SC’s Play This Team, Not That Team

If you've ever seen Men's Health magazine, they feature a segment called "Eat This, Not That." The column gives pointers on how to replace high-calorie, unhealthy foods with better, healthier options.

With that in mind, I've created SC's "Play This Team, Not That Team". Basically, I'm taking away those ridiculous cupcakes that some teams are playing and replacing them with better, more interesting options for the college football fan.

With that said, here we go...

NC STATE

Play This Team: Marshall
Not This Team: Gardner-Webb

Okay, it's fine for a FBS team to face one FCS opponent a year. However, the Wolfpack have scheduled a ridiculous two FCS teams this season. I like NC State playing South Carolina, and I like the matchup with Pittsburgh, as well, but two FCS teams are unacceptable. With a SEC and Big East opponent, it'll be good for the Wolfpack to face a mid-major team that's fairly close by. One could obviously argue for East Carolina, but the Pack would be better playing a little bit softer team — just not Gardner-Webb.

SOUTH FLORIDA

Play This Team: Central Florida
Not This Team: Charleston Southern

Jim Leavitt's squad now is at a level to where they should be playing fewer cupcakes outside of the Big East. The Bulls won't benefit too much from a matchup against Charleston Southern, especially since the opener against Wofford should work out a bunch of the kinks. Instead, why not add to the hotbed of Florida rivalries and go up against UCF? There would definitely be some interest in a long-term series with these two schools; and no doubt recruiting battles would be that much more intense should USF and UCF begin a rivalry.

NEBRASKA

Play This Team: Tulsa
Not This Team: Louisiana-Lafayette

I love Nebraska's matchup with Virginia Tech, but three teams from the Sun Belt are too many. I'll give the Huskers two games, but before we give NU a trip to the New Orleans Bowl, let's provide Nebraska with a solid mid-major opponent, right in the same region, who has recent success and will provide some excitement in Lincoln. Nebraska/Tulsa would definitely get some interest, much more so than Nebraska vs. the entire Sun Belt.

BOISE STATE

Play This Team: Ole Miss
Not This Team: UC Davis

Ever since that great Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, Boise State has garnered considerable attention, far more than any other WAC school. While their schedule points to another great year, a chance for Boise to garner any BCS noise just really isn't there. This team needs a BCS level opponent, especially from the other side of the country, to get some serious attention for the Broncos to crash the BCS party all over again. So, they need to replace UC Davis and fill the void with...

OLE MISS

Play This Team: Boise State
Not This Team: Northern Arizona

Again, what it is with teams playing two FCS teams? Ole Miss slides through the easiest SEC schedule imaginable. They don't play Florida, they don't play Georgia, and they grab SE Louisiana and Northern Arizona as rent-a-wins. If the Rebels are as good as most prognosticators think, they should dump one of those FCS teams for a mid-major that would get some national publicity. Boise State fits that picture — it'll give Ole Miss western coverage, while revisiting Houston Nutt's short stay on the Smurf Turf.

NORTH CAROLINA

Play This Team: Tennessee
Not This Team: Georgia Southern

Back to the same old story ... add the Tar Heels to the list of teams playing two FCS squads. Just like the Wolfpack, Carolina needs to drop one and play someone that will attract more attention. In this case, Butch Davis should look to Knoxville for what would be a great non-conference matchup. This border war could be the grounds for great recruiting battles, or even a neutral site showdown in Charlotte. Without question, college football would be interested to see these two teams take the field, and football would definitely be better for it.