Top Games of 2008: Game 2

Yesterday, I went over the biggest out-of-conference game of the year. Ohio State's visit to the Coliseum to play USC has national title implications, and should be an early treat for college football fans.

We won't have to wait too much longer for another round of marquee games, as September 20 has a few. No. 5 Florida travels to Knoxville to take on No. 18 Tennessee. A win by the Vols could mean that there's more than two teams in the race for the SEC East. However, a Tennessee loss could signal the start of the Vol Nation's yearly hunt for Phillip Fulmer's head on a platter.

Georgia travels west of the Mississippi River for the first time in decades, heading to Tempe to face Dennis Erickson's No. 15 Arizona State team. The Bulldogs hope to remain on track for the BCS Title race, while the Sun Devils look to prove that that Pac-10 matches up with the SEC. An Arizona State win would be a major coup for the often-ridiculed Pac-10.

While these games are sure to get most fans fired up, the game I'm most looking forward to will take place on the Plains of Alabama, where two sets of Tigers will play to likely decide who will move on to the Georgia Dome in December for the SEC Title game.

Sept. 20: No. 7 LSU @ No. 10 Auburn Auburn, Alabama

Why to watch: You mean besides the fact that for whatever reason, this always seems to be one of the most entertaining games of the season? How about last year's game? When we last saw these two teams, Les Miles was developing his legendary alter ego, "The Gambler," and LSU pulled out a 30-24 victory on their way to the BCS Title.

Trailing 24-23 with just over three minutes to play, LSU drove down the field behind seemingly ninth-year senior Matt Flynn. With time winding down, Miles opted to take a shot at the end zone instead of lining up for what would have been a 39-yard field goal for the win. Flynn threw a 22-yard fade to Demetrius Byrd, and sending Tiger Stadium into a bourbon and jambalaya-induced delirium.

Auburn will be testing their new spread offense against an extremely stern test. Sophomore Kodi Burns takes over for human pinata Brandon Cox at quarterback for the Plainsmen, while academic All-American Brad Lester (insert laughter here) looks to make the most of the newfound space he has to operate in. Think of him as the poor man's Percy Harvin.

Lining up against them will be a pair of absolute beasts in senior defensive linemen Kirston Pittman and Tyson Jackson. The LSU defense will have to perform at a high level because the Bayou Bengals' offense is in for an overhaul. Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch looks to fight for snaps at quarterback with freshman Jarrett Lee. Neither inspires much fear. They will have shifty tailback Keiland Williams to hand off to, although they'll miss the most electrifying white tailback in recent history, Jacob Hester.

The winner of this game has the inside track on the SEC West title. In fact, it seems as though the winner of this game always ends up playing for the title.

Why else?: Both teams have stingy defenses and offenses that could still be struggling to find their rhythm. In other words, we may see a 7-3 ballgame in this one. With that being said, it seems every time people expect a low-scoring game, we end up with a 35-34 thriller. Either way, anytime you can get two of the most smug looking coaches in the SEC locked up, it makes for interesting sideline facial expressions.