College football rivalry week picks against the spread: Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Auburn and more

Final week’s lack of drama has added to this week’s anticipation. Faculty soccer rivalry week by no means lacks for motivation and intrigue, however this 12 months’s version options a number of video games with excessive stakes and affordable potential for seismic outcomes.

Ohio State tries to finish its shedding streak to Michigan, Alabama is determined to keep away from one other upset at Auburn, Texas A&M heads to Texas as the favourite and with an opportunity to make the SEC title recreation. And that’s simply the beginning of it.

Earlier than getting extra into the particular matchups, our workers has picks towards the unfold for the most important video games of the week. Wild-card picks and picks standings are on the backside.

Thanksgiving appetizer

Navy at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN

Thanksgiving isn’t identified for having appetizers. It’s all about sides. Whereas Thanksgiving is the main focus of the NFL’s choices this weekend, within the faculty soccer world, Navy at Memphis is the appetizer earlier than the motion kicks off in full power on Friday and Saturday. Mentioned one other means, these groups assembly on Thanksgiving is the aspect to the NFL’s motion.

Memphis has fallen out of the race within the American, however remains to be favored on this recreation. The Midshipmen have an opportunity to make the convention title recreation, and thus nonetheless have an opportunity to make the Faculty Soccer Playoff, however want North Texas or Tulane to lose as heavy favorites first. Whether or not it’s practical or not, seeing a service academy play to remain within the Playoff race on Thanksgiving is value witnessing.

Friday in-state drama

No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 23 Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. ET Friday on ABC
No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas, 7:30 p.m. ET Friday on ABC

Georgia Tech’s loss to Pitt final week and Texas’ blowout loss at Georgia a few weeks in the past took a number of the warmth off these video games, however actually not all of it.

Georgia is hoping to keep up state supremacy after final 12 months’s unbelievable, within the literal sense, eight-overtime thriller whereas chasing down a possible first-round bye within the CFP. The Bulldogs are favored by practically two touchdowns, which is smart given the latest trajectory of each groups. Georgia has received seven in a row, and up to date blowouts of Mississippi State and Texas go towards the fame the Bulldogs earned earlier within the season for taking part in with their meals. In the meantime, Georgia Tech’s protection has gone into witness safety the previous couple of weeks: 48 factors allowed in a loss to NC State, 34 factors to 1-10 Boston Faculty and 42 factors in a loss to Pitt final week.

Georgia Tech offered this as a house recreation to play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which remains to be in Atlanta however is more likely to function way more Bulldog followers than if it have been on campus.

This isn’t a convention recreation, and each colleges are hoping to get some assist to achieve their convention title video games. Talking of, Texas can provide Georgia with that assist by beating rival Texas A&M.

Perhaps some Texas followers are nonetheless delusional sufficient to hope there’s an opportunity the Longhorns make the CFP with a win. It could take loads of upsets this week for it to even warrant dialogue. Simply ruining A&M’s unbeaten run and preserving them out of the SEC title recreation can be value it for the Longhorns in a disappointing season.

A&M is already safe in its CFP spot, however seeding and a possible SEC title recreation berth stay worthwhile. Plus, it’s been 15 years because the Aggies beat the Longhorns. They’ve solely performed twice in these 15 years, but it surely’s nonetheless a very long time to attend.

Consider it or not, that is A&M’s first opponent with a successful report within the SEC. The Aggies are favored, however solely by a small margin.

The principle occasion

No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan, midday ET Saturday on FOX

It might’t occur once more… can it? Can Ohio State actually lose to Michigan as a major favourite once more?

The undefeated and top-ranked Buckeyes have had easy crusing all season. The season-opening win towards Texas was the one one-score recreation Ohio State has performed all 12 months. Heck, it’s the one recreation that was determined by fewer than 18 factors.

All of the indicators are there for Ohio State followers to be assured going into this recreation. And but, 4 years of rivalry ache is tough to overlook.

If Michigan wins this one in Ann Arbor, it received’t be as stunning as final 12 months’s win in Columbus. That Michigan group was practically a three-touchdown underdog, barely had a useful passing recreation and was on the highway. This 12 months, the Wolverines are 9-2, hoping to disrupt the CFP image with a win and get to play at dwelling. That stated, Ohio State remains to be at the moment favored by greater than a landing.

Ohio State’s protection has been the very best within the nation, permitting a comically low 7.6 factors per recreation. The offense is led by a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Julian Sayin and a pair of future NFL stars in extensive receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Each Smith and Tate missed final week’s win towards Rutgers, but it surely seems like they’re on observe to play. Whether or not or not they are going to be one hundred pc is one other story.

Michigan has lots going towards it this week, apart from latest historical past.

Contenders needing yet one more win

No. 12 Miami at No. 22 Pitt, midday ET Saturday on ABC
No. 6 Oregon at Washington, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on CBS
LSU at No. 8 Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC
No. 14 Vanderbilt at No. 19 Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN
No. 10 Alabama at Auburn, 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC

With out getting deep into the Playoff situations for the highest 15 groups on this group, let’s simply say all of them have to win this week. Oregon might get in with a loss, however then the Geese would be part of a possible gaggle of 10-2 groups with solely so many spots to go round.

The opposite commonality amongst this group is that the higher-ranked group is on the highway. Oklahoma is the exception to that time.

Miami travels north to tackle a ranked Pitt group coming off an enormous win and remains to be within the ACC race. Oh, and the forecast has the temperature within the 30s on Saturday.

Oregon takes on neighboring Washington, a group that has received 5 of the final 9 within the collection. Vanderbilt is an underdog at rival Tennessee, which has received six straight in that collection.

The attention-popping one, although, is Alabama needing to win at Jordan-Hare Stadium to remain within the Playoff race and make the SEC title recreation in doing so. Alabama has received six straight towards the Tigers, however the final 4 in Auburn have been disagreeable, even when typically victorious, for Alabama. Two years in the past, Alabama wanted to transform 4th-and-goal from the 31-yard line within the final minute to win by three. 4 years in the past, Bama received in 4 overtimes. Auburn received the 2 earlier than that towards Alabama groups ranked within the high 5. So, it’s honest to say Alabama followers are in all probability a bit anxious now, even when Auburn has a shedding report.

How most of the higher-ranked groups will win? All are favored, but it surely appears unlikely that each one will prevail.

Wild-card picks

Each week, our pickers choose one other wager of their selecting that isn’t restricted to the video games listed above.

Matt Baker: Florida State to win at Florida (decide ’em)

Mark Cooper: Boston Faculty at Syracuse underneath 52.5

Seth Emerson: Louisville -3 vs. Kentucky

Sam Khan Jr.: Houston +2.5 at Baylor

Austin Mock: Duke -1.5 vs. Wake Forest

Dan Santaromita: Ole Miss -7 at Mississippi State

Daniel Shirley: UNLV -7.5 at Nevada

David Ubben: Georgia vs. Georgia Tech over 59.5

Chris Vannini: SMU -10.5 at Cal

Picks standings