Games to Watch this Weekend (When You’re Not Watching Penn State)

Friday

(#13)Iowa State at (#17)Texas
Noon, ABC

Heat up a plate of leftovers and settle in for a game that may determine the Big 12 champ. If you’ve paid much attention to the Big 12 this season, you know it’s next to impossible to predict what will happen, but it will be an entertaining ride nonetheless.
Prediction: Texas-34, Iowa State-30

(#2)Notre Dame at (#19)North Carolina
3:30 p.m., ABC

Notre Dame enjoyed some luck of the Irish by catching Clemson without Trevor Lawrence and a host of other key starters. Now UNC looks to be the only thing standing in the way of an undefeated regular season and playoff berth with games against Syracuse and Wake Forest to close out the season. The Tar Heels can be a dangerous team, but the defense has trouble keeping teams out of the end zone while the offense has been wildly inconsistent. UNC has the ability to pull off the upset, but will need to plays its best football of the year on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: Notre Dame-38, UNC-31

(#15)Oregon at Oregon State
7 p.m., ESPN

The Ducks are 0-2. although haven’t dominated as expected. The Beavers are 0-2, but have been more competitive than expected. Perhaps the great equalizer of a rivalry game helps these teams meet in the middle.
Oregon-35, Oregon State-34

Saturday

(#22)Auburn at (#1)Alabama
3:30 p.m., CBS

Whether you hate the SEC or really hate the SEC, there’s nothing quite like the Iron Bowl. It’s like the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, except the outcome hasn’t been determined for the past two decades. The Tigers will throw everything they have at their hated in-state rival, and will hope to keep these close and deliver a knockout punch to the top-ranked Tide, who will be without Nick Saban as he recovers from COVID.
Prediction: Alabama-38, Auburn-28

Mississippi State at Ole Miss
4 p.m., SECN

It’s the Egg Bowl. Things will get plenty weird, trust me.
Prediction: Ole Miss-35, Mississippi State-32

(#11)Oklahoma at West Virginia
7:30 p.m., ABC

One of the more compelling, yet unheralded storylines of the 2020 season is the tremendous job by the West Virginia defense in a league that often ignores that side of the ball. Even more impressive is that the Mountaineers have done it all without a defensive coordinator. They will have their work cut out for them against a Sooners squad that has found its rhythm after a disastrous 1-2 start to the season.
Prediction: Oklahoma-28, West Virginia-23

Utah at Washington
7:30 p.m., ESPN

Washington is 2-0 while Utah lost its only game of the season thus far, falling to USC on Saturday. While not much is known with just three games played between the two teams, but they are two of the most consistent PAC-12 squads and will be prepared for battle.
Prediction: Washington-27, Utah-24