An epic holiday weekend in college football in what has proven to be a superbly stellar season. And there are is a massive amount of riveting games in college football this Thanksgiving weekend. Of course, the 80th Iron Bowl is the headliner in Alabama, but also in the SEC, and in the national landscape, there are high quality match ups that include teams homing in on the college football playoff or vying to get into a quality bowl game, or a bowl game period. A lot to break down today. Here's a look at the weekend's rivalry games.
Last week: 16-8
Overall: 183-56 (77%)
Saturday
No.2 Alabama (10-1) @ Auburn (6-5)
Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET
CBS
Verne, Gary, Allie
Bama by 14
They say you never know in this one. Stranger things have happened in this game. But not this year. Alabama's defense is better than more than three quarters of the defenses in the National Football League. The front seven is impenetrable against the run. The offense thrives on explosive plays with the awesome Derrick Henry, who, if he has another big game this week and next week, should secure the Heisman Trophy, and super freshman Calvin Ridley who makes explosive play after explosive plays after catching passes from Jake Coker. Calvin is a house call waiting to happen every time he touches the football. Cyrus Jones has secured first round draft pick status with his riveting punt returning ability this season as he has taken three to the house and has shown awesome leadership and playmaking ability in the secondary. I would say the entire starting 11 on defense will play in the NFL. I'll go further and say there are probably 20-22 who will play in the National Football League. On offense, there are quite a few as well. It's been a struggle for the Tigers this season. Gus will have all his tricks and schemes on display at Jordan-Hare, but it's not going to be enough to overcome the best team in the country. Jovon Robinson is becoming a superb running back, Peyton Barber is solid, Roc Thomas and Kerryon Johnson are explosive playmakers who can make house calls if they get past the front seven of the Crimson Tide. But I don't see Auburn figuring out how to run against this defense. Nobody else has been able to. Jeremy Johnson or Sean White will have to figure out ways through the air to keep Auburn in the game. The Auburn defense, which has improved somewhat over the season, will be severely tested by Henry and the emerging Bo Scarbrough. Kenyon Drake is a week or two away from being healthy, but Scarbrough showed last week that he is highly capable of becoming the second viable option to Henry. Damien Harris could be a stud, too. It's a juggernaut coming down from Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide is shooting for a fourth national championship in the last seven years. This is another step for them on their journey to win it all. Plenty of work left after the Iron Bowl though. But you gotta like the Tide to take care of business on the Plains.
Alabama 38, Auburn 10
No. 18 Ole Miss (8-3) @ No. 21 Mississippi State (8-3)
Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, Starkvegas (55,082)
6:15 PM CT/7:15 PM ET
ESPN2
Mark Jones, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich
Ole Miss by 1
Another classic Egg Bowl as they have become in the past couple of years. Ole Miss started the season with hopes of winning both the SEC and the national titles. That hasn't happened with some slip ups, but they've had a fine season and are coming off a 38-17 thrashing of LSU, which has the LSU partisans after Les Miles' job. State is coming off a riveting 51-50 victory over a then red hot Arkansas team after the Bulldogs got blasted by Alabama the week before. It was such a super impressive showing by the superb Dak Prescott, who threw for five touchdowns and ran for a couple of more against Arkansas. Both teams are aiming at a very good bowl and both will get it, particularly the winner here. Dak has magic and he'll put on a masterful performance in his final home game in Starkville in what should be a stellar football game.
State 42, Ole Miss 38
No. 1 Clemson (11-0) @ South Carolina (3-8)
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC (80,250)
11 AM CT/Noon ET
ESPN
Dave Lamont, Ray Bentley, Jeannine Edwards
Clemson by 17
Dabo Swinney has put together a terrific season in Clemson. They have an electric quarterback in Deshaun Watson and a phenomenal running back in Wayne Gallman. The offense is highly explosive and the defense is extremely solid. The Gamecocks are trying to regroup and get ready for next year. A victory here would be a huge boost to their program that has really bottomed out this season. But it's too much to ask against a team that could very well be headed to the College Football Playoff as the No.1 seed if they can take care of business this week and next against North Carolina in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte.
Clemson 35, South Carolina 17
No. 13 Florida State (9-2) @ No. 12 Florida (10-1)
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville (88,548)
6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET
ESPN
Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Dr. Jerry Punch
FSU by 2
Jim McElwain has crafted an impressive season in his first year in Gainesville. The Gators will more than likely play Alabama next Saturday in the SEC Championship game, and a victory here could get them possibly back in the playoff hunt. But the Gators' offense has been anemic recently, and they don't have enough firepower to keep up with the Noles, which, despite a somewhat down year for them by their standards, are still a good football team. I like Dalvin Cook to churn some serious yards out, and the Noles to get it done in the Swamp.
