Top five Week 14 college football games: TV info, predictions, start times

The College Football Playoff is less than a month away and rivalry week is here for fans to feast on. It’s do-or-die time for several teams as they attempt to secure a spot in the 12 team playoff.

Here are Yardbarker’s top five games of the week, ranked in inverse order.

5. No. 16 Arizona State (9-2) at Arizona (4-7) | Saturday | 3:30 p.m. ET | Fox

The fate of not just the Sun Devils season, but the entire Big 12 conference rests on this game. Arizona State is currently the highest ranked Big 12 team and an astounding nine teams have a shot at the Big 12 Championship game. If ASU were to lose there’s a real chance the Big 12 winner could be left out of the playoff. It’s a nightmare scenario for the conference. 

Watch ASU running back Cam Skattebo. He ran for three touchdowns last week against BYU. Arizona ranks 93rd in the nation in rushing defense. Skattebo could go off again.

Prediction: Arizona State, 35-17.

4. Michigan (6-5) at No. 2 Ohio State (10-1) | Saturday | noon ET | Fox

The Game has belonged to Michigan the last three seasons and it’s made Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s seat a little warm. The Buckeyes are heavily favored to snap the skid, but anything can happen in a rivalry. 

Ohio State will win because of its dominant defense. The Buckeyes have the nation’s best D (241.7 yards allowed per game), while Michigan’s offense is 128th in the country (299.7 yards per game). Expect life to be miserable for the Wolverines Saturday and an emotional Day postgame.

Prediction: Ohio State, 34-7.

3. Auburn (5-6) at No. 13 Alabama (8-3) | Saturday | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC

There’s always plenty on the line in the Iron Bowl. Alabama is on the outside looking in for the CFP and needs a win. Auburn, fresh off an upset of No. 20 Texas A&M, can secure a massive win and become bowl eligible. 

The Tigers haven’t been shy to the media this week.

“Ryan Williams, I mean, yeah, he’s electric. He’s all this and that, but in my eyes, he ain’t really nobody to me. Ryan Williams is himself. He ain’t no big-time player to me. …Like I said, Bama is a big rival team. Every rival team I’ve played, I never lost to, and I will not lose to Bama while I’m here,” Auburn freshman linebacker Demarcus Riddick said.

Those are big words to back up, especially going on the road.

Prediction: Alabama, 28-14.

2. No. 15 South Carolina (8-3) at No. 12 Clemson (9-2) | Saturday | noon ET | ESPN

What’s better than a rivalry game to decide a potential playoff spot? That’s what this one is. Clemson needs a win and a Miami loss to get into the ACC Championship game. A South Carolina win should be enough for the Gamecocks to remain ahead of Ole Miss and Alabama in the rankings, potentially allowing them to sneak into the CFP.

South Carolina has only committed five turnovers during its five-game win streak. It will need another clean game to win in Death Valley.

Prediction: South Carolina, 30-27.