RIVALRY WEEK (13)
Record: 4-2
Here are the featured matchups for Rivalry Week- Rivalry name in quotations, trophy linked to detailed descriptions in our Trophy Case
MICHIGAN at OHIO STATE - "THE Game"
Saturday, November 24th, NOON, ABC. At Ohio Stadium
This is Ohio State’s final game of the 2012 season after the unfortunate postseason ban; they will treat it as a championship game of sorts: revenge is on the Buckeyes mind as they attempt to finish the season undefeated. The home Buckeyes will wear a special uniform to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the 2002 National Champions team. On the other side, “The School up North” enters the game with a chance at winning the Legends division; they need a win here AND a Nebraska loss to lowly Iowa. For Michigan, backup QB and WR Devin Gardner has played at a high level filling in for the injured Denard Robinson. Expect that success to continue as the Buckeye defense has had some major lapses this season. However, star RB Fitzgerald Toussaint’s season ending injury will make things more difficult for the Maize and Blue offense. Meanwhile, Urban Meyer’s Buckeye offense has been led by electrifying dual-threat QB Braxton Miller, who is in the thick of the Heisman race. Since Ohio State can’t play in the Big10 Championship, this will have to be Miller’s final performance for Heisman voters. If he puts together another dominant performance to earn an undefeated season, look for him to be a serious top 2 or 3 candidate. The Michigan defense struggled against a similar offense in Nebraska, so look for Ohio State to outscore their rivals in what I expect to be a high-scoring game. I think Ohio State defends the Horseshoe, sends its Seniors out with another pair of gold pants, and secures an Undefeated 12-0 Season! Ohio State by 7
OREGON at OREGON STATE - "Civil War" - Platypus Trophy
Saturday, November 24th, 3pm, P12 Network. At Reser Stadium
Oregon again finds itself in the thick of the National Championship picture (need a Notre Dame loss) but the real surprise this year has been the resurgence of the Oregon State Beavers, a team that finished 2-10 a year ago. Coach Mike Riley has returned the fight to the program, and has the Beavers ranked in the Top 20, poised for a return to bowl season. This year, the Civil War has the most at stake since the 2009 matchup. Oregon needs a win AND a Stanford loss to UCLA to play for the Pac12 title. Meanwhile, Oregon State would love to stun their in-state rivals and possibly position themselves for an at-large BCS bid. Oregon State has many similarities to the Stanford squad that just knocked off the Ducks. Stingy rush defense bodes well for the Beavers. However, I just don’t see Chip Kelly’s potent offensive attack being shutdown twice in a row. The Ducks simply have too many weapons and too much speed for Oregon State to handle. Especially coming off of last week’s heartbreaking loss, expect Oregon to have completed a very focused week of practice and preparation with plans on returning to the Rose Bowl for the third straight year. I think the Ducks pull it together and bounce back to win the Platypus Trophy and 365 more days worth of bitter bragging rights…Oregon by 13
FLORIDA at FLORIDA STATE - Florida Cup
Saturday, November 24th, 3:30, ABC. At Doak Campbell Stadium
Finally, this game has regained its glorious luster as both the Seminoles and Gators are with only one loss and positioned in the top 10. The Seminoles, however, are the only team that will play next week as Florida’s loss to Georgia proved costly and the Bulldogs will represent the Eastern Division in the SEC Title Game against Alabama. Still, with a convincing Alabama win, Florida could be the team that claims an at-large bid in the BCS with a win in Tallahassee this weekend. That scenario is far from fruition if Florida State plays to its potential. The ‘Noles can be one of the most explosive teams on both sides of the ball, ranking in the top ten in both points scored and points allowed. The offense has been somewhat inconsistent at times despite its great statistics, which will be the key to the game for FSU. QB EJ Manuel must take care of the ball against the top flight defense the Gators possess, and he must make plays to compensate for the anticipated low rushing output against a front seven that is arguably the best unit in the country. Florida State is one of the few schools that could argue its case for that title featuring bookend DEs Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine that rank among national sack leaders with eight and nine apiece, respectively. After Florida State stomped Maryland this past week to claim the Atlantic Division, Florida struggled to survive Jacksonville State, winning 23-0 and scoring only one offensive touchdown in the game. These results highlight the difference between the two ball clubs effectively. While the Gators cannot be mistaken for even an above average team—they are elite—they win with a suffocating defense, not a high-powered offense. After last year’s matchup between these two schools in which both teams combined for a measly 279 yards, it will be the team with the best offense that will win this game. Expect a repeat of last year, a low-scoring game ending in Gator defeat. Florida State by 4
OKLAHOMA STATE at OKLAHOMA - "Bedlam Game" - Bedlam Bell
Saturday, November 24th, 3:30, ESPN. At Owen Field
