It’s been awhile since we last posted a blog update; we have been busy working on producing and distributing our rosters for NCAA 10. Now that we’ve got some time to blog again, we’ll continue our series of “Top 5’s” with the Top 5 Conference Games of 2009. Let’s jump right in.
5. Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma, Nov. 28th
The battle for the Bedlam Bell is the final game of the regular season for both teams. For Oklahoma, a trip to the National Championship game could be on the line. For Oklahoma State, an upset could mean a possible birth in the Big 12 Championship and BCS Bowl hopes. Each team will face a difficult road to reach this game, but it has the potential to have a major impact on the national scene. If there is any team capable of knocking of the Sooners, it may be OSU. The Cowboys’ offense will be as good as any in the nation, but they will need their defense to come up with a few more stops than last year (defense gave up 47 points per game in their 4 losses). At the very least, this game should be a wildly entertaining close to the season.
4. USC @ Oregon, Oct. 31st
This Halloween night game at Autzen could decide the winner of the Pac 10. The last time USC didn’t have at least a share of the conference championship was 2001, when Oregon took home the crown. This year, Oregon has high expectations and gets Cal, Oregon State and USC all at home, which could set them up for a special season. USC has other plans, however. Despite the loss of their starting QB and a ton on defense, the Trojans will be as talented as ever and will be looking for their 8th straight conference title. Regardless of the outcome, the winner of this game will likely be hoisting the Pac 10 trophy and smelling roses in January.
3. Ohio State @ Penn State, Nov. 7th
While this game lacks the luster of the big-time matchups in the SEC and Big 12, it could very well decide the Big Ten championship. Penn State won a defensive struggle last year at the ‘Shoe and represented the conference in the Rose Bowl, while OSU went to the Fiesta. Both teams lost to top teams from other conferences, further adding to the notion that the Big Ten is not at the level of some other BCS conferences. The Buckeyes should roll into this game no worse than the top 10, with only a Sept. 12th game against USC to slow them down. Penn State also has a great chance to enter this game in the top 10, which would setup another huge meeting that could very well decide the Big Ten Championship. If one or both of these teams can enter the game undefeated, the winner will have a good shot at making noise in the National Title race.
2. Florida @ LSU, Oct. 10th
This showdown will have the winners of the last 3 BCS National Championship games, as well as the only two teams to win the BCS National Title more than once. Last year Florida won this game big on their way to a second national title in three years. This year expect the game to be closer; LSU has a boatload of talent and the game is at Death Valley (at night no less). With the way these two teams stack up this year, this game could very well be a preview of the SEC Championship game, and with the winner of the last 3 SEC Championship’s having been the eventual National Champions, this game could give us an early look at our 2010 BCS National Champions.
1. Oklahoma vs. Texas, Oct. 17th (Dallas)
We all know the storylines surrounding this game: The Red River Rivalry, the match-up of two top Heisman contenders, a birth in the Big 12 Championship game on the line, and a very good possibility that a birth in the National Championship is on the line. Well, try telling that to Texas; the Longhorns beat the Sooners last year only to sit back and watch Oklahoma lose the title game to Florida. This year, both teams will enter the season in the top 5, and maybe even the top 3. If Texas can get by Texas Tech early they will roll into this game undefeated. Oklahoma, meanwhile, gets a couple tough games against BYU and at Miami, but should also enter the game undefeated. That would set up a meeting between two 5-0 teams likely ranked in the top 3, with the winner no doubt having the inside track to the National Championship game.
Well, there’s our top 5 conference games for the upcoming season. Criteria was based on the caliber of the teams, the national impact of the game, and of course the entertainment factor. Let us know what you think of our list and how you would improve it in our comments section below.
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Tags: college football, conference games, florida, lsu, ohio state, oklahoma, texas, top 5
