Andrew Luck: 5 Most Intriguing Matchups on Star Rookie's Regular Season Schedule

Andrew Luck, the No. 1 overall pick, joined the Colts after an outstanding college career at Stanford, in which he was twice named a first-team All-American.

Luck put the Cardinal on the map by throwing 82 touchdowns and just 22 interceptions during his four seasons at the university.

Luck comes into the league with a great deal of pressure, especially after the Colts parted ways with Peyton Manning, their longtime face of the franchise, in order to make room for the talented rookie quarterback.

The football world's eyes will surely be focused on Luck this season due to the big name he is replacing.

Here are the five most intriguing match-ups on Andrew Luck's regular season schedule.

Week 1 vs the Chicago Bears

Luck will have his hands full in his first regular season game when the Colts face the Bears.

Under Cutler, the Bears went 7-3 in the league; however, when Cutler broke his thumb on his throwing hand, the Bears had to resort to Caleb Hanie, which caused Chicago to lose five straight games.

This proved that Cutler was the catalyst in the Bears' success. Cutler will be a tough matchup for Luck, who is new to playing with the big boys.

Although Luck has proved himself playing for Stanford, it will be tough to compete with the experience which Cutler has acquired playing for two big-name teams.

Week 5 vs Green Bay Packers

Week 5 pits the Colts against the Green Bay Packers.

Aaron Rodgers, who led the Packers to win Super Bowl XLV and was named Super Bowl MVP, will be arguably Luck's toughest matchup.

Although Luck was a college standout, so was Rodgers, as he set many records for the University of California, Berkeley with the lowest single-season and career interception rates at 1.43 percent and 1.95 percent.

Against the Packers, Luck will have an opportunity to gauge his progress against one of the best quarterbacks in recent memory, though coming out with a win against one of the best teams in the NFL will be a tall order for the rookie.

Week 9 vs Miami Dolphins

Week 9 looks like a rookie showdown, as Andrew Luck will take on Ryan Tannehill, a first-year quarterback out of Texas A&M.

Tannehill was the Dolphins' eighth overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft, and the first quarterback to be selected by the Dolphins in the first round since Dan Marino in 1983, an extremely impressive accomplishment for the rookie.

Although Luck is considered the better player, it will be a tough draw for the Colts, who finished dead last in the NFL last season.

Luck will have to be in top form in order to rattle the Dolphins, but luckily for Andrew, he is used to carrying the weight of the team on his shoulders.

Week 11 vs New England Patriots

Week 11 for the Colts will be yet again facing a challenging opponent, as they take on the perennial contenders from New England.

Tom Brady is arguably the NFL's hottest commodity on and off the field and is a perfect role model for a young quarterback like Luck. 

The Patriots will almost undoubtedly be well on their way to another postseason berth by the time they take on the Colts in Week 11, but the midseason contest will be a good chance for Luck to gauge his progress against one of the league's best teams, not to mention one of the best quarterbacks of all time.

Week 13 vs Detriot Lions

In Week 13, Luck's Colts will take on the Detroit Lions, who are led by another first overall pick behind center in Matthew Stafford, the top selection in 2009.

Though Stafford struggled during the early stages of his career, he enjoyed a breakout season in 2011 and led the Lions to the postseason with a 41-touchdown season.

Stafford has emerged as one of the most explosive passers in the league, but if Luck is anything like he was in college, he and the Colts could put a serious dent in the Lions' postseason aspirations.