My, oh my, how this season has seemed to fly by.
It feels like just last week I was finishing up preseason previews in preparation for a loaded Week 1 schedule. Now here we are, staring down the barrel of Rivalry Week.
In the past I have waxed poetic about the season that has been up to this point, but it’s unfair to do that this year. It’s not just about the rivalries themselves, which of course are a big part of the soul of the sport.
With so many conferences coming down to the wire, and the myriad of possibilities in terms of what teams can still win them and what those possibilities mean in terms of the College Football Playoff, it truly is an ideal situation to be able to sit back and watch multiple screens every day for three straight days. Made significantly easier, of course, by the fact that it’s a holiday week.
As a bonus, there is still hope for me in the head-to-head prediction game.
The current records after Week 13:
K. Becks – 38-27 SU, 25-38-2 ATS
Guests – 41-24 SU, 28-35-2 ATS
As tradition dictates, my buddy Zach will make picks for the guests this week. I don’t think my predictions are wild enough to close the gap entirely in one week, but if things go well I should still have a pulse heading into Championship Weekend.
Let’s take a closer look at the Rivalry Week slate.
Embed from Getty Images5 Games You Need to Watch This Weekend
#7 Mississippi at Mississippi State (Friday, 12 PM ET – ABC)
As if the Egg Bowl needed more fuel doused onto the fire, the ever-changing Lane Kiffin saga has provided an extra tank of it heading into this year’s Black Friday matchup. The uncertainty around whether Kiffin will be with the team for an expected CFP appearance later this season, let alone with Mississippi beyond the current campaign, has created a cloud above the program amidst its best run in over half a century. The Rebels’ head man seems to live comfortably within the chaos, however. Off-the-field stories aside, this was always going to be a game that few would predict anything but a hotly contested affair. This rivalry game has been split nearly evenly since the turn of the century. And while the Rebels are protecting a current at-large bid in the CFP, an SEC title game appearance is possible as well. The Bulldogs would not only ensure the Egg Bowl returns to Starkvegas with a victory, but would also become bowl eligible.
Mississippi State’s inability to stop the run has been a major issue all season and will likely present a problem in this game as well. In fact, the Bulldogs have played all of the top six rushing offenses in the SEC outside of Mississippi thus far and lost to them all except Arkansas. The victory over Arkansas wasn’t as much a surprisingly good effort at stopping the run (it wasn’t) as it was the Bulldogs coming across the only defense more porous than their own. The Rebels have been better than average defensively for most of the season, but in this game the offense could tee off against a defense that has had its struggles against similar competition. On paper, this game really shouldn’t be all that close. However, Starkville is a tough place to win as a guest, and that is especially true when the Golden Egg is on the line. This reality along with how close the Rebels are to not having their customary slip up yet this season makes me think the Bulldogs will keep things interesting.
My Pick: 31-24 Mississippi (does not cover -7 spread)
Zach’s Take: I’m not sure people expected the Egg Bowl to be this interesting, but here we are. Lane Kiffin has created quite the distraction. Isn’t the head coach supposed to prevent the distractions, not be the subject? I guess one could blame it all on the media, but he seems to bask in it, rather than avoid it. At the very least, he does nothing to detract the attention from himself. Mississippi State isn’t a bad team, either. I wouldn’t be surprised if they covered (-7.5 in favor of Ole Miss when I wrote this) or even if they pulled off the upset. One could question the Reb’s focus for this one, but I still think they pull it off to win the Golden Egg.
