No, I'm not talking about Christmas season. Certainly the celebration of the birth of the Messiah is the most wonderful time of year, but I'm speaking in the college football context. And in this realm, rivalry week is the very best it gets. It's only fitting that most major rivalries are played around Thanksgiving - I, for one, am thankful for these titanic, traditional grudgematches.
More than any other sport, college football is built upon rivalry. No matter what happens, you can always count on the beautiful kaleidoscope of contrasting uniforms set against an angry late autumn landscape: Auburn-Alabama, Michigan-Ohio State, Texas-Texas A&M, and on and on. With only 12 games per season, even the worst can be turned around with a season-ending conquest of your traditional rival. Just think - of all the games played by most major college football programs, at least 1 out of every 12 has been played against the team they consider their opposite. And all happen on the same weekend every year.
I love the fact that we get these games spaced over 3 days. Days filled with turkey, stuffing, napping, and football. Fantastic.
But before any further eloquent waxing about a game, let's take this Thanksgiving moment to reflect on all there is to be thankful for. Set against what many people in the world endure - little food, unclean water, unsanitary living conditions, little access to basic medical care - we have ample reason to give thanks. Listing it all out would fill reams of paper.
As for me, I'm thankful for my wonderful wife and daughter, for a warm home and good food, for the sweet nectar of Coca-Cola, for my fair alma mater, for the dozens and dozens of people I consider good friends, for the poetic lyrics and music woven by Bruce Springsteen, for competition (not just of the football variety), for a family who loves and cares for me, for my free iPhone 3G, for the opportunity to work at something I love and play at hobbies I enjoy greatly as well.
Most of all, I'm thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. At the risk of sounding like the cliched athlete who mentions Jesus first in postgame interviews (something I highly respect), He's everything to me. I only wish I lived more like that were true! Without Him, I'd be lost, purposeless, living in a constant cycle of decay and death, just wasting away. Sure, life is no less difficult, but far more joyous, meaningful, and eternal. He's great, and I hope you know Him too.
Now, on to the comparative triviality of college football, and the rivalries that make it so fun...
1. Michigan State at Penn State
OK, so this isn't a classic, old-time rivalry; nor has it become a rivalry in any sense of the word since the Big Ten stuck the Spartans and Lions together at the end of the yearly schedule. It's contrived and boring - the most blood-stirring part of it is the actual blood being stirred at the annual student blood drive pitting Penn State students against those from East Lansing. The added drama this game might have held this year was drained earlier in the week, when JoePa mentioned that he'd be back next year. But for Michigan State, this game is enormous. The Spartans have an outside shot at the Big Ten crown, though they've been sliding steadily downward for the last month. After their near loss at home last week against Purdue, they appear ripe for the picking. Matt McGloin has given the Lions a bit of extra juice, and the home field advantage should tilt this game in favor of Penn State. And PSU has owned the Spartans since joining the Big Ten, often the icing on the cake of Michigan State's traditional late-season implosion. That hasn't happened this year (yet), but it's been close.
Penn State 27, Michigan State 26
2. Auburn at Alabama
Standing in stark contrast to that pulseless "rivalry" is this one: the Iron Bowl. Auburn-Alabama is perhaps the most intense, venom-filled, hard-hitting one of all (though fans of the next one on the list will beg to differ). It's set apart by the fact that it's an in-state feud, one that effectively shuts down all life in Dixie. And in the SEC, everything is bigger. Auburn comes in as the underdog, in spite of their consistent proving of the naysayers, myself included, wrong all year. The Tigers have been tested, but I don't think they've faced anyone quite as strong as the Crimson Tide. Greg McElroy, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, and the bunch will hammer Auburn's beleaguered defense as much as anyone they've faced thus far. If Alabama can garner enough defense to slow down the Cam Newton express, or if it somehow derails itself before Friday, the Crimson Tide has a great chance to win. Besides, if Auburn does win I have a feeling it'll be revoked in due time. This could turn out to be the game of the year, a shootout in a rivalry accustomed to defense and the running game - make sure you avoid the shopping malls and department stores Friday afternoon so you can tune in to this one.
Alabama 34, Auburn 31
3. Michigan at Ohio State
Ohio State fans have a conundrum. Do they root for a Buckeye blowout, knowing full well that in doing so they may be inadvertently cheering on Rich Rodriguez's departure and the Wolverine's hiring a new coach who's better suited to compete with Ohio State. Or do they fall on their sword, hope for a close game, a decent enough Michigan performance to keep RichRod, their whipping boy, around at least one more year. Sleepless nights are happening right now all across Ohio over this agonizing decision.
Ohio State 45, Michigan 21
4. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
Without much fanfare, Oklahoma State has the inside track at surprise team of the year. I believe it was last year that I tabbed the Cowboys as my pick to make the BCS title game, and we all know how that turned out. Little did we know that this year would be the Cowboys year to make a run. They need tons of help, but a leap from #9 to #2 in 2 weeks isn't impossible. Beating the Sooners in this year's edition of Bedlam would be a healthy start.
