(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
20. Oklahoma at Kansas (Oct. 24): Oklahoma takes a trip to Lawrence, Kansas for a conference battle with quarterback Todd Reesing's Jayhawks just one week after squaring off with Texas in maybe the game of the year. To beat the Sooners you've got to play sound football and be able to score a ton of points which Kansas can do. While Oklahoma definitely has the superior talent, playing on the road with the high (or low) they may have after facing the Longhorns makes this a scary game for the Sooners.
19. California at Oregon (Sept. 26): USC has ruled the Pac-10 since 2002, but Oregon and Cal believe 2009 will be different as they both try to steal the throne from the Trojans. The Golden Bears venture to Eugene for a pivotal game with the Ducks which should produce Southern Cal's biggest challenger.
18. Georgia vs. Florida (Oct. 31): Things have gotten nasty the last two times these teams have faced each other; first it was Georgia dancing in the Gators' end zone, then Urban Meyer calling two timeouts to bask in the utter destruction of the Bulldogs. A very meaningful SEC East battle in Jacksonville could produce more of the same in 2009. Florida should enter the game solid favorites but can't let hubris get in the way.
Georgia's now infamous end zone celebration.
17. Utah at TCU (No. 14): BYU could very well have two losses before they even make it out of September, which would mean if the Mountain West wants to crash the BCS again, they'll likely be sending one of these two teams. You definitely can't rule out the Cougars before the season has even started, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Horned Frogs game with Utah was for more than the Mountain West title.
16. USC at California (Oct. 3): What is already a huge game for Cal every year, could be a top ten brawl if they manage to knock off the Ducks at Autzen a week before hosting the Trojans. If the Bears truly want to challenge USC for the Pac-10 title in '09, dropping Southern Cal at home would be a pretty good idea.
15. Nebraska at Kansas (Nov. 14): With the departure of Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin a lot of people think the Huskers trip to Kansas will determine the Big 12 North champion. Kansas probably has the tougher Big 12 schedule but gets Nebraska at home likely making this game a must-win for both teams' title hopes. Will it be the Jayhawk offense or Corn Husker defense that wins out?
14. Georgia at Oklahoma State (Sept. 5): One of the marquee non-conference matchups in 2009 pits the SEC against the Big 12 when the Bulldogs travel to Stillwater to battle Oklahoma State. September 5th should be a real test for both teams to start the season and provide some bragging rights for the winner's conference. As a bonus, the winner probably moves into the top ten if they aren't already there.
13. Pittsburgh at West Virginia (Nov. 27): The Backyard Brawl tends to get especially rowdy in Morgantown and with the Big East title likely on the line for at least one of these teams, don't expect a very friendly affair. Pittsburgh hopes their dominant front line holds the Mountaineers rushing attack at bay while West Virginia hopes Noel Divine has a field day with the Panthers.
12. LSU at Alabama (Nov. 7): LSU probably has the most daunting conference schedule of the three SEC West contenders, so it goes without saying that escaping Tuscaloosa with a win would be, at the very least, huge. It's also unlikely that Alabama will have wrapped anything up by this point, and might need a win just as bad as the Tigers. This could be an SEC barn-burner with possibly both teams ranked in the top 15.
11. Oklahoma State at Oklahoma (Nov. 28): The Bedlam Series could again feature two top ten teams each gunning for the Big 12 South crown. If you like offense, a battle between Zac Robinson's Cowboys and Sam Bradford's Sooners shouldn't disappoint; just remember you're watching college football, not an Arena Football game between the Philadelphia Soul and San Jose Sabercats.
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