There’s no debate anymore: The Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0 SU, 5-6 ATS) are the best team in college football. But the Tide could lose more than just their No. 1 status when they visit the No. 6 Auburn Tigers (9-2 SU, 5-4-2 ATS) this Saturday in the 82nd edition of their Iron Bowl rivalry game, kicking off at 3:30 PM ET on CBS. If the Tigers pull off the upset as 5-point home dogs over the Crimson Tide, they’ll play Georgia next week for the SEC title – and possibly knock Alabama out of the College Football Playoff.
The Iron Bowl isn’t the only important game coming up on the Week 13 NCAAF odds board. Here are four more critical matchups to watch for this Saturday, all times Eastern:
No. 9 Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines (noon, FOX)
It’s simply called The Game, and if the Buckeyes (9-2 SU, 5-6 ATS) want to stay in the CFP hunt, they’ll need a win in Ann Arbor against the hungry Wolverines (8-3 SU, 4-6-1 ATS). Ohio State is a 12.5-point favorite at press time, up from –11 when the first lines hit the college football betting board.
No. 3 Clemson Tigers at No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks (7:30 PM, ESPN)
The Tigers (10-1 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) have already punched their ticket to the ACC Championship Game against No. 2 Miami, but a loss to South Carolina (8-3 SU, 6-3-2 ATS) in the Palmetto Bowl would be devastating to their CFP chances. The defending National Champions are 14-point favorites on the NCAAF lines.
No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 21 Stanford Cardinal (8 PM, ABC)
A berth in one of the major New Year’s Day bowls is at stake for the Irish (9-2 SU, 7-4 ATS), and they’re favored by 2.5 points at Stanford Stadium. The Cardinal (8-3 SU, 4-6-1 ATS) have to make sure they don’t get caught watching the scoreboard for the final game on our list.
No. 13 Washington State Cougars at No. 17 Washington Huskies (8 PM, FOX)
If the Cougars (9-2 SU, 7-4 ATS) pull off the Apple Cup upset as 10-point road dogs, they’ll vault over Stanford in the North Division and play No. 11 USC next week for the Pac-12 title. If the Huskies (9-2 SU, 6-5 ATS) get the win, the Cardinal will move on to face the Trojans.
*Odds as of November 24, 2017