Ole Miss 37 – Miss. St. 34
#4 Georgia vs. #23 Georgia Tech [game in Atlanta] (Friday, 3:30 PM ET – ABC)
The Yellow Jackets’ loss to Pittsburgh last weekend didn’t do the team any favors on a number of fronts, but it did making winning this rivalry game that much more important for Georgia Tech’s now unlikely chances of making the CFP. No longer can Brent Key’s team rely on a chance to lock up a CFP berth by winning the ACC title, as that opportunity won’t be there unless both Virginia and SMU lose this week. Instead, the Yellow Jackets probably need to beat Georgia, something that they nearly did in the previous edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, to have a fighter’s chance at the CFP. The Bulldogs don’t know whether they’ll be playing for a conference title game, either, though Georgia missing the Playoff with a loss in this game still seems unlikely. Not one for leaving things to chance, Kirby Smart should have his team ready to go for this one.
The month of November has ousted Georgia Tech as a pretender, and the culprit is clear to the competition as well. In their last three games (two of them losses), the Yellow Jackets have surrendered 10 of the 19 total rushing touchdowns allowed to opponents this season. Additionally concerning is that the defense has been allowing large chunks of yardage per play, allowing more than 6.5 yards per rush to both Boston College and North Carolina State. A lot of Georgia’s success on offense this season has been as a result of the strong run game, which is bolstered by Gunner Stockon’s willingness to tuck it and run from the quarterback position when the situation calls for it. The Bulldogs can help out their defense a lot by controlling the time of possession battle, therefore keeping the ball out of the hands of Haynes King, who can tire out any defense in the country if given the opportunity. The Yellow Jackets are a better team that they were in 2024, but I don’t see this rivalry game going to eight overtimes this season. The winner, however, will be the same.
My Pick: 37-27 Georgia (does not cover -13.5 spread)
Zach’s Take: GA Tech has a strong case for an upset here, despite a disappointing loss to Pitt last weekend. Is beating the ‘Dawgs enough to garner an at-large bid for the Playoff? Maybe not, but it certainly helps. Overall, I’m not all that impressed with Georgia, either, so I think this one honestly could be a tossup. At the end of the day, the talent is still in favor of UGA, and Gunner Stockton along with the rest of his speedy offense will be just enough to win this one (hopefully that speed is kept on the field this week).
UGA 28 – GA Tech 24
#1 Ohio State at #15 Michigan (Saturday, 12 PM ET – FOX)
By the time Saturday rolls around, it will have been 2,191 days since Ohio State last beat Michigan in The Game. The greatest rivalry in all of sports has reached seemingly unparallelled levels of disdain from each side, with the Buckeyes having gone on to win the national title last season after suffering a shocking defeat at the hands of the Wolverines in Columbus. Ohio State, and Ryan Day in particular, have otherwise been on top of the college football world since that time. However, Michigan fans still have that victory to “taint” the season, if you’re a believer of that kind of thing. This year, the stakes are higher for Michigan, at least from a practical perspective. A loss eliminates the Wolverines from both Big Ten title game and CFP consideration, two things that were not in play in 2024. But for Ohio State, there’s still the mental roadblock that it feels like it must overcome to exonerate demons that have now been nearly six years in the making, even if its Playoff inclusion generally feels safe either way.
Last season, the Wolverines held the Buckeyes to their lowest offensive output of the season and shocked a heavily favored Ohio State team at home. The recipe for success is seemingly similar for Michigan this year. Heavily reliant on the run, the Wolverines will need to find a way to move the ball on the ground against a Buckeyes defense that hasn’t allowed 100 yards rushing since the opener against Texas. Even with injuries at running back, the Michigan offense has been dangerous in that regard and will be the best rushing attack Ohio State has seen all season. As talented as Bryce Underwood may be, he’s still somewhat raw given that Michigan hasn’t asked him to open it up much this season. Ohio State’s defense has been slightly more dynamic this season under Matt Patricia, who has been excellent at dialing up looks that have confused the younger quarterbacks the unit has faced. This is where I think Michigan runs into trouble, as you can’t expect to beat the Buckeyes by only being proficient in one aspect offensively. I think the magic number for the Buckeyes is 17 – Michigan scoring more than that would be a surprise to me. The thoughts heading into this game are widely varied on both sides of the aisle, which suggests another close contest. However, I think that the Buckeyes have enough weapons downfield, even without Carnell Tate, to get things done for the first time in the 2020s and end Michigan’s run of four straight victories.
