Following a 41-10 housing of a team that wasn't very good, the Georgia Bulldogs were pegged as the 2008 team to beat without much hesitation.

There's no doubt that Mark Richt has a very talented team, but I doubt a situation will arise again where so many of top teams collapse during the final weeks and a two-loss SEC team slides back into contention. I don't argue that a two-loss team isn't worthy, the SEC champ most certainly is, but I see too many other easy schedules around the country that will result in an undefeated team or two which is bad news for the Bulldogs and Gators.

The schedule is as big a factor as any other when determining the national champion, not just the teams on the list, but where they fall on the calendar. Clemson can lose to Alabama this weekend, and likely survive with a long string of wins, while West Virginia would have a difficult time making it to the BCS Championship Game with a December 6th loss to South Florida. You get the picture.

Here's my take on the most difficult and easiest schedules:

DIFFICULT

1. Georgia It says it all that one of the Dawgs easiest games is a very good Central Michigan team that has owned that MAC the last few seasons. Dan LeFevour will give UGA plenty of practice for Tim Tebow. Following a visit from the Chippewas, Georgia visits South Carolina and Arizona State on back-to-back weekends. The preseason No. 1 then must visit LSU and Auburn, and technically a road game against Florida in Jacksonville. Their last four conference games are all away from home, then finally taking on Georgia Tech who will have finally figured how the new option offense by then that could cause problems for a team looking forward to the SEC title game. I like the Bulldogs on paper, so long as the sheet doesn't include the schedule.

2. Alabama Four games aganist the Top 10 as it currently stands that includes a road games at Clemson, at Arkansas, at Georgia, at Tennessee and at LSU. Wow.

3. UCLA Turning the Bruins around will be no easy task in year one for Rick Neuheisel. No. 18 Tennessee visits Monday night, then Slick Rick takes his boys to BYU where they could be seven point dogs. The other out of conference game is against Fresno State, who whether they are ranked or not at the time, are Top 20 level talented. Pac-10 slate is as tough as it usually is, visiting Cal and Arizona State and ending with USC.

4. Fresno State Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime is the motto for Pat Hill's gang. The WAC is not exactly difficult, but I credit this schedule for it's start when more upsets are likely. The Bulldogs begin with a cross country trip to Rutgers, then take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the Valley, before visiting Toledo - solid MAC team - and UCLA. A final game trip to Boise State could decide a decent or weak bowl for Fresno.

5. Ohio State Make all the jokes you want about the Buckeyes taking on Youngstown State this Saturday, but Troy is no slouch and a visit to the Land of Troy is definitely as big time as it gets. USC-OSU is the game of the year. In addition, the Buckeyes visit Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan State, all three of which figure to be strongly in the mix to finish behind the Bucks.

EASIEST

1. Indiana All four nonconference games are at home with includes powerhouses Western Kentucky and Murray State, and the Hoosiers avoid playing both Michigan and Ohio State. Go ahead and lock Indiana into filling a spot in one of the lower tier bowl another conference couldn't occupy.

2. Iowa State Not that the Cyclones are a threat to do anything in the Big XII, but it sure helps that they avoid all the power teams in the South Division (Texas,  Texas Tech, and Oklahoma). Helping Gene Chizek out even more is that Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska all visit Des Moines.

3. Louisville Not that you should be surprised. Opener against Kentucky is challenging, but this is the 2008 Wildcats. The Cardinals have a big game against Kansas State, but its at home in Louisville. In conference play Steve Kragthorpe hopes to get his squad back into the Big East picture with home games against South Florida, Cincinnati and West Virginia.

4. Arizona As far as Pac-10 schedules go, this is definitely the easiest and a chance for Mike Stoops to get his Wildcats into a bowl and save his job. Nonconference slate is Idaho, Toledo and New Mexico.

5. Oklahoma I wouldn't call this "easy," but as far as title contenders go it sets up as one of the best. This is a big reason I see the Sooners as having a much better chance at the BCS then Georgia. Bob Stoops opens with Chattanooga, then has Cincinnati and TCU at home. Both teams are solid, but home games avoid any chance of an upset. Perhaps the most challenging is the visit to Washington in between those two middle-tier matchups. In Big XII play, OU has Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas Tech all at home.

Who do you think has the toughest schedule in the country?