinal.

Like I said in August, the main reason it's number one is because I live in Tulsa. Bedlam has never meant as much as it could possibly mean this season. They both have some roadblocks remaining (Baylor and Kansas State for both of them, and OSU still has to play Missouri), but right now I am thinking there is a strong chance both teams enter this game unbeaten. If that's the case, this will be National Semifinal #2. Most people will just consider this as Oklahoma's last chance to get tripped up. Cowboy fans, however, will view this as their chance to finally get over the hump and into the BCS. OSU in the national championship may sound crazy, but I am pretty confident that an unbeaten Bedlam winner will play for the title, no matter who it is.