10 Under-The-Radar Games That Could Shape the BCS Champion

We can all find the big games on any given schedule for any given season as being the marquee games that you simply can't miss. 

This year there are such early season highlights as USC @ Ohio State, Georgia @ Oklahoma State, and Virginia Tech vs. Alabama amongst a myriad of other's for us college football nuts to look forward to.

But many times, it isn't these big matchups that truly decide the National Title contenders.  It is the 'lesser' 'under the radar' type games that truly decide who ends up playing for all the marbles.

Just last year we had stunners in Oregon State over USC, Ole Miss over Florida, and the late in the season upset of Iowa over Penn State that really put some spice into the National Title run.  All of these games had huge implications on who ended up in the National Title game, and were far from being 'highlighted' games that anybody, other than the underdog teams and fans, were looking forward to.

So what are the top 'Under the Radar' games that could cause quite a shake up in the race towards the National Title?

10.  Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M: Most are expecting the Aggies to finish in the cellar of the Big 12 South, and they may well struggle again in Mike Sherman's second year at the helm in College Station. 

What the Aggies do have in their favor in this matchup is an Oklahoma team coming back home after a road game to Nebraska before a road game to Texas Tech and their home Bedlam Series regular season finale with in-state rival Oklahoma State.  Without any doubt, this game looks to be the tamest of the bunch.

However, these are the games that really step up and bite teams when they are simply sleep-walking, trying to hold on to a perfect season, or are simply over-looking an opponent.

What the Aggies do have is some talent on the offensive side of the ball.  Jerrod Johnson is a freakishly big 6'5" and 229 pounds at QB who can run and throw.  Alongside him in the backfield, when this game kicks off, may well be super freshman recruit Christine Michael.  Jeff Fuller and Ryan Tannehill had very under-the-radar performances as true freshman WR's for the Aggies, and should improve along with the talents of their gunslinger.

If the Sooners find themselves looking ahead to Big 12 Championships or National Title dreams, the Aggies could full well prove to be a spoiler. 

9.  Tennessee @ Alabama:  If Alabama finds themselves on the winning end of tussles against Virginia Tech, Arkansas, @ Ole Miss, and a homecoming victory over South Carolina, they will notice a much beleaguered and often criticized Volunteers squad on their schedule before a bye game war with LSU.   

There has not been a team........OK, staff............, more criticized this off-season than the one in Knoxville headed by upstart head man Lane Kiffin.

What shouldn't be lost on anyone is that amid all the turmoil of last year's Volunteer season with the dismissal of long time head man Fulmer, was the existence of a very good defense.  With all the lack of productivity on the offensive side of the ball last year, Tennessee still brandished one of the best stop units in all of the SEC.

And as we all know, Alabama isn't exactly a juggernaut on the offensive side of the ball themselves.  While breaking in their new QB in McElroy, they will also need to be filling the huge holes that Antoine Caldwell and Andre Smith have left behind on their departure to the NFL.

If the Tide do happen to be undefeated rolling into their October 24th contest with UT at home, don't be shocked if Tennessee pulls the upset in a game that may have the winner scoring under 20 points in a game revolving around great defense, special teams, and hard-nosed running of the football.     

8. Florida vs. Arkansas:  This is my first entry for the supremely talented Florida squad.   And if last year proves anything, the mighty Gators can be beaten at home by an inferior opponent.  And if Stanford can beat USC on their field in 2007, then the Razorbacks could beat the Gators in the Swamp this year.

Coach Petrino is a new gun to the SEC, and he will look to bring a different look of an offense to the SEC this year with the strong-armed and super-talented transfer in Ryan Mallett.  Along with Mallett are some other nice weapons in Michael Smith (RB) and DJ Williams (TE).  Petrino also has a nice stock of RB's to compliment Smith, and may even have a guy surplanting the shifty Smith as the starting RB even after his solid 1,000 yard season from a year ago.

What Arkansas also has in their favor is a Florida team fresh off of what will likely be a very physical ball game at LSU. 

If Arkansas can get Mallett and Williams into a rhythm along with an underrated London Crawford making enough plays on the outside, this could be an extremely large upset if the incredibly over-matched Razorback defense can get a couple of turnovers and force the Gators to punt a time or two.

