Welcome to Before The Snap, For The Win’s college football show where we’ll break down the sport’s trending storylines, examine each week’s biggest matchups and track the College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy races.
For the College Football Playoff contenders, Week 14’s games are the last on their regular-season schedules. Not everyone needs to win to keep their conference championship and playoff hopes alive, but, obviously, no one wants to lose.
There are several games with playoff implications this weekend, and they’re even more fun because so many are rivalry matchups. But we’re breaking down three of the biggest and potentially most entertaining games that could impact the playoff picture.
No. 5 Alabama (10-1) at No. 15 Auburn (8-3)
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn
TV channel: CBS
Spread: Alabama -3
Auburn closes out its brutal schedule with the Iron Bowl and is still looking to be a spoiler — and that’s what fans of other playoff bubble teams should be rooting for. With three losses, the Tigers aren’t playoff contenders at this point, but they could ruin Alabama’s shot and help keep the Crimson Tide out of the playoff for the first time since this format was implemented in 2014.
Alabama’s only loss of the season so far was to LSU earlier this month, and while that is keeping it from competing for an SEC championship, the playoff is still very much an option. But the Crimson Tide can’t afford a second loss if they want to contend for a national championship. And, with quarterback Mac Jones filling in for injured Tua Tagovailoa, they probably have to win by a solid margin to look as appealing as possible to the selection committee.
No. 1 Ohio State (11-0) at No. 13 Michigan (9-2)
When: Saturday, Noon ET
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
TV channel: FOX
Spread: Ohio State -9.5
As arguably the most balanced team in the country, Ohio State is on fire and cruising toward the College Football Playoff. And the discussion around it is more about getting the No. 1 seed over LSU, which is currently ranked No. 2, rather than whether or not it will make the playoff.
A loss for the Buckeyes actually wouldn’t mean a lot in terms of the playoff (but obviously, the rivalry is a different story). They’ve already clinched the Big Ten East and will play in the conference championship game no matter what. It would eliminate any wiggle room, should they lose the Big Ten title game, and could keep them from being one of the top-2 seeds. But Ohio State as a one-loss conference champ is getting in the playoff this year.
No. 12 Wisconsin (9-2) at No. 8 Minnesota (10-1)
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
TV channel: ABC
Spread: Wisconsin -2.5
These two teams are fighting for a shot at the Big Ten title and a chance to try to upset Ohio State in Indianapolis next weekend. Both teams are still longshots to make the playoff and would likely have to win the conference championship game to get in, but with so much on the line, this game could get really good.
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