Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
It’s here, the college football season.
South Carolina gets it kicked off for the SEC on Thursday night when the Gamecocks travel to North Carolina State.
Here’s my personal checklist of the games you absolutely can’t miss this season:
Alabama vs. Virginia Tech, Sept. 5 (Atlanta): It’s always a blast to kick off the season with a battle of top 10 teams. Alabama used a win against then No. 9 Clemson in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff a year ago as a springboard to a 12-0 regular season. If you like defense, make sure you have a front-row seat for this one. The Crimson Tide and Hokies boast two of the nastiest defenses in the country.
Tennessee at Florida, Sept. 19: Has there ever been a game that’s generated this much attention when one team is such a huge favorite? Thank Lane Kiffin’s mouth for that. Most of the drama figures to be in the buildup to the game, although Urban Meyer has been known to spice things up by making sure the scoreboard is still working in the final minutes of a 40-point blowout. Think he might save his timeouts?
Georgia at Arkansas, Sept. 19: The month of September may seem more like two months for the Bulldogs. Talk about diving head-first into the season. This game stacks up as a swing game one way or the other. If Georgia’s a legitimate player in the East, it’s a game the Bulldogs will win. If Arkansas is going to make a move in Year No. 2 under Bobby Petrino, it’s a game the Hogs will win -- especially at home.
Ole Miss at South Carolina, Sept. 24: The Rebels have heard all offseason how good they’re going to be. This will be their first real test. The Cockabooses will be rocking, and Williams-Brice Stadium will be swaying. The Thursday night environment will be wild in Columbia, S.C., and it will be interesting to see how Ole Miss handles everything in what should be the Rebels’ toughest road game of the season.
LSU at Georgia, Oct. 3: Do the Tigers come into this game unbeaten? There’s a good chance when you look at their first four games. The Bulldogs rolled up 52 points in winning a year ago in Tiger Stadium and returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns. The two teams combined for nearly 1,000 yards of total offense. Granted, it’s just one game, but the loser of this one puts itself in dire straits in its divisional race.
Alabama at Ole Miss, Oct. 10: There hasn’t been a more anticipated game in Oxford since a Manning was wearing an Ole Miss uniform. If the Rebels are going to make their first-ever appearance in the SEC Championship Game, the road goes through the Crimson Tide. Alabama has won five straight in the series, but the last four have been decided by four or fewer points.
Florida at LSU, Oct. 10: It’s the other half of Showdown Saturday in the SEC. The last time these two teams played in Baton Rouge, the training staffs on both sides were scrambling. Finding a harder-hitting, more physical game than LSU’s 28-24 win over Florida in 2007 would be a chore. Beating the Gators, period, this season is going to be a chore. If they’re going to stumble, this may be the game.
Florida vs. Georgia, Oct. 31 (Jacksonville): The rivalry formerly known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party has taken on new life the last two years even though it doesn’t have the catchy nickname any longer. A year ago, Florida coach Urban Meyer called two timeouts in the final seconds just to rub it in, which was a direct response to the Bulldogs’ end zone dance party in 2007. What can we expect this year?
LSU at Alabama, Nov. 7: Welcome to the third edition of the Nick Saban Bowl. Saban will tell you in no uncertain terms that this game isn't about him. Some of the fine folks on the Bayou might tend to disagree. What we all can agree on is that it’s played a huge role in the national picture and/or SEC picture three of the last four years. The Crimson Tide survived in overtime last season to stay unbeaten. The Tigers rallied two years ago to remain in the national title race. There’s never any shortage of drama when these two teams meet.
Arkansas at LSU, Nov. 28: If you’re looking for heart-stopping entertainment, this is your game. The Hogs have won the last two in thrilling fashion. It took a 24-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds to play a year ago, and who can ever forget the 50-48 three-overtime classic in 2007 when the Hogs came in unranked and stunned the No. 1-ranked Tigers in Baton Rouge?
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