Saturday's Slate: Barometer Games (Intra- and Inter-Conference)

This weekend marks the beginning of some classic early season rivalry games inside the SEC.  TF has a rundown of all the key games.

BEST INTRA-CONFERENCE GAMES

Florida @ Tennessee - This classic September head knocker usually provides a good barometer for each team's season.  Although a loss by either usually doesn't end their respective season, these teams do not like each other.  Any loss to the other leaves a bad taste that can't be cleansed until next September.  Everyone expects a Florida beatdown of Tennessee, which makes this the perfect game for the Vols to surprise the world.  Neither team can afford to lose this one.  Tennessee's fans are already grumbling and the Gators are looking to be undefeated leading into their showdown with Georgia later in the season.

LSU @ Auburn - This is the SEC West's version of Florida/Tennessee.  It doesn't matter what the record is, these two teams will always play a hard fought game.  TF doesn't think that last week's offensive struggles by Auburn will carry over.  Auburn needs this game more than LSU.  Tuberville can feel Saban breathing down his neck up in Tuscaloosa.  LSU is still re-loading from last year's championship team.  2008 might be one of his best shots to win the SEC West in the next few years.

Vanderbilt @ Ole Miss - Although neither of these teams expects to figure in the SEC hunt, both teams are looking to go to a bowl for the first time in a while.  For Vandy, it has been a long drought.  Winning this game gives the victor and inside track to a bowl game.  Both coaches want to achieve that goal.  What is a stake makes this one of the day's best games.

Alabama @ Arkansas - Based on early season returns, Alabama should "roll" all over Arkansas.  The Hogs dodged a bullet last week when Hurricane Ike pushed their game against Texas to next week.  Arkansas hasn't lost, but they have come close to doing so twice to subpar teams.  Tomorrow's game will be the first real indication of where Petrino's program stands in his brief Arkansas tenure.

Wake Forest @ Florida State - As we move to the ACC, an untested and undefeated Florida State team hosts Wake Forest who has been making a recent habit of beating the Noles.  Considering FSU's former dominance over the ACC, this has to sting worse than losing to Florida or Miami.  Wake has already been tested by a tough Ole Miss team who took them to the wire.  FSU has beaten a couple of patsies.  However, we wouldn't be surprised if the Noles use this game to start to dig out of the massive hole they made for themselves over the past few years.  The brighter days ahead may usher in with a home win against the Deacons.

Virginia Tech @ UNC - Both teams are young and hungry.  Frank Beamer turned his team over to young Tyrod Taylor and he rewarded the coach with a nice win against Georgia Tech.  Butch Davis is trying to build something special in Chapel Hill.  He has the Heels off to an undefeated season, but the Hokies may be their first real challenge.  The winner has the inside track to the ACC Coastal title.

Marshall @ So Miss - Both programs fell into mediocrity, a curse that's worse than simple losing.  However, both teams are showing signs of life.  The winner stays alive to challenge East Carolina in C-USA's East Division.

Middle Tenn @ Arkansas St - Both of these Sun Belt schools have quality wins against big conference teams.  Arkansas State started the Mike Sherman era in College Station off with a thud, while Middle Tennessee State shocked Maryland at home.  Both of these programs seem to be on the rise in the ever-improving Sun Belt.

BEST INTER-CONFERENCE GAMES

Two inter-confernence games are already in the book as Kansas State lost on the road to Louisville on Wednesday and West Virginia lost in overtime at Colorado.  Three of these four teams are rebuilding.  West Virginia was expected to be a contender. 

There sure are some bull-headed people running that school as they firmed up a 6 year contract with new coach Bill Stewart.  Besides their emotional bowl win back in January, there is nothing on the field or off that gives any indication that Stewart should have this job.  Despite hating him now, Rich Rodriguez built the Mountaineers into the national discussion.  Stewart quickly has them on the way down.

Steve Kragthorpe can begin to feel the sting of his opening loss to Kentucky start to fade after beating and up and coming K-State team.  That team and Colorado are looking to establish themselves in the Big 12 North now that Missouri seems to have firmed their lock on that division.

Mississippi State @ Georgia Tech - The ACC failed in their first big matchup when Alabama battered a higher ranked Clemson team in Atlanta to begin the season.  Georgia Tech, under Paul Johnson, give no quarter to anyone.  The Jackets are fired up about the media's constant praise of the SEC.  Mississippi State wants to do the SEC proud by winning this game.  Their defense remains strong, but their offense struggles, to put it kindly.

Miami @ Texas A&M - Mike Sherman and Randy Shannon have had rough respective starts at Texas A&M and Miami.  Both need this win badly.  They are each in the rebuilding mode at schools that don't seem to accept this reality.  One will walk away feeling good.  The other will have disappointed their hopeful, and often unrealistic, fans.

Georgia @ Arizona State - This would have been a much better game if the Sun Devils didn't lay an egg to UNLV last week.  Georgia keeps getting downgraded for their "unimpressive" wins.  TF sees a very strong team whose talent doesn't seem to let them lose.  It would be a shock to see the Bulldogs fall like the Vols did in their trip out west.

Rice @ Texas - Sure, this should be a Texas blowout, but Rice can light up a scoreboard.  This is a test of Mack Brown's new defensive staff.  Let's see if they can hold the Owls under 20.

TCU @ SMU - In another matchup of former SWC schools, TCU comes east to Dallas to play June Jones and his SMU Mustangs.  The Mustangs have never recovered since their death penalty a couple decades ago.  TCU has played well, but outside the radar screen of anyone east of the Mississippi.  That's what they get for joining the Mountain West.

East Carolina @ NC State - East Carolina has been the early season darling thus far, but they have to remain focused to really make hay of their early season wins against Virginia Tech and West Virginia.  Squeaking by Tulane last week showed TF that the Pirates may yet still stumble.  The Wolfpack has looked pretty awful so far but being an underdog at home to a C-USA team might be the motivation they need.

UCF @ Boston College - In another C-USA/ACC showdown, the Knight travel to Boston in hopes of getting their first big victory of the season.  They almost beat their I-4 rivals at USF but fell short in OT.  In a battle between two programs fighting for significance, the Knights have the most to gain.  TF still doubts whether anyone in Massachusetts really cares about the sport of college football.  We know they do in Florida.  Can UCF finally do their state and conference proud?

USF @ Florida International - This could get ugly.  USF and their er, rowdy fans are even embarrassing to their own team.  FIU isn't good.  At least they don't play this game in Tampa.  Let's hope the Bulls faithful don't decide to take a road trip south.

BONUS BIG TEN BASHING

We love to beat up on the Big Ten because it's so fun.  Their conference play on the field reflects their rust belt roots - old, antiquated, and sadly behind the times.  If you don't believe it, just read a midwestern newspaper columnist's recent missive that lays down all the facts you need to see.

Two of the Sun Belt's best teams go on the road into Big Ten country with Troy visiting Ohio State and FAU going to Minnesota.  TF predicts that at least one of these teams will beat their Big Ten opponent.  FAU is more likely because Minnesota has played no one, and the Owls fast offense will benefit from the indoor turf.  However, we won't be surprised if Troy shocks the world and wins in Columbus.  Ohio State looked just awful last week, and Troy might be one of the best kept secrets in college football this year.

This is probably just extreme wishful thinking, but TF can dream, can't we?

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