It is rivalry weekend in college football. You know what that means? The Iron Bowl, The Game, the Apple Cup. You get my drift. These are all long time rivalry games with major implications.
Here are my picks for the top five games today.
1. #9 Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines: The Buckeyes need to win out in order to have any shot at getting into the college football playoff. Normally a trip to Ann Arbor is treacherous but given the Wolverines issues at quarterback, I don’t see any way Michigan pulls off the upset.
I like Ohio State in this game. J.T Barrett will have a big game in his final game against Michigan and the Buckeyes defense will shut down a mediocre Michigan offense.
#7 Georgia Bulldogs at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Georgia is already a shoe in to play in the SEC Championship game but if they want to make the college football playoff, they must win out.
It won’t be easy today in Atlanta against the Rambling Wreck but Georgia has the athletes on the perimeter to shut down the Yellow Jackets flexbone option offense.
I think Georgia wins this game but as usual, it will be close.
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide at #6 Auburn Tigers: The Iron Bowl might be the best rivalry in college football. There is a lot of bad blood between these in state rivals. This game will be a match up of strength versus strength. Auburn’s offense versus Alabama’s defense.
If Auburn can move the ball with some success early, they can win this game. If Bama is able to slow down Jarrett Stidham and company, they will win this game. If they don’t, it could be a long day for the Tide.
I think this game will be tight. It is hard to pick against Bama given their pedigree. That is why I am picking them to win by a field.
Arizona Wildcats at Arizona State Sun Devils: Arizona has one of the most explosive play makers in the country in quarterback Khalil Tate. Todd Graham and his Sun Devils will have a hard time stopping him. That is why I am picking the Wildcats in this game. Arizona’s ground game will be too much for the Sun Devils to handle.
#8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at #21 Stanford Cardinal: Notre Dame barely survived last week against Navy but they may not be so lucky this week. Stanford is even more physical and they have the front seven necessary to pressure Brandon Wimbush and to stop running back Josh Adams.
I like Stanford in this game. I know they have had quarterback issues but they also have Bryce Love and when you have a player as talented as Love, you give him the ball and get out of the way.
Oregon State Beavers at Oregon Ducks: It hasn’t been a great first season at the helm for Willie Taggert at Oregon but the Ducks are bowl eligible and should pick up their seventh win today in the Civil War.
#13 Washington State Cougars at #17 Washington Huskies: The Apple Cup is one of the more underrated games of rivalry weekend. This is a must win for both teams as they battle to see who represents the PAC-12 North in the conference championship game next weekend.
Washington State has gotten their mojo back offensively in the past week and they will look to carry that momentum over into this game.
I think this will be a shootout. If that’s the case, I like Washington. They are at home and I trust Jake Browning more than Luke Falk right now.