College Football 2012: Picking the Best Game in Every Conference for Every Week

Each week of the college football season is chock full of games, and these days, most of them are televised.

It can be a daunting task to sift through all of the garbage each week to find those few games you might actually want to watch in their entirety. So, we thought we'd help you out by highlighting the top game in each BCS automatic-qualifying conference for every week of the season.

Break out the calendars and make sure there's plenty of space available on the DVR!

Week 1

ACC: Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech

The ACC wastes no time getting the 2012 conference schedule underway with a Week 1 ACC clash on Monday, September 3. The Yellow Jackets, a pleasant surprise from 2011, will travel to Lane Stadium to take on the defending Coastal Division champs.

Big 12: SMU at Baylor

It might not seem that interesting, but the improving Mustangs against the RG3-less Bears will likely be more interesting than Texas-Wyoming or Oklahoma-UTEP.

Big East: Kentucky at Louisville

This is the only AQ vs. AQ matchup the Big East has in Week 1, so it was a no-brainer.

Big Ten: Boise State at Michigan State

Both teams are in rebuilding mode. It will be interesting to see which one of these upstarts can maintain its winning ways. Boise State has a knack for knocking off AQ programs in their own stadium.

Pac-12: Hawaii at USC

We're all anxious to see just how good USC is going to be in 2012. Hawai'i may not provide the best opposition, but it's far better than trying to judge the Trojans against the likes of Big Ten cellar-dweller Minnesota or some FCS team.

SEC: Michigan vs. Alabama (Arlington, Texas)

We're putting this game under the SEC's headline, because it's arguably bigger for the SEC than the Big Ten. Alabama should be favored, and if Alabama's win is anything less than impressive, it will only serve to highlight a possible chink in the seemingly impenetrable SEC armor.

Week 2

ACC: Miami at Kansas State

If you want to know just how far Miami has fallen (or possibly how abruptly Al Golden has stopped the slide), you'll want to catch the Hurricanes' trip to Bill Snyder Stadium to take on Bill Snyder and his Wildcats.

Big 12: Oklahoma State at Arizona

The Pokes are Weeden and Blackmon-less, and Arizona is now under the leadership of Rich Rod. Should be interesting, to say the least.

Big East: Syracuse vs. USC (East Rutherford, N.J.)

This is an excellent opportunity for all you East Coast football fans to get a look at USC. And it's an excellent opportunity to see if the Orange are still as bad as they were last season.

Big Ten: Penn State at Virginia

First test for new head coach Bill O'Brien will be against a much-improved Virginia team.

Pac-12: Nebraska at UCLA

If UCLA has any chance of redeeming itself anytime soon, a strong showing—even in a loss—at home against the Cornhuskers is a must.

SEC: Auburn at Mississippi State

The conference schedule gets underway in a game that will set the tone for each team in 2012.

Week 3

ACC: Wake Forest at Florida State

The Seminoles laughingly start 2012 against two FCS opponents. No strength of schedule points there. But we'll finally get a halfway decent look at FSU in its Week 3 ACC opener.

Big 12: TCU at Kansas

The Horned Frogs make their Big 12 debut, as does new Kansas head coach Charlie Weis. We'll get a quick idea about which one will find success first in this game.

Big East: Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh

A Pitt win against a depleted Virginia Tech squad could be a big boost to the much-maligned Big East.

Big Ten: Notre Dame at Michigan State

This game is always entertaining, and in recent years has had some pretty significant poll implications for both squads.

Pac-12: USC at Stanford

The Pac-12 season gets underway with a bang. Will the Luck-less Cardinal have any hope against a USC squad that's perceived as unstoppable?

SEC: Alabama at Arkansas

The 2012 season in the SEC West will have some early questions answered quickly with this clash between division hopefuls.

Week 4

ACC: Clemson at Florida State

There probably isn't a bigger game in the Atlantic Division this season. The winner could be headed to the ACC championship game.

Big 12: Baylor at Louisiana-Monroe

If Baylor struggles in this warm-up to the Big 12 opener in Week 5, we'll know exactly how far the Bears have fallen without RG3.

Big East: Rutgers at Arkansas

If Rutgers can keep it somewhat close, it will be a moral victory for the Knights and the conference at large. But it's a mighty big “if.”

Big Ten: Michigan at Notre Dame

The independent Irish show up for a second straight week in our Big Ten game of the week, this time against the Wolverines. An epic win against what could be a very highly ranked U-M squad could set the tone for a BCS run for Brian Kelly and company. A Michigan win, however, would simply reinforce the late wave of maize and blue dominance over Notre Dame.

