Welcome to Rivalry Week, everyone!
We’ve come into the final weekend of the regular season and there’s a lot on the line. Teams fight for tournament eligibility, conference championship playoff games need to be decided and the nation’s top teams battle it out to get into the college football playoffs. On top of that, some of the most intense rivalries in sports will be put on schedule this weekend.
It will be a lot of fun.
(Note: All times are ET, odds are from BetMGM)
Time: noon | TV: Fox | Font: OSU -7.5 | Total: 57
Finally, one of the most anticipated games of the season has arrived. Last year, Michigan defeated Ohio State in Ann Arbor to snap an eight-game losing streak against its biggest rival. A year later, Ohio State is out for revenge. The Buckeyes and Wolverines are both 11-0, and once again the Big Ten East is on the line. Furthermore, the loser could end up outside the College Football Playoff.
Time: 3:30 p.m. | Television: ABC | Font: Oregon -3 | Total: 58
Despite having its playoff hopes crushed a few weeks ago, Oregon State can return to Pac-12 play with a win on Saturday. Oregon, the Ducks’ in-state rival, would like to play the spoiler.
Ducks quarterback Beau Nix returned from injury last week to lead Oregon past Utah. Nicks was limping and unable to run much, but still put in a gutsy performance with 287 yards passing. Now, the Knicks will lead the Ducks to Corvallis to take on an underrated Oregon State squad that has won five of its last six. The Beavers’ last four wins averaged 24.8 points, so this team has been getting better and better as the season has progressed.
Time: 7:30 PM | Television: ABC | Line: USC -5.5 | Total: 64.5
USC is the last hope for the Pac-12 to reach the College Football Playoff. The Trojans can get there by beating Notre Dame and then winning the Pac-12 game. USC QB and Heisman hope Caleb Williams will need to be his usual excellent self for the Trojans to get past the rookie Notre Dame team. Notre Dame won five straight games to go 8-3 and rise to No. 15 in the CFP rankings. Stylistically, Notre Dame is a huge variation on offense when compared to USC. The Irish want to control the line of scrimmage and rely on the running game. It will be a great match.
Time: 10:30 PM | Television: ESPN | Line: UW -2 | Total: 60.5
Washington will already know if it can play for the Pac-12 title by the time this game rolls around. But even if the conference crown is off the table, the Huskies will be highly motivated to play in their biggest rivalry game. Last year, WSU snapped a seven-game losing streak in the rivalry in emphatic fashion with a 40-13 win in Seattle that saw the Cougar faithful rush to the court at Husky Stadium. Washington State is coming on a three-game winning streak, but Washington, with its strong passing offense led by QB Michael Penix, is a step up in the competition.
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