7.  LSU vs. Arkansas:  I obviously have a lot of love for the Razorbacks this year.  However, in this November 28th tilt with LSU, they find themselves in a game with a team that they have had some very solid recent success against.  (Won the last 2)

This is not only a long shot on Arkansas upsetting LSU again, but a long shot on LSU being in the title hunt come the end of the season this year.  But sometimes, you just have a feeling about a team, and this year I have that feeling about LSU.

In 2008, the Tigers took a huge step backwards in which they finished a dismal 3-5 in  SEC conference play after winning a National Title in 2007.

Don't expect that to happen again, and fully expect these Tigers to have some serious bite.  In 2008, it was their strength in their defense that truly let them down.  That along with a crew of green QB's that simply couldn't take advantage of the talent on hand down in Bayou land. 

Look for that to end, and for LSU to step right back into contention in the SEC. 

Jordan Jefferson showed some very good sings of life at QB at the end of the year and Charles Scott is returning at RB.  Also don't forget about Brandon La'Fell at WR and super returnman, do everyting, Trindon Holliday.  Along with a very underrated TE in Richard Dickson and some extremely talented WR's and other RB's waiting in the wings, and this LSU team is very, very talented.  (Scary when Keiland Williams, Richard Murphy, Rueben Randle, and Terrance Toliver dont' even get a mention.......oops, sorry.)

They may have Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss before this season-ender, but don't be shocked if they have 1 loss or less when they line it up with a dangerous Arkansas club come November 28th.

I've already given the kudo's to the Razorbacks, along with their recent success over these very same (tame?) Tigers.  Can they make it three in a row and keep LSU out the Title game in '09?

6. Ohio State @ Iowa:  We saw the magic of the Hawkeyes last year as they kept the 'for sure' bet in Penn State out of last year's National Title game.

Can they go for two for two?

Why not? 

The Buckeyes could very well be undefeated coming into this contest and ranked extremely high (#1?) when they face the always pesky Hawkeyes in Iowa City on November 14th. 

With the Hawkeyes playing Indiana and Minnesota prior to this home contest, they could be well rested against an Ohio State club off of a road game victory over Penn State before their long storied rivalry game against Michigan.

Call it a trap game, call it a meaningless game.  But this one could prove to be very wrong for the Buckeye faithful as they try to rid recent frustrations on their way to an undefeated season.   

This one would be very painful for Buckeye faithful if they were to beat the vaunted USC squad along with a road game victory over Penn State to only see their dreams shattered by the ever present underdog coach in Kirk Ferentz.

5.  USC @ Arizona State:  The Trojan romp out in the West will likely continue this season, even with a Sophomore QB at the helm in Aaron Corp. 

An early season 'big game' victory over Ohio State could put them in shape for yet another run at a National Title. 

If they win that contest, games @ California, @ Notre Dame, vs. Oregon State, and @ Oregon will hold more value amongst the public before their 5th and final contest in that run against Dennis Erickson and the Sun Devils on the road in Tempe, AZ.

I definitely look for the Devils to improve upon their meager 5-7 record from last year, and they will look for this one to improve their bowl position stance in the over-criticized Pac 10.

In what will likely be a late night game in the desert, the Devils could catch an undefeated USC squad by surprise and put a huge wrench into the BCS bubble with an outright victory over the heavily favored Trojans.

If the Trojans aren't ready to gear it up, the Devils could well be ready to keep them out of the National Title talk with yet another surprising defeat that will inbibe pollsters to keep USC out of the National Title game........yet again.

4.  Penn State @ Northwestern:  Could this actually be possible? 

Usually Joe Pa is solid in games over supposed inferior oppenents.  But we only need to look to last year against Iowa and to a late season defeat in 1999 to Minnesota when Joe Pa had undefeated and 'unbeatable' Lion squads.

A week before their big tilt with Ohio State at home, the Lions get Northwestern on the road after their other 'big game' with Michigan.  Don't think for a second that Penn State fans, players, or coaches will take a win/game against Michigan lightly.   

If Michigan can't get it done, don't count out the Cardiac Cats.  Yes, Northwestern lost virtually anybody and everybody that led them to an improbable 9-4 season last year, but the gritty and tough ex-Linebacker and head coach in Pat Fitzgerald should have no probelm in gearing these 'Cats up to play a game with Penn State.

