2019 College Football Week 14 Picks – Ohio State at Michigan & Alabama at Auburn: Rivalry Week is upon is, and for many of the top teams in the country, the success or failure of the entire 2019 College Football season comes down to what happens this weekend. There is no shortage of marquee matchups on tap in Week 14, but two stand out above the rest. Ohio State and Michigan will face off in “The Game” while Alabama and Auburn will meet in the Iron Bowl. Defeating a hated rival is victory enough for many teams, but for the Buckeyes and the Crimson Tide, a win also ensures that they stay in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation.
2019 College Football Week 14 Picks: Ohio State at Michigan & Alabama at Auburn
No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (-8) at No. 10 Michigan Wolverines
Arguably the biggest rivalry in college football will add another chapter to its storied history this weekend when the undefeated and top-ranked Buckeyes head north to take on the Wolverines in the Big House. Win or lose, Ohio State already knows it will be playing in the Big Ten Championship Game, but if the Buckeyes want to guarantee themselves a spot in the College Football Playoff, they have to stay perfect. On the other side, Michigan will look to complete a major in-season turnaround by getting head coach Jim Harbaugh his first win over OSU.
About a month ago, this game looked like a complete mismatch. Michigan was a trainwreck on offense. The Wolverines were embarrassed by Wisconsin, managed just 10 points in a win over Iowa and suffered another loss to Penn State. However, Michigan found an offensive identity in the second half of that loss to the Nittany Lions and have scored at least 38 points in the four games since then, smashing Notre Dame and Michigan State along the way.
Granted, the Buckeyes still hold an edge in nearly every statistical category, and with three Heisman candidates in quarterback Justin Fields, running back J.K. Dobbins and defensive end Chase Young, they might be the most dominant team on both sides of the ball in the country. Ohio state is averaging 49.4 points per game on offense while allowing just 10.5 points per game. The Buckeye are also piling up 300-plus more yards of offense per game than opponents.
I don’t think there is a doubt that the Buckeyes have more talent, but they also have all the pressure in this matchup. Meanwhile, the Wolverines will have the home crowd and a chance to ruin their rival’s championship aspirations. Plus, quarterback Shea Patterson has found his footing in this offensive system, allowing Michigan’s long, athletic receivers to showcase their skills. I think there will be big-play opportunities down the field against an Ohio State secondary that likes to trust its corners to defend one-on-one on the outside.
I’d be more than comfortable going with the Wolverines to pull off the outright upset, and I’ll certainly take the points.
Prediction: Michigan Wolverines (+8) Cover the Spread
No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide (-3.5) at No. 15 Auburn Tigers
The College Football Playoff selection committee’s favorite team goes on the road this weekend to take on their biggest rival in the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide aren’t in the running for the SEC title, but with a win over the Auburn Tigers, Nick Saban’s bunch will be very much alive for a spot in the playoffs. We’ve already seen that the committee will take a one-loss Alabama team that didn’t even win its own division over a one-loss, Power 5 conference champ, but a loss to Auburn would be the final nail in the Crimson Tide’s coffin.
In terms of offensive firepower, the Crimson Tide had a sizeable edge prior to the injury to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Alabama still has more weapons on offense, but backup Mac Jones is about to face the toughest test to date. Can he still get the ball to all of the Crimson Tide’s playmakers with Auburn’s nasty defense putting the heat on him? For their part, the Tigers have to prove they can get their ground game going against an Alabama defense that is still tough despite a myriad of injuries.
Yes, the Tigers come into this matchup with three losses, but that doesn’t quite tell the whole story. Auburn lost by 11 on the road to Florida, lost by three to LSU on the road and lost by a touchdown at home to Georgia. For the record, all three of those teams are ranked in the top eight nationally, and two are currently positioned to make the playoff. The Tigers also held LSU’s seemingly unstoppable offense to a season-low 23 points, 13 points less than then any other opponent.
Auburn’s defense is tough on any offense, and the Tigers are going to make life miserable for Jones. There have been some elite Crimson Tide teams that have come into Jordan-Hare and left with a loss, and this year’s group is missing a Heisman-caliber quarterback. Auburn is going to have its own issues putting points on the board, but at the end of the day, I’ll take the Tigers’ defense and the home crowd to grind out a win in a low-scoring game.
Prediction: Auburn Tigers (+3.5) Cover the Spread
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