The college football regular season is almost over and there’s still so much to be decided.
Welcome to rivalry week.
There are several pivotal games his weekend which will determine division champions and possibly spots in the College Football Playoff.
While a handful of games were played on Friday that had conference race implications, there are several big games Saturday, especially in the SEC, which could have a profound effect on the playoff rankings.
Here’s what to watch in Week 14:
Game of the week:
No. 15 Auburn at No. 1 Alabama, 7:45 p.m. ET
It would be ridiculous to think the drama of last year’s Iron Bowl could repeat itself, but this game — just like last year — has national championship implications. If Alabama wins, the Tide will probably notch the top spot in the College Football Playoff. If it loses, it could fall out of the playoff rankings altogether. Auburn has been out of the race for a few weeks, but would like nothing more than to play spoilers to their rivals for the second consecutive year. Look for this game to have some scoring, especially with Auburn's porous defense.
Game to watch:
No. 4 Mississippi State at No. 19 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET
The shine of this game wore off pretty quickly after Ole Miss failed to show up against Arkansas last week, but it’s still an important game in terms of the playoff picture. Mississippi State is weak against the pass, but without Laquon Treadwell, the Rebels don’t have much of a vertical threat. Mississippi State, which has leaned on its running game a lot of the year, will encounter one of the toughest defensive fronts it’s seen all season. This game could be closer than expected, but it’s going to be tough for the Rebels to pull off the upset.
Also check out…
Utah State at Boise State, 10:15 p.m. ET
Boise State is not only is seeking a berth in the Mountain West championship game, but also an opportunity to be the Group of Five representative in a New Year’s Six Bowl. All it needs to complete half of those goals is to beat Utah State, but that might not be so easy. Utah State has the toughest defense the Broncos have faced, allowing 18.3 points and 116.5 rushing yards per game. The Aggies also have a chance to play for the title, but they need Colorado State to lose to Air Force.
Don't waste your time with:
Michigan at No. 6 Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. ET
The only reason to watch this game is if you’re a big fan of this series, or if you want to watch what could be Brady Hoke’s final game as Michigan’s coach. Michigan does have a decent defense, but after the way Ohio State struggled against Indiana last week, J.T. Barrett and Co., will probably be eager to get their high-powered offense back on track.
Keep an eye on:
J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State
Barrett wasn’t named a Davey O’Brien finalist, which was a bit of a surprise given how well he’s played this season and all the records he’s broken, however, his quest for an invite to the Heisman ceremony is still up for grabs and he could solidify that spot with a strong game against Michigan. And who knows? This might be the last regular season Big Ten game Barrett plays in until 2016.
Upset alert:
Florida (-7.5) at No. 3 Florida State, 3:30 p.m. ET
The prospect of Florida sending coach Will Muschamp out on a high note is almost too much to ignore. Florida State is the better team here, no doubt about that, but it’s also struggled at times against weaker competition and Florida’s defense could give Seminoles’ quarterback Jameis Winston fits. Even if the defense manages to keep Winston quiet, the Florida offense would have to play about as well as it’s played all year to send Muschamp out as a winner.
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
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