Call it Feast Week or Rivalry Week. Call it whatever you want. But this week is just awesome.
Some of the most passionately-played games of the college football season will kick off over the next seven days. It’s not just pride and bragging rights that are on the line in many of these games but also division titles and playoff standings that will be impacted by what happens in these games.
- Can Alabama find a way into the playoffs?
- Can Michigan finally beat Ohio State?
- Can Navy win against Houston to make the American Championship Game if Memphis loses to red-hot Cincinnati?
- Will Minnesota beat Wisconsin to get to face Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship Game?
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
College football Top 25 Week 14 odds
Texas A&M at No. 1 LSU
On paper, this game might look like another Tiger blowout victory. But if you look a little closer at Texas A&M, you will see a team that is playing hard for head coach Jimbo Fisher. Last week at Georgia, the Aggies fought hard and covered with a tight 19-13 loss. The week prior, Texas A&M crushed South Carolina 30-6.
LSU has put up at least 46 points in three straight games after a blowout win over Arkansas in Week 13. However, everyone will be wondering if the Aggies are going to be a problem for LSU. QB Joe Burrow and LSU could be looking ahead to next week’s SEC Championship game versus Georgia. Could there be an upset brewing in Baton Rouge?
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 10 Michigan
Welcome to the 2019 edition of The Game. Can Jim Harbaugh finally beat the Michigan archrival? No game matters more to Michigan fans than this one, and so far, Harbaugh is the first coach in school history to lose his first four games against the Buckeyes. With Urban Meyer no longer the coach in Columbus, many feel that this is the year to snap the losing streak.
Given that Ohio State is undefeated and features the No. 1 scoring offense and scoring defense in the country, the Wolverines are going to have their hands full. However, in every game since the Penn State loss, Michigan has scored at least 38 points and has averaged 41.5 points per game. They may need to score that much given the firepower of QB Josh Fields and company.
No. 3 Clemson at South Carolina
South Carolina has already defeated one top ten team this season when it won at Georgia. Could the Gamecocks do it again this week in the Palmetto Bowl and totally disrupt the college football playoffs? Clemson has shown no signs of being vulnerable except for the road trip to Chapel Hill where North Carolina went for the win at the end of the game — and failed.
South Carolina has lost the last five meetings in this game but would love to end its season with a monster victory. However, the Tigers average nearly 46 points per game and their defense gives up less than 11. This is a rivalry game but it’s hard to see how South Carolina keeps this game close.
No. 4 Georgia at Georgia Tech
At 10-1, there is no margin for error for Georgia. The Dawgs got a scare last week at home against Texas A&M and they are going to get Georgia Tech’s best shot this week. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, they have only managed to win three games this season and have lost seven of their last nine games. Georgia plays next week in the SEC title game. The only thing the Dawgs need here is a win and get back to Athens to prep for their huge game in Atlanta against LSU. It’s hard to see Georgia Tech keeping this game close.
No. 5 Alabama at No. 16 Auburn
The Iron Bowl is always one of the most anticipated games of the college football season and this year it has a few new wrinkles. Auburn has a chance to play in a major bowl if it is able to beat Alabama. The Tigers are 0-3 this year against top 10 teams but Alabama will be playing without star QB Tua Tagovailoa who has played his last game in college due to an awful hip injury. Can Mac Jones beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl on the road? This a huge first step for the sophomore from Florida to winning the starting job next season, but it’s also a requirement if Alabama wants any shot at making the playoffs.
With Oregon being eliminated from consideration, the fourth spot in the playoffs is still a possibility for the Tide. To keep that option open, they have to win at Jordan-Hare. That did not happen in the 2017 version of this game.
Colorado at No. 6 Utah
Would a 12-1 Utah team get into the playoffs over an 11-1 Alabama team? It’s a debate that could be only days away from becoming a reality. Utah’s only loss was on the road at USC without star running back Zack Moss. Alabama’s only loss was to No. 1 LSU at home, but Bama can’t even win the SEC West, let alone the SEC Championship.
