College Football Predictions: Which Teams Scheduled Their Bye Week Best?

Scheduling is key in college football. Having a strong non-conference schedule is key towards boosting your national profile and getting enough of a reputation to land a big name bowl at the end of the season.

What is overlooked sometimes is the bye week. Planning that bye out just right could give you the right boost to propel you to a national title.

With that in mind, here are the 20 teams who did the best job of doing just that.

#20: USC

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SAN FRANCISCO - DECEMBER 26: Damian Williams #18 of the USC Trojans runs after a catch against Mike Morrissey #53 of the Boston College Eagles during the 2009 Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park on December 26, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacob

If circumstances were different, USC would probably be higher on the list. But with a bowl ban, there's no choice but to put the Trojans at this spot.

USC's bye is October 23, after the Trojans' matchup against California and right before they play host to Oregon, USC's biggest matchup on this year's schedule.

#19: West Virginia

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Jarrett Brown #16 of the West Virginia Mountaineers runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the third quarter of the game at Nippert Stadium on November 13, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Ly

West Virginia's biggest opponents are LSU and Pittsburgh and the Mountaineers' bye is nowhere close to either of them.

Noel Devine and company will rest on November 6, between contests against Connecticut and Cincinnati. I'm not big on West Virginia this year, although they'll have a chance to compete in the weaker Big East, but I'd have like the bye closer to the Pitt matchup.

#18: Penn State

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 1: Daryll Clark #17 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the football in the second half of the 2010 Capital One Bowl against the LSU Tigers at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. Penn State w

Penn State has three big opponents this year -- Alabama, Iowa and Ohio State and the bye is positioned in an odd place between Illinois and Minnesota on October 16.

All of those three big matchups are road contests and there is no time to rest up before any of them.

#17: Florida

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 01: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators stands on the sidelines during the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Cincinnati Bearcats at the Louisana Superdome on January 1, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/

The Gators find themselves having a bye on October 24 -- after huge matchups against Alabama and LSU and home date against Mississippi State.

For a team that's trying to find itself after losing key members of its team, I would have liked to seen the bye closer to those big matchups.

#16: Nebraska

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SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 30: Phillip Dillard #52 of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers looks on during the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl against University of Arizona Wildcats on December 30, 2009 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Cornhuskers

Nebraska's bye falls on October 2, right before the Cornhuskers start Big 12 play. It's also before the majority of Nebraska's road contests.

I feel like the bye is too early and should have been positioned later in the season.

#15: Iowa

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 05: Quarterback Richy Stanzi #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes looks to pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the FedEx Orange Bowl at Land Shark Stadium on January 5, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Iowa won 24-14. (Pho

The Hawkeyes are off on October 9 -- right after hosting Penn State and before traveling to Michigan and hosting Wisconsin.

Ohio State will be Iowa's biggest test, and resting up before that home matchup could prove crucial.

#14: Oklahoma

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners drops back to pass against the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl on October 17, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Oklahoma's off date -- October 9, falls after the Red River Shootout against Texas and I would have liked to have seen it before the biggest matchup of the Sooners' season.

#13: Wisconsin

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 10: Linebacker Culmer St. Jean#15 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 10, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The Badgers toughest tests come at the end of October in the form of a home matchup against Ohio State and a road date with Iowa.

Instead of putting the bye between the dates, the off date falls after the two. If the Badgers somehow win both games, it's a genius stroke to have put it there. However, I don't think Wisconsin will and extra time to prepare for one of these opponents would have been better than resting after.

#12: Oregon

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The Ducks' bye falls right before the matchups with California and USC on October 16.

Ideally, the bye would fall between the two contests but I don't think Oregon's schedule is tough enough to warrant a higher spot on this list.

#11: North Carolina

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 26: Aaron Berry #17 of the Pittsburgh Panthers misses a tackle on Zack Pinalto #17 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game on December 26, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Tar Heels have two huge tests to start their schedule and they'll be well-prepared for both.

North Carolina starts the season hosting LSU and then will have a week off before taking on Georgia Tech at home.

