Week 13 Games of Interest

Rivalry Week Edition

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! With lots of good games on Friday, I decided to bump up the Games of Interest article this week.

Enjoy the food, and maybe get outside first, if possible, for a game of touch football. Once the games kick off, it’ll be hard to separate yourself from the television.

5) Liberty at UTEP

Importance to VT: The more they win, the bigger the problem Liberty will be on the recruiting trail.

If Liberty wins: The Flames, an in-state team, will clinch an undefeated regular season and remain in contention for a New Year’s Six bowl.

If UTEP wins: It would be a huge upset and an absolutely crushing defeat for Liberty.

What is likely to happen, and why: This is not exactly a rivalry game, and Liberty is the much better team. Yes, the game is on the road, but anything less than a comfortable Liberty win would be a big surprise.

4) Florida St. at Florida

Importance to VT: It’s good for Tech and the ACC if an undefeated FSU wins the league and makes the playoff.

If Florida St. wins: The Seminoles would be a game away from a likely berth in the playoff, the team’s first since the inaugural playoff in 2014.

If Florida wins: The ACC would likely miss out on the playoff, as it would take a cascading series of losses elsewhere around the country to get FSU or Louisville into contention.

What is likely to happen, and why: Both teams lost their starting quarterbacks to season-ending injuries. Florida St. has the better team overall, and while Florida is playing for bowl eligibility, the Noles are playing for much more. The homestanding Gators are facing an uphill battle.

3) North Carolina at NC State

Importance to VT: A couple of eight-win conference foes face off in an even matchup that will likely impact Virginia Tech’s bowl destination (if the Hokies win on Saturday).

If North Carolina wins: The Tar Heels will finish 9-3, 5-3 and claim one of the ACC’s upper tier bowl bids.

If NC State wins: The Wolfpack will finish 6-2 in the ACC, meaning that Tech would have lost to the top three teams in the conference.

What is likely to happen, and why: NC State has hit its stride of late, while North Carolina has been shaky. On paper, it is a very even matchup that will likely be determined by the extent to which Carolina is able to run the football against the stout Wolfpack defense.

2) Oregon St. at Oregon

Importance to VT: None, but it’s a great game that does not conflict with the Tech-UVA matchup.

If Oregon St. wins: The Beavers will eliminate the Ducks from playoff contention.

If Oregon wins: The Ducks will get a rematch against Washington in the conference championship game with a playoff berth on the line.

What is likely to happen, and why: Oregon probably has a little too much offense for the Beavers, but this is a rivalry game. An Oregon St. win would qualify as a moderate upset, but if the Beavers can play solid run defense, they are good enough everywhere else to have a chance in this one.

1) Ohio St. at Michigan

Importance to VT: None, but again, it should be a great game, and it will be an excellent lead-in to Tech’s game on Saturday

If Ohio St. wins: The Buckeyes will remain in playoff contention, needing just a final win over (seriously) offensively challenged Iowa in the conference championship game to lock up a playoff bid and send Michigan to a New Year’s Six bowl.

If Michigan wins: The Wolverines will likely beat Iowa and make the playoff. Meanwhile, Ohio St., due to strength of schedule, would certainly have a case to sneak into the playoff if FSU or Washington lose one of their final two games.

What is likely to happen, and why: Michigan has not looked as strong since the whole Connor Stalions thing blew up. Coincidence? The game is in Ann Arbor, but Ohio St. is a 6.5-point favorite. If Michigan loses, one of the key reasons will likely be a lack of explosiveness in the running game. For a team that runs so well (50% success rate), they rack up comparatively few explosive plays.