College Football's Top 10 Games To Watch In 2011

I'm not a fan of slideshow articles, so I'm going to do it in a normal one. Sorry.

For any game to make this top 10 cut, it needs to pass two of the three criteria: has a history of being an intense rivalry, two big name teams and some special spin in 2011.

Here goes:

10) Oregon @ Stanford

Don't even think about whether Andrew Luck or Jim Harbaugh return. This is solely based on the prediction that they both stay (which Harbaugh said would happen following their Orange Bowl victory). Two high-powered offenses should provide another shootout for the ages.

Oregon dealt Stanford its lone defeat of 2010, so it will be interesting to see how the Cardinal respond. Stanford had the Ducks on the ropes with a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter, until Oregon came to life and rallied for a 49-10 streak to end the game with a 52-31 win.

Key: Can Stanford's receivers step up? We know Oregon has the skill position players, but Stanford needs to develop equally legitimate threats in order to compete.

Pick: Stanford won't be able to cover Oregon's speed. Their offense will keep it interesting for awhile, but Oregon should pull away late.

Oregon 42, Stanford 30

9) Florida vs. Georgia (Jacksonville, FL)

The last four Cocktail Parties have featured intentional party fouls by at least one team. In 2007, it was Knowshon and the end zone celebration.

In 2008, it was Florida crushing Georgia 49-10 and then calling two timeouts to rub it in.

In 2009, it was Mike Gillislee running a sweep with Florida up 41-17 with a minute to go for no reason other than to rub it in again.

Finally, last year, it was UGA coach Todd Grantham telling kicker Chas Henry that "you're gonne f*cking choke!!!" (Henry made the game-winning kick seconds later).

What will 2011 bring?

Will Muschamp duke it out with some former classmates (Muschamp attended and played for UGA)? Oh yeah, and this is one of the most intense rivalries in all of college football already. This could also be the game that condemns Mark Richt, who is 1-9 against Florida.

Key: Florida needs to mercilessly blitz Georgia QB Aaron Murray. He's a rising star and if Florida lets him settle in to throw, it won't be pretty. He's good enough to hurt you with either his arm or his legs, so Georgia's offensive line must come through here. 

Obviously Florida's offense must improve, but that's a key for every game they play all season.

Pick: Muschamp is a blitz genius. Charlie Weis will get Florida's offense kick-started in time for this game. Georgia may be desperate, but not enough to beat Florida—who has gone 18-3 since 1990.

Florida 38, Georgia 20

8) Ohio State @ Michigan

(Note: This was written the night of January 3rd, 2011, the day before Rich Rodriguez was reportedly fired.)

Is this the game that does in Rich Rod? He'd better chalk up at least one win over Ohio State pretty soon or he's going to be fired. The Buckeyes have owned this series recently and it will be a big test for them to go into a hostile Big House and pull out a win over, what may turn out to be, Michigan's best team under Rodriguez.

As for Tressel, there are rumors that he wants to leave. In that case, it would be Ohio State with the desperation factor. This is generally regarded as one of the top rivalry games in the country to begin with, so additional storylines are not needed to make this game a lot of fun. It's got them anyway this year.

Key: Michigan's defense has just got to get better. They yielded a season high 52 points to Mississippi State—the same MSU team that could only muster 29 against UAB, 24 to Georgia and Kentucky and 10 to Florida. Hell, even Alcorn State and Memphis allowed fewer points. How the hell are they going to stop Terrelle Pryor if they couldn't stop Chris Relf?

Pick: Michigan's defense will improve, but not nearly enough.

Ohio State 34, Michigan 24

7) USC @ Oregon

If USC wants to reclaim their throne atop the Pac-10, they'd better act fast because the glue that Oregon has smeared all over them the past two years is drying quickly.

Personally, I don't believe USC has a chance in Autzen, but then that's what makes the whole game of football fun—the potential of an upset. Oregon has hammered USC by a combined 100-52 the past two years.

What crazy inspiration will Lane Kiffin provide? Remember, he's made some pretty dumb comments regarding highly ranked opponents—and then gone out and played very well against them.

Key: USC has to make this their "bowl game." They won't be in a real one because of the Reggie Bush penalties, but if they put all of their energy forth and focus on this game, they might surprise the Ducks.

Pick: USC's in the right direction, but Oregon is just too fast.

Oregon 45, USC 23

6) Boise State vs. Georgia (Atlanta, GA)

We all know what Boise can do. Take them lightly and, before you know it, you're getting blown out (like last year against VT). Boise isn't afraid to take on anybody, anywhere.

But the one thing they haven't really done yet is try their hand against the SEC, which is nothing short of a gauntlet. Half the teams were ranked following the 2010 regular season and four others went to bowl games.

Georgia was one of those four.

They were one of the most dangerous 6-6 teams ever—they lost in overtime to Florida; late turnovers doomed them against Colorado, South Carolina and Mississippi State; and they lost at the last second to Arkansas and hung with Auburn for three quarters.

The bowl game, well, I'm not going there. But if Boise gets cocky and takes UGA lightly—they're going to get hammered.

Key: What kind of mindset does Boise bring? Do they say "UGA had a losing record, why bother" or do they look at the scores, at the tape of Aaron Murray (I'm assuming AJ Green is gone) and Orson Charles and what they've done to defenses and play hard?

