Week 13 Saturday Preview

Here is my viewing guide to what to watch for during this week 13 Saturday. It's crunch time across the board in FBS and FCS football. Here's what to watch for...

ACC

North Carolina 45, Duke 20
Just needed to mention this game which was played last night. Duke's late season collapse handed the Coastal Division title to Georgia Tech, which actually may be good from a viewers standpoint, because Tech matches up with Florida State better athletically in the ACC title game.

Louisville at Notre Dame
This game has no meaning overall, but it could be a very good grind out game for both. Both teams will try to establish the best bowl position possible moving forward.

Boston College at Florida State
I know most folks don't think much of this matchup, but BC has historically been a tough out for FSU, and this game could be much of the same. The Eagles will try to control tempo with a grinding run game, and their defense is just good enough to make it tough for Jameis Winston to get going. Not calling a BC win here, but it could be close.

Miami at Virginia
Miami has been slumping, and Virginia needs two more wins, and so they are in a desperate situation. If Virginia loses this game, Mike London could be gone shortly.

AAC

UCF at SMU
Shouldn't be much of a game, but now would be a really bad time for SMU to pull it together and earn their first win. UCF is in a three way tie at the top of the conference. Every game is a must win.

USF at Memphis
This game is much the same as the above. Memphis is in control of their own destiny. They still must win every game from here on out to claim the AAC title. USF has been playing better football lately, so Memphis has to keep their focus.

Cincinnati at U Conn
Much the same as the other two AAC games mentioned. Cincinnati is tied at the top with Memphis and UCF. U Conn, even when terrible, somehow finds ways to pull inopportune upsets. Could this be the week?

Big 12

Kansas State 26, West Virginia 20
K State earned a share of the conference lead with the win on Thursday night. Kansas State is not going away, and they will be a force in the Big 12 race until the end.

Oklahoma State at Baylor
Not only does Baylor need the win to stay in the Big 12 lead, they need to win big to impress the playoff committee to leap over TCU into the final 4. Truthfully, they should already be there having beaten TCU, but then there's that.

Big 10

Penn State at Illinois
This early game may be a watch just so you can see what could be the beginning of the end of the Tim Beckman era at Illinois. A loss here cements his fate.

Indiana at Ohio State
Much like Baylor, Ohio State needs to win and win big this weekend. They control their own destiny in the Big 12 East, but now it's about moving into the final 4. This could also be the end for Kevin Wilson at IU.

Minnesota at Nebraska
Neither team wants to drop this game, especially coming off of terrible performances a week ago that dropped both teams out of contention in the Big 12 West. Minnesota may end up on a two game skid, because athletically, they don't match up well here.

Northwestern at Purdue
The Wildcats can still go bowling, but they need to win their final two games to do so. If they fail, NU has to really think hard on the future of Pat Fitzgerald.

Michigan State at Rutgers
MSU is likely out of the East race unless a miracle happens and Ohio State loses their final two games. Rutgers is in an interesting position, as Kyle Flood is facing an enormous amount of heat, With Greg Schiano still kicking around out there, does Rutgers fire Flood and bring Schiano home after a loss?

Wisconsin at Iowa
Wisconsin controls their own destiny in the West. Should Iowa somehow pull an upset here, the West is back in a muddled four way tie. It's all in for the Badgers from here on out. Win out or fail.

Maryland at Michigan
If Brady Hoke loses this game, does Michigan have the balls to fire him before the Ohio State game next week? Maryland is bowl eligible, and Michigan is trying to get there. HOw often do we get to say that?

Conference USA

UTEP at Rice (Tonight)
Both teams need to win out in order to stay two games behind Louisiana Tech in the west. However, if Tech wins this weekend, it matters not. Still, both need wins in a big way right now to stay in the bowl picture.

Marshall at UAB
The Herd is getting completely dissed by the playoff committee as far as not being ranked at all at 10-0. That is total crap. However, the Herd is ranked number one in our PRS, and can increase their lead this weekend. UAB is scrappy and cannot be taken lightly.

Louisiana Tech at Old Dominion
The Bulldogs are streaking towards a title game against Marshall, and if they win this game on the road against the Monarchs, they win the West outright with a week to spare.

Independents

Fordham at Army
Fordham is in our top three in our FCS PRS rankings this week. They have the guns to overwhelm Army and get to 10 wins. They could also be Army's second FCS loss this season (already fell to Yale).

