Can't Miss Games in October

Last week I highlighted what games I was looking forward most to in the months of August and September.  Here are the October games I am most looking forward to…

October

10/6

Georgia at South Carolina-This is the game in the SEC East.  While South Carolina has to face Arkansas and LSU, this game isn’t necessarily a “must win” for the Dawgs to win the East, as I think South Carolina has at least a couple of SEC losses in them just due to their schedule.  With that said, the Ole Ball coach has won two in a row over the Dawgs, and UGA can’t afford to fall in the same rut against Spurrier that he had over us while he was at Florida.  Columbia has always been a tricky place for Georgia, and South Carolina has a really good team this year.  With that said, though the standings may not dictate this is a must win game, for the physche of the Georgia fans, the team and Coach Richt, this game is absolutely 100% MUST WIN.

Nebraska at Ohio State-This is going to be another test for Meyer, and will be a good game to watch.

Texas at West Virginia-Like with the match up against Oklahoma State, this will put Texas’ stout defense up against the WVU offense.  Plus, it will be West Virginia’s introduction to the Big 12.  This will be compelling television.

Georgia Tech at Clemson-Always a close game.  These two rivals from the ACC will also make for compelling television, or at least as compelling as ACC football can get.

LSU at Florida-These two teams usually put on a good show.  If Florida is making big strides in Year 2, there is no bigger test on their schedule than against the Bayou Bengals.   Florida’s stout defense vs. LSU’s conservative offense will be fun to watch.

10/13

South Carolina at LSU-There is a sparse slate today, so if there is a weekend to catch up on the yard work or take the kids to a pumpkin patch or corn maze, this will be it.  Next week,  there will be full week.  However, make sure  you are at home at 3:30…because this will most likely be the CBS game.  A potential preview of the SECCG will be played October 13.  Last time the Gamecocks were in Baton Rouge, the Ole Ball Coach was out tricked by Lesticles and his famous fake field goal.  Should be a great SEC match up.

Oklahoma vs. Texas-Texas should be improved from a year ago, and therefore, The Red River Shootout should be another classic game.

10/20

Florida State at Miami-This storied rivalry has lost some luster in recent years as both teams has been rebuilding.  Florida State is “back” and Miami is in Year 2 of the Al Golden era.  I like Coach Golden, but he has had his deck stacked at the U coming in with all the turmoil that took place last summer.  Still, it is always fun to watch this classic rivalry as a neutral third party.

Virginia Tech at Clemson-In a rematch of the ACC Championship game last year, these two teams will put on a good show, er, well again, as good a show two ACC teams can put on.  All kidding aside, these two teams are about as close physically and culturally as two non-SEC schools can be. 

South Carolina vs. Florida-Like the Dawgs, the Ole Ball Coach has beaten his former team two years in a row.  This will be a good match up.

LSU at Texas A&M-Aggie fans are looking forward to playing LSU every year, as College Station is geographically closer to Baton Rouge than any other SEC campus.  I don’t know why the Aggies are looking forward to LSU…surely Oxford or Starkville isn’t that much further than Baton rouge.  It will be SEC defense vs. Big 12 offense here.  Let’s see if that speedy, high powered offense can keep up with the speedy SEC defense.  I don’t think so.

Alabama at Tennessee-One of the most storied, and yet in my opinion, underrated rivalries in college football.   How big is this rivalry?  So big that conference scheduling was held up just so this game could be figured out how to keep going annually.  Poor, poor Tennessee will be overmatched, however. 

10/27

Florida at Georgia-Is there another game this day?  I don’t think so.  I won’t care about any other game, anyway.  I said earlier in the post that South Carolina was must win for Georgia.  This game is MUST WIN also.  MUST WIN.  Not only are conference standings on the line, but the Dawgs are desperately in need to win two in a row over the Gators, for the first time in over 20 years. 

Georgia won in 2004, 2007, and 2011.  If the Dawgs win in 2012, it will be 4 Dawg victories in 9 seasons, and 3 out of the last 6.  If the Dawgs intend to turn this streak around, it is vitally important to win two in a row and get some momentum back in this series.  Florida fans and media pundits will still clamor that Georgia lost X out of Y.  Put I am tired of paying for the sins of Ray Goff in the 1990s when Ray Goff went up against Steve Spurrier. 

The last time Georgia had a chance to win back to back games against Florida was in 2008.  That game, Georgia had a chance to win 3/5.  Well, I was there in 2008.  I paid $300 for tickets for my wife and I.  You were probably there, and if you stayed past the beginning of the 4^th Quarter you are better than I am.   If Georgia has a subpar season and falls short of their lofty preseason goals, then the only way it can be salvaged is with a victory against the Gators.   Friends often ask what it will take for Corbindawg to no longer support Coach Richt.  If Georgia can’t get back to the SEC Championship game AND losses to Florida, Corbindawg will officially be on the Fire Mark Richt Bandwagon. 

Well, no other games on the last Saturday in October really matter outside of the World’s Largest Cocktail Party, but if you do have the stomach to watch some other games, Wisconsin at Michigan State was exciting last year, it will be fun to see Notre Dame at Oklahoma and the Irish get destroyed, and TCU at Oklahoma State will be fun.

Corbindawg

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