The College Football Playoff is beginning to take shape and with only three or four games remaining for each team, it’s now or never for college programs to make their mark on what has been one of the most bizarre seasons in college football history. More than 14 games were off the table last week due to the coronavirus but hopefully teams will have better luck this time around. Here are our Top 3 NCAA Football Games for Week 13.
#1 Alabama vs #22 Auburn
The Iron Bowl is one of the greatest rivalry games in all of sports. There have been some truly special moments from this series including the “Kick 6”. Auburn has been known to knock Alabama off the top spot more than once in recent years. The War Eagles have defeated Alabama as the #1 team in the country twice in the last seven years. Last year, it was an absolute shootout between these two teams with Auburn winning 48-45. This year, Mac Jones has put up a Heisman-type season and Bama hasn’t come close to dropping a game since they played Ole Miss nearly two months ago. The War Eagles are in the midst of another disappointing season but you can never be too sure what may happen when these two teams meet. Alabama is 6-4 in the last 10 Iron Bowls but their losses have come with great pain. The Tide are still favored by more than 20 points in this game, but we know that it should be more interesting than that number suggests.
#2 Notre Dame vs #25 North Carolina
The Fighting Irish have just one truly impressive win under their belts this season. They defeated a Trevor Lawrence-less Clemson Tigers team, so there’s a bit of an asterisk in that victory. Another top 25 victory could go a long way for a team that will have to play the Tigers again in the ACC Championship Game. Notre Dame is having a good season, and have College Football Playoff aspirations. However, that could easily come to a halt in a Top-25 matchup game that takes place on the road. The Tar Heels have had their own letdowns this year but were at one point ranked in the Top 10 and are a perfect 4-0 at home this season. UNC boasts one of the top offenses in the nation but getting past the tough Notre Dame defensive unit will be a struggle. In their last four games, Notre Dame holds a 3-1 series lead on the Tar Heels. Notre Dame is favored here by 5.5 points, but it should be interesting.
Colorado vs #19 USC
The PAC 12 was the last Power Five conference to start their season. Some are questioning whether the conference even deserves consideration for the College Football Playoff by only playing six games. The Trojans and the Oregon Ducks are likely to play each other in the PAC 12 Championship Game but the PAC 12 always has a funny way of hurting each other. USC is fortunate to be 3-0 as they’ve played two games that have come right down to the wire. They defeated winless Arizona and Arizona State by scoring the game winning touchdown in the last minute of each game. They could very easily be 1-2. Colorado is 2-0 although the PAC 12 opponents they’ve faced haven’t been all that impressive. This game won’t be nearly as exciting, or important to the shape of the football season as the first two but it could be a legitimate shot to see a Top 20 team knocked off at home. The Buffs are 13.5 point underdogs.