The combination of having both matchups at home and having extra time to prepare for the Yellow Jackets makes the selections a great choice.

#10: Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - APRIL 17: Tight end Preston Dial #85 of the Alabama Crimson Tide catches a pass during the Alabama spring game at Bryant Denny Stadium on April 17, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Dave Martin/Getty Images)

The defending national champions will have a huge bullseye on their backs and will have their offdate on October 30.

The week falls between road contests at Tennessee and LSU and should be a solid week for the Crimson Tide to regroup.

#9: Georgia

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 28: Caleb King #4 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

A late bye for the Bulldogs -- November 20, it's positioned at a crucial part of the season, between Georgia's SEC finale against Auburn and its in-state matchup against Georgia Tech.

Resting up a week after traveling to Auburn was a great call by the Bulldogs.

#8: Georgia Tech

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 05: Quarterback Josh Nesbitt #9 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets rolls out against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the FedEx Orange Bowl at Land Shark Stadium on January 5, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Iowa won 24-14. (Photo by

Georgia Tech will be tested down the stretch and its going to have some time to reset and recharge.

The Yellow Jackets are off on October 30 with a week-and-a-half to rest up for their matchup against Virginia Tech on the road.

Following that, Georgia Tech will play host to Miami and resting up before those contests is crucial, especially at that point in the season.

#7: Virginia Tech

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: Linebacker Cody Grimm #26 of the Virginia Tech Hokies exits the field after a defensive series during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against the Tennessee Volunteers at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. Virginia Tec

Things are not easy for the Hokies down the stretch. In three straight weeks Virginia Tech will host Georgia Tech and then travel to face North Carolina and Miami.

The Hokies will have a chance to prepare themselves for that grind as they take their bye on October 30.

#6: Auburn

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Quarterback Chris Todd #12 of the Auburn Tigers sets to pass against the Northwestern Wildcats in the Outback Bowl January 1, 2010 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Another November 20 bye, Auburn's comes between two huge matchups -- a contest against Georgia and then the Iron Bowl against Alabama after it.

Resting up for a week to prepare for their biggest rival is a genius move for the Tigers.

#5:Ohio State

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes drops back to pass against the Oregon Ducks during the 96th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

The Buckeyes get to rest up on November 5, right before a home game against Penn State and traveling to Iowa.

The Nittany Lions always play Ohio State tough and the Buckeyes will have another tough contest against the Hawkeyes after last year's overtime thriller.

#4: Arkansas

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansa Razorbacks throws a pass over Rahim Alem #84 of the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Ge

Arkansas is looking to make a big splash this year and having an off date following its matchup with Alabama and before contests against Texas A&M and Auburn will be huge in helping the Razorbacks compete for a national title this year.

#3: LSU

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 1: Brandon LaFell #1 and Stevan Ridley #34 of the LSU Tigers celebrate after Ridley scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2010 Capital One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium on

With head coach Les Miles starting to feel some pressure down in the Bayou, the Tigers have a bye on October 30, between a road contest against Auburn and a home date against Alabama.

Resting up to face the defending national champions is key and a win against the Crimson Tide could go along way towards Miles keeping his job.

#2: Oregon State

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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Ryan Katz #12 of the Oregon State Beavers scrambles away from Vic So'oto #37 of the Brigham Young University Cougars during the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Coug

I like Oregon State's bye a lot. The free date is on September 11 -- after the Beavers' opener against TCU and two weeks before their matchup against Boise State.

Those two games can make or break Oregon State's season and a week of rest in that period could make the difference.

#1: Miami

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 03: Wide receiver Travis Benjamin #3 of the Miami Hurricanes looks for room to run against the Oklahoma Sooners at Land Shark Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Miami defeated Oklahoma 21-20. (Photo by Doug

No one can say Miami isn't trying to play the best competition possible. The Hurricanes have six opponents ranked in the preseason Top 25.

Miami's rest will come in the form of a September 18 bye sandwiched between a huge matchup in Columbus against Ohio State and another big road contest against Pittsburgh.

The Hurricanes have a gauntlet to run this year, and any rest they can get is crucial.