CFB Week 14 Game Guide: Who wins the Battle of Texas?
After a feast of Black Friday college football has been consumed, we’re still left with an enticing rivalry week slate that will have wide-ranging ramifications on the playoff picture. In the most topsy-turvy season in recent memory, who knows where the weekend’s games will take us. Here’s our game guide for the three main kickoff slots across Saturday.
Early Kickoff Window
Big Screen Billing: South Carolina @ Clemson (12PM ET, 5PM GMT, ESPN)
Clemson still hopes to secure a playoff berth but they would need to beat South Carolina in this one to stand any chance. A resounding loss to Georgia in Week 1 will leave CFP committee members wary of the Tigers, but overcoming their in-state rival would end the season on a high note. The Gamecocks are unbeaten in five and have given everyone in the SEC a good game, bar a jarring 27-3 loss to Ole Miss. The fact that Clemson made heavy weather of an average Pitt side and lost to Louisville suggests they’ll need to be at their best to win here, even with the home advantage. I think I’d stick with the SEC team in this one.
Keep an eye on: Michigan @ Ohio State (12PM ET, 5PM GMT, FOX)
The Buckeyes are on a three-game losing streak in this matchup, but it would be one of the shocks of the season if they didn’t end that run at home. Ohio State easily dispatched Indiana, and they will expect to steamroll the Wolverines, who have struggled to challenge in the Big 10, having lost not only Jim Harbaugh but a huge raft of elite talent to the draft. As always, you can throw form out of the window in these grudge matches. If Michigan can move the chains through running back Khalel Mullings and their defensive front can cause some disruption, perhaps they could induce some level of panic into the Buckeyes’ camp. It’s difficult to see that happening, but these games are usually worth tuning into.
Primetime Window
Big Screen Billing: Arizona State @ Arizona (3.30PM ET / 8.30PM GMT, FOX)
What a mess the Big 12 title race has turned into! Four teams sit joint top with 6-2 conference records and by the time this game kicks off Arizona State will already know if Colorado remain in the picture. Arizona State are fairly well placed to be one of the sides in the conference title game but need to take care of business away from home against rivals Arizona. Cam Skattebo will be the backbone of this offense as the Sun Devils will look to control the game through the run. Skattebo had 147 rushing yards and three TDs last week showing how difficult his physical style is to stop. Arizona look a shell of the side Jedd Fisch was in charge of last year and it’s difficult to see them standing in the way of ASU’s playoff charge.
Upset Potential: Auburn @ Alabama (3.30PM ET / 8.30PM GMT, ABC)
These two teams enter the Iron Bowl at opposite ends of the confidence spectrum. Auburn earned a thrilling overtime victory against Texas A&M last week, while Alabama had their playoff hopes all but blown up by Oklahoma. Although the CFP committee have left the door ajar for Alabama to a degree, significant chaos would need to ensue for them to reach the post-season. The biggest concern for the Tide is a defense haemorrhaging points. The Tigers have receiving duo Cam Coleman and KeAndre Lambert-Smith to test this Alabama secondary, meaning this could be closer than anybody would have predicted a couple of weeks ago.
After Dark Window
Big Screen Billing: Texas @ Texas A&M (7.30PM ET, 12.30AM ET, ABC)
The game of the week comes in the late slate. Finally, these two teams reconvene for a grudge match, and what makes it more mouth-watering is that it is essentially a playoff play-in game. Texas enter as 5.5 favourites, but a raucous Kyle Field crowd could turn this one into a coin flip. We don’t really know how good Texas is. Their schedule has been fairly weak, and Georgia handily dispatched them in Week 8. For A&M, the loss to Auburn was a blow, but a win here and in the SEC Championship Game (I know, that’s a tall ask) would secure an automatic playoff spot. We’ve seen how things went off the rails for Ewers and co. when Georgia got their pass rush operating, in a hostile environment, I can see this Texas offense freezing. Give me the Aggies in this one.
Keep an eye on: Kansas State @ Iowa State (7.30PM ET, 12.30AM ET, FOX)
Farmeggedon will have a big say in the way the convoluted Big 12 championship race plays out. Iowa State have to win to stand a chance of being one of the teams that makes the title game and things won’t be straightforward vs the Wildcats. They thrashed Cincinnati 41-15 in a game where the rushing attack thrived. DJ Giddens ran for 143 yards and two TDs while QB Avery Johnson had 72 yards on the ground and a touchdown. It took a TD in the last two minutes for the Cyclones to defeat a poor Utah side so they need to step things up in this one to ensure they remain in the Conference title hunt. The game being in Ames means the Cyclones are 2.5-point favourites, but this one could go either way.
Rory-Joe Daniels
NFL & Cfb contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.