College Football: 10 Biggest Games Remaining on the 2011-2012 Schedule

We are now five weeks into the college football season.

Many teams have finished their out-of-conference games, and all teams have begun conference play.

We've already been treated to great contests such as Arkansas vs. Texas A&M, Baylor vs. TCU and Oklahoma vs. Florida State.

Teams once thought to be championship contenders have fallen by the wayside, and teams that were afterthoughts in August are now in the top 25.

The top-25 polls are beginning to take shape and take on a legitimacy that they frankly lack through the first few weeks of the season.

That said, there is still a lot of football left to be played.

The following are 10 of the biggest games left on the docket—games that will determine conference championships, BCS bowl berths and who will play in the BCS national championship game.

Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan State Spartans

Game Date: October 22.

Badgers' Current Record: 5-0.

Spartans' Current Record: 4-1.

Surprising, but this might be one of only two games that stands between UW and an undefeated season.

Sparty has a bye this week, which will be followed by a tough home game against Michigan. Right now, the Wolverines will probably be favored. If the Spartans win that game, however, they will be in a good position to make a run at the Big Ten Western Division championship.

Personally, I think Michigan will beat MSU—but that doesn't change the fact that Michigan State will be a daunting road test for the Badgers.

As for Wisconsin, it also has a bye followed by what will likely be a shellacking of Indiana. Then it will be off to East Lansing.

The home team in this contest has won the last six meetings. Moreover, the Badgers have only won at MSU twice—2000 and 2002—since 1985.

Clemson Tigers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Game Date: October 29.

Yellow Jackets' Current Record: 5-0.

Tigers' Current Record: 5-0.

Georgia Tech should be 8-0 when Clemson rolls into town.

Clemson will have a tough home game the week before against North Carolina, but if it can get by that, it will also likely be 8-0.

If Tech can get by Clemson, it will have a bye, thus giving itself two weeks to prepare for Virginia Tech (also at home). After that, the only competitive contest on the Yellow Jackets' schedule is the Clean Old Fashioned Hate game against Georgia (again, a home game).

It is murder to prepare for Georgia Tech in-season; as it stands, Clemson, despite its current record, has a suspect defense.

That said, if Clemson can get by Tech, only its own end-of-the-season rivalry game at South Carolina will stand in the way of an undefeated season.

Though I expect Clemson to slip up between now and October 29. this game will still have major ACC championship game implications and could be a preview of the ACC championship game. Right now, Clemson is in the driver's seat in the Atlantic Division, while Georgia Tech has to get by Virginia Tech—after which they would be in the driver's seat in the Coastal.

Clemson has not won at Georgia Tech since 2003.

LSU Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide

Game Date: November 5.

Crimson Tide's Current Record: 5-0.

Tigers' Current Record: 5-0.

'Bama has finished the toughest part of its schedule. Outside of a major upset, the only games that stand between the Tide and the national championship game are LSU, Auburn and the SEC title game.

Meanwhile, there is no rest on the Bayou. Despite having already played an out-of-conference schedule that included two ranked teams, the Tigers still have to get by Florida, Auburn, 'Bama and Arkansas.

The good news is all but one of those games is in Death Valley. The bad news is the one exception is the November 5 matchup against Alabama.

This game will be for the SEC West crown. It could also essentially be for all the marbles and is probably the only legitimate 2011 regular season meeting of two top-five-worthy teams.

Florida Gators at South Carolina Gamecocks

Game Date: November 12.

Gators' Current Record: 4-1.

Gamecocks' Current Record: 4-1.

This game is likely for the SEC East. With Georgia hobbling through its schedule, outside of USC and Florida, the only other team with a prayer of a chance is Tennessee; but at this point, the Vols are a long shot.

Given the way the Ol' Ball Coach's offense has been handing possessions to the other team, Florida has to be considered the favorite right now.

On the other hand, it is in Columbia.

Ultimately, the likelihood of the SEC East winning the SEC championship game is pretty slim. Nevertheless, the team that doesn't win the division has zero chance of winning the conference.

The Gators have this game sandwiched between what should be wins against Vanderbilt and Furman. Meanwhile, South Carolina will have to travel to Arkansas the week before and is against the Citadel the week after.

Oregon Ducks at Stanford Cardinal

Game Date: November 12.

Cardinal Current Record: 4-0.