Our predicted National Champions – the Oklahoma Sooners have been a disappointment in ‘crunch time,’ with poor second half performances in their losses to Kansas State and Notre Dame. A few untimely turnovers could be the difference between 8-2 and 10-0. Moving forward, they host rival Oklahoma State in the ‘Bedlam Game’ and actually still have a shot at winning the conference and corresponding Fiesta Bowl bid. OU needs to win its remaining two games and hope for a Kansas State loss to Texas (very possible). Regardless of KSU’s result, OU looks to be in good position for a BCS at-large bid if they finish 10-2. First and foremost, the ‘Pokes’ stand in their way. Oklahoma State enters with the 3rd highest scoring offense in Division 1, but will be without their leader JW Walsh at QB due a season ending injury. Without Walsh, OSU will turn to another Freshman QB Wes Lunt. Oklahoma’s defense will be the most talented unit the Cowboys have faced this season, and should cause some trouble and confusion for the young quarterback, at least early on. Landry Jones and the deep stable of running backs should be able to put up solid production against this OSU defense, a unit that we predicted would be one of the conferences toughest (currently 4th in B12). OSU starting a replacement Freshman QB, Oklahoma’s BCS aspirations, and home field all point toward the Sooners defending the Bedlam Bell and claiming yet another ‘State Championship’…Oklahoma by 10
SOUTH CAROLINA at CLEMSON - "Palmetto Bowl" - Hardee's Trophy
Saturday, November 24th, 7:00, ESPN. At Memorial Stadium
34-13 is the score that Tiger fans remember from this game last year, which was perhaps the most painful loss during a season-ending stretch that had plenty of pain to go around. This season has been even better for Clemson and while the Tigers may not be going to Charlotte to play in the ACC Title Game next week, they are playing some of the best football they have played in a long time. Clemson QB Tajh Boyd is making a late season run at the Heisman trophy as the Tigers keep winning and he keeps taking advantage of his electric playmakers that surround him. Last week, Clemson was stuck in a sticky situation down 24-13 to NC State until Boyd took control of the game and the Tigers cruised to a 62-48 victory. Boyd’s numbers: 529 total yards and eight touchdowns! WR Sammy Watkins looked like he did last season with 110 yards and a touchdown while WR DeAndre Hopkins continued to impress tacking on his 15th receiving touchdown of the season. Clemson will face its toughest task since facing Florida State with top ten rival South Carolina coming to town that will make the victor’s season great and the loser’s season forgettable. South Carolina has been inconsistent ever since embarrassing Georgia on national television, losing two games to LSU and Florida and struggling to defeat Tennessee and Wofford. Connor Shaw has been great under center and should have success against a porous Clemson defense. While the ACC is having a rough season, Florida State and Clemson have been carrying the conference and should help it steal two games from the SEC this weekend. The two games, however, couldn’t be more opposite as I would recommend the casual fan watches the high-flying affair between the two Palmetto State rivals. Clemson by 10
NOTRE DAME at USC - Jeweled Shillelagh
Saturday, November 24th, 8:00, ABC. At Los Angeles Coliseum
These two teams couldn’t have had more polarizing Week 12s. Southern Cal lost a tight game to cross-city rival UCLA to lose the Pac 12 South and end any shot it had at playing in a BCS bowl, just months after many pundits had this team pegged for a BCS National Title Game appearance. Notre Dame manhandled Wake Forest, as expected, but then watched Kansas State AND Oregon open the door for the Irish to play in the BCS National Title game, pending a victory this week. Notre Dame will have a shot to win its first National Title since 1988. It looks to face the winner of the SEC Championship game, but if this past week tells us anything, let’s not jump to any conclusions just yet, especially on Rivalry Weekend. Both Alabama and Georgia play its weaker in-state rivals and should win handily, but both Auburn and Georgia Tech—like Southern Cal—would love nothing more than to absolutely ruin its rival’s season. Notre Dame’s top flight defense will clash with USC’s high-flying aerial attack, led by sophomore sensation Marqise Lee. QB Matt Barkley was injured in the fourth quarter last week against UCLA and has been determined OUT for Saturday. While the USC defense still allowed 38 points to UCLA, it has looked improved compared to the beginning of the season. The line has been able to generate more pressure and will have to limit Notre Dame on offense and hope to keep this one low-scoring. While Marqise Lee’s Heisman hopes are fading, a big game and a big win could throw him back right in the mix, similar to how Johnny Manziel was reintroduced to the race after a win at Alabama. Notre Dame’s front seven, led by LB Manti Te’o and DE Stephon Tuitt should be able to shut down the Trojan rushing attack, forcing the USC backup QB Max Wittek to move the ball through the air. If Southern Cal can execute on offense to the best of its potential, then it will give Notre Dame a look that it has only seen from Oklahoma this year. I expect Southern Cal to make it closer than expected, but Notre Dame will not ruin this opportunity. Notre Dame by 5