Forty names, video games, groups and trivialities making information in school soccer, the place Hugh Freeze possession papers have been signed over to a Mr. Jerry Kill of Las Cruces, N.M.:
First Quarter: Nine Paths to the Playoff | Second Quarter: Midwestern Morality Play
Third Quarter: An Epic Rivalry Week
This is at all times the perfect week of the season, however the 2023 version of Rivalry Week is bringing most payload. And we’re not simply speaking about Ohio State–Michigan, which will get its personal separate quarter this week.
Six groups with playoff aspirations are taking part in hated in-state rivals this week. Several others are taking part in with convention championship aspirations and bowl eligibility on the road. Then there are dying rivalries in dying leagues to consider. So a lot attention-grabbing soccer. Let’s get to a jumbo Dash breakdown of probably the most compelling rivalry video games.
All recreation instances are Eastern.
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Florida State-Florida (21). Where: Gainesville. When: Saturday at 7 p.m. Series: Florida leads 37-27-2. Line: Florida State by 6.5. What’s at stake: The Seminoles (11–0), thrust into surprising adversity with the season-ending harm to star quarterback Jordan Travis, are abruptly probably the most weak of the 5 undefeated College Football Playoff contenders. The Gators (5–6) are attempting to cease the bleeding after 4 straight losses, earn a bowl bid and spoil a rival’s season. In phrases of constructing some goodwill with the followers, second-year coach Billy Napier may positive use this one. The skinny: Is backup FSU QB Tate Rodemaker adequate to take advantage of a Florida protection that has collapsed over the past month? Rodemaker led Florida State to a win at Louisville final yr coming off the bench, so there’s cause to assume he can do it. Dash choose: Florida State 28, Florida 21.
Oregon State-Oregon (22). Where: Eugene. When: Friday at 8:30 p.m. Series: Oregon leads 67-49-10. Line: Oregon by 14. What’s at stake: The Ducks (10–1) are within the Pac-12 championship recreation with a win, organising a rematch with Washington. They additionally must win to maintain CFP hopes alive. The Beavers (8–3) would like to deal a demise blow to mentioned hopes of their final assembly as convention brethren. The skinny: These have been the 2 finest working groups in convention play, however Oregon has the sting in explosiveness within the passing recreation. Can D.J. Uiagalelei match throws with red-hot Bo Nix? That looks as if rather a lot to ask. Dash choose: Oregon 40, Oregon State 24.
Washington State-Washington (23). Where: Seattle. When: Saturday at 4 p.m. Series: Washington leads 75-33-6. Line: Washington by 16.5. What’s at stake: The Huskies (11–0) are attempting to finish their first undefeated common season since 1991 and preserve playoff viability. The Cougars (5–6) are scrapping for a bowl bid and would love to offer Washington a painful Pac-12 going-away current. The skinny: Expect the ball to be within the air rather a lot with Wazzu’s Cam Ward and Washington’s Michael Penix rating third and tenth nationally in go makes an attempt. But the Huskies have an more and more dependable working assault to fall again on in case of emergency. Hard to think about Washington not being totally locked in for this recreation, given what’s on the road. Dash choose: Washington 44, Washington State 24.
Georgia-Georgia Tech (24). Where: Atlanta. When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Series: Georgia leads 70-41-5. Line: Georgia by 23. What’s at stake: The Bulldogs (11–0) have a 28-game profitable streak and pole place within the CFP race on the road. The Yellow Jackets (6–5) are merely making an attempt to play spoiler after clinching their first bowl bid in 5 years final week. The skinny: Georgia Tech tied for tenth nationally in turnovers compelled, but in addition tied for 114th nationally in turnovers dedicated. This would appear like a good time to have simply their third turnover-free recreation of the season. And even that’s unlikely to be sufficient towards a Georgia workforce taking part in at a really excessive stage. Dash choose: Georgia 42, Georgia Tech 17.
Kentucky-Louisville (25). Where: Louisville. When: Saturday at midday. Series: Kentucky leads 19–15. Line: Louisville by 7. What’s at stake: The Cardinals (10–1) are attempting to achieve 11 wins for the primary time in a decade, hold their slim CFP hopes alive and beat Kentucky for the primary time since Lamar Jackson was in uniform. The Wildcats (6–5) are attempting to salvage one thing out of a season that began 5–0 after which turned bitter. The skinny: Louisville hits dwelling runs; it has 15 touchdowns of 35 yards or longer, and leads the nation in scrimmage performs of 60 yards or longer with six. Kentucky doesn’t surrender many big performs; simply seven longer than 40 yards and two longer than 50. Can the Cardinals take the highest off that protection the way in which they’ve many others? Dash choose: Louisville 31, Kentucky 21.
