Non-conference games offer intriguing matchups

Oh, how far we've come since an undefeated Auburn team was shut out of the BCS Championship.

Today, the Southeastern Conference seems to be the consensus pick of analysts as college football's top league. For some fans of varying conference affiliations, however, that remains a point of contention. What better way to settle it than on the field?

In that spirit, we continue our examination of the upcoming SEC season, set to kick off in 38 days, with a look at some of its must-see non-conference games.

Appalachian St. at LSU, Aug. 30

Here's a trivia question: When was the last time two defending outright national champions faced off? Answer: 1994, when defending Division II champ North Alabama lost at defending Division I-AA champ Youngstown State.

In fact, when three-time defending Division I-AA champion Appalachian State travels to Baton Rouge this season, it will be just the third time such a matchup has ever occurred - the other being defending Division I-AA champ Boise State's win against defending D-II champ Cal Poly in 1981.

It's also fitting that with an upset of Michigan in the Big House, Appalachian State kicked off last year's wacky football season that ended with a two-loss LSU team winning the BCS championship.

Alabama vs. Clemson, Aug. 30

It's doubtful one could express the height to which expectations would rise if Alabama were to win its season-opener at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Clemson looks superior on paper. The Tigers return senior quarterback Cullen Harper, who led the Atlantic Coast Conference in passer efficiency last season, ahead of Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Matt Ryan, of Boston College. Also back for Clemson are two of the top running backs in the conference in the 'Thunder and Lightning' duo of James Davis and C.J. Spiller as well as many familiar faces on a squad that ranked top-10 in the nation in scoring and total defense.

That said, Clemson, which lost twice in Atlanta last season (once to Georgia Tech and again to Auburn), has a reputation of underachieving.

Tennessee at UCLA, Sept. 1

The Volunteers really seem to be trying to make recruiting inroads on the West Coast. This first game of a home-and-home series with UCLA is part of a five-year streak of games against Pac-10 opponents. Tennessee finished a home-and-home series with Cal last year and recently released a 2010 schedule that features a home game against Oregon.

The Vols haven't had much luck in California, where they are 2-7-1 all-time, including last season's loss at Cal. But Tennessee does hold a 7-4-2 all-time record against UCLA, including a 1997 win in Pasadena the last time the schools met.

Besides being Rick Neuheisel's return to college football, this Monday night game should provide another talking point in the bickering between the SEC and Pac-10 faithful.

Miami at Florida, Sept. 13

It's the return of the Battle for the Seminole War Canoe, at least for a year. This used to be the premiere non-conference rivalry for Florida, more so than the Florida State game. The Gators haven't won against the Hurricanes since 1985, though the teams have played just six times since then.

The Hurricanes last trip to Gainesville resulted in a 41-16 rout of the Gators. With recent history on his side, this would be grand opportunity for second-year coach Randy Shannon to put Miami back on the national scene.

Georgia at Arizona State, Sept. 20

What a bunch of homebodies. The Bulldog's haven't traveled outside the Southeast for a regular-season game since 1967, and that was at Houston.

This, one of two SEC-at-Pac-10 matchups and Georgia's first of a home-and-home series with Arizona State, will be the Bulldogs' first game on the West Coast since 1960.

Auburn at West Virginia, Oct. 23

If Auburn has any problems perfecting the spread option by this point, the Tigers could probably take lessons from the Mountaineers in this interestingly scheduled Thursday night tilt.

While other contenders are concentrating on closing out conference play, Auburn will be in Morgantown to face a West Virginia team that despite losing its head coach and a Heisman candidate returns quarterback Pat White, running back Noel Divine and a slew of speed that can make defenses look silly.

Duke at Vandy, Oct. 25

Don't laugh. This is the closest thing to The Game - the Harvard-Yale variety - south of the Mason-Dixon. These people rule the world in which you live. This also will be David Cutcliffe's return to head coach since being fired at Ole Miss in 2004.

Bryan App can be reached at 740-5730 or bryan.app@timesdaily.com.