The Utes should be favored to win the Pac-12 title game in two weeks over Oregon and if they do, they will have to hope the committee likes their conference title over Alabama’s wins over Texas A&M and Auburn (if they win Saturday). Utah’s best win this season is over a 6-5 Arizona State team so the resume isn’t great. Colorado hopes that it can derail all that talk and win its third straight game to become bowl eligible. Going on the road and winning in Salt Lake City is a lot to ask of the Buffs, though.
No. 7 Oklahoma at No. 21 Oklahoma State
This is Bedlam. The annual battle between bitter in-state rivals. Oklahoma and Baylor are both 7-1 and win or lose this week, they will meet for the Big 12 title game next week. OU still hopes to be considered for the playoffs if they can finish 12-1. They will clearly need help with Georgia losing to LSU in the SEC Championship, but that is a real possibility.
Oklahoma State has won this game 18 times in 113 tries but lost in a thriller last year, 48-47. The last time OSU hosted this game in 2017, they lost 62-52. If you like offense, you like Bedlam games. The Cowboys are 8-3 and headed to a good bowl game. A win over the Sooners would secure a third-place finish in the Big 12.
Florida State at No. 8 Florida
There was a time when this game had national title implications. That’s a distant memory now, but the Gators have still had a solid 2019 season. Florida State has recovered from a rough start and the firing of head coach Willie Taggart to become bowl eligible after blasting Alabama State 49-12 last week. The Seminoles have won three of four and now head to Gainesville to face a 9-2 Gators club coming off an open week. In 2017, the last time Florida hosted FSU, the Seminoles won the game 38-22.
No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 9 Minnesota
The Gophers took care of business last week on the road at Northwestern to set up this Big 10 West title game against Wisconsin. The Badgers are 6-2 in the Big 10 while Minnesota is 7-1. UM still dreams of beating Ohio State in the Big 10 title game and making the playoffs but it has to deal with a tough Badger team before they can think about facing the Buckeyes. Wisconsin won at home against Purdue last week and put up 45 points in the process. It had been six games since the Badgers offense broke the 40-point plateau. Jonathan Taylor has 18 rushing touchdowns on the season and Minnesota’s defense gave up 117 yards in its only loss to Iowa two weeks ago. The Gophers are undefeated at home while Wisconsin is 2-2 on the road.
No. 10 Baylor at Kansas
There wasn’t a more impressive victory in the Big 12 last week than Baylor’s 24-10 win over Texas. The Bears bounced back after blowing a 28-3 lead to Oklahoma to crush Tom Herman and the Longhorns to secure a spot in the Big 12 Championship game. Kansas has had a rough season under first-year head coach Les Miles. It’s going to be a process for the Jayhawks but there have been some bright spots. While KU isn’t going bowling, it has beaten Texas Tech and Boston College. A season-ending win over a top 10 team would be awesome. However, Baylor is 4-0 on the road this season.
No. 11 Penn State at Rutgers
It has been an awful season for the Scarlet Knights. At 2-9 overall and 0-8 in conference, Rutgers now has to survive a game against a top 15 team at home to end its season. The most points scored in a conference game for Rutgers has been 21. Penn State is only giving up 14.8 points per game and it’s unlikely that the Nittany Lions will give up much more than that in this game. Penn State can’t play in the Big 10 title game but the Rose Bowl is still on the table given that Minnesota could lose to Ohio State. PSU has a much bigger fanbase and would be expected to jump the Gophers. Penn State has to take care of business in New Jersey first and doing it with style wouldn’t hurt its cause either.
Oregon State at No. 14 Oregon
The Civil War this year lost a lot of importance with Oregon losing badly at Arizona State last week. The Ducks had a chance to make the playoffs, but now they know they will play for the Pac-12 title and a Rose Bowl berth next week. For Oregon State, this game is much more important because it will become bowl eligible with an upset at Oregon. The Beavers could have taken care of that with a win over Washington State last week but they gave up a 10-play game-winning drive with under a minute and half left.
No. 15 Notre Dame at Stanford
The Irish are ending the season in strong fashion. Notre Dame blew out Boston College last week for its fourth straight win, the third straight game that the Irish won by more than three touchdowns. A New Year’s Six bowl game is a possibility for Notre Dame with a win but most believe they will head to the Camping World Bowl. Stanford is 4-7 and can’t make a bowl but would love to end the year with a big win over a top 15 team.
