I really can't believe we have reached the end of the regular season in the 2018 College Football season and that means it is rivalry week.
This is the final chance for teams to chase the best Bowl Game they can, while others will just be glad to put an end to the campaign with seniors moving on from College and younger players ready to use their experiences of 2018 for better things in 2019.
The Championship Games are played next week so the final College Football Play Off positions won't be decided for another ten days, but there is the feeling of Play Off Football all around in Week 13.
For the likes of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Notre Dame Fighting Irish it does feel like one more win would ensure they are playing in the Play Offs, especially for the latter who are not involved in a Conference and are looking to put the final touch on an unbeaten season.
In the Pac-12 and Big 12 the leading teams, Washington State Cougars and Oklahoma Sooners, are both playing big games knowing a loss will not only potentially take them out of the Conference Championship Game, but will almost certainly mean they are out of Play Off contention.
The Big Ten has a huge 'win or go home' game too with the Michigan Wolverines heading to the Ohio State Buckeyes and the winner will move onto the Big Ten Championship Game and likely be favoured to make up part of the quartet that will meet in the Play Offs.
It is a big week which is spread over a few days- as this is a holiday weekend in the United States, the majority of games are split over Friday and Saturday.
With the games spread as they are I have a few more Picks than usual this week and I am going to have a gap between the Friday and Saturday selections in the 'MY PICKS' section below for ease of reading.
I have also put down my thoughts for a few of those games on both days and added the remaining selections as I have decided to do all season. One more strong week would put the season totals in a decent position going into the Championship Weekend and then the Bowl Season.
Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Iowa Hawkeyes Pick: There is a strong positive history with the Nebraska Cornhuskers so it isn't going to be easy for the fanbase to be watching a third losing season in the last four years. Scott Frost will be given time to turn things around for the Cornhuskers as he gets set to complete his first year as Head Coach, but Nebraska have been able to match the win total of 2017 by winning four of their last five games.
Unfortunately for the Cornhuskers even a win on Friday won't be enough to end up with Bowl eligibility but the performances in recent weeks will have pleased Coach Frost who was a key reason the UCF Knights were able to turn their programme around.
It was almost an expected difficult season for Nebraska, but the Iowa Hawkeyes may be much more disappointed with how 2018 has gone for them. They have already ensured a sixth straight winning season and Iowa have a chance to better the eight wins they have reach in each of the last two seasons, but the feeling is that this team should have been good enough to win the Big Ten West Division.
Instead they are just 4-4 in Conference play this season and they needed to end a three game losing run last week when they crushed the Illinois Fighting Illini.
The Hawkeyes will be motivated in a rivalry game and they are finishing up the season at home which is always a big occasion for College Football teams up and down the nation.
Iowa will look to put themselves in a position to win this game by running the ball effectively and they should have a chance to do that. While last week was the first time in 2018 that Iowa had produced a player with 100 yards on the ground, they can back that up against the Nebraska Defensive Line who have had difficulties stopping the run all season and who have looked to have been worn down over their last three games.
Being able to run the ball with at least some success will make things that much easier for Nate Stanley at Quarter Back in what has been a good season for him. It definitely feels like a game in which Iowa are able to move the chains efficiently and put up the points that the Defensive unit will feel they can look after.
The key battle for these teams on that side of the ball is going to be in the trenches as Nebraska try to establish the run against a Hawkeyes Defensive Line who have been very strong at clamping down on Running Backs. The Cornhuskers have been able to run the ball effectively, but the Hawkeyes have shown they can shut down most of the opponents they have faced and they will put the pressure on Adrian Martinez to make plays from Quarter Back.
Martinez has played well with the support of the running game during the run of four wins from five games for Nebraska, but he could be put in a tough spot if Iowa are able to stop the run. That will give the Hawkeyes pass rush the chance to get after Martinez and force him to throw into a Secondary which has been able to turn the ball over.
I like Iowa to have a little too much on both sides of the ball for this improving Nebraska team who should be much better in twelve months time. They can extend their 5-1 record against the spread from the last six games against Nebraska and I think the Hawkeyes will be the team who can run the ball and stop the run best in this game which will give them every chance to win and cover a big number.