Alabama-Auburn (26). Where: Auburn. When: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Series: Alabama leads 49-37-1. Line: Alabama by 14.5. What’s at stake: The Crimson Tide (10–1) is taking part in to remain within the CFP race whereas hoping for its first low-stress recreation on The Plains since 2015. The Tigers (6–5) are in search of to atone for the humiliation suffered final week by the hands of New Mexico State, and likewise to spoil Bama’s season. The skinny: After being flat-out dealt with by the Aggies, does Auburn have any struggle left in it? History says sure when it’s the Iron Bowl. The Tigers regarded equally hopeless heading into this recreation in 2021 towards an Alabama workforce aiming for the playoffs, and it took time beyond regulation for the Tide to flee Jordan-Hare with the win. This can also be the tenth anniversary of the Kick Six, when you’re into mojo. But Nick Saban’s workforce arrives on a prodigious roll and seemingly may overwhelm Auburn. Dash choose: Alabama 28, Auburn 9.
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Arizona-Arizona State (27). Where: Tempe. When: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Series: Arizona leads 50-45-1. Line: Arizona by 11.5. What’s at stake: The Wildcats (8–3) will know whether or not they nonetheless have a shot on the Pac-12 championship recreation, relying on the results of Oregon State-Oregon Friday. Either means, they’re making an attempt to finish the most effective turnaround seasons within the nation. The Sun Devils (3–8) are attempting so as to add a significant constructing block to the brand new basis first-year coach Kenny Dillingham is erecting. The skinny: Arizona hasn’t gained in Tempe since 2011, so there are some demons (or Devils) to take care of. The Wildcats have way more weapons than ASU however might should work for this one. Dash choose: Arizona 30, Arizona State 21.
Clemson-South Carolina (28). Where: Columbia. When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Series: Clemson leads 72-43-4. Line: Clemson by 7. What’s at stake: The Tigers (7–4) are attempting to finish a four-game rally after Dabo Swinney’s showdown with Tyler From Spartanburg, whereas additionally avenging an upset loss final yr to the Gamecocks. South Carolina (5–6) is capturing for its personal four-game profitable streak and bowl eligibility. The skinny: The Cocks’ three-game profitable streak has been fueled largely by a plus-seven turnover margin and improved defensive play. Clemson, in the meantime, is a plus-five turnover margin in its five-game profitable streak whereas averaging 34.7 factors. Who takes the ball away most this time? Dash choose: Clemson 28, South Carolina 17.
North Carolina-North Carolina State (29). Where: Raleigh. When: Saturday at 8 p.m. Series: North Carolina leads 68-38-6. Line: North Carolina by 2. What’s at stake: Both groups are 8–3. The Wolfpack would like to go 2–0 towards Drake Maye because the Tar Heels’ quarterback and to complete with a greater document regardless of swapping two totally different quarterbacks all through the season. North Carolina would love to achieve 10 wins for the primary time within the Mack Brown 2.0 Era, which was simply introduced will proceed in 2024. The skinny: Strength vs. energy. In ACC play, the Heels lead the convention in yards per recreation whereas the Pack are first in fewest yards allowed per recreation. Maye had his lowest-rated effectivity recreation as a university starter final week in a loss to Clemson; his second-lowest was final yr towards N.C. State. Dash choose: N.C. State 28, North Carolina 26.
California-UCLA (30). Where: Pasadena. When: Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Series: UCLA leads 58-34-1. Line: UCLA by 9.5. What’s at stake: Forever bragging rights, since this might be the final assembly between two packages that first performed in 1933. In addition, Cal (5-6) is making an attempt to win its third straight recreation to go bowling. The skinny: This is probably the most prolific offensive workforce Cal has had in years—and likewise its worst protection in years. UCLA has developed in the wrong way, struggling offensively with inexperience at quarterback whereas considerably improved defensively. Dash choose: UCLA 35, California 28.
The Big Ten West tar pit slogs (31). There are three intra-divisional rivalry video games during which one of many two groups is combating for bowl eligibility. They may all be unwatchable shows of offense, however they do matter:
Iowa–Nebraska. Where: Lincoln. When: Friday at midday. Series: Nebraska leads 30-20-3. Line: Nebraska by 1. What’s at stake: For the fourth straight recreation, the Cornhuskers (5–6) are attempting to lock up a bowl bid. The Hawkeyes (9–2) are attempting to turn out to be the primary FBS workforce since 1976 to win 10 video games whereas averaging fewer than 19 factors per recreation. (They’re at 18.45 in Brian Ferentz’s swan tune season as offensive coordinator.) Dash choose: Iowa 9, Nebraska 7.
Wisconsin–Minnesota. Where: Minneapolis. When: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Series: Tied 62-62-8. Line: Wisconsin by 2. What’s at stake: First and foremost, this breaks the all-time collection tie in a single path of the opposite. The Gophers (5–6) are in search of a bowl bid and to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe for a 3rd straight season, one thing they final did from 1985-87. For the Badgers (6–5), Luke Fickell is in search of momentum after a battle of a debut season. Dash choose: Wisconsin 16, Minnesota 13.
Northwestern–Illinois. Where: Champaign. When: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Series: Illinois leads 57-54-5. Line: Illinois by 6. What’s at stake: The Illini (5–6) are in search of bowl eligibility for the second straight season, one thing final achieved in 2010-11. The Wildcats (6–5) are attempting to win three in a row for the primary time in three years, below newly full-time coach/miracle employee David Braun. Dash choose: Illinois 19, Northwestern 16.
First Quarter: Nine Paths to the Playoff | Second Quarter: Midwestern Morality Play