No. 19 Cincinnati at No. 17 Memphis
This is the biggest game of the year in the American Athletic Conference and these two teams might play again next week in the conference title game. Memphis is 6-1 with win over Navy, which is also 6-1. Navy plays against Houston and if it wins, Memphis will have to win against the Bearcats to secure the division. Cincy has a two-game lead in the East and it will be interesting to see how the Bearcats approach this game knowing that they could see the Tigers again next week. Cincy won but did not cover the 10.5-point line against Temple last week but has won nine straight games and is 7-0 in conference play.
No. 18 Iowa at Nebraska
Iowa has a chance to finish 9-3 on the season and could head to the TaxSlayer Bowl. The Hawkeyes defeated Illinois on the road last week and now must travel to Lincoln to play in a game that has grown in intensity every year it is played.
Iowa and Nebraska fans have grown to dislike each other since Nebraska joined the Big 10 and the Husker football program knows that a win in this game would make the Huskers bowl eligible. A win would also give head coach Scott Frost extra practice time for next season. After blowing out Maryland 54-7 on the road last week, the Nebraska offense might be hitting its stride at the right time. However, Iowa’s defense is giving up just 12.2 points per game, fifth best in the country.
No. 20 Boise State at Colorado State
Boise State has secured the best record in the Mountain West Conference for the third straight year, meaning it will host the MWC Championship game on Dec. 7. The Broncos will host Hawaii, which clinched the West Division last week with a win over San Diego State. So, this game against Colorado State really doesn’t mean much to Boise. The Rams are 4-7 and can’t go to a bowl game even if they win this game. It will be interesting to see how focused both teams are for this one.
No. 22 Appalachian State at Troy
App State is 10-1 and has already secured its spot in the Sun Belt Championship game. The Mountaineers don’t know who they will play yet as the West Division will come down to this week. Troy, meanwhile, needs to win this game to become bowl eligible. The Mountaineers have only lost one game this year but it was at home to Georgia Southern. There is still a chance for App State to play in a New Year’s Six bowl game but it has to finish strong. Troy is coming off a 53-3 loss at Louisiana and it’s unlikely to beat App State if the Mountaineers are focused.
No. 23 Virginia Tech at Virginia
This game has been played on Thanksgiving weekend every year since 1990 and is one of the best in-state rivalries in college football. These two schools do not like each other, and this year both are 8-3 and playing for the chance to make the ACC title game. The winner of the ACC Coastal Division will come from this game and will have to face No. 3 Clemson.
Last year, this game went to overtime where Va Tech won 34-31. The last time UVa hosted, the Cavs lost 10-0. Beating the Hokies would be a huge deal for Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall who has not been able to do that since taking over the program four years ago.
No. 24 Navy at Houston
This is a massive game for Navy. The Midshipmen have to win this game and hope that Memphis loses to Cincinnati for them to make the AAC Championship game. Navy scored a massive victory over SMU on the road in the rain last week and now has to win at Houston to get at least a share of the AAC West Division.
The Cougars are 4-7 and have really struggled this season after QB D’Eriq King decided to redshirt. Houston has lost three of its last five games but has beaten Navy the last three times they have played.
FBS Week 14 opening lines
Compare these to the live odds above to see where they have moved since the start of the week.
- Texas A&M at LSU (-17)
- Ohio State (-8.5) at Michigan
- Clemson (-25.5) at South Carolina
- Georgia (-28) at Georgia Tech
- Alabama (-4) at Auburn
- Colorado at Utah (-28)
- Oklahoma (-12) at Oklahoma State
- Florida State at Florida (-17)
- Wisconsin (-2.5) at Minnesota
- Baylor at Kansas (No Line)
- Rutgers at Penn State (-38.5)
- Oregon State at Oregon (-17.5)
- Notre Dame (-14) at Stanford
- Cincinnati at Memphis (-11.5)
- Iowa (-4.5) at Nebraska
- Boise State (-12.5) at Colorado State
- App State (-12) at Troy
- Virginia Tech (-2) at Virginia
- Navy (-7.5) at Houston