Both teams have been good to back at home/on the road respectively but Nebraska are just 2-10-2 against the spread in their last fourteen games following a cover the week before. It is a big number, but I will back the Hawkeyes to close their regular season with another dominant performance against Nebraska.
Houston Cougars @ Memphis Tigers Pick: The American Athletic West Division is on the line on Friday as the Memphis Tigers and Houston Cougars renew their rivalry. The edge is currently with the Houston Cougars in terms of their record in the Division, but this is a 'winner takes all' game and both teams will believe they have the advantage.
The Houston Cougars may be more inclined to give off that feeling to boost the confidence of a team that has lost some key players to injury. Houston maintained their lead in the Division by snapping a two game losing run, but it came at a price with D'Eriq King going down with a season ending injury at Quarter Back.
King has been huge for Houston this season and it is going to be a big test for Clayton Tune to come in and replace him with the freshman expected to get the start for the Cougars.
Things could be made much tougher for Tune if the Cougars are not able to establish the run and it would not be a surprise if Houston struggle to run the ball as well as they have for much of the season. King was a big part of that ability, but they also wouldn't have faced too many Defensive Lines like the one Memphis have and I fully expect them to dare Tune to beat them.
Tune could have success though as he has shown what he can when coming in as a relief Quarter Back already this season. He is also throwing into a Memphis Secondary who have given up some big yards through the air, although Tune could find the pass rush something very difficult to deal with if Houston are in third and long and in other obvious passing downs.
It may also be up to Tune to lead the Cougars into a shoot out with the Tigers who look like they have the kind of balance Offensively to give Houston plenty to think about. Memphis are one of the stronger running teams in the American Athletic Conference and they have been churning out huge yards in recent games while now going up against a Houston Defensive Line that has allowed 241 yards per game on the ground over their last three games.
Both Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor Jr figure to have very big games for the Cougars, but the balance is given to them by Brady White who has taken advantage of the passing lanes that have opened up. White should not really feel a lot of pressure in this one when he drops back to throw and that should give him time to have success against the Houston Secondary and I do like the Memphis Tigers to win and cover in this game.
The underdog has had success in recent games in this series, but Houston look too banged up to compete with the Tigers this time around. The Cougars are 4-10 against the spread in their last fourteen road games and i think it will be tough to stay with Memphis in what looks like being a shoot out with the injuries they have on both sides of the ball.
No one will deny this is a pretty big number for Memphis to cover against a rival, but they look to have all the edges to do that.
Oklahoma Sooners @ West Virginia Mountaineers Pick: The Big 12 Championship Game will be played next week but we are still not sure which two teams will be competing for the Championship. Things will likely be much clearer by the time this game kicks off as the Texas Longhorns can take one of the two berths available in the Championship Game by beating the Kansas Jayhawks on the road.
Assuming that has happened for the 15 point favourites, the Oklahoma Sooners and West Virginia Mountaineers will know this is a 'winner takes all' game for the two teams. The Big 12's chances of sending a team to the Play Offs will also rest on this game as the feeling is that only Oklahoma have a chance of being picked in the top four and that will only happen if they win out.
It is a huge game for both teams and the Sooners may have the slight mental edge having beaten the Mountaineers the last six times they have played one another. The Sooners have been an Offensive powerhouse this season and it is very difficult to see how the Mountaineers can slow them down as the Sooners have a very strong balance on the Offensive side of the ball.
West Virginia have actually played the run pretty well and Oklahoma could be missing leading rusher Trey Simon, but this is a strong Offensive Line and the next man up for the Sooners should still have success.
The Sooners are helped by having a Quarter Back like Kyler Murray who could still become the first player to ever average 300 passing yards and 60 rushing yards per game. Murray could have a huge game against the West Virginia Secondary which has been attacked with success by teams in recent games and one of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy can underline his status.
