Mark your calendars, football fans. The month of September could very well be the most important month for many teams vying for pushes in the polls and top-tier bowl bids.
Usually most teams' entire seasons are decided late—think late November or early December.
Looking at last year, if West Virginia had beat Pitt, LSU would have been playing in the Sugar Bowl. The year before, USC, not Florida, would have been playing for the title if it weren't for UCLA's upset over the Trojans.
Yes, the last few games are very important to many teams still posturing for bowl bids. However, this year has some unexpected early season blockbusters which could determine the BCS pecking order.
Get a load of some of these games on September 20th and the implications for some BCS title contenders' entire seasons.
Florida @ Tennessee
Are you kidding me? Florida's first road game against a division foe, and the only other tough road games they have (not counting the WLOCP in Jacksonville) are against a watered-down Arkansas, Vandy, and Florida State.
This game could be for all the marbles since Georgia's road schedule is a bit more daunting than the Gators. The Gators have to have this win against the Vols to get ahead of the Dawgs.
The Vols, on the other hand, are pretty sneaky at flying under the radar. While everybody is looking at Florida or Georgia to win the East, Phil may have a few tricks up his sleeve and throw a wrench into those two teams' postseason plans.
Georgia @ Arizona State
Although the Dawgs travel to South Carolina the previous week, the road to Arizona State will be brutal. The Dawgs also have to travel to LSU and Auburn later in the season. The game in Tempe, Arizona is the litmus test for determining just how good the Bulldogs and the Sun Devils are.
It's really simple for Georgia. Win, and have a ton of confidence hosting 'Bama and Tennessee the following weeks. Lose, and every SEC team will be studying the game film to put Georgia in the dog house.
Arizona State, on the other hand, can actually jump ahead of USC if they beat Georgia and the Trojans lose to the Buckeyes the previous week.
LSU @ Auburn
Another potential BCS dream-ender for either team. After this game, Auburn still has the Vols, the Hogs, the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Tide on their schedule, plus a non-conference game at West Virginia.
The Auburn Tigers warm up with Mississippi State before facing the defending champs, and while they shouldn't have too many problems adjusting to the intensity of conference play, theirs is still a better warm-up game than LSU's.
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