The final week of the college football regular season will deliver some games with major College Football Playoff implications. All eyes will be on the Big Ten showdown between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan on Saturday afternoon but that will be just one of four key games with major upset potential to keep an eye on. Last week, we told you that Louisville was on upset alert right from the get-go and they got blown out of the water. The same will go for this week as teams like Alabama and Washington will have to be very careful with how they play.
Here is a look at the top ranked teams on upset alert for Week 13.
#1 Alabama vs. #16 Auburn
Saturday, 3:30 PM ET
The Tide rolled to another lopsided win over Chattanooga but anybody that watched that game will likely agree they looked a little bit sluggish. It’s hard to put a team that has won 22 in a row on upset alert this week but this is the Iron Bowl and we have certainly seen some crazy results in the past. The Tigers will throw everything they have at Alabama with a chance to shock the nation so Alabama can’t afford to be caught looking ahead to its SEC Championship game showdown with Florida the following week.
Pick: Alabama -18
#2 Ohio State vs. #3 Michigan
Saturday, 12:00 PM ET
One of the most highly anticipated game of the season will finally happen on Saturday when the Buckeyes and Wolverines clash in a Big Ten showdown with major national championship implications. Michigan’s offense really looked rough without injured quarterback Wilson Speight last week but the reality is that Ohio State didn’t look that much better after a failed two-point conversion gave them a narrow win over Michigan State. Both teams will understand how much is at stake in this one game and it will be very interesting to see who thrives under the pressure in this massive showdown.
Pick: Michigan +6.5
#6 Washington at #23 Washington State
Friday, 3:30 PM ET
This year’s Apple Cup will carry major national championship implications with the Huskies looking to make a statement against their in-state rival. The Cougars have won eight straight and they are still in control of their own destiny needing win over Washington to clinch the Pac-12 North division. Meanwhile, the Huskies bounced back from their loss to USC with a big win over Arizona State and will need their defense to step up again in order to beat Washington State on the road. The stakes couldn’t be higher this week with a spot in the Pac-12 championship game on the line.
Pick: Washington -6
#13 USC vs. Notre Dame
Saturday, 3:30 PM ET
USC has won seven straight games to climb back up the rankings with a shot to make one final statement and improve to 9-3 overall with a win over Notre Dame this week. However, they have to be on upset alert. The Trojans can win the Pac-12 South with a Utah win over Colorado but they remain focused on taking care of their own business with the slim hope that the playoff committee would still consider a three-loss team if they end up as Pac-12 champions. Any slim chance they have will require a lopsided win over the Fighting Irish this week and based on what we have seen from both teams of late there is a good chance that USC will take care of business if they play at the level have while winning seven in a row.
Pick: USC -17
No. 19 Boise State vs. Air Force
Saturday, 3:30 PM ET
Boise State has had a fantastic season with 10 wins in 11 games, but they are on upset alert this weekend. They’ll have to be very careful. They’re on the road at Air Force this week, a team that’s won eight of their 11 games. They aren’t exactly a pushover. Air Force enters on a four-game winning streak with wins over Fresno State, Army, Colorado State and San Jose State. Three of those four games were on the road. Boise State has been impressive but they haven’t played anyone respectable of late, so this will be a tough test for them.
Air Force is a sizable home dog in this spot, but don’t be surprised if they win this outright.
Pick: Air Force +9.5
