College Football 2011: Predicting the Winner of Every Major Neutral-Site Game
There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.
Now that The Wizard of Oz flashback is over, neutral-site games are some of the biggest games on the college football 2011 schedule because they could lead to some programs becoming National Championship contenders.
With these road warriors attempting to bring wins back home, the following slideshow will predict every major neutral-site game of the 2011 season.
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LSU-Oregon
1 of 12
Location: Arlington, Texas
Date: Sept. 3
In only the fourth meeting between these two programs, Oregon's high-octane offense and LSU's stingy defense will be a classic struggle at "Jerry World"—aka Cowboys Stadium—in a game that could propel either team deep into BCS-title talks on opening week.
Prediction: Oregon by three
Boise State-Georgia
2 of 12
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Date: Sept. 3
This is nothing new for the Broncos—another season opener against a marquee opponent. In the last meeting between the two schools, Georgia took the Broncos out behind Uga's doghouse in a 48-13 romp in 2005. It will be more competitive this season.
Prediction: Boise State by two
East Carolina-South Carolina
3 of 12
Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Date: Sept. 3
The East Carolina Pirates have steadily improved as a program over the past few seasons. When they meet Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Charlotte though, the talent gap between the SEC and Conference USA will definitely be seen between the two Carolina programs.
Prediction: South Carolina by 20
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Colorado State-Colorado
4 of 12
Location: Denver, Colo.
Date: Sept. 17
The Rocky Mountain Showdown has been more of a Rocky Mountain letdown as the Buffaloes have stampeded over the Colorado State Rams over the course of a rivalry that has seen CU take 15 of the last 20 meetings.
Prediction: Colorado by 10
Oklahoma-Texas
5 of 12
Location: Dallas, Texas
Date: Oct. 8
In college football, the Red River Rivalry is one of the most historic neutral-site games. The Sooners and Longhorns will battle for conference- and National Championship-game berths at the original Cotton Bowl during the Texas State Fair.
Prediction: Oklahoma by seven
BYU-TCU
6 of 12
Location: Arlington, Texas
Date: Oct. 28
As these two programs go their separate ways on conference affiliations, TCU and BYU will meet in Arlington for the last time—for the time being. The Cougars will become a football independent while the Horned Frogs will head to the Big East.
Prediction: TCU by 10
Florida-Georgia
7 of 12
Location: Jacksonville, Fla.
Date: Oct. 29
After former Gators' kicker Chas Henry made a Georgia coach eat his words with a game-winning field goal in their 2010 meeting, the Bulldogs will look to avenge that embarrassing moment against Florida, a team in rebuilding mode under new coach Will Muschamp.
Prediction: Georgia by seven
Army-Rutgers
8 of 12
Location: Bronx, N.Y.
Date: Nov. 12
With the 2010 meeting between the Army Black and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights marred by the injury of Eric LaGrande, I—along with everyone that reads this—hope the 2011 contest between the two will be remembered for the action—not the injuries to the young men on the field.
Prediction: Rutgers by one
Maryland-Notre Dame
9 of 12
Location: Landover, Md.
Date: Nov. 12
As the Terrapins move on to the Randy Edsall era in College Park, Maryland will have a chance to get a big out-of-conference win against the Fighting Irish at FedEx Field. Notre Dame could be a BCS-title contender this season.
Prediction: Notre Dame by 10
Baylor-Texas Tech
10 of 12
Location: Arlington, Texas
Date: Nov. 26
In the football-rich state of Texas, the Red Raiders have pillaged Baylor's football teams over the course of their Big-12 rivalry with 15 straight wins against the Bears. Texas Tech has 18 wins in the past 20 years against the Bears.
Prediction: Texas Tech by 14
Missouri-Kansas
11 of 12
Location: Kansas City, Miss.
Date: Nov. 26
With the annual rivalry game between Kansas and Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium since 2007, the Tigers have taken three of the four meetings against the Jayhawks. The games have been very competitive between the two border programs—except for last season's 35-7 romp.
Prediction: Missouri by three
Army-Navy
12 of 12
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Date: Dec. 10
The Midshipmen have dominated the past decade of the historic Army-Navy rivalry series, beating the Black Knights nine straight times while winning 12 of the last 15 meetings.
Prediction: Navy by 10
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