Preseason College Football Rankings 2011: Ranking the Florida Gators' Opponents

Coming off an 8-5 season and a victory in the 2011 Outback Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions, the Florida Gators look to get back to tradition and make a run at the SEC title.

However, the conference schedule the Gators have doesn't favor them having a flawless season.

Likely to be playing at least five top 25 teams throughout the year, hopefully the Gators can snap back to their winning ways this year.

Throughout the next slides I'm going to rank the most exciting games the Gators will play this upcoming season.

12. Furman Paladins, Nov. 19

Coming out of the SoCon (Southern Conference) are the Furman Paladins.

Likely a game scheduled as a "tune-up," it's weird they make it the second-to-last game of the season.

This is most likely to make sure the Gators are healthy going into the following week's game against rival FSU.  This is the first meeting for the Gators and Paladins.

Likely an easy blowout for the Gators, look for the starters to be pulled after halftime.

11. UAB Blazers, Sept. 10

Next on the list from the Conference USA are the UAB Blazers.

Likely the same result as Furman, this game against the Blazers should be a Gators rout.

However, considering it is the first game of the year, expect to see the Swamp packed as usual.  This is also a good chance for Florida to practice its new pro-style offense.

10. Florida Atlantic Owls, Sept. 3

Coming off a 2010 4-8 record from the Sun Belt Conference are the FAU Owls.

Again, this is the same type of game as the first two with UAB and Furman. The Owls should just be another quick game for the Gators coming the second week of the season.

This is another opportunity for the Gators to fix anything that may be wrong, considering conference play starts the week after.

9. Vanderbilt Commodores, Nov. 5

Next on our list is a conference game with the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Coming off a 2-10 record and last place in the SEC East in 2010, the Commodores look to come back and make some noise in the SEC this year.

However, after last year's 55-14 win by the Gators, I don't feel like this year will be any different, especially considering the rebuilding stage Vanderbilt finds themselves in.

I don't see the Gators losing back-to-back homecoming games either.

8. Kentucky Wildcats, Sept. 24

The Kentucky Wildcats fill the next spot on my list.

After a disappointing 2010 season and a 48-14 Florida win, it will be very hard for Kentucky to upset the Gators, even if the game is in Lexington.

Being the first away game of the season, we will see how the Gators will fare without having the key factor of the fans.

7. Tennessee Volunteers, Sept. 17

The first game of conference play couldn't be a better matchup than with the Tennessee Volunteers. 

This is a home game for the Gators and the first chance to show the fans at the Swamp just how effective the pro-style offense can be.

Even with last year's win for the Gators, this year's game will be very enjoyable for fans, as this could dictate how the rest of conference play goes.

Even with the 3:30 p.m. start time, the Gator faithful will be out to watch the always-exciting matchup with the Volunteers.

6. Auburn Tigers, Oct. 15

For the first time in four years, the Gators will get to travel to Auburn for a midseason matchup against the defending national champions.

After coming off a National Championship though, Auburn isn't the same team they were last year with Cam Newton. 

It is this reason why they aren't higher on the list; still a very important game for the Gators, but not as important as some to come.

It would be nice for Florida to avenge their 20-17 loss against the Tigers from four years ago.

5. Georgia Bulldogs, Oct. 29

Always a classic held at a neutral site in Jacksonville, Fla. the Georgia Bulldogs come up next on the list.

After an emotional 34-31 overtime win for the Gators in 2010 and breaking the three-game losing streak they had, you can only imagine what this year's game will bring.

Even with the loss of star WR A.J. Green, the Bulldogs have a team that will put them in contention for the SEC East title.

This game could turn out more important than people think.

4. LSU Tigers, Oct. 8

Amidst the tough midseason stretch of Alabama and Auburn comes a powerhouse team out of the SEC West, the LSU Tigers.

The week after a visit with Alabama, the Gators will have to make the dreadful trip to Death Valley to face the powerful Tigers.

Ranked fourth in the preseason rankings, this will be a big game for the Gators to see how capable they are to make a run for the SEC Championship.

After a heartbreaking 33-29 loss to LSU last year, I can only see this one to be just as exciting.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide, Oct. 1

Ranked second in the preseason rankings, the Alabama Crimson Tide pose possibly the hardest game of the year for Florida.

Last year the Tide embarrassed the Gators in Tuscaloosa, but Alabama has the visit the Swamp this year, where there's never an easy game for a team.

Even with the loss of Mark Ingram and Greg McElroy, the Tide come into the season with an extremely strong squad.  

This will be a tough test for the Gators, but if they win, it would be a huge payoff.  

2. South Carolina Gamecocks, Nov. 12

The Gators have to make a trip to the defending SEC East champion South Carolina Gamecocks.

With last year's game a winner-take-all game, I believe the same will be said for this year.

Even though this might not be the second-best team Florida faces, this is the second-biggest game of the season for the fact that it could mean a spot in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta.

With a strong team coming back for South Carolina, mark this game on the calender as one you can't miss.

1. Florida State Seminoles, Nov. 26

Obviously the No. 1 game on my list is the rivalry that can arguably be the best in college football.

As the last game of the season for both teams and with bragging rights for pretty much the best team in Florida on the line, comes this game with the Florida State Seminoles.

After last year's ugly loss for the Gators, you can only imagine how intense this game will be, considering the fact that it will be held at the Swamp.

Not a huge game for the stats unless the teams are in running for National Championship bid, this game is still the biggest game for both teams.