MAC

Northern Illinois at Ohio (Friday)
NIU is in a tight race with Toledo and Western Michigan in the West. This is a must win road game for the Huskies to stay pace.

Toledo 27, Bowling Green 20
Toledo stayed pace in the West with this win on Wednesday night, and if they can hold out and win the division, this could be a rematch in the MAC title game.

Western Michigan at Central Michigan
CMU is in a spoiler role here, but they have had a nice comeback season under embattled coach Dan Enos. WMU is in that West tie at the top, but it would seem they have a tough row this weekend. This is a must win for the Broncos.

Kent State at Buffalo
This game was cancelled due to the weather in Buffalo.

Mountain West

Air Force at San Diego State (Friday)
The Falcons can knock SDSU out of a tie with Nevada in the West, while staying a game out of the race for the Mountain title. Troy Calhoun has done wonders for Air Force this season.

New Mexico at Colorado State
The Rams need to keep on winning in order to survive in the Mountain. Their only loss was to Boise State, and Boise State isn't losing either. It's a race to the end for the amazing Rams.

Boise State at Wyoming
As said, the Broncos and CSU are in a duel for the Mountain title that also still includes Utah State and Air Force to a degree. Falling upset to the Cowboys would be catastrophic.

Fresno State at Nevada
Nevada is holding onto a tie at the top of the West with San Diego State in an awful division. The Wolf Pack should get through a disappointing Bulldog club, but an upset is always hovering.

PAC-12

Arizona at Utah
Arizona is part of the mess in the PAC-12 South, with as many as five teams all in the race. Utah is desperate with three losses to stay in, so an upset of the Wildcats is a must. It's easier to do at home, so Arizona has to be on their top game to stay in this race.

USC at UCLA
This is one of the biggest games in the nation, and will be on in prime time. Both teams need to win to stay in the wild PAC-12 race, and the loser is out. UCLA has beaten the Trojans the last two seasons in a series that has been dominated with streaks in the last 30 years. Brett Hundley is just 261 yards shy of becoming UCLA's career yardage leader, a title currently held by Cade McNown.

SEC

Ole Miss at Arkansas
If I had to pick a watchable game in a week full of bullshit matches between the SEC and FCS patsies, I guess this is it. Arkansas broke through last week with a win over LSU to end a nasty SEC losing streak that dated back to John L. Smith's disastrous tenure. The Rebels may be looking ahead to Mississippi State, but not if they are smart.

Sun Belt

Appalachian State at UL-Lafayette
ULL is still unbeaten in SBC play, but so is Georgia Southern. GSU is in a transition year, so they cannot go bowling. ULL could win out here and make their way to New Orleans for the New Orleans bowl with a win here.

FCS

Big Sky

Eastern Washington at Portland State (Friday)
The Eagles should win this game and claim at least a share of the Big Sky title, which they would share with Montana State, if the Bobcats fail to lose.

Montana State at Montana
This is for a share of the conference title for MSU, who has had a solid second half. This game is always a war, and is also the sendoff for retiring Montana Coach Mick Delaney, so anything is possible.

Southern Utah at Northern Arizona; Weber State at Idaho State
NAU and ISU both need convincing wins this weekend, and then will wait it out to see about FCS playoff bids. It's crunch time for bubble teams, and both should be favored heading in.

Big South

Liberty at Coastal Carolina
This is a huge week for both teams in the finale. Coastal is ranked number one in our FCS PRS rankings, but Liberty has been tough on the Chanticleers. Consider this the conference title game.

Colonial

Elon at James Madison; Villanova at Delaware; Richmond at William & Mary
JMU, Delaware, Richmond, and William & Mary are all playoff bubble teams right now, so we know what they have to do. Villanova should be in win or lose.

New Hampshire at Maine
UNH wins and they win the Colonial outright. This could be interesting.

Ivy

Yale at Harvard
This is for all the marbles in the Ivy League. Harvard has been in cruise mode, but Yale is hungry to steal the title.

Other Games of Note
Norfolk State at South Carolina State
North Carolina A&T at North Carolina Central
Bethune-Cookman at Florida A&M
Southern Illinois at Illinois State
Youngstown State at North Dakota State
Cal Poly at San Diego
Central Arkansas at Sam Houston State