Big games all over the slate this week headlined with the spectacle in Jordan-Hare Saturday at 2:30 CT on CBS with the No.5 Alabama Crimson Tide @ the No.15 Auburn Tigers. Alabama is clinging to what the national media calls their slim hopes of making the playoff. You never know. If the Crimson Tide can get’er done in Auburn and chaos ensues in Week 14, they might have a shot. But it’ll be a tall order to win at Auburn.

There are certainly multiple possibilities for the playoff. The committee has always said they take the 4 best teams in the country not necessarily the team with the best resume, but the 4 best teams by their football judgment. So with another classic in the Big House at 11 AM CT with Ohio State @ Michigan and another one in the Big Ten with Wisconsin at Minnesota, there will be major playoff implications on the line throughout the day. The No.7 Oklahoma Sooners are not out of it either. They have a tough assignment in Stillwater this Saturday against OK State in Bedlam. 7 PM CT on FOX. No.3 Clemson looks to be cruising into the playoff, which is kind of outrageous with the weakness of their schedule. I guess they can’t help that the ACC is so weak, but they have a cakewalk into the playoff from all indications, and that really shouldn’t be acceptable. They are a quality team, but they haven’t been tested. Doesn’t look like they’ll get much resistance in Columbia against the Gamecocks Saturday at 11 AM on ESPN.

It all starts with the Egg Bowl tomorrow night on ESPN. Here’s a look at this week’s matchups.

Last Week: 22-4

Overall: 224-76, 75%

All Times Central. Games Saturday unless otherwise noted.

No. 5 Alabama (10-1) @ No.15 Auburn (8-3)

84th Iron Bowl

2:30 PM

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

Bama by 3 1/2

The Crimson Tide leads the series 46-36-1. Auburn last won 2 years ago in Jordan-Hare, 26-14. Alabama won last year in Bryant-Denny, 52-21.

In this edition of the best rivalry in college football, Bo Nix is actually the veteran in big games as he’s been to LSU, been to Florida, played Oregon in Arlington, Texas, and hosted Georgia. Mac Jones has mop up duty in the second half at Mississippi State, and versus Arkansas and Western Carolina on his resume. That’s an advantage for Auburn. The Auburn defense is, along with Georgia, the best in the country. Auburn has the advantage there also. And it’s at Auburn which is tremendously important in this rivalry if the teams are close in talent.

With that said, I’ll take the Tigers.

Auburn 24, Alabama 21

Texas A&M (7-4) @No.2 LSU (11-0)

6 PM CT

ESPN

Sean, Todd, Holly

LSU by 17

The magic keeps cookin in Baton Rouge as Joe and O continue their march toward the playoff. Ohio State snuck in front of LSU in the rankings because the committee feels like Ohio State is a more complete team. That could change in the next 2 weeks with Georgia coming up in the SEC Championship game, though Ohio State will have resume builders @ Michigan and in the Big Ten Championship game against the Wisconsin-Minnesota winner this Saturday. LSU’s defense has been problematic for them. I like the Aggies to put up some points on this questionable defense, but for Joe and the offense to get the job done again for the Bengal Tigers.

LSU 45, Texas A&M 31

No.1 Ohio State (11-0) @ No.13 Michigan (9-2)

11 AM

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Ohio State by 9

It’s at the Big House so that makes it interesting. I still think Ohio State has the talent advantage and they’ll prevail and move on to the Big Ten Championship as the No.1 seed in the playoff rankings.

Ohio State 28, Michigan 17

No.3 Clemson (11-0) @ South Carolina (4-7)

11 AM

ESPN

Dave, Gregory, Lugues

Clemson by 27

Should not be a hard game for the Tigers. Another tough year for Will Muschamp. He’s had a lot of tough years as a head coach.

Clemson 42, South Carolina 14

No.4 Georgia (10-1) @ Georgia Tech (3-8)

11 AM

ABC

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Allison Williams

GA by 28 1/2

Georgia’s been winning with stellar defense, but average to below average offense. It’s going to catch up with them at some point. But they could get it going this Saturday. Like them to.

Georgia 44, Georgia Tech 14

Thursday

Ole Miss 30, Mississippi State 28

6:30 PM

ESPN

Adam Amin, Matt Hasselbeck, Pat McAfee, Molly McGrath

MS. State by 2 1/2

Like John Rhys Plumlee and the Rebels to pull off a slight upset on Thanksgiving Night.

No. 11 Florida 45, Florida State 24

6:30 PM

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Gators by 17 1/2

Like the Gators to finish off another excellent regular season under Dan Mullen and be in good position for a New Year’s Six Bowl.

Tennessee 42, Vanderbilt 14

3 PM

SEC Network

Dave Neal, D.J,. Shockley, Dawn Davenport

Vols by 21

Jeremy Pruitt and his Vols have really turned it around with a 6-5 overall mark and 4-3 in the SEC East. They’ll finish 3rd in the East behind Georgia and Florida. I like the way this thing is headed in Knoxville and do not have a clue why Vanderbilt is keeping Derek Mason.

Kentucky 33, Louisville 31

11 AM

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Alyssa Lang

Kentucky by 2 1/2

Like the Wildcats to finish off their season 7-5 but barely survive a Louisville team that will be emerging next season under Scott Satterfield, who came over to the Cardinals after a highly successful stint at App State.

Friday

Missouri 38, Arkansas 30

1:30 PM

CBS

Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor, Rick Neuheisel, John Schriffen

Missouri by 12 1/2

Like the Razorbacks to give the Tigers everything they want in Little Rock.