My Pick: 21-13 Ohio State (does not cover -10 spread)
Zach’s Take: Best rivalry game in all of college sports, and it’s not even close. My confidence has not waned in the Buckeyes, despite the recent losses to this team, despite being relatively untested, and despite potential injuries to Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. It looks like they’ll be playing, but the weather forecasts for 30 degrees and an 80 percent chance of snow, which would lead to a run-heavy game. My confidence is fully behind the freshman running back Bo Jackson and that stellar Ohio State defense. Matt Patricia has made most people believers in his coaching ability at the collegiate level, and I have no reason to doubt his unit at this point in the season. Bucks. All. Damn. Day.
OSU 27 – *ichigan 3
#12 Miami (FL) at #22 Pittsburgh (Saturday, 12 PM ET – ABC)
The Hurricanes’ ACC title hopes were extinguished last weekend, but that doesn’t mean that Miami has nothing to play for in its season finale. Mario Cristobal’s team can still play spoiler to a Pittsburgh squad that will head to Charlotte with a victory. Additionally, with a win the Hurricanes become one of the most interesting cases in terms of teams with at-large bid aspirations for the CFP. Sitting squarely on the fence at No. 12, but potentially in position to get left out in favor of fellow at-large candidates, puts the Hurricanes at the center of presumed controversy. This is especially true if Notre Dame, a team that Miami beat head-to-head earlier in the season, receives one of the at-large berths. This, of course, all assumes that the Panthers don’t take care of business at home, which while not expected from Vegas is entirely possible. It’s expected to be seasonal weather in Pittsburgh on Saturday, and Miami has left the state of Florida just twice this year.
The Panthers resemble SMU, the last team to beat Miami and the only one to beat it on the road this season, quite a bit. Despite the Hurricanes boasting the ACC’s top defense, SMU had a field day against them through the air. It was a good sign to see Mason Heintschel bounce back last week after a tough outing against Notre Dame, suggesting a level of maturity that will be necessary to win this one. However, it will be imperative for Pittsburgh’s offensive line to provide good protection against a Miami defense that will be expected to come after Heintschel aggressively. Pittsburgh has allowed the second most sacks in the conference and cannot afford to be chasing the chains in this game. Constant pressure is likely to rattle the young Heintschel. While it’s not as clear what tends to rattle Carson Beck, there have been times over the course of his career at Georgia and Miami that have left us scratching our heads. Which Beck shows up may decide this game. He’s had a few of his best performances of the season this month. I think Miami’s lack of time spent north of its home state may factor into the equation just as much as the quarterback play, though.
My Pick: 34-31 Pittsburgh (covers +7 spread)
Zach’s Take: Pat Narduzzi is doing his best to stay in the headlines, but this time for winning. They did lose to Notre Dame, just as he predicted, and beat GA Tech, as he had hoped. Can they do it two weeks in a row against Carson Beck? I’m not sure if they’ve got what it takes, but I’m not fully confident in Miami. Louisville isn’t a bad team and neither is SMU, but those aren’t teams you should be losing to if you’ve got Playoff aspirations. I’m calling for another upset here (Cornversations’ Pitt following will be elated here).
The U 35 – Pitt 42
#10 Alabama at Auburn (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET – ABC)
What began as a promising 2025 campaign has ultimately not panned out as hoped for the Auburn Tigers, which still need another victory to become bowl eligible and have not beaten a single ranked FBS opponent this season. Alabama, meanwhile, has at times looked like the most capable team in the SEC of winning a national title. Things are far from settled for the Crimson Tide, however, with their loss to Oklahoma necessitating a loss by either Texas A&M or Mississippi in addition to a win in this spot to send Alabama to the SEC Championship Game. Like many of the rivalry games being played across the country this weekend, the Iron Bowl is one in which the outcome has significant bearing on the Power 4 title game and Playoff pictures. History has shown time and again that the records of each team can effectively be ignored. Both programs will show up to play and we should expect a tight one.
