NCAA College Football 2011: Top 10 Games of the 2011 Season

Picking the top 10 games for the SEC was a chore, so you can imagine how tough it was picking the top 10 games of the entire season.

I'm sure some of you will disagree with my picks, but keep in mind that this was a tough list to put together. I picked these games out of stylistic matchups, hype, conference and national implications, storylines and rankings.

There are so many great games this year, and these are the games that barely missed the top 10 cut: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M, Florida State vs. Florida, Alabama vs. Auburn, Arkansas vs. LSU and Nebraska vs. Wisconsin.

10. TCU vs. Boise State

Overview 

Some may gripe that this is getting in the top 10, while others may gripe that this should be higher on the list.

I think the 10th spot is just fine, and I believe this will be a great game to watch between two teams that will need this win in a bad way.

Storyline 

The bottom line is both teams face criticism of not playing against the same kind of competition that teams from the PAC-12, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC do, so this will be a make-or-break game for both teams.

Matchup 

Both teams have lost a lot, but still have talent on both sides of the ball. The winner will still receive the same criticism but will still be in the running for a BCS berth, while the other will sink down to mediocrity for 2011. 

9. Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M

Overview

Oklahoma is No. 1 on most people's preseason top 25 rankings, and Texas A&M finds themselves somewhere between 15th and No. 8. Look for this game to be a huge matchup in Big 12 play.

Storyline 

Both teams have a rich tradition, and Texas A&M is starting to play like they did back in their glory days. Well, kind of. This Aggie bunch put a lot points on the board last year, and look for them to continue that trend this season.

The Aggies hung 33 on Oklahoma last year when they beat the Sooners, 33-19. Oklahoma will come in looking for revenge and try to keep their national title hopes intact.

Matchup

The Sooners return an explosive offense and experience on defense. They have more holes to fill on defense than offense, but look for that defense to be in tip-top shape once they get into the season.

This game will feature two of the best quarterback-wide receiver tandems in the nation. Oklahoma's Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles is as good a tandem there is in college football, and Texas A&M's Ryan Tanehill and Jeff Fuller aren't too bad either.

8. Boise State at Georgia

Overview

I had doubts about putting this game in the top 10, but the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't resist. Georgia has a legit shot at winning the SEC East and playing for an SEC title, while Boise State will be ranked high in the preseason and with an undefeated season could play for the national title.

Storyline

This is a must-have game for Boise State, as all games are. If the Broncos win this one, and win it convincingly, it would be a huge feather in their cap. Mark Richt really needs to have a big season, and a win over the Broncos would keep Bulldog fans happy…until SEC play begins.

Matchup

Boise State has a solid front seven on defense, but they will be tested in the air when they face Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. Murray is the best quarterback the SEC has to offer, and he will test the Broncos defensive backs.

Georgia will have some new faces at linebacker, so look for Boise State running back Doug Martin to try to get on the Heisman watch radar early.

7. Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State

Overview

Ok, hear me out on this one. This will be the last regular season game, and it will have huge implications on the Big 12 title. Both teams could very well be playing for a national title, and Oklahoma State proved last year that they can hang with Oklahoma.

Storylines 

Not only will this game have a tremendous effect on postseason play, but it's a rivalry game. Oklahoma State is flying under some radars as most people think they are overrated, but that offense has proven that it is deadly. Yes, they're defense is a liability, but they'll just have to play decent if this offense produces like last year. Oh yeah, not to mention they have the best receiver in the game in Justin Blackmon.

Matchup

Offense, offense and more offense will be displayed in this game. The Cowboys are returning 10 starters on offense, and they're going to have to put up a lot of points with a rather weak defense. Remember when I said Blackmon was the best receiver in the game? Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles will have something to say about that. This could be a Sooner blowout, but then again this could be an offensive shootout.

6. Oregon at Stanford

Overview

This was a fantastic game to watch last year. These two teams went toe-to-toe before Oregon started pulling away at the end. They say sequels are never as good, but as football fans let's hope these two teams don't pull a Hollywood and drop the ball in this rematch.

Storyline

This game will decide the Pac-12 winner and could very well decide who will play in the national title game and who will play in the Rose Bowl.

Matchup

This will be the showcase game for both Oregon's LeMichael James and Stanford's Andrew Luck as Heisman candidates. With the exception of Oklahoma's Jones, they are the favorites to win the Heisman. Luck and James will bring their "A" games for this one in what should be another great game.

