It should feel like San Diego in Lawrence for the next four days. Optimist that I am, I’m looking forward to it.

Saturday’s high is 79, followed by highs of 81, 85 and 88.

Doesn’t feel like summer anymore. I drove to work on Friday, listening to the Fair to Midland CD, with the windows cracked and no AC at 5 p.m. It felt like the beginning of college football season.

(Sidenote: Anyone else not mind the drive up or down the hill on Ninth St. anymore after ground crews repaved it? When I was in college, I felt like my car was juking defenders (potholes) on Ninth St. every five feet.)

Back to the task at hand. It seems with each passing day, more and more people are updating their Facebook and/or Twitter status, announcing they can’t wait for football season.

Me either. Put me in that group.

That’s why I decided to make a list of the top three games I’m most looking forward to watching this season from the Big 12 North and South.

We’ll start in the North:

1. Nebraska at Kansas, Nov. 14
Reason: This should be obvious. First and foremost, the Big 12 North could be determined in this battle.

Both teams have enough motivation heading into this game. Kansas lost to Nebraska last year. And the Jayhawks have never won the Big 12 North outright. I expect Kansas to be around 7-2 (possible losses vs. Oklahoma, at Texas Tech) heading into this game. A victory here would be huge.
Nebraska could also be 7-2 as it heads into Lawrence (possible losses at Virginia Tech, vs. Oklahoma). The last time the Huskers visited Lawrence they lost. Bad. 76-39. They won’t forget that.

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2. Kansas vs. Missouri, Nov. 28 in Kansas City, Mo.
Reason: It’s been the premier game in the North for the past two years. If Missouri’s for real and wants to win its third straight North crown, it will most likely have to win this game. Last year’s Border War, which Kansas won 40-37, was one of the best games of the year. Probably would have been the best game of the year if not for Graham Harrell’s pass to Michael Crabtree to beat Texas.

3. Nebraska at Virginia Tech, Sept. 19
Reason: This game should have an early bowl feeling to it. I always enjoy games that pit power conferences against each other. Nebraska lost to Va. Tech, 35-30, at home last year. The Hokies should be ranked in the top 10 in the country to open the year. If Nebraska wins, it would almost certainly be 4-0 and riding a ton of momentum heading into the Missouri game on Oct. 8 at Columbia, Mo.

South:

1. Texas vs. Oklahoma, Oct. 17 in Dallas
Reason: Do I even need an explanation here? Best football game in the country. Best rivalry in the country. Big 12 South implications, BCS Championship implications, Heisman implications. If I could watch only watch one football game per season (thank goodness that’s not the case), I’d choose this one every time.

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2. Texas at Oklahoma State, Oct. 31
Reason: The Pokes should be a major contender in the South this season. OSU has to travel to Norman to face OU and probably won’t win there. However, this game against UT becomes super interesting because it’s in Stillwater. Okie St. hasn’t defeated Texas in 12 years. This year figures to be the Cowboys’ best chance.

3. Georgia at Oklahoma State, Sept. 5
Reason: It’s the first game of the season and college football fans across the country have had this date circled on their calendar for months. Some Big 12 teams will be playing cupcakes to open the year (see UL-Monroe at Texas or North Dakota at Texas Tech). Not the Cowboys. This should be a riveting Big 12-SEC matchup that we rarely get to see outside of the Cotton Bowl or the Independence Bowl. At the end of the season, this game may factor into determining which conference is the best in the country.

That should be all for now, friends. Northern Colorado at KU on Sept. 5. Right around the corner. As always, discuss.