Oklahoma State 27, Oklahoma 23
5. Texas A&M at Texas
Thanksgiving night brings this little gem, as the Longhorns are forced to beat their Lone Star rival just to earn a postseason berth. For the first time in perhaps a decade and a half, the Aggies are the team to beat in this game. It's a role they're not used to, and they'd better hope they do a better job as the favorite than Texas has done. The Aggies have risen from the dregs of mediocrity more then once to take down a supposedly powerful Longhorn team. I don't see the underdog winning this one though. Texas has been downright pathetic, at home as much as away, and the Aggies have unearthed a defense in College Station. Wins over Oklahoma and Nebraska, and a continual improvement from game one through game eleven has me sold.
Texas A&M 19, Texas 13
6. Florida at Florida State
Once the yearly highlight of rivalry weekend, this game has hit it's lowest point in years. Florida comes in unranked with 4 losses, while Florida State isn't turning any heads. The Seminoles even need help from Maryland to win the lowly ACC Atlantic. Gone are the days when both teams entering this game in the top 5 was a given. Based purely on speculation, I'm picking Florida. I'll use the excuse that the SEC is a ton stronger than the ACC, though I'll double back on that logic later. Sure, the Gators have at times been horrid offensively, but though the Seminole defense is statistically good, they're not impenetrable.
Florida 17, Florida State 14
7. South Carolina at Clemson
Might as well double back on that logic now. Here's why Clemson wins this game. They've been frisky all year - remember that they shut Auburn out for a half, then took a dumb penalty on an OT field goal, giving Auburn the win. How the complexion of this season would be different if that result were reversed! They have a pretty stout defense and could pose problems from Stephen Garcia. This rivalry is prone to underdog upheavals. And finally, the Gamecocks have what they want - a berth in the SEC Championship game, the program's first ever. It's a classic letdown situation - South Carolina simply has bigger fish to fry.
Clemson 20, South Carolina 16
8. Arizona at Oregon
Another non-rivalry, but this series has been entertaining of late. In 2007, Oregon rolled into Arizona with a national title in their sights, only to see Heisman candidate Dennis Dixon go down as the Wildcats crushed the heavily favored Ducks. Last year was an overtime thriller. Both those games, however, were in Tucson. Unless LaMichael James and Darron Thomas are both knocked out of the game, another Duck scare is unlikely.
Oregon 41, Arizona 31
9. Northwestern at Wisconsin
Yes, this isn't a top-notch rivalry, but it's a game carrying a lot of importance. A Wisconsin win almost guarantees them a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth, against Oregon if it slips and Stanford if it doesn't. It shouldn't be close, with Dan Persa going down a few weeks ago and Northwestern's resulting offensive tail spin.
Wisconsin 38, Northwestern 20
10. Boise State at Nevada
The closest thing the WAC has to a rivalry. Nevada is the only conference team who's come close to touching Boise in recent years, and in spite of the obvious talent gap this year might be their best shot at winning one. It's easily the biggest game in program history, and senior QB Colin Kaepernick has the opportunity to cement his legacy as the best QB in Wolf Pack history. Heady stuff, which often means an epic failure. Don't be surprised if Nevada can't corral their emotions and stumbles their way into the game with dumb mistakes and overenergetic play. If so, the Broncos will pounce and it could get ugly.
Boise State 42, Nevada 31
11. Georgia Tech at Georgia
The Yellow Jackets would love nothing more than to eliminate their rival from a bowl game opportunity in this year's version of "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate", the best title any rivalry can claim. But Georgia Tech isn't the powerhouse some thought they might be, and Georgia has enough in the tank to outhit and outplay them.
Georgia 24, Georgia Tech 17
12. LSU at Arkansas
Almost forgot about this top-15 clash in Little Rock. I've run out of things to say about the shenanigans of Les Miles, I just know that this game will be close, and it probably will be zany.
Arkansas 35, LSU 32
13. West Virginia at Pittsburgh
Ah, the Backyard Brawl. Another great rivalry name, another matchup of mediocre teams, one of whom will likely take a BCS bowl slot from a far more worthy team. Pitt can all but clinch the conference with a win, which they should do. If history holds, this game will be intense and low-scoring, and the underdog will sneak away with a win. It's a toss-up, but I'll go with the Mountaineers because of how sweet the Nike Pro Combat Unis they'll don on Friday are.
West Virginia 14, Pittsburgh 13
14. Notre Dame at USC
Admirably, Notre Dame has responded to its mid-season stumble and the tragedy that struck the program with resilience. They've played their best football in the past few weeks, and might be showing signs that Brian Kelly was indeed the right choice. But they're not quite there yet, and USC has absolutely dominated this rivalry when its played in the Coliseum. And everywhere else, for that matter.
USC 33, Notre Dame 24
15. N.C. State at Maryland
Again, not a rivalry game, but one with a fair amount of importance. N.C. State earns a berth in the ACC Championship with a victory, and Russell Wilson is the guy who can take them there. In him, the Wolfpack have a player that truly changes the game. He's clearly the best player on the field in this contest, and that's reason enough to take N.C. State.
N.C. State 27, Maryland 17
Bonus rivalry picks, because rivalry week can't handle just 15!
16. Utah 31, BYU 14
17. Virginia Tech 30, Virginia 20
18. Nebraska 23, Colorado 20
19. Missouri 41, Kansas 21
20. Mississippi 21, Mississippi State 17
And lastly, another very happy Thanksgiving to you. Remember to give thanks for the many blessings you have, and remember those less fortunate - in prayer, in giving, in simply the giving of respect and dignity. Have a great holiday!
No comments:
Post a Comment