Top 10 Week 13 College Football Playoff Games to Watch
This weekend’s college football lineup might not look thrilling at first glance. But don’t be fooled.
Some top teams face less competitive matchups or have the week off. Still, the second-to-last week of the regular season holds several games with serious postseason stakes.
From potential upsets to key conference battles, Week 13 could shake up the College Football Playoff (CFP) race in ways nobody expects. Let’s get into the top 10 games of the week and the current CFP landscape.
Contents
Honorable Mentions: Games with Potential Surprises
Before we get to the main events, a handful of games deserve a mention for their potential to impact the postseason picture:
- Kansas at Iowa State
- Washington State at JMU
- Baylor at Arizona
- Missouri State at Kennesaw State
- Arkansas at No. 17 Texas
- Duke at North Carolina
- ECU at UTSA
- TCU at Houston
- No. 20 Tennessee at Florida
- North Texas at Rice
Key Matchups to Watch
SMU vs. Louisville
SMU’s path to the ACC title game hinges on this matchup. They need to win out against Louisville and Cal, plus hope for losses from either Georgia Tech or Virginia.
One slip in their next two games, and they’re done. Stakes are sky-high. *Line: SMU -2.5*
Michigan vs. Maryland
Michigan’s road game at Maryland sets the stage for next week’s rivalry clash with Ohio State. A win here would crank up the pressure for that matchup against the Buckeyes.
Could a 10-2 Michigan team that upsets an undefeated Ohio State sneak into an at-large Playoff spot? It’s a long shot, but who knows? *Line: Michigan -14*
Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky
Vanderbilt’s still alive in the CFP hunt, but they’ve got to beat Kentucky and Tennessee to keep those dreams going. Quarterback Diego Pavia could be the difference-maker.
If he has a big game, maybe the Commodores keep the magic alive. *Line: Vanderbilt -9.5*
Utah vs. BYU
Utah sits right on the Playoff bubble and needs to win out. They also need BYU and Texas Tech to stumble to boost their Big 12 title hopes.
A loss here could ripple out, even affecting Miami’s chances. *Line: Utah -17.5*
Contentious CFP Rankings
Notre Dame vs. Miami
The debate over Notre Dame and Miami’s CFP rankings has been heated. Notre Dame sits at No. 9, four spots ahead of Miami, despite losing to them in the opener.
If both teams win this weekend and Utah, BYU, or Alabama lose, the committee might have to rethink things. *Line: Miami -17.5*
Tulane vs. Temple
Tulane’s the only Group of 5 team in the CFP Top 25 and needs to win the American conference championship for an automatic bid. Temple’s plus-11 turnover margin makes them a tough out.
The rest of the G5 is hoping Tulane slips up. *Line: Tulane -8.5*
Oklahoma vs. Missouri
Oklahoma’s win over Alabama last week gave their Playoff hopes a real boost. They need to take down Missouri and LSU to lock up an at-large bid.
Slowing down Missouri’s star running back Ahmad Hardy will be critical. *Line: Oklahoma -7.5*
ACC Showdown
Georgia Tech vs. Pitt
This one could bring order to the ACC—or just add more chaos. Georgia Tech locks up a spot in the ACC championship with a win.
Pitt needs this one to stay alive. Georgia Tech’s offense will test Pitt’s defense. *Line: Georgia Tech -2.5*
BYU vs. Cincinnati
Cincinnati’s loss to Arizona last week took some shine off this game. But a win for BYU keeps their conference title hopes alive and helps their at-large case.
It’s not the flashiest matchup, but there’s a lot riding on it. *Line: BYU -2.5*
Oregon vs. USC
This one’s easily the biggest game of the weekend. Oregon sits in the CFP field, but honestly, they can’t afford to slip up now.
USC comes in with the second-best offense in the FBS. They need a win—badly—if they’re gonna keep their Playoff hopes alive.
If Oregon pulls it off, their Playoff chances jump to 93 percent. But if USC manages an upset, well, that changes everything for them. Line: Oregon -9.5
Want more details or curious about other matchups? The full article’s over at the New York Times.
