CFB Week 14 picks: Rivalry week highlights regular season finales
The final week of the regular season has arrived, setting the stage for high-stakes showdowns as teams battle for playoff spots and school pride in intense rivalries like The Game, the Egg Bowl, and the Iron Bowl. We broke down three Friday matchups and four Saturday clashes. Enjoy this weekend's post-Thanksgiving treat as you sweat out winners.
π Check out all college football Week 14 lines on ESPN BET and theScore Bet here
Friday matchups
Game time: 12 p.m. ET
π Pick: Ole Miss -7.5
Mississippi State will be a popular pick because of the uncertainty surrounding Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. Is he staying with the Rebels or leaving for Florida or LSU? Who knows, but Ole Miss announced that Kiffin will decide his coaching future following the Egg Bowl. While that raises questions about Kiffin's future and whether he has one foot out the door, it feels more likely he'll stay, given the lack of reporting to the contrary.
As for the game, Ole Miss matches up well with Mississippi State as the more physically imposing and talented offensive group. But this is more about the Bulldogs. They've seemingly quit despite being one win away from bowl eligibility, losing to Georgia by 20 and Missouri by 22 in their last two contests. Both Ole Miss and Mississippi State are coming off a bye, but the Rebels' talent is on another level.
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
π Pick: Georgia -13.5
This might seem like a large spread for a rivalry game, especially since Georgia Tech nearly upset Georgia in overtime last season. However, these two programs are trending in opposite directions. The Bulldogs have won seven straight and are primed to earn a postseason bye. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets have lost against NC State and Pittsburgh in two of their last three games, with their only win during that stretch being a two-point victory over 1-10 Boston College. Georgia Tech also isn't playing well in November and doesn't have the defense to keep up with Georgia's balanced offensive approach.
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
π Pick: Texas A&M -2.5
Texas A&M's primary weakness is its tendency to allow too many explosive plays - a vulnerability Texas could exploit. But the Aggies' defensive line should outmuscle a weak Longhorns offensive line, which could make Arch Manning's life difficult. Although the Texas quarterback has played well over the last month, he'll likely falter under pressure when forced to make off-balance throws.
This is a complete toss-up, primarily because Texas A&M is safely in the playoff picture, while Texas must win to give itself a chance. Still, with the Aggies' undefeated record and consistent dominance, it's difficult to side with a Longhorns team that has repeatedly struggled against elite opponents.
π Check out all college football Week 14 lines on ESPN BET and theScore Bet here
Saturday matchups
Game time: 12 p.m.
π Pick: Ohio State -9.5
All personnel and schematic logic are thrown out the door when it comes to The Game. Undefeated Ohio State is significantly better than a 9.5-point favorite over Michigan, but the Wolverines' run of four straight wins in the rivalry has kept this line lower.
Ohio State suffered its only inexcusable loss of the cold stretch last season, when it was a 20.5-point favorite over an abysmal Michigan squad. However, the programs were evenly matched in the three prior outings. While the Wolverines have improved this campaign, the Buckeyes should've presumably learned from their flawed game plan and lack of focus in last year's game.
Game time: 12 p.m.
π Pick: Pittsburgh +6.5
Is there any program you can count on to disappoint in a big moment more than Miami? Although the Hurricanes' playoff hopes are still alive, they must defeat a red-hot Pittsburgh team on the road. Many people are quick to point out how well Miami has been playing since inexcusably losing to SMU, but let's look at the competition since then: Syracuse, NC State, and Virginia Tech. Not exactly flourishing squads.
Since the beginning of October, Pittsburgh's only loss has been to Notre Dame - one of the nation's best programs. Yes, I know Miami beat the Fighting Irish in the opener, but that was a long time ago. Also, the Hurricanes have stagnated, while the Panthers have continued to rise. Pittsburgh should keep this within a touchdown at home.
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
π Pick: Vanderbilt +3.5
This matchup features the SEC's two most explosive offenses and two of its weakest defenses. Tennessee's passing attack will be a nightmare for Vanderbilt's weak secondary to stop. However, the real story is the sense of urgency driving the teams. With three losses, the Volunteers are all but out of playoff contention. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt only has two respectable losses and needs to win Saturday to assemble a playoff-worthy resume.
Tennessee's conference wins this year have come exclusively against lower-tier opponents, and the program has lost every matchup against a ranked opponent. The Volunteers aren't a physical football squad, presenting a prime opportunity for the Commodores to capitalize in a must-win spot.
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
π Pick: Alabama -6.5
Anything can happen in the Iron Bowl, but this would be a pathetic loss for Alabama, considering it would likely knock them out of the playoffs. Auburn is 1-6 in the SEC, and while some of those losses have been competitive, the talent discrepancy on the field has always been apparent.
The Crimson Tide own the SEC's third-best passing offense, while the Tigers' passing defense is brutal. Auburn's strength is its rushing defense, but that won't matter when quarterback Ty Simpson is carving up the secondary. On the other side, Alabama's defense allows the fewest passing yards in the conference, and the Tigers throw for the fewest. Auburn's offense won't pick up enough first downs or explosive plays to keep this game close.
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