FSU 24, Florida 17
Georgia (8-3) @ Georgia Tech (3-8)
Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta (55,000)
11 AM CT/Noon ET
ESPN2
Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Paul Carcaterra
Dawgs by 5
It's been a disappointing season in Athens and people are a little restless with Mark Richt, as usual. But a victory over one of their chief rivals and a bowl victory would ease some of the painful losses against Alabama, Tennessee and Florida. Tech has really struggled this season after coming off an outstanding season last year that was capped off by an Orange Bowl victory over Mississippi State. It's been a tough year for Paul Johnson and company. Sony Michel will be too much for the Tech defense to handle and the Dawgs will get some momentum heading into what should be a pretty good bowl game.
Georgia 42, Ga.Tech 24
Texas A&M (8-3) @ LSU (7-3)
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge (102,321)
6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET
SEC Network
Brent, Jess, Maria
LSU by 5 1/2
The Hat is under fire and needs to pull out a miracle finish to save his job. A stellar performance here could possibly save him, though it would be real questionable still. I like Leonard Fournette to go off against an Aggies defense that is still trying to get to a championship level. They're not there yet.
LSU 35, A&M 24
Vanderbilt (4-7) @ Tennessee (7-4)
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville (102,455)
3 PM CT/4 PM ET
SEC Network
Tom Hart, Andre, Laura
UT by 17
The Dores have shown a lot of improvement in Coach Derek Mason's second season winning SEC games over Missouri and Kentucky. The defense, for the most part, has been pretty stellar. The offense has not. Coach Mason needs to get better play on offense if he wants to start beating teams like Tennessee and South Carolina, and maybe even Georgia or Florida in the future. But he doesn't have enough offense this Saturday. His defense will keep it competitive, but quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd will make some plays in the passing and running game respectively. Dobbs will do it in both areas. Vanderbilt will have to find ways to move the chains, keep the Vols' offense off the field and get it in the end zone. I just don't think they can do enough in Knoxville to come away with the W. UT finishes its regular season at 8-4, a solid year with a solid bowl forthcoming.
Tennessee 28, Vandy 14
Louisville (6-5) @ Kentucky (5-6)
Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington (67,606)
11 AM CT/Noon ET
SEC Network
Dave, Stinch, Kayce Smith
Louisville by 4
Mark Stoops needs to win here to get his team bowl eligible. This is a huge one for Stoops and the Wildcats. He gets it done over Petrino.
Kentucky 35, Louisville 31
Friday
Missouri (5-6) @ Arkansas (6-5)
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark. (72,000)
1:30 PM CT/2:30 PM ET
CBS
Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor, Jenny Dell
Hogs by 14
Arkansas had a disappointing loss to Mississippi State last Saturday Night in Fayetteville but it was a heckuva football game. The Hogs bounce back here as Bret Bielema keeps building the program back up to upper echelon SEC status. Missouri has a good defense and has a shot at a bowl game in Gary Pinkel's final season after he was diagnosed with cancer sadly a few months ago. Missouri will play hard and make it a good game.
Arkansas 31, Missouri 24
Saturday
No.8 Ohio State (10-1) @ No.12 Michigan (9-2)
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor (109,901)
11 AM
ABC
Brad, Todd, Holly
Michigan by 1
Two programs going in opposite directions. Jim Harbaugh has the Wolverines on the rise, while Urb and his Buckeyes are in a struggle right now. Like Harbaugh over Urb in the Big House and for Michigan to have a shot at playing in the Rose Bowl if Michigan State makes the playoff. Should be a fun game. I see the Wolverines and Harbaugh having a "Big House" Party.
Meechigan 28, Ohio State 24
No.3 Oklahoma (10-1) @ No. 11 Oklahoma State (10-1)
7 PM CT/8 PM ET
ABC
Chris, Herbie, Heather
The question mark for OU this Saturday was whether quarterback Baker Mayfield would be cleared to play after suffering concussion like symptoms last Saturday Night in a 31-3o victory over TCU at Norman. He's good to go and so are the Sooners. In my opinion, they're in the playoff if they win at Stillwater. Like Mayfield and his prolific offensive weapons to be too much for the Cowboys in Bedlam.
OU 42, Oklahoma State 35
Friday
No.7 Baylor (9-1) @ No. 19 TCU (9-2)
6:30 PM CT/7:30 PM ET
ESPN
Pasch, Grease, Luges
This is a little out on the limb, but I was so impressed with how TCU almost upset Oklahoma in Norman last Saturday Night with their third string quarterback, that I think they're going to pull this off. It'll ruin Baylor's chances of making the playoff though they would need some chaos ahead of them to get in there anyway. Baylor will be without injured quarterback Jarrett Stidham and TCU is without injured stud wide receiver Josh Doctson and quite possibly injured quarterback Trevone Boykin, though Boykin has a shot to play. With that said, I'm going with the slight upset here.
