2010 College Football Predictions: Who Will Be Blindsided by a Trap Game?
Every year college football has its fair share of upsets and gut-wrenching losses for some of the nation's finest teams that undoubtedly ruin any chance of a BCS Championship.
These losses can be blamed on a number of different things: lack of preparation, no focus or just getting outplayed.
However, more often than not, there is one common factor when upsets occur: The proverbial trap game.
That's right, teams looking ahead to who is next on their schedule. The trap game can be extra difficult if it is smashed in between two difficult games.
Either way, the trap game is the biggest cause of upsets in the college football world.
Here are some trap games for 2010 and the teams that need to look out.
Alabama Vs. Duke
1 of 8
The Alabama Crimson Tide have an early season match-up with the Duke Blue Devils. Many may think that unless they are playing basketball, the Blue Devils have no chance. In most instances that would be true, but not this time.
Alabama has a home game with Penn State the week before, and a week after they take on the Blue Devils, they travel to Arkansas to kick off SEC play.
Think they won't have their minds somewhere else?
While Duke football is nothing to write home about, they are getting progressively better and the Crimson Tide better not overlook this battle, as the Blue Devils have home field advantage in this one.
West Virginia Vs. Louisville
2 of 8
The West Virginia Mountaineers take on the Louisville Cardinals toward the end of the season and this has trap game written all over it.
West Virginia will certainly be battling for the Big East Championship and the two weeks leading up to the game they travel to Connecticut and take on Cincinnati at home.
Then comes a trip to Louisville to take on the Cardinals. That is followed up by a trip north to battle the league favorite Pittsburgh Panthers before finishing the year against Rutgers.
Focusing on Louisville will not be an easy task for West Virginia, especially with it being right in the middle of the four most difficult league games of the year.
Utah Vs. San Diego State
3 of 8
Like West Virginia, the Utah trap game comes near the end of the season.
The Utes travel to San Diego State for their final road game of the year after undoubtedly coming off tough battles with TCU and Notre Dame the previous two weeks.
Don't look ahead either—the season finale the following week against BYU looms large.
Think these guys will have their minds focused squarely on San Diego State?
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Florida Vs. Kentucky
4 of 8
The Kentucky Wildcats could arguably be the trap game for a lot of teams in the SEC, and this season they fit into Florida's schedule quite nicely.
Florida plays Kentucky early in the year and the game is sandwiched in between two big road games for the Gators.
After traveling to Knoxville to face rival Tennessee in week three, Florida returns home to play Kentucky in week four and follows that up with a road game against Alabama.
They better not be looking ahead when the Wildcats come to town.
Oklahoma Vs. Air Force
5 of 8
The Oklahoma Sooners play one of the more challenging non-conference schedules in the country for a big name program and after a week two battle with Florida State, they take on Air Force in what is a big-time trap game.
Air Force has to feel good about their week three match-up with the Sooners because if Oklahoma is not still thinking about their game the previous week against FSU, they may be looking ahead to their game the following week at Cincinnati.
While Air Force is completely over-matched against Oklahoma, if there was ever a time they could hang with them, this would be it.
Pittsburgh Vs. New Hampshire
6 of 8
Sure, New Hampshire is no good, but Pittsburgh has been known to allow teams the opportunity to stay in games, and this trap game may completely put them to sleep.
Pittsburgh begins the season with a road game against Utah and then returns home to face New Hampshire.
The Panthers will certainly be looking ahead, because coming to town next are the Miami Hurricanes. Pittsburgh will almost certainly have their minds in the gutter for this one.
Will that allow New Hampshire to pull off the miracle?
Boise State Vs. Wyoming
7 of 8
The non-conference schedule for Boise State is as difficult as they come.
The Broncos start the season against Virginia Tech in Washington D.C., and in week three they have a huge battle with nationally-ranked Oregon St.
In between, the Broncos take on the Wyoming Cowboys on the road.
This has the makings of a huge upset. The Cowboys are dangerous at home and Boise State will certainly be looking ahead.
Look out for this one, folks.
South Carolina Vs. Troy
8 of 8
I would warn South Carolina and head coach Steve Spurrier not to fall asleep on Troy.
The Gamecocks face the Trojans the second-to-last game of the season, a week after traveling to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators.
South Carolina closes out the season with a road game against Clemson a week later.
The Troy Trojans are poised to take full advantage.
Maybe South Carolina will be prepared because as you can see, their whole schedule seems to be a trap.
September 2: Southern Miss
September 11: Georgia
September 18: Furman
September 25: at Auburn
October 2: Bye
October 9: Alabama
October 16: at Kentucky
October 23: at Vanderbilt
October 30: Tennessee
November 6: at Arkansas
November 13: at Florida
November 20: Troy
November 27: at Clemson
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
