Bragging rights, conference maneuvering highlight week
Virginia, Alabama are looking like winners
Bragging rights, trophies, division titles and playoff chances.
They are all on the line this week in the last full slate of the season, a Thanksgiving college football feast from the Egg Bowl to the Apple Cup.
A conference-by-conference rundown of the races: Power Five
ACC: The championship game in Charlotte, N.C., is set: Clemson vs. Miami. Get through this weekend cleanly and it’s a College Football Playoff play-in game.
BIG 12: Oklahoma has a spot in the championship game in Arlington, Texas, but has to protect its playoff ranking. TCU can wrap up the other spot in the title game by beating Baylor.
BIG TEN: Wisconsin and Ohio State are locked into the championship game in Indianapolis, but need wins to keep playoff hopes alive.
PAC-12: Washington State wins the North by beating Washington. Stanford, which is playing Notre Dame, takes the North if the Huskies win.
SEC: Alabama and Auburn play for the SEC West and the right to play Georgia. Barring a Georgia Tech upset of the Bulldogs, the SEC title game is a playoff play-in. Group of Five
AAC: The USF-UCF winner takes the East and will play Memphis in the league championship game for a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl.
C-USA: Nothing but pride on the line this week. North Texas is at Florida Atlantic for the league championship on Dec. 2.
MAC: Akron clinched the East on Tuesday night by beating Kent State 24-14. Toledo wraps up the West by beating Western Michigan on Friday. If the Rockets lose, Northern Illinois can slip in. MOUNTAIN WEST: Fresno State and Boise State play this week for home field when they play again next week in the league title game. SUN BELT: There’s a four-way tie for
first, no championship game and more regular-season games next week.
The picks: Today
Mississippi (plus 16) at No. 16 Mississippi State: The 22nd Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving and the first since 2013 … MISSISSIPPI STATE 35-21. Friday
No. 2 Miami (minus 13½) at Pittsburgh: Turnover chain is up to 19 appearances in the last five games and 27 for the season … MIAMI 24-13.
Baylor (plus 24) at No. 10 TCU: Horned Frogs can give coach Gary Patterson his 11th double-digit win season in 17 years at TCU … TCU 42-14.
No. 22 South Florida (plus 11) at No. 13 UCF: Biggest War on I-4 ever. The Bulls have won six of eight meetings … UCF 42-21, BEST BET.
No. 24 Virginia Tech (minus 7) at Virginia: Commonwealth Cup winning streak is up to 13 games for the Hokies … VIRGINIA 28-24, UPSET SPECIAL. Saturday
No. 1 Alabama (minus 4) at No. 6 Auburn: Tigers have won only two of the last nine Iron Bowls, but have gone on to play for the national championship after each win … ALABAMA 24-23. West Virginia (plus 22½) at No. 3
Oklahoma: No Baker Mayfield starting for the Sooners, but no Will Grier playing at all for the Mountaineers … OKLAHOMA 45-17.
No. 4 Clemson (minus 14) at South Carolina: Tigers have won three straight in the series since snapping a five-game slide to the Gamecocks … CLEMSON 27-16.
No. 5 Wisconsin (minus 17) at Minnesota: Paul Bunyan’s Axe and the Badgers’ perfect record on the line. Wisconsin has won 13 straight meetings … WISCONSIN 31-13.
No. 7 Georgia (minus 11) at Georgia Tech: Yellow Jackets need a victory to get bowl eligible … GEORGIA 35-17.
No. 8 Ohio State (minus 11½) at Michigan: Buckeyes have won five straight and 12 of 13; another loss by the Wolverines will feed Jim Harbaugh’s critics … OHIO STATE 28-14.
No. 9 Notre Dame (minus 2) at No. 20 Stanford: Irish provide a big stage for Bryce Love to make a Heisman push … NOTRE DAME 27-24.
No. 12 Penn State (minus 21) at Maryland: Nittany Lions have played 660 minutes this season with a lead and trailed for only 37 minutes, 42 seconds … PENN STATE 42-17.
No. 14 Washington State (plus 9) at No. 15 Washington: Huskies have won seven of eight in the Apple Cup … WASHINGTON STATE 28-24.
East Carolina (plus 27½) at No. 17 Memphis: Opposing passers have a 174.40 efficiency rating against the Pirates’ defense, highest in the country … MEMPHIS 56-24.
Kansas (plus 40) at No. 18 Oklahoma State: Final home game for QB Mason Rudolph and WR James Washington should be a stat-padding send-off … OKLAHOMA STATE 52-14.
Texas A&M (plus 10½) at No. 19 LSU: Maybe Kevin Sumlin’s last game as Aggies coach … LSU 28-20.
No. 21 Michigan State (minus 13) at Rutgers: Scarlet Knights stayed within seven points of the Spartans at home just two years ago … MICHIGAN STATE 28-16.
No. 23 Northwestern (minus 16½) at Illinois: Wildcats RB Justin Jackson became just the ninth FBS player, and second in the Big Ten, to have four 1,000-yard rushing seasons … NORTHWESTERN 31-13.
No. 25 Boise State (minus 7) at Fresno State: Broncos and Bulldogs battle for the Milk Can … BOISE STATE 24-19.