The Mountaineers have a strong Quarter Back of their own in what is expected to be a shoot out and Will Grier is another who could be a Heisman Trophy contender. Grier figures to have a very big game against a Sooners Defensive unit which has struggled mightily all season.
Grier should find plenty of time in the pocket to make his plays through the air and the Oklahoma Sooners have not been able to at least turn the ball over to give themselves extra possessions. The Quarter Back is likely going to be helped by an Offensive Line which has paved the way for some huge gains on the ground too and I fully expect any of the Running Backs West Virginia use to have a very good game.
You can't ignore the fact the Mountaineers have yet to beat Oklahoma since moving to the Big 12 and the strong road record the Sooners have has to be respected. However I do think the Mountaineers could have a little more balance Offensively which can give them the edge in this one if their own Defensive Line can at least clamp down on the run a little bit.
Both teams should have their moments and score plenty of points, but I think Will Grier may just out-duel Kyler Murray with the latter perhaps throwing the back breaking Interception at some point. It is going to be a fun game but having the points with the home underdog looks a good position to be in and I will back West Virginia to finally break their duck against Oklahoma in Big 12 play.
Washington Huskies @ Washington State Cougars Pick: The Washington State Cougars may be the best bet for the Pac-12 to send a team to the College Football Play Off, but no one will be looking beyond this big rivalry game. It has been six years since the Cougars were able to beat the Washington Huskies and the motivation is plenty high with the visitors knowing they can win and steal the Division and the place in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
As much of a surprising season this has been for Washington State, the Washington Huskies have to be extremely disappointed they are not in contention to reach the College Football Play Offs. The team have very much underachieved compared to expectations back in August, but getting into the Pac-12 Championship Game will at least give the fans something to smile about.
They will have to snap Washington State's seven game winning run to have the bragging rights in this rivalry game as well as spoiling the Cougars season.
There will definitely be a respect from the Washington sidelines towards Washington State and what Mike Leach has achieved through to this point of the regular season. The Cougars may be most noted for the high-octane Offensive plays, but the Defensive unit have played better than advertised and they can make it difficult for the Huskies to get ahead of steam.
The Cougars Defensive Line has been strong and in recent games they have shown it is not easy to establish the run against them which means it could be a tougher night for Myles Gaskin than some would believe. Gaskin is a very good Running Back that can break things open, but he won't have consistent success and that means there is likely going to be more pressure on Jake Browning at Quarter Back.
Browning has not had a vintage season and he hasn't been helped by a lack of protection from the Offensive Line when dropping back to throw. That Line is going to be tested by the pass rush Washington State have generated in their last three games as they have been able to pin back their ears and get after the opposition Quarter Back.
Washington can't really be dragged into a shoot out with the Cougars considering the inconsistent Offensive play generated. Instead the Huskies will look to the Defensive unit to give them a chance to stay in the game and there are some positives that Washington can fall back upon to believe they can do that.
They have shown they can stop the run and force Washington State to become one-dimensional, although I don't think Mike Leach will mind with his 'Air Raid' Offense producing big numbers. Gardner Minshew II has shown some serious talent at the Quarter Back spot and there have been some holes in the Washington Secondary in their recent games which he will look to exploit.
Minshew's numbers are very impressive this season and I do think he will have success in this game and I am finding it hard to jump off the Washington State bandwagon. They don't have great numbers against the Washington Huskies, but this may be the best Cougars team since they last beat their rivals back in 2012.
Washington State have gone 17-5 against the spread in their last twenty-two games and they are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven facing a team with a winning record. The Huskies have not covered in their last seven Conference games and they are 1-7 against the spread in their last eight on the road.
I do think this one may go down to the wire with the tension that will be in the Stadium, but I do like the Cougars here and will back them.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Georgia Bulldogs Pick: It would be easy to think the Georgia Bulldogs would be overlooking this rivalry game and instead focusing on the upcoming SEC Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. That would be a mistake from the Bulldogs if that turns out to be true because they are playing a decent team and another home loss to the Yellow Jackets would likely mean they are not invited to the College Football Play Off even if they were to win the SEC Championship Game.
