College Football's Top 10 Most Intriguing Games of 2010

With both the NFL Draft and spring football now complete, all that's left is to officially start college football in the fall.

With 100s of games on the docket each season, it's hard to break down which ones are the most intriguing, especially with no team officially playing a down of the 2010 season.

But for the sake of predictions, I've put together my list of the top 10 most intriguing games of the 2010 season.

Some are obvious, others not so much, but I felt all games should be have a heavy influence on each school's season finish.

There was one rule I did stick to. While it didn't have to be BCS or even FBS, the each school was limited to one game.

For example, Oklahoma vs. Texas and Texas A&M vs. Texas couldn't both make the cut...only one.

So sit back, relax, and take a look. If you don't agree, tell me which games you would have added.

Or, like so many people on the Internet love to do when they disagree with anything someone says, call me an idiot.

10. Tulsa at Oklahoma State (Sept. 18)

A game that isn't receiving the national attention that is should is Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa. Two teams that are both one year removed from seasons that didn't live up to expectations.

The Cowboys' season quickly went south in 2009 with the suspension of wide receiver Dez Bryant, who, without quarterback Zak Robinson, couldn't find a rhythm and the season ended with losses to Oklahoma and Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl.

Tulsa didn't look so hot in 2009 either, finishing with only five wins. But they do return quarterback GJ Kinne, who should lead the Golden Hurricane to good things.

A rivalry renewed, this game will tell a lot about each team.

9. Montana's Entire Season

Didn't expect an FCS game to get thrown into the mix?

Montana is the best NCAA FCS (formerly Division I-AA) programs in the past 15 years, thanks large part to Bobby Hauck, who led the Grizzlies to an 80-17 record in seven seasons as the head coach in Missoula, reaching the national championship game three times.

Hauck is now the head coach at UNLV, opening the door for a new name, Robin Pflugrad, who is now the program's 34th head coach.

Pflugrad was most recently at Oregon, where he served as the Ducks' wide receivers coach.

Without a good run through the FCS playoffs in his first season, fans might quickly turn against the Portland State grad.

8. Michigan at Ohio State (Nov. 27)

Another obvious pick, but it has to be mentioned.

Ohio State is looking like an early favorite to win the BCS National Championship behind the play of junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who could be making the jump to the NFL next April.

What makes this game even more interesting for the Buckeyes is their stretch of games to end the season, hosting Penn State and traveling to Iowa the two weeks prior to facing Michigan.

For Wolverines' coach Rich Rodriguez, you have to assume he sees this game as a must-win as he has never defeated Ohio State serving as the head coach in Ann Arbor.

7. Stanford at Washington (Oct. 30)

A day before Halloween, two star quarterbacks from the Pac-10 Conference will square off in Seattle, trying to lead up-and-coming programs back into the national spotlight.

While Andrew Luck vs. Jake Locker is an intriguing matchup, so is the coaching battle between Jim Harbaugh and Steve Sarkisian as both are likely to win the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 2010.

Could one of these teams make a push to win the Pac-10? Winning this game will certainly help.

6. Notre Dame at USC (Nov. 27)

Two of college football's most talked about programs once against square off against each other in 2010, except this time the game is later and the stakes will be higher.

Both schools have first year head coaches who will be introducing themselves to the rivalry, each of which with high expectations.

For Notre Dame, it's the finally game of the season for the Fighting Irish; for the Trojans, all that's left afterwards is a rumble against UCLA at the Rose Bowl.

5. BYU at Florida State (Sept. 18)

Sticking to my rule of only one game per school, it was tough to choose between this game and the Deseret First Duel (BYU vs. Utah), but when it came down to make a decision, it became about pride for the Cougars.

In 2009, BYU was riding high after squeaking out a win over No. 3 Oklahoma in the first-ever college football game inside the new Dallas Cowboys' Stadium.

What followed was a thumping of Tulane followed by an embarrassment against Florida State in Provo.

LaVell Edwards Stadium looked shocked as Christian Ponder and FSU pounded the Cougars 54-28.

With no Harvey Unga, no Dennis Pitta, and a new starting quarterback, this will be a tough game for BYU, but it's also their first real chance to make an early stand.

4. LSU at Arkansas (Nov. 27)

I can tell you first hand as a former Arkansas student that there's no experience like a Golden Boot game held at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.

The rivalry between the Hogs and Tigers is one of the best in college football, but despite how incredible the games are on an annual basis, it always takes a back seat in coverage to Michigan vs. Ohio State.

After such a thrilling game in 2009 down in Baton Rouge, won by LSU thanks in large part to poor kicking from the Razorbacks' Alex Tejada and a year after Ryan Mallett's amazing season in Fayetteville, this game could have the SEC West title on the line.

Only one other SEC game looks more intriguing.

3. Texas A&M at Texas (Nov. 25)

I know there are a lot of rivalries on this list, but as much as I wanted to stay away from that, I couldn't based on how important they were. This doesn't change with Texas A&M vs. Texas.

Two schools that hate each other. Bonfires, sawing off horns, the works.

2009 held a closer competition than many expected in College Station with the Longhorns always being one step ahead, but Mike Sherman was able to help prove himself as a legitimate Big 12 coach.

Facing Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Nebraska at home this year, the Aggies have a legitimate shot at entering the Texas game with only two conference losses.

If that's the case, pending the Longhorns performance against Oklahoma, this game could easily be for more than bragging rights.

2. Auburn vs. Alabama (Nov. 26)

Maybe Gene Chizik is the man to lead Auburn to the promise land. After a disappointing stay at Iowa State, the former Texas Longhorns assistant led the Tigers to an 8-5 record including an Outback Bowl victory over Northwestern.

The 2009 Iron Bowl saw Auburn nearly knock Alabama out of contention for the BCS National Championship Game, but the will of the Tide prevailed.

Both teams look to be better than they were a year ago, but the biggest problem facing Auburn in 2010 is that this game is being played in Tuscaloosa.

1. Virginia Tech vs. Boise State (Sept. 6)

Tyrod Taylor vs. Kellen Moore. Who will prevail?

An opening week prime time game on ESPN (8 p.m. Eastern) should give the nation a glimpse of whether or not Boise State is once again a legitimate contender to, at the very least, be considered in the BCS Championship Game when the regular season comes to a close.

And while I don't believe in "trap games," if there ever was one for the Broncos, this is it as a loss could knock them out of BCS contention after only one week.