Top 5 Games of the 2011 Season

Every year there are games that you can circle on your calendar at the beginning of the season. Before the season started I wanted to help in your planning and give you the top five games for 2011.

5. Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech (November 10)

These two programs have won the ACC Championship the last four years, Virginia Tech in 2007, 2008, 2010 and Georgia Tech in 2009 though they recently had to vacate that title due to NCAA violations, and this match-up has proved to be one of the best in the ACC. The last three seasons the average margin of victory has been 5 points in closely contested battles and these two teams are quickly becoming rivals as they compete for the Coastal championship. A late season match-up in Atlanta should once again prove to be a good game as the Coastal Division title could once again come down to these two teams and, if not, bragging rights will definitely be on the line in this budding rivalry.

4. Arkansas-Texas A&M (October 1)

This game takes an interesting turn with Texas A&M doing their best to join the SEC and this will be a good chance to see how the compare to a middle of the road SEC team, a middle of the road SEC team that still starts the season ranked 14th in the country. Arkansas lost their running back, Knile Davis, and they have to replace their quarterback from last year, Ryan Mallet, but have a sneaky offensive genius in Bobby Petrino. Arkansas will be a tough test for a Texas A&M team who has their eyes on the Big 12 Championship and more this season.

3. LSU-Oregon (September 3)

Our first big match-up of the season, though it could be second depending which game starts first this one or the Boise State-Georgia game, both are supposed to kickoff at 8. We have the loser of last years National Championship and the preseason 3rd ranked team in the country in Oregon and the team ranked 4th in the preseason polls in LSU competing in the first week of the season. The explosive offense of Oregon meets the tough defense of LSU and the game will be played in the huge Cowboys Stadium, which is following the precedent of big time non-conference games played in neutral locations.

2. Alabama-LSU (November 5)

The thing with the SEC is you could almost select a match-up in any particular week and find a game that could go on this list so I picked the one I am most excited about. Two teams that are ranked in the preseason top 5 and both have chances at SEC and National titles. Both teams bring in a great deal of talent and great coaches and should both have excellent seasons. This match-up with help determine the SEC West Division champion and probably have big implications for the National Champion as well.

1. FSU-Oklahoma (September 17)

This match-up has the number one team in the country playing the number five ranked team in the country. Both teams should still be ranked there has the toughest match-up for either team is when Oklahoma plays Tulsa on September 3. FSU will play Louisiana-Monroe and Charleston Southern before their game against Oklahoma. This game will have a team that has spent years at the top of the polls and a team trying to recapture their former position there. A win here would show that both FSU and the ACC need to paid attention too.

Honorable Mentions: Boise State-Georgia (September 3), Ohio State-Miami (September 17), Oklahoma-Texas (October 8)

If there are other games you are excited for throw them down in the comments section. Thanks for your continued support of The Sports Party.