I have no doubt some would disagree and believe a win over Alabama would warrant Georgia being invited in, but I can't see them being placed over any one loss Conference Champion nor the currently unbeaten Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Clemson Tigers.
Their opponents in the SEC Championship Game will likely know they are going to the Play Off if they enter that game unbeaten so there is pressure on Georgia to beat the Yellow Jackets and also snap a run of back to back home defeats to Georgia Tech.
It is a difficult game to prepare for because teams are simply not used to facing the triple option Offense the Yellow Jackets will run. This has already been a year of overachievement for Georgia Tech having finished with a losing record in two of the last three seasons, and they head to Samson Stadium with four straight wins behind them and they have won on their last two visits here for the first time in over sixty years.
TaQuon Marshall is back at Quarter Back and that means Georgia Tech should be confident running the triple option even against a strong SEC Defensive Line. They have shown in their last two visits to Georgia that they can break through the lines and give the Bulldogs all they can handle and more and there is simply no way you can really expect to completely shut down any Offensive unit like the one the Yellow Jackets.
What you can do is stall some drives and the Bulldogs have played the run well enough to think they can do that in this game. Forcing Marshall to have to throw the ball to move the chains will be seen as a big win for the Georgia Bulldogs and really swing the pendulum in their favour.
Running the ball should be something the Bulldogs are able to do with success in this game too and in recent games Georgia have been pounding the ball with huge efficiency. Last week Georgia were able to give their starting Running Backs a real rest as they blew out Massachusetts at home and that should mean the Bulldogs are ready to pound the rock in this one against a Georgia Tech Defensive Line which has not been able to stop the run as well as they would like.
The real difference between the teams is that Georgia are also very confident they can move the chains if they have to throw the ball with Jake Fromm likely going to play the majority of snaps in this one having also been given some time to rest last week. Fromm has not really played right up to the level that many hoped for him, but he has been good enough and the Bulldogs running the ball effectively will just open up the passing lanes for him.
This is a big spread on paper, but I do like Georgia to cover as they look to snap a two game home losing run to the Yellow Jackets. The motivation to do that can't be ignored and I think the Bulldogs will be the team who will make the bigger plays throughout this game which will allow them to pull clear.
The road team has been the team to back in this series over the years, but the favourite has moved to 5-2 against the spread in the last seven including a 31 point win for the Georgia Bulldogs on the road last season. Both teams have produced some strong numbers against the spread that have to be respected, but I think the home team have been in fine form over the last few weeks and can get the better of the talented, but one-dimensional Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Stanford Cardinal @ UCLA Bruins Pick: This may be Rivalry Week in College Football, but the UCLA Bruins will feel they have had their big moment when knocking off the USC Trojans at home in Week 12. Chip Kelly may not have had the immediate impact with the UCLA Bruins the fans would have hoped, but they have produced a 3-5 record in the Pac-12 after a really difficult start to the 2018 season and there is some momentum to take into the 2019 season.
The Bruins conclude the 2018 season on Saturday in Week 13 when they host the Stanford Cardinal who have had two weeks to prepare for this one. It was an unexpected Bye Week for the Cardinal whose game with the California Golden Bears was postponed until Week 14 due to the wildfires in California.
One more win for the Stanford Cardinal will guarantee a tenth consecutive winning season for the school and they will have three chances to do that with two regular season games and one Bowl Game to come. However the fewest number of games they have won in that time is eight and at the moment the Cardinal are just 6-4 in what has been an underwhelming season.
It might be off the back of a big game against the USC Trojans, but the UCLA Bruins have motivation as a defeat would leave them with their fewest wins in a season since 1989. They have already secured a third straight losing record for the first time since the mid-1960s, but the system is going to take time to take hold under Chip Kelly who had considerable success in the Pac-12 during his time as Head Coach of the Oregon Ducks before a couple of poor spells in the NFL.
There is a real reason to like both teams and their chances of moving the chains in this one with both the Cardinal and Bruins finding strong running behind their Offensive Lines. Neither is playing against a Defensive Line that have been able to clamp down on the run and that has become a problem for the Secondary of both teams with stops being hard to come by.