5. Arkansas vs. Texas A&M

Overview

Two prolific style offenses going head-to-head in what should be a shootout. The game last year wasn't necessarily a shootout as Arkansas defeated the Aggies 24-17, but I expect a higher score at the end of this one. Both teams have quality offenses and solid defenses, so this should be a really fun game to watch.

Storyline

Arkansas is being overshadowed in the SEC West by LSU and Alabama, but the Hogs have the best offense in the SEC with the best defense Bobby Petrino has ever had at Arkansas.

Texas A&M is a favorite in the Big 12, but they're being overshadowed by Oklahoma. Both teams will be trying to make a statement in this non-conference matchup.

Matchup

Mike Sherman vs. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas offense vs. Texas A&M's offense and which defense can get more stops are the most interesting storylines/matchups that this game has to offer. We all know both teams can hang points on the board, so this game will be won on defense.

4. Arkansas at Alabama

Overview

This is a critical game in the SEC West, and it comes early in the season as Arkansas and Alabama will battle it out in September. Nowadays teams can't afford to lose any games, so Alabama will have to beat the Razorbacks if they want to keep those title aspirations alive.

Storylines

This is the year Bobby Petrino has to get over the hump and win the SEC. Yes, I know LSU and Alabama both have really good teams, but this could be Petrino's best team every assembled at Arkansas. You won't find a wide receiving core like Arkansas' anywhere else in the country, and the Hogs have a great running back in Knile Davis to keep defenses honest.

Matchup

It has to be the receivers from Arkansas matching up with the defensive backs from Alabama. Alabama has one of the best secondaries in the country, so this matchup will be something to keep an eye on.

3. Oklahoma at Florida State

Overview

Oklahoma is getting a lot of pre-hype buzz this year, but so is Florida State. The Seminoles will be very good this year, and some are already predicting them to upset the Sooners.

Storyline

Oklahoma most likely will be ranked No. 1 when these two teams play in Week 2 (Oregon/LSU winner might take the No. 1 spot), and Florida State should be ranked in the top 10. Oklahoma has won five straight against the Seminoles, and the Seminoles will be better equipped this year to stop that trend.

Matchup

Brandon Jenkins, Greg Reid, Xavier Rhodes, Nigel Bradham and Florida State have their work cut out for them with this explosive Sooner offense. 

2. Oregon vs. LSU

Overview

It's the first game of the year, and you better believe the lights will be shining bright in Jerry's world. I don't think any other quarterback in the nation has undergone more criticism than LSU's Jordan Jefferson, and Oregon is facing their own criticism after those recruiting violations came out. Both teams can't wait to get out there and just play football, and we can't wait to watch them.

Storylines

Jefferson and LSU's offense is better when given more time to prepare, so expectations in Baton Rouge is that the Tigers will have a good game on offense. This is a must-win game for both teams, but more-so for Oregon.

LSU has a better chance of losing this game and making the national title game by winning out because of the national respect people have for the SEC. But make no mistake about it, going undefeated in the SEC is an unbelievably tough chore this year, so LSU needs this one.

Matchup

It's no secret that the SEC is known for their big, strong, fast and athletic defensive lineman, and LSU usually has the best the conference has to offer. Oregon found that out last year when they faced off against Auburn in the championship.

LSU has a young defensive line this year, but they will still have a huge impact on the game. LSU is very quick and athletic on defense (especially in the secondary), so that mixed with a quick-paced explosive Oregon offense will make for an amazing football game.

1. LSU vs. Alabama

Overview

The SEC has won five consecutive national titles and has dominated college football the past decade, so I had to have the biggest SEC game of the year at the top of the list. This game comes in November, and both teams will be feeling the pressure from their fans as both will be battling for that SEC West spot. 

Storylines

It's 2011 and I guarantee that the media will still be hyping up Les Miles vs. Nick Saban. Look for that to be a leading storyline, along with the fact that these two teams are the best that the conference has to offer. 

Matchup

Both teams match up really well with a lot of similarities. Both have very strong defenses and two of the best secondaries in the nation, a great offensive line, outside threats at the receiver position, a strong running game and questions at quarterback. Whoever wins this game will most likely go on to play for the national championship.