Pac-12: Arizona at Oregon

After a few warm-ups, we'll finally see the Ducks against an opponent of supposedly equal size. How much of a difference will Oregon's personnel losses make this season? How much of a difference will Rich Rod make at Arizona?

SEC: LSU at Auburn

There's no better place to start the march back to the SEC title game than walking into Jordan-Hare and walking out with a victory.

Week 5

ACC: Florida State at South Florida

At first, this game looks to be a no-brainer. But those Bulls can be pesky, and you can bet they're going to love having a shot at the 'Noles in Tampa.

Big 12: Baylor at West Virginia

The Mountaineers make their long-awaited Big 12 debut, and the Baylor Bears are the guests for homecoming in Morgantown.

Big East: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech (Landover, Md.)

Since there are only three Big East teams playing in Week 5, and we've already mentioned South Florida, we begrudgingly selected Cincy vs. Virgina Tech over Buffalo at Connecticut.

Big Ten: Ohio State at Michigan State

Can the sanction-laden, Urban Meyer-led Buckeyes exact revenge against Sparty in his own backyard?

Pac-12: UCLA at Colorado

Both programs need some improvement in the conference, and this game will provide a good opportunity to change some minds in a week with few conference games.

SEC: Arkansas at Texas A&M

Can the Aggies hang with the rest of the SEC? We'll have our answer in this Week 5 West Division showdown.

Week 6

ACC: Georgia Tech at Clemson

Big 12: West Virginia at Texas

Little would do more for WVU's confidence in the Big 12 than knocking off a (usually) perennial power like Texas.

Big East: South Florida at Temple

The Owls host their first-ever Big East game, and do so against a South Florida team that is capable of dishing out a very rude welcome.

Big Ten: Nebraska at Ohio State

The Cornhuskers make their first conference trip to the Horseshoe in Columbus, and this year, both teams should be pretty good.

Pac-12: USC at Utah

This Thursday night game is a rematch of last season's nail-biter in LA. Will Utah be able to seal the deal on its home turf, or will a trophy-hungry USC simply ride right over the Utes?

SEC: Georgia at South Carolina

This game will easily be the best matchup in the East Division this season.

Week 7

ACC: Maryland at Virginia

In a week full of rather uninteresting ACC games, this could be an opportunity for Maryland to break out of the doldrums against an improving Virginia program.

Big 12: Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas, Texas)

Texas-Oklahoma. Cotton Bowl. Enough said.

Big East: Louisville at Pittsburgh

If Louisville has any hope of trying to repeat last season's co-championship performance in the Big East, a win on the road at Pitt is a must.

Big Ten: Iowa at Michigan State

Sparty has had some trouble with the Hawkeyes as of late, and any possible Legends Division title run will be quickly derailed with a loss.

Pac-12: Utah at UCLA

SEC: South Carolina at LSU

A week after facing Georgia, South Carolina must head to Baton Rouge to face one of the giants from the West. If the East ever hopes to dispose of the “JV” moniker in the SEC, this could be the game to do it.

Week 8

ACC: Florida State at Miami

While the Hurricanes may be considered down and out by many, you can never discount Miami when going up against a hated rival like Florida State.

Big 12: Kansas State at West Virginia

Last season's Cinderella against the new kids on the Big 12 block. Should be a great game to use as a barometer for both squads.

Big East: South Florida at Louisville

Unfortunately, this is about as exciting as the Big East gets this week.

Big Ten: Michigan State at Michigan

The rivalry was once only truly interesting in the state of Michigan. Now it has national implications, and Sparty has really taken Michigan to the woodshed ever since Mike Hart's “little brother” comments. Can Michigan finally respond?

Pac-12: Oregon at Arizona State

A Thursday game in Tempe could provide the perfect opportunity for the Sun Devils to sneak one past the Ducks. Not possible? ASU did it to USC last season...

SEC: LSU at Texas A&M

Texas A&M may be new to the conference, and the Aggies probably aren't anywhere near as touted this season as the Tigers, but Kyle Field will give LSU a taste of what it's like to play in Baton Rouge as the opponents.

Week 9

ACC: Clemson at Wake Forest

This game was entertaining—and close—last season. This year, the Deacons have the home field, so anything is possible.

