USF in one of the best games of 2007, ESPN.com

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Rivalries, rematches and revenge top 2007's best matchups

By Mark Schlabach

The assignment? Come up with the best games in each of the 14 weeks of the upcoming college football season. The usual suspects are there: Red River Shootout, the game formerly known as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, Bowden Bowl and Third Saturday in October. If the 21 matchups aren't enough, we threw in a delicious appetizer: a potential upset for every week in the season.

Week 1

Sept. 1: Tennessee at California (8 p.m. ET, ABC)

It has to be more competitive than last season's matchup at Neyland Stadium, which the Volunteers won 35-18.

Upset alert: Oklahoma State over Georgia (6:45 p.m., ESPN2)

Week 2

Sept. 3: Florida State at Clemson (8 p.m., ESPN)

Tigers coach Tommy Bowden has beaten Daddy (Florida State's Bobby Bowden) in each of the last two "Bowden Bowls" and three of four overall. A key ACC contest under the lights on Labor Day night, followed by a few beverages at The Esso Club.

Sept. 8: Virginia Tech at LSU (9:15 p.m.)

The Hokies are one of only a few teams still willing to play in hostile environments like Baton Rouge. And it doesn't get much louder than Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night.

Upset alert: TCU over Texas (8 p.m.)

Week 3

Sept. 13: West Virginia at Maryland (7:45 p.m., ESPN)

One of the country's most underrated rivalries heats up again, as the Terrapins try to derail the Mountaineers' national championship hopes. Football near the nation's capital.

Sept. 15: USC at Nebraska (8 p.m., ABC)

The Trojans' first big test in their quest for another national championship. Watching football in downtown Lincoln all afternoon, then walking a few blocks to Memorial Stadium.

Upset alert: Kentucky over Louisville

Week 4

Sept. 22: Penn State at Michigan

Wolverines fans will have a September to remember with home games against defending I-AA national champion Appalachian State, Oregon, Notre Dame and Penn State to start the season.

Upset alert: South Carolina over LSU (7 p.m.)

Week 5

Sept. 29: Alabama at Florida State

Two of the sport's great powers collide at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville. Bobby Bowden vs. Nick Saban. Florida beaches. Early-morning tee times.

Upset alert: Maryland over Rutgers

Week 6

Oct. 6: Oklahoma vs. Texas

The Red River Shootout in Dallas might have national title implications. Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy tries to lead Texas to its third in a row over the Sooners.

Upset alert: Utah over Louisville (8 p.m., ESPN)

Week 7

Oct. 13: Wisconsin at Penn State (3:30 p.m., ABC)

Both the Badgers and Nittany Lions have designs on unseating Ohio State and Michigan at the top of the Big Ten standings. The air should just be turning crisp in Happy Valley.

Upset alert: Wake Forest over Florida State (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Week 8

Oct. 18: South Florida at Rutgers (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Last year's Big East surprise against this year's potential sleeper.

Oct. 20: Tennessee at Alabama

There's only one place to be on the third Saturday in October: Tuscaloosa, Ala. New Tide coach Nick Saban can go a long way toward becoming the state's governor by beating the hated Volunteers.

Upset alert: Kentucky over Florida

Week 9

Oct. 25: Boston College at Virginia Tech (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Back at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is my absolute favorite Thursday night setting.

Oct. 27: Georgia vs. Florida

The game I still call the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" might become a rivalry again with Matthew Stafford leading the Bulldogs and Tim Tebow leading the Gators.

Upset alert: Rutgers over West Virginia

Week 10

Nov. 3: LSU at Alabama

Tensions will be running high as Saban coaches against his former school. Not as high as they'll be in Baton Rouge in 2008, though.

Upset alert: Navy over Notre Dame (2:30 p.m.)

Week 11

Nov. 8: Louisville at West Virginia (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

The Big East game of the year moves to one of my favorite college towns: Morgantown, W.Va. Brian Brohm vs. Pat White. Steve Slaton vs. the entire Louisville defense.

Nov. 10: USC at California (8 p.m.)

Can the Bears upset the Trojans in Berkeley? They couldn't do it in L.A. last season.

Upset alert: BYU over TCU

Week 12

Nov. 17: Ohio State at Michigan

Can this game possibly be as important as it was a year ago?

Upset alert: Vanderbilt over Tennessee

Week 13

Nov. 23: Boise State at Hawaii (9 p.m., ESPN2)

Post-Thanksgiving Day football on the island. Ian Johnson vs. Colt Brennan. Maui Invitational hoops. Are my editors reading this?

Nov. 24: In front of the tube

State rivalry day. Alabama vs. Auburn. Virginia vs. Virginia Tech. Georgia vs. Georgia Tech. Florida vs. Florida State. Washington vs. Washington State. Clemson vs. South Carolina. Just hand me the remote -- or a private jet.

Upset alert: Arkansas over LSU (1:30 p.m.)

Week 14

Nov. 29: Rutgers at Louisville (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

Can the Scarlet Knights crush the Cardinals' BCS title hopes for the second year in a row?

Dec. 1: Navy at Army (noon)

The game still matters more than most, and few have as much pageantry and tradition as the service academy battle played in Baltimore.

Upset alert: UCLA over USC (4:30 p.m.)

Mark Schlabach covers college football and men's college basketball for ESPN.com. You can contact him at schlabachma@yahoo.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2926329

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