TCU 35, Baylor 31
Saturday
No.6 Notre Dame (10-1) @ No. 9 Stanford (9-2)
6:30 PM CT/ 7:30 PM ET
FOX
Gus, Joel Klatt, Molly McGrath
I truly believe Stanford is one of the top four teams in the country. It's close, but they are as complete a team as you'll find outside of Alabama and Oklahoma. They have two losses so they will need some complete chaos to even have a shoot. But a victory over the Fighting Irish and in the Pac 12 championship game would make it remotely possible.
Stanford 35, Notre Dame 30
Other key matchups
No.5 Michigan State 35, Penn State 28
2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET
ESPN
Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Shannon Spake
The Spartans control their own destiny and will be in the playoff with a victory over the Nittany Lions and a victory over Iowa next Saturday in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis.
Upset City
Friday
Nebraska 34, No. 4 Iowa 31
The Cornhuskers burst the Hawkeyes' bubble. They did it over Michigan State, though the Spartans have redeemed themselves. Mike Riley and his team upset Iowa in Lincoln.
2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET
ABC
Adam Amin, Kelly Stouffer, Olivia Harlan
Saturday again
No. 14 North Carolina 38, NC State 35
The Tar Heels survive and set up a huge conference championship game against Clemson a week from Saturday.
2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET
ABC or ESPN2
Eamon McAneney, Rocky Boiman, Dawn Davenport
USC 35, No.22 UCLA 30
There are rumors that UCLA Coach Jim Mora is looking around for other jobs. That's not the case for USC coach Clay Helton. He wants the USC job permanently. SC plays with more passion.
2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET
ABC or ESPN2
Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, McShay
Friday
No. 15 Navy 45, Houston 42
The Midshipmen move to 10-1 and position themselves well for a New Year's Six Bowl.
11 AM CT/ Noon ET
ABC
Dave Flemming, Mack, Allison
Saturday
Virginia Tech 28 Virginia 24
One of the all time greats and the ultimate Southern gentlemen Frank Beamer gets his final Va Tech team to a bowl game with this victory as the Hokies complete a 6-6 regular season. There's magic when a great man is involved.
11 AM CT/Noon ET
ESPNU
Clay Matvick, John Congemi, Marty Smith
Friday
No. 20 Washington State 35, Washington 30
Mike Leach has put together quite a season in Pullman. He's one heckuva coach. Washington State finishes off its season at 9-3 and head to a stellar bowl game.
2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET
FOX
Joe Davis, Brady Quinn, Kris Budden
Friday
No. 17 Oregon 63, Oregon State 27
Despite some of their earlier struggles, Oregon will finish the season 9-3 with the victory here. They just figured it out a little late because they are a hot team now. They've always been talented. Starting to realize that. Good finish for them though with a solid bowl trip ahead.
3 PM CT/4 PM ET
Fox Sports 1
Chris Myers, Evan Moore
Saturday
No. 16 Northwestern 35, Illinois 31
With the victory, Northwestern would finish the regular season 10-2 and be headed to an excellent bowl game. Pat Fitzgerald does a super job with the Wildcats which boast wins over Stanford, Penn State and a huge upset victory as a 13 point underdog at Wisconsin last Saturday. Northwestern finishes off a stellar season and heads to an exciting bowl game.
2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET
ESPNU
Taylor Zarzour, Al Groh
Air Force 42, New Mexico 31
Like the Academy to finish off its regular season with a 9-3 record and play for the Mountain West Conference Championship next week against San Diego State, which is 7-0 in the Mountain West, West division and 8-3 overall. Air Force is 6-1 in the Mountain West, Mountain Division, and has that division locked up, but wants to keep winning to get the best bowl bid possible. Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun is another coach who does a stellar job.
9:15 PM CT/10:15 PM ET
ESPNU
Jason Benetti, Dan Hawkins
San Diego State 49, Nevada 28
The Aztecs finish off their Mountain West season at 8-0 and 9-3 overall with the victory and set themselves up for a huge MWC Championship game vs Air Force with outstanding bowl implications on the line next week.
9:45 PM CT/10:45 PM ET
ESPN2
Mark Neely, David Diaz-Infante
Brigham Young 38, Utah State 34
BYU finishes off a solid regular season with its ninth victory over it's in-state, big time rival. BYU finishes 9-3 and goes to a very good bowl. They are an independent FBS playing member like Notre Dame, Navy and Army.
2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET
CBS Sports Network
Rich Waltz, Adam Archuleta, Cassie Gallo