College Five Week 13: Hate Week

The week when every college plays their hated rival for dominance over an object, state line or bragging rights that extend over generations of fans. This week produces some of the best games and upsets in all of college football, along with some of the finest moments in sports. Each year this is the highlight, the Christmas of sports.

In the best weekend of sports, these are the top games to watch.

Honorable Mentions (mostly because we got to this after the games started):

Yes, there are too many great games to go just five, let me draw your attention to six and forgive me if you are a fan of any of the other great games I had to leave out.

Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate: (7) Georgia Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Saturday at 9:00 am

First: Great name. Second: This reeks of a trap game. The Bulldogs are fresh off a bad loss, but still a lock for the conference title. They are already looking ahead to Alabama or Auburn. Now they have to head out, on the road, to face a Yellow Jackets team that has mastered the triple option. They can knock the Bulldogs back while their are down and lucid. Georgia Tech averages 219.3 rushing yards per game, which is coming from a lot of different places and incredibly hard to defend.

Prediction: Georgia Tech wins 31-24

The Game: Michigan Wolverines vs. (9) Ohio State Buckeyes, Saturday at 9:00 am

This is one of the games in which both sides really, viscerally hate each other. While the stage is huge, Michigan has played poorly, and is 1-5 against both Michigan State and the Buckeyes since Jim Harbaugh has taken over.

The Buckeyes will throw the ball plenty against a stout Wolverines front seven, as J.T. Barrett puts on a show while trying to get to the playoff by winning the conference. It will not come down to a sketchy call to end the game, as Barrett puts up stats.

Prediction: Ohio State wins 38-20

4 - (8) Notre Dame vs (21) Stanford Cardinal, Saturday at 5:00 pm While the Cardinal have been scraping out wins, the Irish showed who they really are after their thumping from Miami. When Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush starts to feel the moment, he turns over the football. The secondary of the Cardinal will create turnovers thanks to ball hawk safety Justin Reid and Stanford back Bryce Love will grind out the ball on the ground.

Prediction: Stanford wins 27-21

3 - The Palmetto Bowl: (3) Clemson Tigers vs. (24) South Carolina Gamecocks, Saturday at 4:30 pm

The Gamecocks are a quiet 8-3 team that has been solid throughout the season, but while they have put together a nice year the offense only manufactures 25 points per game. Now they face a Tigers team that has racked up 39 sacks this season and will be the dominant force in this game.

The entire game will be controlled by the front line of the Tigers, which also have racked up 93 tackles for loss and only allowing 116.5 rushing yards per game. The analysis about the different offenses can be talked about, but the entire game will be decided in the trenches. An area Clemson will dominate.

Prediction: Clemson wins 41-20

2 - The Apple Cup: (13) Washington State Cougars vs. (17) Washington Huskies, Saturday at 5:00 pm

The Huskies have dominated this rivalry 71-32-6 all-time against the Cougars, a team that has self-destructed since their solid start with a statement win over USC. While Washington has their problems, Cougars quarterback Luke Falk has not played at an elite level and the team has struggled to convert in the red zone. Out of 51 red zone trips, the Cougars have only scored touchdowns on 30 trips.

The Huskies have a great duo in quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin, a combination that has 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns at home. They will be rolling again in this one.

Prediction: Washington wins 45-37

1 - The Iron Bowl: (1) Alabama Crimson Tide vs. (6) Auburn Tigers, Saturday at 12:30 pm

The game that could potentially define who is vying for the title, with a surprisingly solid Tigers team coming to the forefront of the national spotlight after their win against Georgia. Now a menacing front seven is going against an Alabama team missing a right tackle.

On the other side, Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson has gone for 1,172 yards and 16 touchdowns, while the Tide are down all four starting linebackers. It is also a home game for Auburn, and after the run they have had to finish out the season, the game has a kick-sixy feeling all over it. The added bonus is that the Tigers have a non fear factor, they really believe that they are better than Alabama. It seems like a little thing, but the Tigers will never be out of this game, even if the Tide come out strong the Tigers will hang around and be right there for the steal of a victory.

Prediction: Auburn wins 33-28