Top 10 Sandwich Games of 2008

Sandwich Games:  They scare every coach.  They are "easy games" that you're supposed to win, but they come between two really tough games. 

In these situations game prep and focus become the real issues, and a coach has to get his team ready to play someone that they are favored to beat.

Sandwich games set the stage for some of the biggest upsets of the year and can ruin a team's "dream season.'  These games scare coaches as much as any on their schedule.

Top Ten Sandwich Games of 2008

1. Arkansas State @ Alabama (Nov. 1)

Alabama has to play this game between two of the toughest games any team in the country will play: road games @Tennessee and @ LSU.  If the Tide is in the SEC West race and is looking ahead to the Tigers...watch out!

2. Toledo @ Michigan (Oct. 11)

After playing high-ranked Illinois and before going to Happy Valley to meet Penn State, Michigan has to play Toledo from the MAC. Michigan will have one thing working in its favor in regards to this game...2007 Appalachian State.

3. OHIO STATE @ Northwestern (Nov. 8)

After playing Penn State, the Buckeyes have to make a stop in Evanston before a big meeting with Illinois, who beat them last year.  Ohio State seems to always have a nail biter at least once every year.  This could be it.

4. Tennessee-Martin @ AUBURN (Nov. 8)

After two grueling weeks on the road against West Virginia and Mississippi, Auburn gets a "breather" with Tennessee-Martin.  This is right before they play No. 1 Georgia.  Are you telling me that they will not be looking ahead.  They might have taken USF lightly last year and got stung.

5. Tulane @ LSU (Nov. 1)

This game still might have some tradition, but it will he hard for LSU not to overlook the Green Wave.  This game is right between Georgia and Alabama.

6. ILLINOIS vs. Western Michigan in Detroit (Nov. 8)

After Iowa and before Ohio State.  Illinois defeated Ohio State last year, but they will still be looking ahead, especially if the Buckeyes are undefeated.  If Ohio State gets by USC, they probably will be undefeated when they meet Illinois.

7. Syracuse @ NOTRE DAME (Nov. 22)

Why this game?  Because Notre Dame has a score to settle with Navy, whom they play before the Orangemen.  Navy beat Notre Dame for the first time in over 30 years last year.  After the Syracuse game, the Irish go to USC. This is a situation where the word "flat" usually gets thrown around a lot to describe the favorite....in this case, Notre Dame.

8. Louisiana-Monroe @ MISSISSIPPI (Nov. 15)

Ole Miss is looking for improvement this year.  If they are still in the race after playing three consecutive games @Alabama, @Arkansas and vs. Auburn, they get Tennessee-Martin the week before they host Georgia.  This has the makings to be a classic sandwich game.

9. Western Kentucky @ VIRGINIA TECH (Oct. 4)

After going to Nebraska to play a game with such national appeal, the Hokies get Western Kentucky right before they travel to Boston College in which looks like will be a very important ACC game.

10. Wyoming @ TENNESSEE (Nov. 8)

In another Nov. 8 game, Tennessee plays Wyoming in between going to South Carolina and long-time rival Vanderbilt, both of whom have played the Vols tough. This is the kind of game that can make Wyoming's season and break Tennessee's.