However if you were going to pick one of the Defensive units to step up you would have to favour the Stanford Cardinal. They have limited three of their last four opponents to 27 points or fewer and two of those teams failed to even break 20 points against the Cardinal while the UCLA Bruins have allowed at least 27 points in six straight games.
Having the effective Bye Week in Week 12 means the Cardinal are perhaps healthier than they would have been coming into Week 13 and the UCLA players have to pick themselves up from an emotional Fourth Quarter comeback to beat rivals USC last week while Stanford were resting.
Dealing with wins and not allowing that to get to your head is the next step Chip Kelly will want to take with UCLA. The Bruins are a very poor 5-16 against the spread in their last twenty-one games following a win and they are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight at home.
Stanford have some very positive trends in their favour including going 19-6-1 against the spread in their last twenty-six games when playing a team with a losing record. They have also dominated the Bruins in recent years and Stanford have covered in their last four visits to the Rose Bowl and I think the Cardinal can make one or two key stops that allows them to win this game by a Touchdown on the day.
South Carolina Gamecocks @ Clemson Tigers Pick: The situation is very clear for the Clemson Tigers and winning their final two games in the regular season would put them in the College Football Play Offs. First up is the Rivalry Game with the South Carolina Gamecocks before Clemson go into the ACC Championship Game in Week 14 and maintaining their unbeaten record would surely mean they are one of the four selections by the Play Off Committee.
Dropping one of their remaining two games would leave Clemson at risk of being left out, but they have looked like one of the best teams in the College Football ranks. The Tigers have been in dominant form ever since they scraped by the Syracuse Orange and they have won the six games since that one by at least 20 points per game.
They will be plenty motivated to take on the Gamecocks against whom Clemson are finishing the regular season for the first time since 2014. This is definitely a test to see where the Tigers stand against an SEC opponent who have suffered some very close losses to the likes of Florida Gators and Texas A&M Aggies in Conference play.
The most telling loss for the Gamecocks may be the one against the Georgia Bulldogs who beat South Carolina by 24 points in Columbia and that is the marker that most will have set for the Tigers. The layers expect even more with the huge number Clemson have been saddled with, but I do think the unbeaten ACC team can do enough to cover.
Travis Etienne figures to have another huge game running the ball for the Tigers and the balance on the Offensive side of the ball makes it very hard to stop the Clemson team moving the chains. Etienne has helped the Tigers produce over 350 rushing yards per game over their last three games and they have been able to rip off some large chunks on the ground which won't be something South Carolina want to hear with their Defensive Line struggling to stop the run in recent games.
I fully expect the Tigers to be able to move the ball on the ground and that should open things up for Trevor Lawrence at Quarter Back against the Gamecocks Secondary. It has been difficult enough for South Carolina to stop the pass, but that becomes all the tougher if Clemson are running the ball like they can and there won't be too many drives that end in Punts or Field Goals for the home team.
There has to be pressure on South Carolina to respond, but they are up against one of the better Defensive units in the College Football ranks. The Gamecocks have found some life from the passing game as Jake Bentley is playing with some real confidence, but it isn't going to be easy to do that against Clemson who have been able to clamp down on the run and force teams to throw the ball against them.
When opponents have begun to chase the game, Clemson have unleashed a fierce pass rush which has managed to bring down the opponent Quarter Back repeatedly and it will be a tough for Bentley to make the plays he has been.
South Carolina have lost four in a row in the series with this rival and it would be a huge upset if that sequence doesn't reach five games in Week 13. The home team and the favourite are now 4-1 against the spread in the last five between South Carolina and Clemson and the Tigers are playing with a real fire which has seen them blow out opponents in the last few weeks.
Asking them to cover this kind of number against a SEC team is a big challenge, but the Clemson Tigers have beaten South Carolina by 49 points when they last hosted them and they were 24 point winners on the road last season. They are playing with a point to prove at the moment and I don't think the Gamecocks will be able to match the scoring power of their hosts who can put a statement win on the board by surpassing the margin of win the Georgia Bulldogs had over the Gamecocks back in September.
