Mammoth Blog

You'll hear all the clichés today about how teams are just looking at this first game and that's all they care about. Maybe that's the right mindset, but we know it's not possibly true. For us fans though, we can look ahead all we want and that's what we're going to do.

It always turns out that a few overlooked games define a season (see: Appalachian State), but we can be sure the game of the year is somewhere below.

We'll go a little heavy on the early games as that tends to set the trend. Here's the biggest games on the 2008 season:

August 30th: Utah at Michigan Easily one of the most anticipated games of this opening week. Michigan has undergone a lot of changes, namely a complete change in the style of play. One game won't define the Rich Rodriguez era, but a loss on opening week will make the mountain he has to climb grow a little larger. It's Michigan, so there's plenty of talent, but the big problem is at quarterback. Don't be surprised to see a good Utah team pull off an "upset."

August 30th: Missouri vs Illinois The Tiger were robbed out of an Orange Bowl berth, but the Kansas Jayhawks clearly represented. That said, you know Chase Daniel and Co. are motivated by that snubbing and want to prove they are one of the best teams in the country. The schedule sets up well for BCS berth, but first, it's rival Illinois. Ron Zook's team is a mystery. Rejus Benn is a game-changer, but Juice Williams needs to prove he's developed as a passing threat to beat Mizzou. Statement game for the Big Ten as well.

August 30th: Alabama vs Clemson Two impatient fan bases expect to win this game. Clemson has high expectations yet again, and needs to show the country that this year they are serious about a national title, ACC championship. Although winning early has never been a problem for Tommy Bowden. It's those late games. Nonetheless, this will set the tone for the ACC season with the Tigers as a frontrunner.

August 30th: LSU vs Appalachian State This may not be close, Vegas hasn't even put a line down, but no reason to overlook the defending FBS champ vs the FCS champ. Armanti Edwards returns for the Mounties and they'll have plenty of confidence. Hurricane Gustav could turn this into a more neutral playing field, albeit a messy field.

September 13th: Ohio State at USC Game of the year, for sure. The Buckeyes are improved and the Trojans are possibly improved as well with Mark Sanchez and Joe McKnight. Both teams could probably afford to lose this game, win out and still finish back into the BCS Championship spotlight, but the winnner clearly sits as the leader in the clubhouse. Hard to see Ohio State winning here.

September 13th: Kansas at South Florida Last year's two big surprises try to prove they're going to stick around.

September 20th: LSU at Auburn Georgia and Florida will duke it out in the SEC East, while the West could come down to the winner of this late September showdown. Auburn has a solid defense, but has lost Will Muschamp as the DC. Further in flux, a spread offense has been added and will hopefully be in form by the time the Bayou Tigers come to town. All questions on both sides of the football will be answered here.

October 4th: Ohio State at Wisconsin A little to early to call the Big Ten race over, but the best opportunity for Ohio State to get knocked off its perch. Allan Evridge should be comfortable under center by then, enough to case James Laurinaitis and his defense some problems.

October 11th: Oklahoma vs Texas The Red River rivalry is always a game to watch, so no need to overlook this year's. Oklahoma should be the class of the Big XII South, but will Sam Bradford experience the same kind of setback Colt McCoy suffered as a sophomore?

October 23rd: Auburn at West Virginia What a lovely Thursday evening treat. Let's burn a couch in honor. The Mountaineers will likely be undefeated, but the Tigers will be more battle tested and unintimidated by Morgantown scene. We'll see what the 'Eers are made of and whether they'll be apart of the BCS Championship party. A loss here and voters will be sure and rank WVU below the SEC's best.

November 1st: Florida vs Georgia We all remember what happened last year. Can't wait for the first touchdown of November, since Urban Meyer can't seem to let the Dawgs celebration go. If USC vs Ohio State is the game of the year, this is sitting next to it in the team picture. A good chance both are undefeated, making this is the best World's Largest Cocktail Party ever. Road trip!

November 8th: Clemson vs Florida State Wouldn't it be fitting if Tommy Bowden was fired because of a loss to his father? This is likely going to be the defining game of Clemson's season and a deciding factor in the younger Bowden's long term residence in Clemson. He needs this win more than any other, particularly if the Tigers are undefeated.

November 22nd: Texas Tech at Oklahoma Expectations are high in Lubbock, Texas. The best team the Pirate Mike Leach has ever had, but are we to take the toss it around offense seriously? Chances are they've already lost a few games by then, but equal possibility that this game is for the Big XII South title.

November 22nd: Michigan at Ohio State Rich Rodriguez was hired to do one thing -- besides sell snake oil -- and that's beat the Buckeyes. Chances are slim he does it this season, in fact, chances are slim he keeps it within 20. The Wolverines competitiveness in Columbus will set the bar for expectations in 2009.

November 29th: West Virginia at Pittsburgh We all remember last year's game. Still searching for a few of those holding calls, but whatever. I expect this Backyard Brawl to have the Big East championship on the line. That's good enough to get my attention.

November 29th: Notre Dame at USC Because watching Notre Dame loss is just good fun.

December 6th: USC at UCLA: Rick Neuheisel isn't backing down from Pete Carroll and we're going to love every minute of this rivalry, rooting for the Bruins all the way. UCLA could be 0-11 entering this game, and a win here would be a successful first season for the former Bruin. OK, that's a stretch, but you get the idea.

What big games did I miss? What game are you most looking forward to (besides your own team)?

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