Top games of 2013

With less than three months to go until college football kicks off again, how about a look at some of the biggest games of the upcoming season?

Week 1

*Mississippi State vs. Oklahoma State at Houston: A couple of 8-5 teams in 2012 seeking to improve and this will be a good test early on to see how good each will be.

*Georgia at Clemson: Two teams high in the rankings last year that will make a run at their respective conferences. Both finished with impressive bowl wins.

*TCU vs. LSU at Arlington, TX: Horned Frogs will be better in ’13, and if they win this one, look out Big 12.

Week 2

*South Carolina at Georgia: Will the Ol’ Ball Coach ever win the SEC again? He can if he beats the ’Dogs on the road.

*Notre Dame at Michigan: Usually a good rivalry between two historical powerhouse teams. Both lead all-time in win percentages—the Wolverines at .734 and the Irish at .733.

Week 3

*UCLA at Nebraska: One coach appears to be on the rise (Jim Mora at UCLA) and the other could be on the hot seat (Bo Pelini at Nebraska). Pelini needs to win the Big Ten or alums will be calling for his hide this year.

*Alabama at Texas A&M: The Tide’s only loss last year was to the Aggies in Tuscaloosa. Now, they have to go to one of the noisiest venues in the country where some guy named Johnny plays quarterback.

Week 4

*Boise State at Fresno State: This might be the year Fresno State gets a victory and a possible Mountain West title. The Bulldogs are picked 22nd by Athlons Sports and Boise sits at No. 11.

*Kansas State at Texas: Wildcats own a five-game win streak over the Steers.

Week 5

*Oklahoma at Notre Dame: Notre Dame owns a 9-1 series edge including seven straight. Can the Sooners break the luck of the Irish?

*LSU at Georgia: Should be a good cross-divisional game in the SEC.

Week 6

*TCU at Oklahoma: This one last year wasn’t decided until Julian Wilson busted up a pass with less than 30 seconds to go. Should be a showcase of TCU’s defense versus OU’s offense.

*Kansas State at Oklahoma State: The last time these two met in Stillwater (in 2010), an earthquake shook central Oklahoma.

*Ohio State at Northwestern: The Buckeyes went unbeaten last year. The Wildcats won their last three in 2012 and are picked in Athlon’s top 25.

Week 7

*Oklahoma vs. Texas: Only the greatest rivalry in college football. Need I say more?

*Florida at LSU: If the Gators want to win the SEC, they must win here.

*Michigan at Penn State: Nittany Lions should start 5-0 and then find out how good they are when the Wolverines come to town.

Week 8

*UCLA at Stanford: The Cardinal beat the Bruins, 27-24, in last year’s Pac 12 Championship, one week after whipping them, 35-17.

*Florida State at Clemson: This used to be a lot of fun when Bobby Bowden met his son, Tommy. Now, it’s Jimbo (Fisher) versus Dabo (Swinney), who ain’t related, but it still should be a big ACC tilt.

*TCU at Oklahoma State: The Horned Frogs have to win a big one on the road if they’re to claim the Big 12 crown.

Week 9

*Penn State at Ohio State: If the Lions win this one, the folks in Happy Valley will want a statue of Bill O’Brien outside the stadium.

*Stanford at Oregon State: Aren’t Beavers supposed to chew up trees? The Cardinal have won three straight.

*UCLA at Oregon: Will Oregon be as good without Chip Kelly? This might be the first real test of the season for the Ducks, who are picked No. 3 by Athlon.

*Texas at TCU: The Longhorns will have two weeks to lick their wounds from the Red River Rivalry. If the Frogs win, Mack returns to the hot seat – if he isn’t already from the OU loss.

Week 10

*Northwestern at Nebraska: The Huskers came from behind with a couple of TDs in the final six minutes to pull out a 29-28 victory last year.

*Georgia vs. Florida at Jacksonville: The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Like OU-Texas, one of the few remaining rivalries played at the neutral site.

Week 11

*Oregon at Stanford: Could possibly decide Pac-12’s North Division as it has in the past two years.

*Nebraska at Michigan: May determine the winner of the Big 10’s Legends Division.

Week 12

*Michigan at Northwestern: Wolverines won, 38-31, in OT last year. A must win for each team.

*Oklahoma State at Texas: Controversial ending to last year’s game gave the Steers a win and got the Pokes fans’ panties in a wad.

*Florida at South Carolina: The Ol’ Ball Coach against his former team.

Week 13

*Texas A&M at LSU: Johnny Manziel or Les Miles?

*LSU at Alabama: Who to root for? Alabama in attempt to win three straight national championships, or Les Miles?

*Oklahoma at Kansas State: Revenge game for the Sooners. The last time the 'Cats won in Manhattan, some guy named John Blake roamed OU’s sideline.

Week 14

*Oregon State at Oregon: The Ducks look to extend their win streak to six over the Beavers.

*Alabama at Auburn: The Iron Bowl. Many will be pulling for Auburn if Bama is at or near the top of the BCS rankings.

*Florida State at Florida: A break from their respective conferences to see who reigns supreme in the Sunshine State.

*Ohio State at Michigan: Two teams who kept their rivalry going after going to separate divisions. Could they meet again in a rematch the next week in Indianapolis?

*UCLA at USC: May or may not have national implications.

*Baylor at TCU: (See UCLA at USC)

Week 15

*Oklahoma at Oklahoma State: This one might decide the Big 12 champion. Sooners won, 51-48, last year in OT. Expect a barnburner in Stillwater this year.

*Texas at Baylor: Mack won 12 straight in this series and got a win last year after dropping two straight.