Kentucky Wildcats @ Louisville Cardinals Pick: The first thing you have to acknowledge about College Football and the major difference between the College game and the Pro game is that a poor season isn't going to be costing players jobs. If you have a poor year in College Football it may affect your Draft position, but it is hard to motivate players who are not being paid to perform as it can be to motivate those in the NFL who are constantly playing for their jobs.
With that in mind it can be very difficult for a College Football team to turn things around when on a downward spiral, at least within that season. It has been the situation for the Louisville Cardinals who have not only dropped eight games in a row but have been blown out a number of times.
Bobby Petrino was fired as Head Coach before Week 12, but the Cardinals were beaten by 42 points last week against the NC State Wolf Pack. Louisville have lost their eight games but the last six have come by least 18 points per time and this Rivalry Week game gives the Kentucky Wildcats every chance of snapping their poor recent run against the Cardinals which has seen them lose six of seven to this school.
The Cardinals are going to putting up their first losing season since 2009, but Kentucky won't be feeling any sympathy for them as they round out the regular season. Head Coach Mark Stoops has turned around the school and Kentucky have had some big wins this season in the SEC even if they have fallen short of the Championship Game and they have already secured their third winning season in a row.
Kentucky are one win away from having their most wins in a single season since 1984 and they would love to put that on the board when they visit Cardinal Stadium. They have perhaps not been as strong Offensively as they would have liked once they headed into the SEC play, but Kentucky should be able to get uncorked in this one against the struggling Cardinals Defensive unit.
Benny Snell may be playing his last game for the Kentucky Wildcats in the regular season with suggestions he could leave before his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft. Snell has every chance of producing a huge game for the Wildcats against the Cardinals Defensive Line which has given up 333 yards per game on the ground in their last three games and those have come at an eye-watering 7.9 yards per carry.
It was Snell who provided most of the Offense for the Wildcats in the loss to the Cardinals last season and he looks set to surpass Kentucky's all-time rushing record held by Sonny Collins. If it is as good a day as it could be, Snell may actually do that here even though he needs over 200 yards on the ground to do that and it underlines how poor the Cardinals have been that it could happen in this game.
With the ground game struggling as it has been, teams have not needed to throw the ball against the Louisville Secondary and it is part of the reason their numbers are not so bad against the pass. The Wildcats may not need to throw the ball either, but play-action could see them make some plays downfield in this one if the Cardinals begin to load the box.
Louisville are likely going to be counting down to the end of the 2018 season which has been terrible all around. Malik Cunningham has been restored at Quarter Back and he could have some success running the ball against the Kentucky Defensive Line which has not been clamping down on the run in their last three games as they have for much of the season.
In saying that, the Wildcats are a very good Defensive unit and can be thankful to that side of the ball for the helping them reach eight wins already in the 2018 season. With Josh Allen finishing up his time with the Wildcats in the regular season before inevitably going to the NFL, the Wildcats will be motivated for one more huge game on that side of the ball and they should be able to slow down Louisville if they can force them into obvious passing situations.
The Kentucky pass rush figures to be the difference maker in this game and I think the motivation and energy is all on the Kentucky sidelines in this game which can help them cover a big number.
Too many times this season the Cardinals have fallen apart in games and there is every chance that could happen here as Allen leads the Kentucky Defense into making some big plays to turn the momentum in their favour.
It is not a familiar position for Kentucky to be favoured in Rivalry Week and that could play a part in this one. The Wildcats have some poor trends against non-Conference opponents, but the Cardinals have been pretty horrific when coming off big losses and they are 2-14 against the spread in their last sixteen when playing a team with a winning record.
I won't deny this has felt a big number when you think of the Offensive problems Kentucky have had, but the Louisville players have looked to have given up on the season for some time and that has led to a number of blow outs. The Wildcats may make some big Defensive plays to get into a position to hand out another one and I will back them to cover here.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ USC Trojans Pick: After twelve weeks of the regular season have been put in the books, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish know they are one win away from having their place punched into the College Football Play Offs for the first time. An unbeaten Fighting Irish would be tough to ignore by the Committee who have had them Ranked in the top four since the first release of the Play Off Rankings.
