Rivalry week is one of the greatest weekends of the year in college football. When else are so many ridiculous trophies at stake?
Last week: 9-6
Good calls: None. I was horrible last week. Arizona almost squeaked out a victory against #11 Oregon, but ended up losing in overtime 44-41.
Bad calls: I’ll happily admit that I was dead wrong picking OU to beat Texas Tech (Tech win 41-13). Also, Clemson proved me wrong for the second week straight.
ACC vs. SEC
#15 Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5)
So is this the week I finally accept Clemson as a top-15 team and pick them to win a game? Now that they’ve clenched a spot in the ACC title game? Nah. South Carolina wins.
Florida State (6-5) at #1 Florida (11-0)
It’s Tim Tebow’s last home game. It’s Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrew’s last game, period. So will Tebow come out and wow the home fans with one final, legendary performance? Or will Andrews channel the Seminole defenses of the 90’s and shock their hated rival. Pffffft. Please. Gators.
Georgia (6-5) at #7 Georgia Tech (10-1)
I can’t believe how bad Georgia has been this year. Seems like some heads are gonna roll in Athens during the offseason. Yellow Jackets.
ACC
#23 North Carolina (8-3) at NC State (4-7)
I thought NC State was better than this. I guess not. Tarheels.
Wake Forest (4-7) at Duke (5-6)
Isn’t it remarkable that two of the greatest basketball players in the NBA, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul, both went to Wake Forest, while Duke has churned out only a few decent pros? It’s okay, they’re a football school anyway. Blue Devils.
Boston College (7-4) at Maryland (2-9)
And Maryland is still terrible. Eagles.
#19 Miami (8-3) at South Florida (7-3)
Hmm. I’m tempted to make this my upset pick of the week. But I just can’t. Hurricanes.
#14 Virginia Tech (8-3) at Virginia (3-8)
Virginia continues to be terrible. Hokies.
SEC
#2 Alabama (11-0) at Auburn (7-4)
The Iron Bowl! An Alabama grad that I know has been posting Auburn jokes on her facebook profile all week.
How do you get an Auburn grad off your porch? Pay him for the pizza (rimshot!). What do you call a possum and a six pack in Auburn? A seven course meal!
HARHARHAR!! For that reason alone, I’ll take the Tide.
#20 Ole Miss (8-3) at Mississippi State (4-7)
The Egg Bowl. You know, there are some fascinating rivalry games nicknames and trophies out there. The Battle of the Golden Egg (its formal title) started like this (from wikipedia):
When Ole Miss beat MSU, then known as Mississippi A&M College, 7-6, the Ole Miss fans rushed the field, some trying to tear the goalposts down. A&M fans did not take well to the Ole Miss fans celebrations, and fights broke out. Some A&M fans defended the goal posts with wooden chairs, and several injuries were reported. To prevent such events in the future, students of the two schools created the “Golden Egg”, a large trophy which has been awarded to the winning team each year since 1927. The trophy is a large football-shaped brass piece mounted to a wooden base and traditionally symbolizes supremacy in college football in the state of Mississippi for the year. The footballs used in American football in the 1920s were considerably more ovoid and blunter than those in use today and similar to the balls still used in rugby; the trophy thus, to modern eyes, more resembles an egg than a football.
I guess that’s interesting, right? The trophy was created to prevent Mississippi State fans from going all Hacksaw Jim Duggan on jubilant Ole Miss fans? Not this year! Rebels.
Tennessee (6-5) at Kentucky (7-4)
One team, Tennessee, that has been surprisingly bad but has gotten a lot of media attention thanks to their goofball coach vs. another team, Kentucky, that has been surprisingly good but has gotten zero media attention because of a classy, resilient coach. Wildcats.
Arkansas (7-4) at #17 LSU (8-3)
The Battle for the Golden Boot! I don’t even need wikipedia for this one. The state of Arkansas sits on top of Louisiana. If you look at the two states together, it resembles a boot. Sometimes it’s just that simple. And remember, Arkansas is better than you think (though their record is starting to reflect that). Hogs. Guaranteed (non-binding) Upset Lock of the Week!
Pac-10
Arizona (6-4) at Arizona State (4-7)
I’m not sure what this game is called…(googling)…ooh, “Duel in the Desert.” I like that. What’s at stake? The Territorial Cup. Well, let’s be honest, Arizona is the only team here with anything at stake. Wildcats.
Washington State (1-10) at Washington (3-7)
The Apple Cup. And for the second straight year, a completely forgettable matchup. Huskies.
Notre Dame (6-5) at Stanford (7-4)
Am I the only one who didn’t know that this was a rivalry? The Legends Trophy is at stake, which is much less cool than the trophy that Notre Dame and USC play for (the Jeweled Shillelagh). Anyway. Toby Gerhart will forever be a Stanford legend, setting the standard for Cardinal running backs for years to come. Charlie Weis will forever be a Notre Dame disgrace, setting the standard for misguided extensions for years to come. Cardinal.
UCLA (6-5) at #24 USC (7-3)
Battle for the Victory Bell! UCLA is getting better. USC seems to be getting worse. Still. Trojans.
Big XII South Game(s) of the Week
#3 Texas (11-0) at Texas A&M (6-5)
The Lone Star Showdown. You know, A&M beat UT two years in a row recently. Buuuut, that was under Coach Fran. Can Mike Sherman stop the Longhorn locomotive on its way to the Big 12 Championship game? Uhhh….no. Longhorns.
#11 Oklahoma State (9-2) at Oklahoma (6-5)
Bedlam! If Oklahoma State can win this game, then they might get an at-large invite to the Fiesta Bowl. Obviously this would suck for Boise State, who could go 12-0 and end up in a second or third-tier bowl. You know who this wouldn’t suck for? Texas Tech. Assuming OK State wins and assuming Nebraska gets murdered by UT in the Big 12 Championship game (both possible), then Tech would be the obvious first choice for the Cotton Bowl. Or maybe the Holiday Bowl. And that would be awesome. However…umm…Sooners.
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