2010 College Football Predictions: SEC Non-Conference Games to Watch

The SEC is believed by many to have the best top-to-bottom conference in college football.

Each team battles through a gruesome eight-game conference schedule and only the toughest teams survive to clinch a BCS berth.

However, each school is faced with a four-game void each season before the SEC games start.

Some choose to fill this void with likes of Tennessee-Martin and Idaho State, but only the brave teams test their skills against the best college football has to offer.

Here's a look at the best out-of-conference games for the SEC this year.

The Rivalry Games

While the traditional rivalries between SEC teams and their non-conference foes are great to watch, the rest of the slideshow will consist of non-conference games that do not happen on an annual basis.

Here's a look at the best annual games that feature SEC members and their bitter non-SEC rivals .

- Kentucky at Louisville (September 4, 2010)
The Charlie Strong Era begins at Louisville with this big rivalry game against Joker Phillips and the dangerous Wildcats.

- Texas A&M at Arkansas (October 9, 2010)
This contest at Cowboys Stadium will feature two top quarterbacks in the Aggies' Jerrod Johnson and the Razorbacks' Ryan Mallett.

- South Carolina at Clemson (November 27, 2010)
Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks will try to beat Clemson in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1969-1970.

- Georgia Tech at Georgia (November 27, 2010)
The Yellow Jackets look to avenge last season's upset loss to a new-look 'Dawgs team with redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray.

- Florida at Florida State (November 27, 2010)
Jimbo Fisher's new-look Seminoles try to defeat the Gators for the first time since 2003.

LSU Tigers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

Where: Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA
When: September 4, 2010

The 2010 Chick-fil-A Kickoff game pits an SEC power with something to prove in LSU against North Carolina, which has experienced a recent resurgence under head coach Butch Davis.

The Tar Heels and Tigers have had similar seasons for the past couple of years, contending for conference titles and playing in respectable non-BCS bowl games.

However, while that's something new and exciting for North Carolina, it's disappointing for Les Miles and LSU.

Three years removed from winning the 2007 BCS National Championship, Miles may be on the hot seat soon if he has another bad season.

Beating ACC contender North Carolina in this prime-time match-up would be a big step for LSU as they try to reclaim their hold on the SEC West from Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Florida Gators vs. South Florida Bulls

Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - Gainesville, FL
When: September 11, 2010

While Miami (OH) is not a team to take lightly, this matchup with new coach Skip Holtz and the South Florida Bulls will be the weekend when the 2010 season officially begins for the Florida Gators.

South Florida has gone to five consecutive bowl games, winning three of the last four, and they boast a 10-2 record against teams from Florida.

The Gator defense will have their hands full with dual-threat quarterback BJ Daniels, who led the Bulls in passing yards (1,983), rushing yards (772), and total touchdowns (23).

Facing a quality opponent in South Florida should help keep Urban Meyer's team on its toes before its SEC opener with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium - Tuscaloosa, AL
When: September 11, 2010

This match between two of college football's most storied programs could be one of the best games of the 2010 season.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are a juggernaut with Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram at running back and the steady presence of Greg McElroy at quarterback.

Alabama's defense had six starters drafted by NFL teams in this year's draft, but Nick Saban's squad has enough talent to avoid having inexperience cripple the unit.

As for Penn State, they lose a lot of players from a team that went 11-2 and defeated the LSU Tigers in the Capital One Bowl.

However, the Nittany Lions have talented players ready to step in thanks to Joe Paterno's No. 15-ranked and No.11-ranked recruiting classes (according to ESPN) over the past two seasons.

Expect a lot of chest-thumping by both SEC and Big Ten fans as this contest is yet another installment in a seemingly endless struggle for bragging rights between the fans of both conferences.

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Oregon Ducks

Where: Neyland Stadium - Knoxville, TN
When: September 11, 2010

New Tennessee Volunteers head coach Derek Dooley has his work cut out for him in the second game of his tenure in Knoxville.

The Vols will host the defending Pac-10 Champions in the Oregon Ducks at a noisy Neyland Stadium, which will be filled to the brim with passionate Tennessee fans.

While the Volunteers will likely be the underdog in this match, their cause is aided by Oregon coach Chip Kelly's decision to dismiss star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli from the team (more on him later).

