WEEK 13 COLLEGE PICKS: IRON BOWL HIGHLIGHTS RIVALRY WEEKEND
Conference title and playoff hopes are just part of what’s on the line during college football’s rivalry weekend.
There’s the Golden Egg in Mississippi. The Territorial Cup in Arizona. The Old Oaken Bucket in Indiana. The Apple Cup in Washington. The Fremont Cannon in Nevada. The Governor’s Cup in Kentucky.
Wisconsin and Minnesota will play for Paul Bunyan’s Axe. And the winner of the Michigan State-Penn State game gets the Land-Grant Trophy, which has a lot going on.
The main course of the Thanksgiving football feast are the rivalry games with championship stakes attached between highly ranked teams. You’ll find those in Columbus, Ohio, and Los Angeles and they lead this week’s most intriguing games:
No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, Saturday
The Game has a long history of monster matchups. Eleven previous time the Buckeyes and Wolverines have played with both in the AP’s top five. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan broke a long drought in the rivalry last season on the way to a Big Ten title and playoff appearance. There is a chance the winner and loser could land in the CFP this year, but neither wants to test that possibility.
LINE: Ohio State by 7 1/2. PICK: Ohio State 35-24.
No. 13 Notre Dame at No. 5 Southern California, Saturday
The Fighting Irish have won four straight meetings and eight of the last 11, but the stakes have not been this high for the Trojans in more than a decade. USC has dreams of a playoff spot and Heisman Trophy for star quarterback Caleb Williams. The Irish are hoping to put an exclamation point on Marcus Freeman’s first season as coach.
LINE: USC by 5 1/2. PICK: USC 38-31.
No. 10 Oregon at No. 22 Oregon State, Saturday
The Ducks have owned this rivalry for almost two decades, with the Beavers winning just twice since 2007. It’s the first time since 2012 and just the fifth time in 106 meetings that both teams are ranked. Oregon, which earns a spot in the Pac-12 title game with a victory, hopes to have a healthier QB Bo Nix this week.
LINE: Oregon by 3 1/2. PICK: Oregon State 28-24.
Kansas at No. 15 Kansas State, Saturday
The Wildcats have won 13 straight in the Sunflower Showdown as the Jayhawks have wallowed at the bottom of the Big 12. Kansas is better than it has been in more than decade, bowl eligible but still losers of five of their last six. The Wildcats clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game with a victory.
LINE: Kansas State by 11 1/2. PICK: Kansas State 42-27.
Georgia Tech at No. 1 Georgia
Bulldogs have won the last four by an average of 36 points … GEORGIA 42-6.
Iowa State at No. 4 TCU (minus 10 1/2)
Horned Frogs are due for a comfortable victory … TCU 28-14.
No. 6 LSU at Texas A&M
Tigers are headed to the SEC title game and the Aggies are playing out the string … LSU 24-16.
South Carolina (plus 14 1/2) at No. 7 Clemson
Tigers have won seven straight Palmetto Bowls, mostly blowouts … CLEMSON 27-17.
Auburn at No. 8 Alabama
Likely Bryce Young’s last home game for the Tide … ALABAMA 38-14.
No. 9 Tennessee (minus 14 1/2) at Vanderbilt
Vols still have hopes for a New Year’s Six bowl, but will have to manage without star QB Hendon Hooker (knee) … TENNESSEE 45-24.
Michigan State at No. 11 Penn State
If both Michigan and Ohio State end up in the playoff, the Nittany Lions could land in the Rose Bowl … PENN STATE 31-14.
No. 12 Washington at Washington State
Huskies’ Pac-12 title hopes are slim and could be gone by the time they take the field … WASHINGTON STATE 31-28.
No. 14 Utah at Colorado
End can’t get here fast enough for the Buffaloes, who have lost nine games by at least 23 points and the last three by an average of 41 … UTAH 51-10.
No. 23 Coastal Carolina at James Madison
Chants QB Grayson McCall remains out, hence the big line in favor of the Dukes … JAMES MADISON 33-28.
No. 25 UCF at South Florida
Knights blew a chance to host the AAC title game last week, but can still get into the game through the conference’s complicated tiebreakers that involve CFP rankings and computer formulas … UCF 52-28.
(Associated Press)
