June 30, 2009

By Adam Caparell
NCAA.com

Over the summer, NCAA.com will look at the FBS schedule, highlighting the top matchups, the can't-miss games and the best storylines for each of the 15 weeks of the regular season. Check in every week to find out which games you simply have to see.

FBS Calendars: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11
Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 & 15

As the calendar turns to October, for the most part, non-conference games are in the rear-view mirror. So we've got a number of important conference showdowns, including one gigantic matchup in the Pac-10.

Week 5's Can't Miss Games

Thursday, Oct. 1 - Colorado at West Virginia
West Virginia made its way out to Boulder last season, so it's time for the Buffs to return the favor. Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins believes his team is good enough to compete for the Big 12 title. A lot of people scoff at that notion, but Hawkins says it's only a matter of catching a few breaks here or there. The Buffs caught a big one last year against the Mountaineers when Pat McAfee's FG in OT clanged off the uprights. Four plays later, on a 25-yard field goal from Aric Goodman, Colorado picked up one of the program's biggest victories in the last few years. 

Saturday, Oct. 3 - Ole Miss at Vanderbilt 
If Ole Miss is really the team many are making them out to be right now, then they should take care of business against Vanderbilt. But beating the Commodores doesn't figure to be an easy task. Coming off that first bowl appearance since the '82 season, Vandy has no intentions of reverting back to a sub-.500 team and the Commodores have had a penchant for pulling off a big upset or two each of the last several seasons. And let's not forget that Vandy knocked off Ole Miss in Oxford last season thanks to four interceptions from Jevan Snead.

Saturday, Oct. 3 - LSU at Georgia
A lot of people were predicting these two to meet in last December's SEC championship game. As it turned out, Florida and Alabama squared off, and while many will bank on those two squads making it back to Atlanta later this year, you can't totally dismiss the Tigers and Dawgs. They may both feature new faces on offense, but these two SEC powerhouses aren't exactly in a rebuilding mode this season. Last year, Georgia hung a rather impressive 52-38 victory on LSU in Baton Rouge, the third straight victory for the Dawgs over the Tigers.

Saturday, Oct. 3 - Oklahoma at Miami (Fl.)
Miami could very well own the nation's toughest schedule, especially right out of the gate. The `Canes first four games are at Florida State, vs. Georgia Tech, at Virginia Tech then home for the Sooners. Randy Shannon would be ecstatic with a 2-2 record after that stretch. Four games against Top 25 teams in less than a month will take their toll on the `Canes. But no matter how they fare in the season's first three, Miami will be jacked to host one of the nation's best in Land Shark Stadium.

Saturday, Oct. 3 - USC at Cal
It doesn't get much bigger than this in the Pac-10. Especially if Cal can knock off Oregon the week before. Cal and USC had some pretty good battles a few years back with the Trojans always coming out on top. But the Bears, expected to be strong once again, get another shot to knock off the conference's glamour team and legitimately stake their claim as the team everyone else in the Pac-10 needs to chase for the Rose Bowl berth. USC has played Cal more times (96) than any other opponent in their illustrious history and its won the last five meetings and 7-of-8.

Other Games To Keep An Eye On

Saturday, Oct. 3 - Penn State at Illinois 
Penn State has seen tougher road schedules than what it'll face in 2009. The Nittany Lions only have to travel four times all year and get Iowa and Ohio State at home. A visit to Champagne will be their first road contest of the season.

Saturday, Oct. 3 - Arkansas at Texas A&M (Arlington, Texas)  
Both teams are still in rebuilding modes, most likely a season or two away from competing for a conference crown, but these two old SWC foes meet in the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium. For nostalgia's sake, this one deserves attention.