Pick: Chris Peterson is great about getting his players ready for a big game, but at some point, you have to wonder if they're tired of not getting recognition in the BCS.

Still, Boise State 37, Georgia 24

5) Alabama @ Florida

In 2008, the SEC was clearly a two-team league, with these two teams destroying everybody in their way. Everyone said they were destined to meet in the SEC Championship, and sure enough, there they were in Atlanta. Florida won and rode that momentum to the National Championship.

The next year, it was the same thing—except that it was the Crimson Tide winning it all.

Last year, it looked to be the same deal a third time when the teams met in Tuscaloosa. Both teams were 4-0, and ranked in the top 10. Alabama won, but soon after that, both teams plummeted down to earth. Neither school reached the SEC Championship.

You can bet that both teams will be eager to get back to Atlanta this year, but they've both got to win this game—both teams' schedules are loaded with tough games and this is one of the toughest for both.

Oh and by the way, these teams have met seven times in the SEC Championship since it was created in 1992.

Key: Alabama's entire team is one huge question mark next season. But so is Florida's, though slightly less so. The question is, which coaching staff does more with their talent from now until then?

Pick: As of right now, I'm assuming that Bama will have to rebuild completely on offense, as they lose QB Greg McElroy, and likely star receiver Julio Jones and maybe even Heisman winning running back Mark Ingram.

If this game were in Tuscaloosa, I might say Alabama, but barring last year, the Swamp was nearly impossible for opposing teams. I say Will Muschamp regains the home field advantage.

Florida 24, Alabama 14

4) Nebraska @ Wisconsin

Welcome to the Big 10, Nebraska! Now go play Wisconsin.

That's right, Nebraska's first ever official Big 10 game is in Wisconsin. Now it's up to Wisconsin to maintain the home field advantage it used to get to the Rose Bowl. Nebraska was an enormous disappointment to end 2010—first came a loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship, then they were so devastated that they never showed up against a Washington team that they crushed 56-21 earlier in the season.

This game comes two weeks after the rubber match in Lincoln. Will Bo Pelini's squad be ready?

Key: Nebraska needs to make a huge play early to take Wisconsin out of the game. Conversely, the Badgers need to avoid that. But there's nothing harder than playing from down a good number of points against a team you're not familiar with.

Pick: It's going to be a tough learning curve for Nebraska to get acclimated to the Big 10, and it starts here.

Wisconsin 41, Nebraska 21

3) Alabama @ Auburn

This game is almost in people's top five by default every season because of its intensity. But when the two teams are doing as well as they are right now, it makes it even more intriguing.

Each of the last two games saw the underdog home team run out to a big lead, then eventually fall as the better road team came back and won it. This year, it's in Auburn, and assuming Cam Newton stays like I think he is, it should be the Tigers who are favored.

Never bet against Nick Saban, though—he's always prepared for big games like this. Both teams have huge question marks entering next season, though Alabama has more.

Key: Um, does Newton stay? How about Julio Jones and Mark Ingram? But regardless, sophomore running back Michael Dyer will be counted on big time by Auburn. Can Alabama slow him down?

Pick: Screw the offenses of both teams. This game always comes down to the defenses.

And that's how Auburn 17, Alabama 7 will be in the headlines

2) Mississippi State @ Auburn

You mean aside from the allegations about Auburn stealing Cam Newton away from MSU? Well, there's also the fact that Mississippi State was by far the most improved team in 2010, and Auburn was the best overall. It's just too bad that these teams played in Starkville last year. 

Can you imagine how hostile it would get?

Also, we'll find out how well Dan Mullen is recruiting—only the seniors this year were not recruited by him. The same goes for Gene Chizik. This should be a touchdown festival, as both offenses will explode.

Key: Which defense can make the play to crush the other team's momentum? Surely the scoreboard will be lighting up like a Christmas tree.

Pick: Never bet against Dan Mullen's offensive genius. MSU pulls the upset.

MSU 49, Auburn 37

1) Florida @ Auburn

This one killed all the rest for the top game to watch in 2011 for neutral fans. Where to start? From the start, I guess.

First, we've got a Florida transfer, a damned good player at that, who has been revealed to have cheated on exams, thrown a laptop out of a window and having a father that took lots of money for Newton to play at Auburn.

What the f*ck? The kid screws up in school, gets arrested and he gets rewarded with a full scholarship to old rival Auburn and a few hundred thousand bucks in his dad's pocket?

If that subplot isn't enough, then you've also got Will Muschamp, who coached at Auburn as recently as 2007, and that senior class was recruited by him.

Then you've got Wes Byrum doing a mocking Gator Chomp at the Florida crowd after beating them as a freshman, supposedly breaking the Curse of the Gator Chomp. Emotions should run sky high in this game is a classic understatement.

Key: Can Florida slow down Newton? I know, that's everybody's plan. But they have to force somebody else on Auburn to beat them. Auburn, for their part, has to have somebody else step up.

Pick: On paper, Florida's got no chance. But there's no better formula for an upset than a fiery coach, a pissed off team and a 105 year old curse. Still, Auburn breaks the curse.

Auburn 35, Florida 20.