College Football Week 14 Thread

I can’t believe this is the last week of the college football regular season. Two things are true about the fall–it is the best time of the year and I don’t get much work done on the weekends and that’s for the same reason. Anyway, here’s the top 10 games of the week, based on the Athletic’s ranking of teams from 1-134, in order of game time.

1. #31 Memphis at #21 Tulane, Thursday, 7:30, ESPN. These are two damn good teams in the AAC and Tulane could sneak into the playoffs. For that reason, just because they have so much to play for, I am taking Tulane -13.5, but Memphis has talent and could do some damage here. If you are doing nothing else on Friday night, you could do worse than watching two good teams you’ve probably missed all year. (Sat update: Hell of a game for Memphis! Big 12 issues a collective corn smelling sigh of relief.)
2. #30 Georgia Tech at #6 Georgia, 7:30, ABC. The Yellow Jackets have had a nice season. And Georgia, I mean, which Carson Beck are you going to get? So inconsistent. I’m taking Georgia Tech +19, just because of Georgia’s inconsistency. (Sat update: My oh my!)
3. #15 South Carolina at #17 Clemson, 12, ESPN. This should be fun. South Carolina has completely revived their season and if you squint and about 13 things happen, they could even get to the playoffs. Clemson has kind of revived their season too and if about 5 things happen, they can make the playoffs. Both teams have a lot of play for in the rare non-conference rivalry game that always gets played. This could be one of the better ones in this series. Clemson is -3 and I like that line, but if you made me bet, I’d go with South Carolina +3 given the fact that I think they are just a better team at this point in the season than Clemson.
4. #7 Tennessee at #35 Vanderbilt, 12, ABC. The SEC this year, man who knows what is going to happen here. Tennessee should be better here but then I’ve been sayin this about Vanderbilt games ever since they upset Alabama and sometimes they manage to do it again. Tennessee’s offense just isn’t that good either. I’m still inclined to take Tennessee -10.5, but it’s close.
5. #39 Michigan at #2 Ohio State, 12, FOX. I was wondering if the Big Game would sneak into the top 10 games. It’s ninth. Sorry Wolverines, been a tough year. But you have a chip, so no tears of sympathy from me. Ohio State -21? Yep. I’ll take that.
6. #11 Miami at #28 Syracuse, 3:30, ESPN. UPSET CITY BABY!!!!!!! The Playoff Committee has Miami 6th. Get the fuck out of here. Yes, they are 10-1. But they have won like 5 games by the skin of their teeth. No one actually believes Miami is the 6th best team in the country except Mario Cristobal, and he’s a lunkhead. Meanwhile, Syracuse has had a hell of a quietly good season. What would be better for the Orange than pulling off a last game upset at home that destroys Miami’s playoff chances, or at least their chance at a bye? Give me Syracuse +11 and give it to me good and hard.
7. #38 Arkansas at #23 Missouri, 3:30, SEC. Arkansas has muddled along this year, probably enough to give Sam Pittman another year. Missouri has more than muddled along, certainly more than enough to renew confidence in Eli Drinkwitz, though not enough for anyone to really take the Tigers that seriously as a power. Missouri -3 seems like a good bet to me; Arkansas could do anything in a given week, but Missouri is the overall better team and it is a home game.
8. #3 Texas at #18 Texas A&M, 7:30, ABC. Texas A&M worked so hard to escape this rivalry by joining the SEC. It hasn’t had real success in the conference and then Texas comes out and is the front runner to win it in its first year. That must really stick in the craw of fans of that protofascist institution. Meanwhile, A&M completely blew it against Auburn last week and killed their playoff hopes unless they win. See, they can still get to the SEC championship game with a victory here. It would be kind of great since the SEC is so overrated this year and they slit their own throats last week by 3 2-loss teams losing in upsets, including A&M. But it’s a rivalry game with big meaning and I have no idea what is going to happen here. Texas is -5 and that might be right, but betting on a rivalry game like this is a sucker’s game.
9. #19 Kansas State at #22 Iowa State, 7:30, FOX. Fun game in Ames, with two teams with a decent amount to play for. Iowa State goes to the Big 12 title game with a win. And yet, it’s actually possible that the Big 12 gets completely shut out of the playoffs. The top 5 conference champions are guaranteed spots, but Tulane could actually pass the Big 12 title winner. I am 99% sure the committee will not let that happen, buy God would that be hilarious. However, the thing about the Big 12 this year is that this is super fun football. You have 8-9 OK teams who all beat each other! Anything can happen! KSU and ISU are two of the better ones, but neither are actually that good. I’ll take Kansas State +2.5 here, especially because the teams are pretty even and I want more chaos!
10. #44 Washington at #1 Oregon, 7:30, NBC. The tenth and final game is the Ducks-Huskies. God, I fucking hate Washington. Washington beating Oregon is worse for me than Trump winning. I am not even joking. Well, I am kind of joking, but like, not that much. Oregon has EVERYTHING to play for here AND Dan Lanning has lost three games in a row to Washington. By the way, THANK YOU MICHIGAN FOR SAVING US THE HELL OF A WASHINGTON NATIONAL TITLE!!!!! Anyway, Oregon had a much needed bye to get people healthy and rested. They have a lot of motivation. Washington is the epitome of mediocrity. Oregon -19? Yes. I will take that. I think Oregon blasts them at home.