CFB Rivalry Week Tailgate Packing List

We have made it to Week 14, or as most know it as, Rivalry Week. The long nostalgic, historic matchups in college football happen this week. Some of these teams don’t even like saying the other teams name they hate each other so much. Tradition will be through the roof this weekend and coaches will either save their jobs with a win against their rival, or they will instantly be placed on the hot seat no matter what happened the rest of the season. All from one game. But its just a game right? Lets get into these heated matchups and preview what we have to look forward to.

THE SHOWDOWN RETURNS #15 Texas A&M vs #3 Texas (7:30pm EST on ABC)

The historic rivalry between the Longhorns and the Aggies has finally returned due to both teams being in the SEC together now. This game is not only a massive historic rivalry but has huge implications for post season play. Texas has looked great this season…..unless they play a team with a pulse. Looking back at their schedule they got ran over at home by UGA, and when they played Vandy they barely escaped with a 27-24 win, and these were essentially the only teams with over a .500 record in the P4. So this will be an interesting thing to watch for as the Longhorns now have to face a #15 ranked 8-3 Aggies that hates them more than a fat kid loves cake. Aggies will be ready to play, and want to bury the Longhorns. Expect Arch Manning to get in the game to keep this game in reach for Texas as Quinn looks to be inconsistent and continues to be made of glass. The 12th man and the Aggies is my Dawg pick of the week.

Best Bet: Texas A&M +5 (-108)

THE GAME #2 Ohio State vs Michigan (12:00pm EST on Fox)

One of the biggest rivalries in College Football as the “Team up North” will travel to play the Buckeyes. Now this game has been a thorn in Ryan Day’s side since he took over as the HC of Ohio State. Michigan is not having a season to remember, and looking at this game objectively and taking the “rivalry” aspect out of it, we would all say this will be a blowout. It could very well turn into a blowout win as Ryan Day will want to score about 1000 points if he can, to make up for all the times Michigan beat him and his Buckeyes. This is the type of game that even with Ohio State being 10-1 and essentially guaranteed to be in the CFP, if Ryan Day somehow loses to Michigan he will immediately be put on the hot seat and fans will have their pitchforks in hand. Michigan will need to somehow keep the ball away from OSU’s talented offense and keep this game in the muck and keep things slow if they want a shot at winning. It is college football and it is a rivalry game so anything can happen.

Best Bet: Total Points Over 43.5 (-108)

#17 Clemson vs #18 South Carolina (12:00pm EST on ESPN)

Another rivalry game with Playoff implications. With the chaos of Ole Miss and Bama losing last week, this has given both Clemson and South Carolina a path to the playoffs if they win out. The key to this game will be if South Carolina’s impressive defensive line led by senior Kyle Kennard, can keep the pressure on Cade Klubnik who has found his legs and his confidence this season. Clemson has not faced a team with this type of defensive capabilities since they opened with UGA at the beginning of the season and we all saw what happened in that game. Now there has been a lot of football played since then and Clemson is a much different team at this point in the year, but Kyle Kennard and this Gamecocks D-line will be the toughest they have faced all year and if they cannot contain them, it will be a long day for the Tigers. Expect this to be a back and forth game and there will be turnovers.

Best Bet: South Carolina +3 (-115)

Other Key Rivalry Matchups:

-#13 Alabama vs Auburn (3:30pm EST on ABC): Bama looks to bounce back in the Iron Bowl from a shocking loss to unranked SEC newcomer, Oklahoma last weekend. Auburn is coming off a huge win over Texas A&M and could cap off a season on a high note beating their rival in Tuscaloosa. Can they contain Milroe?

Best Bet: Auburn +11.5 (-110)

-USC vs #5 Notre Dame (3:30pm EST on CBS): Notre Dame travels across the country to face off against the USC Trojans. Do not let the record of the Trojans fool you, this team has had the lead in the second half in every single game they have played and have not come through in the end. Expect the Trojans to have a shot at spoiling the Irish’s playoff hopes as Notre Dame has no room for error if they want a bid to the 12 team Playoff.

Best Bet: USC +7.5 (-108)

-#7 UGA vs Georgia Tech (7:30pm EST on ABC): Do not count out the Yellow Jackets in this matchup as they have hung with every team they have played this season, upsetting some teams such as a pre season ranked top 10 FSU and a top 10 ranked Miami. Yellow Jackets will not go without a fight against the fellow Georgia team led by an inconsistent Carson Beck.

Best Bet GT +19 (-108)

-FSU vs Florida (7:00pm EST on ESPN2): UF is on a hot streak and going against a very bad FSU team, expect Billy to run the score up while he can against their rival Seminoles team. FSU might lose by 100.

Best Bet UF -17 (-108)