This Weekend in College Football: Week 13

It's the last full weekend of the year. Ready?

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Ohio State @ Michigan (ABC): Ohio State looks suddenly more vulnerable after the loss to Michigan State, where their offense was thoroughly dominated. However, I would think it unwise to bet those mistakes will be repeated again. Going with the Buckeyes.
• Clemson @ South Carolina (ESPN): The Tigers look to make it two in a row against their in-state rivals, and considering all the turmoil in Columbia that seems very likely.
• Georgia @ Georgia Tech (ESPN2): To Hell With Georgia.
• Iowa State @ West Virginia (FS1): Iowa State fired Paul Rhodes, which doesn't really solve the fundamental problem of them being Iowa State. West Virginia should roll.
• Virginia Tech @ Virginia (ESPNU): Okay, I think I got a little overenthusiastic last week, but this time, they should be able to win one for the Beamer.
• Southern Methodist @ Memphis (ESPNEWS): Memphis is on the AAC West sidelines now, but they're still have an extremely successful season. Will they be able to retain their coach? Either way, they'll steamroll the Ponies.
• Louisville @ Kentucky (SEC): Considering all the alternatives available, I have a hard time conceiving of a reason to watch this, but hey, it's football, and it'll all be gone too soon. Also, Louisville should roll.
• Cincinnati @ East Carolina (CBSS): I've pretty much given up trying to figure out what Cincinnati will do week-to-week in the AAC, considering that I still get hung up thinking they should be the best team in the conference. I'm still pretty sure they're better than ECU, though. Kinda.
• Indiana @ Purdue (BTN): Indiana should be able to cap-off a successful, by Indiana standards, with a win here.

12:30:

• Duke @ Wake Forest (ACC): Duke has lost four straight since beating Virginia Tech, including a rather disappointing loss to Virginia last weekend. (Yes, Duke can have disappointing losses now.) Either way, they should still be able to beat Wake.
• Boston College @ Syracuse (ACC/RSN): 'Sup Big East? Anyway, BC's offense is so bad that I can't realistically predict them to win anything since they seem completely in capable of scoring points. I'll bet if they win this one it's because of multiple defensive scores.

2:30: Colorado @ Utah (Pac12): In a battle of the Pac-12's neophytes, it's still amazing how far ahead Utah is of Colorado now. Even though the Utes had a bit of a slide at the end of the year, eliminating them from Pac-12 South contention, they're still favorites here.

3:30:

• Alabama @ Auburn (CBS): Auburn apparently just needs to be rebooted every few years. Check back in for a competitive Iron Bowl in a year or two.
• California-Los Angeles @ Southern California (ABC/ESPN2): The battle of the fancy uniforms (both teams wear their "home" jerseys in this game, because LA I guess?) is also the battle for the Pac-12 South this year. Both teams could have their seasons reasonably described as "uneven". USC is fresh off a pasting by a suddenly resurgent Oregon, while UCLA got a crucial win in Salt Lake City to eliminate Utah from contention, but lost to Wazzou two weeks ago. So this one's pretty much a toss-up in my mind. I'm giving the Bruins a slight edge.
• North Carolina @ North Carolina State (ABC/ESPN2): I'm not entirely sure who Wolfpack fans think is their greatest rival. Nonetheless, UNC should have this one unless their concentration slips.
• Pennsylvania State @ Michigan State (ESPN): I don't... think Sparty will have a letdown after their huge win over Ohio State. Probably.
• Northwestern vs. Illinois (@Chicago, IL; ESPNU): While Illinois is still better this year than they have any right to be, I like the Wildcats here.
• Brigham Young @ Utah State (CBSS): BYU should be able to handle this.
• Wisconsin @ Minnesota (BTN): Hey Wisconsin, didn't see you sneaking up there, which is pretty humorous when you consider the typical build of their linemen. Regardless, this battle for the Axe may be close, but it'll be the Badgers' in the end.

4:00:

• Kansas State @ Kansas (FS1): While it's not K-State's year, a blowout over KU should act as a nice salve.
• Vanderbilt @ Tennessee (SEC): Vandy and Mizzou are having a content to see who can field the most awful offense in the SEC, and currently Missouri is "winning" by eight points. It'll be a close race to the end.

7:00: Connecticut @ Temple (ESPNU): Way mess things up, Huskies. I suspect as a result of last week's upset over Houston they'll get pasted here.

7:15: Mississippi @ Mississippi State (ESPN2): After mostly disappointing seasons, these two teams enter their final game in a high note. I'm thinking they're about even, so I'm giving an edge to the home Bulldogs.

7:30:

• Notre Dame @ Stanford (FOX): I have no idea who is going to win this game. I've watched a lot of both these teams this year and I think that the Cardinal are more than capable of handing Notre Dame their second loss. This game is right up there with Bedlam for game of the day, and I would advise to find some way of watching both at once. As for the winner here, I'm going with the Domers, by a smidge.
• Florida State @ Florida (ESPN): Florida sure looks bad without their quarterback, huh? That said, I think they're still capable of beating FSU like 12-10, but if FSU scores 17 or more I don't think the Gators will be able to match.
• Texas A&M @ Louisiana State (SEC): LSU is going to win this game, and then Les Miles is going to get fired. The world is dumb.

8:00: Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State (ABC): Bedlam. After a weirdly long Sooner winning streak, these teams are 2-2 against each other with two of those games going to overtime. This rivalry has always struck me as more fun and weird than most, and under the lights in Stillwater with everything on the line I'm sure we'll have both. I'm leaning toward the Sooners, but I have zero confidence in that pick.

9:00: Colorado State @ Fresno State (CBSS): This is not, as far as I know, a rivalry, but will put to rest an unfun season for Fresno State.

10:00: Arizona State @ California (FS1): Arizona State beat Arizona, Cal lost to Stanford. Will there be a hangover here from last weekend, and if so, in which direction? Hard to say. Going with the Sun Devils.

10:15: Air Force @ New Mexico (ESPNU): Hope you like the option in this one. I like the Falcons here.

10:45: Nevada @ San Diego State (ESPN2): And finally, the end. I hope by the time you get here, you're decompressing from however you enjoyed (or didn't) your rivalry game and are treating the last full day of college football appropriately. Have fun, stay safe, and the Aztecs probably have this one.