Monday we took a broad look at the schedules for the 2012 season, and today we're spotlighting the 12 worst games of the season involving Big Six league teams and FCS programs. Wednesday, we'll look at the 12 best nonconference games of the season.

Unfortunately for fans, there were a lot more games to choose from for this story than Wednesday's.

[ Related: College football power conferences scheduling more FCS opponents ]

A couple of things:

• We know that some of the Big Six teams we're picking today do have some good nonconference games. And we're aware that some of these spotlighted games were scheduled at the last minute. But that in no way absolves anyone of blame. Bottom line: These games are pitiful. Fans have to shell out big bucks to see fare that, to steal a lyric from the band Drive-By Truckers, is so disgusting that even wild dogs would disregard the bones.

• We are not being derisive of or impugning FCS football. We're not averse to FBS/FCS games per se. What we don't like are Big Six teams – especially the ones that have clout – scheduling games against bad FCS teams. "Bad" is the operative word. For the most part, Big Six teams don't want anything to do with top-level FCS programs. There are some exceptions, among them Richmond at Virginia and Eastern Kentucky at Purdue on Sept. 1, New Hampshire at Minnesota and Eastern Washington at Washington State on Sept. 8, Northern Iowa at Iowa and Sam Houston State at Baylor on Sept. 15 and Georgia Southern at Georgia on Nov. 17.

Unfortunately, there are far more bad FBS-FCS games to choose from. Here are the 12 most cringe-worthy games this season involving Big Six schools and FCS programs.

12. Presbyterian at Georgia Tech on Sept. 8: Presbyterian was 4-7 last season and has won 10 games in the past four seasons as it transitioned from Division II to the FCS ranks. The Blue Hose have played three games against FBS teams in the past two seasons and lost by a combined 174-46 (average score: 58-15).

11. Nicholls State at Oregon State on Sept. 1: The Beavers are coming off back-to-back losing seasons and seem hell-bent on opening this season with a win (though they lost their opener last season to FCS member Sacramento State). Nicholls State, from Thibodaux, La., has won a combined 11 games in the past four seasons, including a 1-10 mark last season. The Colonels have had a losing record in 19 of the past 23 seasons. In its past eight games against FBS opponents, dating to 2007, Nicholls State has been outscored 375-82 (average score: 47-10).

10. Tennessee Tech at Oregon on Sept. 15: Tennessee Tech – which is coached by Watson Brown – was 7-4 last season, just its fifth winning record in the past 14 seasons. The Golden Eagles have played nine games against FBS opponents in the past six seasons; they have allowed 398 points and scored just 44 in those matchups (average score: 44-5).

9. Fordham at Cincinnati on Oct. 13: Fordham first started playing football in 1881 and has some big names in its football past (among them Vince Lombardi). But the Rams were 1-10 last season and have had a losing record in 19 of the past 23 seasons. Cincy will be just the third FBS opponent for Fordham, which lost by a combined 88-3 to Army and Connecticut last season (those teams finished a combined 8-16).

Story continues