Even without Masoli, Tennessee with have to deal with running back LaMichael James, a member of the 2010 Preseason All-American second team.

James will be looking to improve on his 1,546 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns from last season and possibly squeeze into the Heisman picture if the Ducks have another good season in 2010.

A big win over an elite team like Oregon will be a huge first step for Dooley and Tennessee to regain national prestige and forget about last season's debacle a.k.a. "The Lane Kiffin Era (if you can even call it that)."

Auburn Tigers vs. Clemson Tigers

Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium - Auburn, AL
When: September 18, 2010

In this battle of Tigers, up-and-coming Auburn will face Clemson, the 2009 ACC Atlantic Division Champions.

The Orange and Purple Tigers finished last season with a record of 9-5 and lost the dynamic C.J. Spiller (whose No. 28 has been retired) to the NFL Draft.

However, despite losing Spiller, Clemson has a very good chance to take down Auburn and will be highly motivated to earn the ACC some "street cred" in the national picture by beating a talented SEC squad.

As for the Blue and Orange Tigers, they have one of several intriguing SEC quarterback situations this season in the debut of former Florida Gator Cameron Newton.

Newton, who left Florida after some legal issues, led Blinn College to NJCAA National Championship last season, passing for 2,833 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing for 655 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Whether that success will translate to SEC play is unknown, but a good game against Clemson would be a step in the right direction for Newton.

LSU Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

Where: Tiger Stadium - Baton Rouge, LA
When: September 25, 2010

Three weeks after a tough match with ACC contender, the LSU Tigers play another top program in Big East heavyweight (oxymoron) West Virginia.

Since missing out on the chance to face Ohio State for the BCS National Championship in 2007, the Mountaineers have had two consecutive 9-4 seasons under head coach Bill Stewart.

West Virginia brings the speedy Noel Devine, who has amassed 4,509 total yards on 614 touches (7.3 yards per touch) during his time in Morgantown.

If West Virginia is a legitimate contender for the Big East title in 2010, then Devine will certainly punch his ticket to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York at the very least.

Containing Devine will be tough for LSU, especially since they will also have to deal with dual-threat quarterback Geno Smith, who will replace Jarrett Brown.

The Tigers should be able match athletes with athletes against the Mountaineers, especially with Patrick Peterson leading the defense, and possibly notch a second victory over a prestigious non-conference foe.

Ole Miss Rebels vs. Fresno State Bulldogs

Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium - Oxford, MS
When: September 25, 2010

Even before former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli walked on at Ole Miss, this game was one to watch.

In addition to clinching a third straight bowl berth last season, Fresno State continued to build on their past competitiveness with high-profile programs.

The Bulldogs most famously went toe-to-toe with the Matt Leinart and the USC Trojans in a 50-42 offensive shootout in 2005 and last season, they took both Wisconsin (lost 34-31 OT) and Cincinnati (lost 28-20) down to the wire.

However, Fresno State will have their work cut out for them facing a quarterback of Masoli's caliber.

For the Pac-10 Champions last season, Masoli passed for 2,147 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 668 more yards and 13 touchdowns.

While Houston Nutt probably wants to start recruiting and signing elite quarterbacks from the get-go, having stars like Jevan Snead and Masoli transfer to Ole Miss not only helps the Rebels on the field, but in the recruiting world as well.

Whether or not the "Masoli Experiment" succeeds, this season will be an interesting one in Oxford.

Future Non-Conference Games for the SEC

The SEC has a great lineup of games against non-conference foes in 2010, but it could have been even better.

The Tennessee Volunteers turned down the opportunity to face Lane Kiffin and the USC Trojans in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game.

Meanwhile, ESPN has tried unsuccessfully to arrange a matchup between the Florida Gators and Urban's Meyer former team, the Utah Utes, the past couple of seasons.

While the SEC currently holds the reputation as the nation's toughest conference, playing non-conference games against cupcakes won't take them anywhere.

In order to stay on top, the SEC needs to play teams like USC, Texas, and Ohio State during the regular season and defeat them.

The 2010 schedule is a start, but until playing high-profile schools becomes a regularity, uneasy lies the head (SEC) that wears the college football crown.