July 13, 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

Halloween will be nothing but a memory at this point, but a number of coaches might have some nightmares heading into Week 10 thinking about how devastating a loss will be to their conference championship hopes. There are three huge matchups this weekend in C-USA, the Big Ten and SEC. And on top of that, we have a meeting of the academies.

Week 10's Can't Miss Games

Thursday, Nov. 5 - Virginia Tech at East Carolina  
The Hokies are playing on a Thursday night for the second straight week, but this time they find themselves on the road. And it comes against a very dangerous team in East Carolina, a squad that Tech knows all too well. The Hokies may own a 9-5 all-time record vs. the Pirates, but it was ECU who pulled off the shocking upset in last year's opener in Charlotte, N.C. It wasn't that shocking that ECU won, but rather how it won. Virginia Tech is widely known for its excellent special teams play, but that Saturday the Pirates put on a performance, including a blocked punt returned for a touchdown with 1:52 to go in the game that turned out to be the winning score. But keep in mind that Tyrod Taylor did not play in that game. He was sitting on the sidelines, a red-shirt at that point in the year before Frank Beamer abandoned his preseason plan. Taylor should be under center this time out.

Saturday, Nov. 7 - Houston at Tulsa
This one has all the makings to be one of the most entertaining games on the season, for two reasons. 1: it's going to a matchup of two high-powered offenses. The Cougars and Golden Hurricane don't win games with their defense, considering these two teams finished Nos. 1 (Tulsa) and 2 (Houston) in total offense last season. 2 - It's a matchup between what could very easily be the best teams in C-USA West Division duking it out for first place. Winner should be in the driver's seat to make its way to the C-USA championship game.

Saturday, Nov. 7 - Ohio State at Penn State
Penn State put a damper on Ohio State's Rose Bowl hopes with a big victory in Columbus last year. Terrelle Pyror's ill-timed fumble led to the Nittany Lions' 13-6 victory that catapulted them toward Pasadena. Remember, it had been a while since Joe Paterno scored a win in Ohio Stadium. 1993 to be precise. But thanks to a backup quarterback who no longer is on the roster, Penn State kept its BCS title hopes alive. It was a defensive battle last time out; will we see the same thing this year? Chances are yes because both teams have lost pieces on offense. Control for the Big Ten figures to be on the line once again.

Saturday, Nov. 7 - LSU at Alabama
The Nick Saban vs. LSU angle should be tired by now, but with these two meeting in Tuscaloosa the storylines will be abundant. The race for the SEC West should still be in flux and 90,000 strong will be dying to burst into Bryant-Denny Stadium when daylight breaks. If this year's game comes close to the one we saw last year it'll be a tall task. Alabama clinched the SEC West with a thrilling overtime victory in front of a record crowd of 93,039 at Tiger Stadium. But the Tide was actually very fortunate to come away with a victory thanks to a number of turnovers and a blocked field goal that could have won them the game.

Other Games To Keep An Eye On

Saturday, Nov. 7 - Oregon State at Cal  
These two could be jockeying anywhere from first place in the Pac-10 to fourth place depending on how October plays out for the Beavers and Bears.

Saturday, Nov. 7 - Oklahoma at Nebraska
The Sooners make their way north for one of the great traditional rivalries in the game that has kind of been put on the backburner the last several years. Memorial Stadium will be rocking.

Saturday, Nov. 7 - Army at Air Force  
When the academies get together it's always fun. The Falcons have won 11 of the last 12 vs. Army.