College Football 2011: Predicting the GameDay Weekly Locations

ESPN's College GameDay has become a great institution in the college football world. 

Since Tim Brando hosted the first edition of the show in 1987, it has gained tons of popularity and the atmosphere that goes along with the analysts is incredible. 

Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Chris Fowler and Erin Andrews will log a ton of miles this season as they travel from campus to campus to highlight the best games of each and every Saturday. 

Read on for the predicted locations of every GameDay during the regular season. 

September 3: Boise State vs. Georgia (Atlanta, GA)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Aaron Murray #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

College football is going to kick off in the Georgia Dome with a huge non-conference matchup between the Boise State Broncos and the Georgia Bulldogs. 

The quarterbacks in this game, Kellen Moore and Aaron Murray, are both being touted as potential Heisman candidates. 

If last year's Boise State opener was any indication, then this game could turn into a classic. 

September 10: Utah at USC

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans drops back to pass against the UCLA Bruins during the first half at the Rose Bowl on December 4, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Jordan Wynn is going to lead a Utah squad that is very capable of a top 25 ranking into USC territory and attempt to take down the Trojans. 

Matt Barkley, though, will be doing everything he can with that strong right arm to prevent an upset from occurring. Barkley and the Trojans have an incredible amount of potential this season and this will be the first real chance for them to prove it. 

I expect for USC to kill Utah and look quite impressive while doing so. 

September 17: Oklahoma at Florida State

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 01: Quarterback E.J. Manuel #3 of the Florida State Seminoles scrambles against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on January 1, 2010 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.

In my opinion, this could be the single best nonconference game of the 2011 college football season. 

Florida State is coming off a 10-win season and E.J. Manuel may turn out to be even better than Christian Ponder. The Seminoles could easily win the ACC and may be a darkhorse title contender. 

Than there's Oklahoma. The Sooners are predicted to play in the championship right now and for good reason. Landry Jones, Ryan Broyles and company are one of the most complete teams in the nation. 

September 24: Arkansas at Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Nick Fairly #90 of the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Arkansas Razorbacks will be hoping that replacing Ryan Mallett won't be too big of a problem. They'll have a real chance to figure that out when they travel to Tuscaloosa and take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

Trent Richardson and the new-look Alabama offense won't make it easy on Arkansas. Neither will their defense, which should easily be the best in the nation. 

In my set of preseason rankings, I have Alabama No. 1. That won't change after this game. 

October 1: Clemson at Virginia Tech

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BLACKSBURG, VA - NOVEMBER 04: Wide receiver Jarrett Boykin #81 of the Virginia Tech Hokies runs against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Lane Stadium on November 4, 2010 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Without Kyle Parker at the helm, Clemson may actually have a chance to take down the reigning champions in the ACC. 

Virginia Tech will have to deal with a new quarterback as well, but that shouldn't stop a very well put together team from continuing its win streak into the next season. 

At some point there will have to be an ACC contest, and this is one of the better options. Especially since there aren't too many great games to choose from on the first day of October. 

October 8: Ohio State at Nebraska

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Taylor Martinez #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers looks for an open receiver against the Oklahoma Sooners at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

If Ohio State can make it through the stretch where Terrelle Pryor and others are suspended without dropping a game, this is one of the few contests that could keep the Buckeyes from posting an undefeated season. 

Taylor Martinez and the Nebraska Cornhuskers are no pushovers though. Nebraska could easily end up winning the Big Ten in their inaugural season with the conference. 

This is a must-watch game. 

October 15: Oklahoma State at Texas

Darren Carroll/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: University of Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert #8 rushes during the first half against Texas A&M at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

Oklahoma State will probably enter the 2011 season as one of the most underrated teams in the land. Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon are still back. Kendall Hunter may be gone, but the committee of running backs replacing him may prove to be even better. 

One of their biggest tests of the season will be a tough test with the Texas Longhorns in Austin. Garrett Gilbert should improve in his second season as a starter and Texas has too much talent to post another losing record. 

Both teams will be motivated for this contest. 

October 22: USC at Notre Dame

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SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 30: Dayne Crist #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks for a receiver against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Notre Dame Stadium on October 30, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Tulsa defeated Notre Dame 28-27. (Photo by Jonathan Dan

It's one of the best rivalries in the sport. 

Both teams are going to be better this season than last year and each has the potential to be a top 10 team in 2011. 

Dayne Crist and Matt Barkley are two of the better quarterbacks in the game, but each young man will have to deal with a tough opposing defense. 

This rivalry game for the jeweled shillelagh has produced many classics in the past and this could very well be another one. 

October 29: Wisconsin at Ohio State

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to hand the ball of to Dan Herron #1 against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The running game against Wisconsin is going to run into a true test against the always-stellar defense of the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

This is one of the best Big Ten games of the entire season and is definitely the best game on October 29. 

Terrelle Pryor could have a huge game and insert his name back into the Heisman race despite missing the first couple of games due to his suspension. 

November 5: LSU at Alabama

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

This game is probably going to be a battle between the two best teams in the SEC.

Both LSU and Alabama are commonly found in the top five of the preseason college football rankings I've seen. Both teams definitely deserve that kind of placement. 

This will be a defensive clash unlike any other game we see for quite some time. Personally, I can't wait to watch this one. 

November 12: Oregon at Stanford

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal throws pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty

This game is going to be quite heated as Stanford is looking to supplant Oregon atop the Pac-12. 

Andrew Luck and LaMichael James hung out at the Heisman ceremony last season and may very well meet up there again at the end of the 2011 season. But first, they'll have to play each other once more. 

Oregon took last year's meeting by 21 points, but will Luck be able to make up that difference with an even better game than he had in the previous contest?

If Stanford wants to prove that it belongs at the top of the rankings, this is a must-win game. 

November 19: USC at Oregon

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks runs down field against the Auburn Tigers during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christia

Whether or not Oregon wins their matchup with Stanford, this Pac-12 showdown is the best game that college football has to offer on November 19. 

This time, Oregon would be at home and displaying a stunning new home uniform. LaMichael James would need to have a huge game to overcome Matt Barkley and the Trojans. 

Either team could win this one as USC is yet another challenger in what is shaping up to be a very good conference. 

November 26: Alabama at Auburn

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 23: Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers against the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Iron Bowl is always a very heated game. Alabama and Auburn fans simply don't like each other very much. 

There are plenty of incredible football games scheduled to be played on November 26, but after the poisoning of the Toomer's Corner trees, this will be more intense than any other game that Saturday. 

Cam Newton and Greg McElroy may both be gone, but don't let that discourage you from believing that both these teams are very good. 

This game will most likely set the 2011 regular season record for most yellow flags on the field.