Ducks' Current Record: 4-1.

Odds are, Stanford will be 7-0 when it heads into the Colosseum to face USC at the end of October. If it gets by that, it should be 9-0 when Oregon comes to town.

Meanwhile, the only big test Oregon has between now and its meeting in Stanford is a home game against Arizona State.

If Stanford can get by Oregon and then Notre Dame at the end of the season, it could be looking at its first undefeated regular season since 1940.

Either way, this game should be for the Northern Division of the PAC-12.

Since 2005, the lowest total points these two teams have put up was 58 points in a 2006 Stanford win. In short, whatever Vegas offers, take the over.

Southern Methodist Mustangs at Houston Cougars

Game Date: November 19.

Cougars' Current Record: 5-0.

Mustangs' Current Record: 4-1.

This game doesn't have quite the grandeur of most of the other matchups on this list. However, heading into the Conference USA showdown, Houston will likely be 10-0. If it beats a good SMU team and can get through Tulsa the next week, it should be 12-0, headed for the Conference USA championship game and a shot at its first BCS bowl.

Meanwhile, SMU won't be playing for anything that grand. If it can get by Central Florida, Southern Mississippi and Tulsa (in consecutive weeks), the game against Houston will be for sole possession of the C-USA Western Division championship.

It would also be for its second consecutive trip to the conference championship game where it would likely meet UCF or Southern Miss again.

Since 1995, SMU has a record of 1-7 against Houston.

Wisconsin Badgers at Illinois Illini

Game Date: November 19.

Badgers' Current Record: 5-0.

Illinis' Current Record: 5-0.

I previously mentioned two notable road bumps standing in the way of Wisconsin and an undefeated regular season. The first was Michigan State. This is the second.

As the OSU offense is a joke and while the return of the suspended tattoo-five will help, they still probably won't be enough to beat the Badgers. In effect, unless Penn State improves dramatically—unlikely—this game will be for the Eastern Division of Big Ten and probably much more as far as Wisconsin is concerned.

Meanwhile, Illinois will have to get by Ohio State, Michigan and a roadie at Penn State—not to mention games against Purdue and Indiana—before the Badgers come to town. If the Illini come away from that stretch with no more than one loss, they will put themselves in a nice position to knock off UW, after which they will probably cruise through Minnesota en route the inaugural Big Ten conference championship game.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Stanford Cardinal

Game Date: November 26.

Cardinal Current Record: 4-0.

Fighting Irish Current Record: 3-2.

Kelly is making a name for himself as a coach that falls flat in big games. His career record against ranked teams is an ugly 3-11. At Notre Dame, he is 0-5.

After two early season losses this year, wins over MSU and Purdue and a nail biter over Pitt is hardly a resume for a BCS berth.

Nonetheless, whether the Irish are indeed overrated—as their detractors claim—or not, every game that remains on Notre Dame's schedule is winnable. And if the Irish do indeed win those games, they will be 9-2 and playing for a BCS berth on on November 26.

Meanwhile, as previously mentioned, Stanford could be playing for all the marbles.

Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Tigers

Game Date: November 26.

Crimson Tide's Current Record: 5-0.

Tigers' Current Record: 4-1.

Both teams will be coming off cupcake games—'Bama against Georgia Southern, Auburn against Samford.

It is unlikely Auburn will be competing for the SEC West title or a BCS bowl, but who knows, as they have continued to pull magic out of their hat this season.

Meanwhile, if 'Bama gets by LSU, this will be the last stop en route to the SEC championship game—and, if it wins that, to the national championship game.

This one is in Auburn, and weird things happen in rivalry games. Weird things certainly have happened in the Iron Bowl.

Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys

Game Date: December 3.

Sooners' Current Record: 4-0.

Cowboys' Current Record: 4-0.

The Sooners have Texas this week. Moreover, the November 5 contest against Texas A&M won't be easy either.

However, I feel that if OU gets past Texas, it will have a clear path to 11 wins when it comes into Stillwater.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State has a bit of a bumpier road. Games at Texas, Missouri and Texas Tech should prove challenging, especially for a team that still hasn't proven it can play defense.

I don't foresee the Cowboys bringing a perfect record into Bedlam. On the other hand, I do see them being thick in the hunt for the Big 12 championship, a BCS berth and the ruiner of the Sooners' perfect season and national championship berth.