Northwestern does return eight guys off of a darn good and very much underrated defense from last year, and they won't be a pure pushover for anybody in the Big 10. 

If Penn State comes into this one 'looking ahead' it could prove to be very detrimental to their Title run hopes.

3. USC vs. Stanford:  It happend once before, it can always happen again. 

The game directly after my other USC entry after a late season contest with Arizona State, is the Stanford Cardinal.  A team that very much presents a different look than almost everybody else in the Pac 10. 

Toby Gerhart is a tough and grinding RB, and with the possibility of the upstart stud in Andrew Luck at QB, the Cardinal could very well prove to be a surprise team this season as Jim Harbaugh continues to build this once frustrated program who had all of one win three seasons ago.

With 17 starters returning, the Cardinal will also be likely looking to creep up the bowl game ladder with a win over the powerful Trojans.

They won't be getting 41 points this time in the LA Coliseum, but it will likely be near 20 or more.  Can lightning strike twice in the same place?

Just ask Oregon State.  Add in cross-town rival UCLA waiting, and a 'resting' bye week, the Trojans could be weary after a very tough 5 game stretch preceding this very much overlooked contest.

2. Texas @ Missouri:  Last year, on national television, the Tigers were simply handed their tails as Texas beat them up early and often en route to a 56-31 win that wasn't even that close.

That game pretty well spelled disaster for any hopes of a Missouri National Title game appearance after a previous week loss to the improving Oklahoma State Cowboys.

This year, however, could prove to be payback time for Missouri.

They would love nothing more than to put a serious 'spike' into a much expected Longhorn appearance in this year's title game.

Throw in the fact that the Missouri game is sandwiched between tussles with Red River rival Oklahoma and a road game to Oklahoma State, and this game adds some serious flavor to an extremely possible 'under-the-radar' upset.

Missouri may be young, but they do have talent.  Blaine Gabbert was one of the most highly sought after QB's coming out of High School, and Derrick Washington (RB), Jared Perry (WR), and Danario Alexander (WR) aren't exactly unknown players in the Big 12.

Texas ran through a tough run of games last year, and get a very tough gauntlet in this threesome of games this year. 

The 'Horns have fell short in shoot-outs before, and this could be yet another one that could come down to who has the ball last if they aren't ready to play yet another spread out and high powered offense in the Big 12.

Don't be shocked if Missouri gets some revenge in this one in what can be an easily overlooked contest for the mighty Longhorns.

1. Florida @ South Carolina: Yes, I had to put Florida first.  And in this contest they will be recovering from Vanderbilt with their sites set on Florida International.  (Recovering and sites set obviously being a joke.)

Poor sandwich game you say?  Sure.

But this is Steve Spurrier, and he is coming off of an embarrassing 56-6 pummelling at the hands of his ex-team and alma mater from last year.

So you ask, how exactly does South Carolina beat Florida? 

It starts first and foremost with what could be an improved Stephen Garcia.  I look for Stephen to hold down the fort at QB for South Carolina (at least what could be for one game?).  This could be the first time in Spurrier's  South Carolina career that they could have a difference-maker at QB that can actually hold the starting job with some effectiveness . His offensive scheme has often been criticized since arriving in Columbia.

The other factor is freshman RB Jarvis Giles.  Since Spurrier has been at South Carolina, he has not had a home-run threat out of the backfield like Jarvis. Like Jaquizz Rodgers was extremely important in Oregon State's upset of USC last year, Jarvis Giles could do the same for South Carolina this year.

South Carolina will be off of two straight SEC road games, and it isn't unthinkable that they may be coming off of two straight losses in the ever tough SEC.  It would do Spurrier nothing prouder than to put an 'L' on the Gator ledger to get his usually late season fading Gamecocks to not only get the 'Cocks bowl eligible, but to put yet another stamp on his legacy as a great college football coach.

Call it a final feather in his cap, but this is my primary 'under-the-radar' upset that could throw a serious wrench into this year's BCS National Championship game race.

Likely I'm wrong in all of these contests, but college football always throws us a wrench or two.  These are my ten best 'wrenches' that could add some serious flavor to what is likely another incredible college football season.