The Crimson Tide have struggled to stop the run this season, and have had particular trouble against teams with mobile quarterbacks. It has been an up-and-down season for Jackson Arnold, but he does possess the type of athleticism that has given Alabama’s defense fits. Additionally, the Tigers really only have one competitor in the SEC (Arkansas) in terms of the number of one score losses that they have had to suffer through this season. While this is a combination of in-game coaching decisions as much as it is general tough luck, the reality is that Auburn’s roster is better than its record would suggest. This is the type of situation that bodes well for the underdog in a rivalry game. While Ty Simpson has shown himself capable of being the hero, surely the Crimson Tide faithful would prefer not to have to endure another nailbiter this season. Unfortunately, I think that’s exactly what they’ll get as the Tigers have nothing to lose and Alabama’s weaknesses present a good opportunity for Auburn to be competitive in this one.
My Pick: 24-20 Alabama (does not cover -6 spread)
Zach’s Take: It’s a rare occasion in college football that Bama vs. Auburn isn’t exciting. Even when the Tigers have been bad (and these last few years have been unkind). Bama has dominated this rivalry of late, and that likely won’t change this week. The line is curious as Bama is favored by just 5.5 (Vegas always knows), but that is likely because it’s at Auburn at night, and despite its record, most of Auburn’s losses have been by 7 points or less. I don’t think that’s enough to win this game, but Rivalry Week means something.
Bama 21 – Auburn 17
Embed from Getty Images5 Games to Keep an Eye On This Weekend
Navy at Memphis (Thursday, 7:30 PM ET – ESPN)
The American Conference title game race is incredibly complex heading into the final week of the regular season, but here’s the good news for the Midshipmen: win and you’re in. Doing so will be similarly difficult to understanding the various ways the conference can be settled, though. Memphis was once considered the class of the conference and has the offense to give Navy a handful.
Zach’s Take: Memphis gets the dub
#3 Texas A&M at #16 Texas (Friday, 7:30 PM ET – ABC)
Despite being the only unbeaten team in the conference, the Aggies’ chances of making the SEC title game take a significant hit if they were to lose this game thanks to an important tiebreaker, cumulative win percentage of opponents. In such a case, Texas A&M would need to hope for a Georgia or Mississippi loss as well. However, the Aggies are likely in the CFP either way. Could the Longhorns simply want it more, with little else on the line?
Zach’s Take: Texas with the upset!
#6 Oregon at Washington (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – CBS)
The Ducks need a bit of help to get into the Big Ten title game, though unlike Texas A&M wouldn’t feel good about their CFP chances with a loss in the season finale. Washington is a solid team but has struggled against good defenses this season. While defense should be the dominant force in this one, former Pac-12 rivalries have shown a tendency to create offensive fireworks.
Zach’s Take: Huskies keep it close but not close enough
LSU at #8 Oklahoma (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ABC)
The Sooners are already eliminated from SEC title game contention, but are in a win-and-likely-in scenario when it comes to the CFP thanks to its victory over Alabama two weekends ago. The Tigers are a dangerous team if you don’t take them seriously, but in this case there is little reason to suggest that Oklahoma won’t be prepared given what is at stake. The magic number for the Sooners should be around 14.
Zach’s Take: Sooners by a mile
#14 Vanderbilt at #19 Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ESPN)
The Commodores need some help to get into the CFP, though given the mental makeup of this team that’s probably the furthest thing on their minds heading into this one. At its most simplistic level, this is a rivalry game that Tennessee has generally dominated, and bragging rights is something that has seemed to motivate Vanderbilt all season. Expect an exciting one in Knoxville.
Zach’s Take: Tennessee disappoints Diego Pavia and Theo Vonn has to find a new date
