Games to Watch: Week 13

Calm before the storm

By Brad Repplinger@TCRBrad Nov 20, 2014, 10:30am CST

While there are a handful of games this week that will be fun to watch, this week sets the stage for next week's final act of college football games that set the Conference Championship match-ups. However, this is not a week to fall asleep if you're in the Top 10. One lucky break and you could be back in the running for a conference championship, and a spot in the College Football playoff.

Thursday 11/20

#12 Kansas State Wildcats @ West Virginia Mountaineers ~ 6:00pm CT (Fox Sports 1)

Dear West Virginia,

You were my bracket buster this year. You were the team that had lost 3 times to teams that were all inside of the Top 7. But then Nov. 8th happened and you fell to Texas. So now, you're looking to try and boost your bowl game resume to try and get into a better game. A win over the Wildcats sure would help.

Dear Kansas St,

Don't let it happen. You've gotta win tonight, and then you've gotta prepare for the Baylor Bears on Dec. 6th. Kansas is in-between both, but we don't like them.

Friday 11/21

All of you are busy at 7pm CT (ESPN3)...

Saturday 11/22

#25 Minnesota Golden Gophers @ #23 Nebraska Cornhuskers ~ 11:00am CT (ESPN)

UPSET ALERT!!! This game needs to become a rivalry game. If Iowa and Minnesota have a pig and Minnesota and Wisconsin have Paul Bunyan's Axe, what would they play for in a Nebraska-Minnesota rivalry game? After last week's performance by Melvin Gordon, it would be great to see Ameer Abdullah bounce back and have a solid game of his own. Then again, it would make the Illini victory look better if Minnesota ran the table. It also would mean more dancing from Jerry Kill...

#8 Ole Miss Rebels @ Arkansas Razorbacks ~ 2:30pm CT (CBS)

UPSET ALERT!!! It's tough to decide who to root for in this one. On one hand, you have a potential collapse of the SEC West if Arkansas wins and then Ole Miss knocks off Mississippi St next week. On the other hand, Bret Bielema is a goof and it's tough to root for him after leaving a very good Wisconsin program just before the Rose Bowl. Still, Ole Miss better not sleep on the 'Backs...

#15 Arizona Wildcats @ #17 Utah Utes ~ 2:30pm CT (ESPN)

Rich Rod's Wildcats have an outside-in shot at making the PAC 12 Championship game this season as they are one of 4 teams with 2 losses in the PAC 12 North. In order to have a chance, they need to get past a very good Utah defense, and then close the year strong against the Sun Devils of ASU. This weekend presents the first step in their journey...

#16 Wisconsin Badgers @ Iowa Hawkeyes ~ 2:30pm CT (ABC/ESPN2)

Hey Wisconsin, let Melvin Gordon play all 4 quarters in this one and I GUARANTEE you that you'll win the game. Just look at what he did last week against Nebraska in 3 quarters of football...dude's a beast.

#24 Louisville Cardinals @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish ~ 2:30pm CT (NBC)

How much fun was last weeks game against Fitzy and the Cats? All in favor of an Irish 3-game losing skid say "aye"

#19 USC Trojans @ #9 UCLA Bruins ~ 7:00pm CT (ABC)

This game actually does spark some interest, as there's a shot for UCLA to make some noise in the PAC 12 North and potentially make a case for the playoff. To be honest, I'll be watching the game just to marvel at the Rose Bowl and dream about how I'll get to see the Illini win a game there someday (heavy sigh)