College Football 2013: Top 10 Games to Watch

The rebirth of my blog continues with the list of the top ten college football games I already have circled on my calendar... is that expression outdated? How about, the top ten games I have set an alert for on my phone? There we go.

10. LSU vs TCU, August 31

Casey Pachall returns for TCU after sitting out 2012.

I love great non-conference games right out of the gate. I'm curious to see what LSU looks like. The Tigers are usually at the top of the SEC, but aren't necessarily picked as a top three contender this year. TCU won't have suspended defensive end Devonte Fields, but I am curious to see how Casey Pachall plays after sitting out last season with drug issues. A win against a top SEC team would be a huge boost for TCU.

9. Georgia at Clemson, August 31
Another outstanding non-conference game the first weekend, and this one is between a pair of top ten teams. There's a chance this could be the eventual SEC champion against the eventual ACC champion. We have a long way to go there, but it should be great to see Aaron Murray and Tajh Boyd try to match each other throw-for-throw. It is, perhaps, the first showdown of the season between two Heisman contenders.

8. Texas A&M at LSU, November 23
I'm putting this game on the list under the assumption that Johnny Manziel is playing for A&M. Johnny Football in Death Valley? Yes, please.

7. Texas vs Oklahoma, October 12
I look forward to this game every year, as it's usually an early indicator of who the team to beat in the Big 12 is. Texas should expect to go into this game 5-0 (New Mexico State, at BYU, Ole Miss, Kansas State, at Iowa State). Oklahoma, on the other hand will either enter this game reeling or on fire. The Sooners are at Notre Dame then host TCU the two weeks before this game. If Oklahoma enters this game 5-0, they will certainly be a top ten team. The winner of this game vs. Oklahoma State instantly becomes my next game to watch in the Big 12, as that may decide the champion. OSU visits Texas November 16 and then hosts Bedlam December 7.

6. LSU at Alabama, November 9

LSU vs Alabama has become a regular must-see game.

This has been the must-see game in college football the past two years. LSU may not be picked quite as high as some other SEC teams, but make no mistake about it: the Tigers are very talented. When this game happens, LSU will be the best team Alabama has seen in almost two months.

5. Notre Dame at Michigan, September 7
How good are the Irish without Manti Te'o and Everett Golson? We'll find out early with a visit to the Big House. Michigan may have a few questions themselves, but Devin Gardner has been getting a lot of praise as he's taken over as the leader of that offense. Notre Dame's last game against Stanford could be very interesting depending what the teams' records are, but let's make sure the Irish are legit first. This game will be a nice early indicator.

4. South Carolina at Georgia, September 7
How brutal is Georgia's early schedule? After visiting Clemson, the Dawgs host South Carolina the next week then get a breather against North Texas before LSU visits. Even with the home games, that's as tough as a first month gets. All eyes will be on Jadeveon Clowney and how much he terrorizes Murray.

3. Ohio State at Michigan, November 30
Another game I look forward to every year. Ohio State's schedule is not all that daunting, as the Buckeyes' most significant road games before this one are at Cal and Northwestern. There's a good chance Ohio State enters the Big House 11-0 with a national championship berth on the line. Popcorn is ready.

2. Oregon at Stanford, November 7
Stanford has been getting some well-deserved press as the team to beat in the Pac-12. Getting this game at home helps. What LSU/Alabama has been to the SEC the past couple years, that's what this game is out west. The winner likely wins its division and a berth in the conference title game while the loser will have to hope for help.

1. Alabama at Texas A&M, September 14

Can Johnny Manziel take down Alabama again?
Better question: will he get the chance to?

I don't care what Johnny Manziel may or may not have done off the field, please let him play in this game. Don't college football fans deserve to see Johnny Football get another shot to take down the mighty Crimson Tide? If he doesn't play, this game might drop out of my top ten. If he does play, it's must-see TV. Besides the obvious drama of the game, this is by far the toughest game on Alabama's schedule. Look at it. I don't see another game before LSU in which Alabama will be favored by less than a touchdown. Yes, it's still the SEC and things happen, but Alabama has a very modest schedule by SEC standards and is likely to coast to the LSU game. That's why this game is so interesting: the unpredictability of College Station and Johnny Football could knock the Tide down a peg.

As we know, as the season goes along, other games will pop up as critical while some of these could fade in significance as they approach. Whatever happens, let's get college football going already.