Big 12: Notre Dame at Oklahoma

This game could be a clash of the titans or just another ho-hum game, depending on how the Sooners and Irish fare to this point. But either way, it's great to see two storied programs mix it up in mid-season non-conference play.

Big East: Cincinnati at Louisville

Two conference co-champions from last season mix it up in Louisville.

Big Ten: Michigan at Nebraska

Michigan handed Nebraska a pretty embarrassing beat-down at the Big House last season. Can Martinez and the Huskers return the favor?

Pac-12: Washington State at Stanford

A great opportunity for new WSU head coach Mike Leach to earn some major brownie points in Pullman.

SEC: Georgia vs. Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Always a good game, regardless of the records or the rankings.

Week 10

ACC: Virginia Tech at Miami

Big 12: TCU at West Virginia

With both teams new to the Big 12, the records of each team entering November will give us the tale of the tape.

Big East: Connecticut at South Florida

Big Ten: Michigan at Minnesota

The Little Brown Jug is finally back on the line, and Michigan will make its first trip to TCF Bank Stadium. Outside. In November.

Pac-12: Oregon at USC

A likely preview of the Pac-12 championship game. No more, no less. Clearly the game of the week in the conference, and possibly the regular season game of the season.

SEC: Alabama at LSU

Anybody who needs a reason why this game is important obviously has been living under a rock for the past year.

Week 11

ACC: Florida State at Virginia Tech

A Thursday night, prime-time, old-fashioned ACC brawl. Virginia Tech's Coastal Division is wide open this season, but Florida State is emerging as an early favorite in the Atlantic.

Big 12: West Virginia at Oklahoma State

Dana Holgorsen visits his old haunt, and we'll see just how capable the WVU defense is in 2012. We might also see how well a Holgorsen-designed offense still works against Big 12 defenses.

Big East: Pittsburgh at Connecticut

Big Ten: Penn State at Nebraska

Nebraska squeaked out a win last season at Penn State during an emotional Saturday. Can Penn State get past the Huskers this year on the road with their emotions in check?

Pac-12: Arizona State at USC

It's hard to remember now, but it was the Sun Devils who beat the Trojans last season in Tempe. USC will be out for blood.

SEC: Texas A&M at Alabama

Week 12

ACC: North Carolina at Virginia

Big 12: Oklahoma at West Virginia

This late in the season, this game between teams that could find themselves at or near the top of the conference standings will have massive BCS implications.

Big East: South Florida at Miami

These teams have a history. A 6-3 Miami win in a snoozer last season. A 23-20 South Florida victory in overtime in 2010. Will the 2012 edition be as close?

Big Ten: Ohio State at Wisconsin

Pac-12: Stanford at Oregon

We'll see here just how good (or not good) Stanford really is without Andrew Luck.

SEC: Arkansas at Mississippi State

With Mississippi at LSU, Syracuse at Missouri and Tennessee at Vanderbilt, this is one of just four games that doesn't feature the SEC vs. the FCS. There's one word for late-season games against FCS cannon fodder: weak.

Week 13

ACC: South Carolina at Clemson

No explanation really needed for this heated in-state rivalry.

Big 12: TCU at Texas

With Oklahoma-Oklahoma State likely not having the flavor of a year ago, the TCU at Texas game will likely have a much more interesting, if not relevant storyline.

Big East: South Florida at Cincinnati

Big Ten: Michigan at Ohio State

Brady Hoke got Michigan back into the win column against Ohio State. Can he now deliver the victory in Columbus? We can't imagine anything more demoralizing for a Buckeye team banned from the postseason than to finish the year with a loss to the hated Wolverines.

Pac-12: Notre Dame at USC

Will Notre Dame make it this far still generating BCS buzz? We know USC likely will. By the way, why doesn't USC dare play Notre Dame in South Bend in late November? Seems rather cowardly, doesn't it?

SEC: Auburn at Alabama

There are few games better throughout any college football season than the Iron Bowl.

Week 14

ACC: Conference Championship Game

Big 12: Oklahoma at TCU

The odds-on conference favorite, Oklahoma, will travel to TCU for the first time to finish the Frogs' inaugural Big 12 season. Somehow, the final week of Big 12 play seems anticlimactic without a conference championship game...

Big East: Cincinnati at Connecticut

In the “who cares” conference finale on December 1, Cincinnati and UConn will tangle for what could turn out to be a head-shaking back-door slide into the BCS.

Big Ten: Conference Championship Game

Pac-12: Conference Championship Game

SEC: Conference Championship Game