It's rivalry Saturday.There have already been some rivalry games Thursday and Friday and they continue today. One of my favorite things about these games are the names are cool and sometimes weird. Anyway, I went 4-3 last week in picks and am now 66-25 on the year. To come: A look at Virginia-Virginia Tech.
No. 2 Florida State at Florida, "Battle for the Sunshine State," Noon ESPN
Despite the cloud of an investigation around Florida State -- QB Jameis Winston is at the center of a possible rape but hasn't been charged with anything -- the Seminoles should have no problem rolling the rival Gators, who are 4-7 and lost to FCS school Georgia Southern last week.
Florida State 63, Florida 3
No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan, "The Game," Noon ABC
Ohio State has won 23 in a row while the Wolverines have been disappointing this season at 7-4 with a struggling offense. The Buckeyes must win to keep their national championship hopes alive and I think they will though I give Michigan a slightly better chance for the upset since the game is in Ann Arbor.
Ohio State 34, Michigan 21
No. 24 Duke at North Carolina, "Battle of the Victory Bell," Noon ESPNU
What Duke has done this year has been stunning, especially given the fact that at the beginning of the season, the Blue Devils were looking like their normal selves, struggling against Memphis and getting trucked by Georgia Tech and giving up 58 points to Pittsburgh. Not only has Duke become relevant, it is 9-2 and in the top 25. David Cutcliffe should probably be coach of the year not only in the ACC, but nationally. With all that said, I think the Blue Devils' run ends vs. the rival Tar Heels, who are hot as well and have won five in a row. Duke has had a year to be proud of and should get a good bowl, but UNC's offense is clicking and will do enough to top Duke. Unfortunately, if the Blue Devils do lose, that opens the door for Virginia Tech to win the ACC Coastal Division with a victory over Virginia.
North Carolina 35, Duke 34
No. 1 Alabama at No. 4 Auburn, "Iron Bowl," 3:30 p.m. CBS
People are calling this the biggest Iron Bowl ever. Apparently, fans in RVs and whatnot started lining up in field to park for this game last weekend. Not only does the winner of this game get sent to the SEC championship, but there are national title implications, too. Auburn can run the ball really well but it hasn't seen a defense like the Tide's this year. The Tigers are not great at passing. With just one strong part of their offense, the Tigers won't be able to mix it up enough to pull this one. Still expect them to have a strong game, though.
Alabama 38, Auburn 28
Georgia at Georgia Tech, "Clean Old-Fashioned Hate," 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Bulldogs are not as good as usual this year, but the Yellow Jackets have zero significant wins while Georgia has wins over LSU and South Carolina. Georgia Tech beat Duke when Duke was not what it is now and UNC when the Tar Heels were struggling. Those are the Yellow Jackets' best victories, and maybe their 56-0 drubbing of Syracuse, though the Orange have just five wins. I like the Bulldogs in this matchup. They have too much offense for the Jackets and UGA's defense has been improving as of late, too.
Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 30
No. 6 Clemson at No.10 South Carolina, "Battle for the Palmetto State," 7 p.m. ESPN2
The Gamecocks have been put through the wringer in the SEC and have come out with just two losses, to Georgia and Tennessee. The Tigers have mostly dominated their competition in the weaker ACC, getting beaten by only FSU. I still the Tigers in this one. They have had more firepower this year and have a win over Georgia, a team South Carolina lost to.
Clemson 31, South Carolina 28
No. 2 Florida State at Florida, "Battle for the Sunshine State," Noon ESPN
Despite the cloud of an investigation around Florida State -- QB Jameis Winston is at the center of a possible rape but hasn't been charged with anything -- the Seminoles should have no problem rolling the rival Gators, who are 4-7 and lost to FCS school Georgia Southern last week.
Florida State 63, Florida 3
No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan, "The Game," Noon ABC
Ohio State has won 23 in a row while the Wolverines have been disappointing this season at 7-4 with a struggling offense. The Buckeyes must win to keep their national championship hopes alive and I think they will though I give Michigan a slightly better chance for the upset since the game is in Ann Arbor.
Ohio State 34, Michigan 21
No. 24 Duke at North Carolina, "Battle of the Victory Bell," Noon ESPNU
What Duke has done this year has been stunning, especially given the fact that at the beginning of the season, the Blue Devils were looking like their normal selves, struggling against Memphis and getting trucked by Georgia Tech and giving up 58 points to Pittsburgh. Not only has Duke become relevant, it is 9-2 and in the top 25. David Cutcliffe should probably be coach of the year not only in the ACC, but nationally. With all that said, I think the Blue Devils' run ends vs. the rival Tar Heels, who are hot as well and have won five in a row. Duke has had a year to be proud of and should get a good bowl, but UNC's offense is clicking and will do enough to top Duke. Unfortunately, if the Blue Devils do lose, that opens the door for Virginia Tech to win the ACC Coastal Division with a victory over Virginia.
North Carolina 35, Duke 34
No. 1 Alabama at No. 4 Auburn, "Iron Bowl," 3:30 p.m. CBS
People are calling this the biggest Iron Bowl ever. Apparently, fans in RVs and whatnot started lining up in field to park for this game last weekend. Not only does the winner of this game get sent to the SEC championship, but there are national title implications, too. Auburn can run the ball really well but it hasn't seen a defense like the Tide's this year. The Tigers are not great at passing. With just one strong part of their offense, the Tigers won't be able to mix it up enough to pull this one. Still expect them to have a strong game, though.
Alabama 38, Auburn 28
Georgia at Georgia Tech, "Clean Old-Fashioned Hate," 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Bulldogs are not as good as usual this year, but the Yellow Jackets have zero significant wins while Georgia has wins over LSU and South Carolina. Georgia Tech beat Duke when Duke was not what it is now and UNC when the Tar Heels were struggling. Those are the Yellow Jackets' best victories, and maybe their 56-0 drubbing of Syracuse, though the Orange have just five wins. I like the Bulldogs in this matchup. They have too much offense for the Jackets and UGA's defense has been improving as of late, too.
Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 30
No. 6 Clemson at No.10 South Carolina, "Battle for the Palmetto State," 7 p.m. ESPN2
The Gamecocks have been put through the wringer in the SEC and have come out with just two losses, to Georgia and Tennessee. The Tigers have mostly dominated their competition in the weaker ACC, getting beaten by only FSU. I still the Tigers in this one. They have had more firepower this year and have a win over Georgia, a team South Carolina lost to.
Clemson 31, South Carolina 28
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