Some have suggested the lack of a Conference Championship would hurt Notre Dame, but I think that is only the case if they have one loss. In this case a defeat to the USC Trojans, who have a losing record, would likely mean they are knocked out of contention for the Play Offs and that means there is some pressure on the Fighting Irish as they head to California.
There should be motivation on the USC Trojans sideline to first off knock out a rival searching for a big season, but the Trojans are also looking for one more win which would earn them a Bowl Game. Last week they blew a Fourth Quarter lead against the UCLA Bruins who had won just two games through the regular season which suggests the Trojans are not interested in keeping Head Coach Clay Helton in his job nor wanting to play in a Bowl Game that won't have the same national interest as those USC aim for every season.
If the Trojans are beaten in Week 13 they are going to have their first losing season since 2000 and I don't think Helton is going to survive as Head Coach if that happens. After the performance against rivals UCLA in Week 12, it is hard to see how the Trojans are able to turn things around to beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish who have a Defensive unit that deserves a lot of respect.
Last week they shut down the powerful Syracuse Offense at Yankee Stadium, although Notre Dame were perhaps aided by the injury to Eric Dungey, the Orange Quarter Back. Even then it can't be ignored that none of the last seven teams faced by the Fighting Irish have not been able to score more than 23 points.
The Trojans can't really rely on any aspect of their Offensive unit to believe they are going to become the first to surpass that number of points since the end of September. The Fighting Irish are able to clamp down on the run and they then force teams to try and throw against a strong Secondary while dealing with the pass rush Notre Dame are able to generate.
It looks to be a big ask for JT Daniels who had a critical Fourth Quarter Interception in the loss to the Bruins in Week 12, a play that turned things against the Trojans. He is not going to be able to make plays any easier against one of the best Secondaries he would have seen in 2018 and Notre Dame will believe the Defensive unit puts them in a position to win this game.
The Defense gets plenty of attention for Notre Dame, but it may have been the decision to make Ian Book the starting Quarter Back which has really sparked this team. Book returned from an injury to have a strong game against Syracuse last week and he has been playing at a very high level while being backed up with a strong running game that has allowed the Fighting Irish to find balance Offensively and move the chains efficiently.
After seeing some of the lacklustre play from the Trojans last week against UCLA, I do think Notre Dame will be able to move the chains efficiently and the edge on both sides of the ball makes it difficult to oppose them.
USC have blown out Notre Dame the last two times they have hosted them, but this current version of the Trojans don't look up to the task. The favourite is 6-0 against the spread in the last six in this series and the Trojans have some really poor trends against the spread as they have dropped to 6-19-1 against the spread in their last twenty-six games overall.
The Fighting Irish have shown they can back up big wins by going 7-2-1 against the spread in their last ten games following a win by 20 points or more. They have everything on the line in this game at the Los Angeles Coliseum and I expect Notre Dame to show why they should be one of the Play Off teams with a very big win on the road.
MY PICKS: Iowa Hawkeyes - 8 Points @ 1.95 Betfair Sportsbook (1 Unit)
Memphis Tigers - 7 Points @ 1.85 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Texas Longhorns - 15 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Missouri Tigers - 23 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Oregon Ducks - 18 Points @ 1.91 Betfair Sportsbook (1 Unit)
UCF Knights - 14 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
West Virginia Mountaineers + 3.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Washington State Cougars - 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Ohio State Buckeyes + 5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Georgia Bulldogs - 17 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Stanford Cardinal - 6.5 Points @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)
Penn State Nittany Lions - 13.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Northwestern Wildcats - 16.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Alabama Crimson Tide - 24.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Clemson Tigers - 26 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Kentucky Wildcats - 16.5 Points @ 1.85 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Kansas State Wildcats + 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
LSU Tigers + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
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