No. 8 Minnesota 28, Wisconsin 24

2:30 PM

ABC\

Chris, Kirk, Maria

Wisconsin by 3

Like the Golden Gophers to pull off the slight upset in Minneapolis and head to the Big Ten Championship game with a shot at making the playoff.

No.7 Oklahoma 41, No. 21 Oklahoma State 35

7 PM

FOX

Joe Davis, Brock Huard, Bruce Feldman

OU by 13

I like Oklahoma to barely escape Bedlam in Stillwater, and keep their playoff hopes alive. They’re going to have to prevail over the Cowboys and Baylor, so that’s a challenge and they’ll need some help.

No.6 Utah 41, Colorado 10

6:30 PM

ABC

Steve Levy, Grease, McShay, Molly

Utah by 28 1/2

The Utes keep their playoff hopes alive and kicking. If they can win Saturday, which they should do, and win the Pac-12 Championship game over Oregon they’ll have a strong case to the the 4th seed in the playoff.

Friday

No.18 Memphis 31, No.19 Cincinnati 27

2:30 PM

ABC

Jason Benetti, Rod Gilmore, Quint Kessenich

Memphis by 11

Like the Tigers to win, but then they’ll have to turn around and defeat the Bearcats again next week in the American Championship, though it would be at Memphis. Major New Year’s Six implications on the line.

No. 16 Notre Dame 42, Stanford 20

3 PM

FOX

Tim, Spencer, Coley Harvey

Irish by 16 1/2

Like the Fighting Irish to prove their case to get in a New Year’s Six Bowl with a 10-2 record. David Shaw is another coach who I wonder why he remains in Palo Alto after this season.

No. 14 Oregon 45, Oregon State 24

3 PM

Pac-12 Network

Ted Robinson, Yogi Roth, Jill Savage

Oregon by 19 1/2

The Ducks blew their chance at the playoff with the upset loss to Arizona State. Oregon State will stick with them for a half. The Ducks can still make the Rose Bowl with a victory over Utah in the Pac-12 title game.

No.9 Baylor 41, Kansas 21

2:30 PM

ESPN

Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Rocky Boiman

Baylor by 14

Baylor has put together a stellar season in Matt Rhule’s 3rd year. They will move to 11-1 and face Oklahoma with an outside chance at the playoff and an inside position at a New Year’s Six Bowl with a victory over OU.

Friday

No. 24 Virginia Tech 28, Virginia 24

11 AM

ABC

Dave Flemming, Jim Mora, Paul Carcaterra

Va Tech by 2 1/2

It’s @ Charlottesville, but I like the Hokies to win their 16th in a row over UVA and move on to the ACC Championship game against Clemson. That’s pretty astounding to win 16 in a row over an instate rival. Bud Foster’s defense has really picked it up in his last season. He’s retiring. Hate to see him go. He’s had a tremendous career as defensive coordinator in Blacksburg. Justin Fuente’s Hokies will move to 9-3 overall and get ready for Clemson. That’s quite a season.

Friday

No. 20 Boise State 45, Colorado State 24

2:30 PM

CBS Sports Network

Rich Waltz, Aaron Murray, AJ Ross

Boise State by 14

The Broncos are in good position for a New Year’s Six Bowl if Memphis defeats Cincy on Friday and Cincy returns the favor the following week. Boise just needs to get by Colorado State this Saturday and Hawaii in the Mountain West Championship game next Saturday.

Friday

Washington 41, Washington State 30

3 PM

FOX

Timmy B, Spence, Coley

Washington by 7

Like the Huskies to finish a disappointing regular season at 7-5 with an Apple Cup victory.

Friday

No. 25 Appalachian State 42, Troy 24

5 PM

ESPN+

Matt Stewart, Wayne Gandy

App State by 13

Like the Mountaineers to complete an 11-1 season and move on to a strong bowl game, and if there is a lot of chaos, get in the Cotton Bowl.

Friday

TCU 41, West Virginia 27

3:15 PM

ESPN

Mark Neely, Mike Golic Jr., Jerry Punch

TCU by 13 1/2

Like the Frogs to finish off the season qualifying for a bowl at 6-6.

Navy 38, Houston 27

6 PM

ESPN

Mike Morgan, Andre, Taylor Davis

Midshipmen by 8 1/2

Like the Academy to move to 9-2 on the season and tune up for Army in 2 weeks. They’ve lost 3 in a row to the Cadets, so they take care of business Saturday and get ready for the chance to redeem themselves, win the Commander in Chief’s Trophy and play in an excellent bowl game.

Arizona State 35, Arizona 31

9 PM

ESPN

Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Olivia Dekker

Zona State by 13 1/2

The Sun Devils are coming off a huge upset victory over Oregon in Tempe last Saturday. They finish off the season at 7-5 and get in a solid bowl in Herm Edwards’ second season.

Friday

Texas 38, Texas Tech 35

11 AM

FOX

Joe, Brock, Bruce

Texas by 10

The Longhorns barely survive the Red Raiders. It’s been a disappointing season for the Horns in Tom Herman’s 3rd year. With the victory, Texas will finish the regular season at 7-5. As Bill Belichick often says, “That’s not what we’re looking for.”

North Carolina State 35, North Carolina 34

6 PM

ACC Network

Dave O’Brien, Tim Hasselbeck, Katie George

North Carolina by 9

I’ll take the Wolfpack in an upset.