College football TV/streaming schedule guide, Week 12: MSU-Bama tops loaded Saturday

Weeknight games have been removed from this guide, for your convenience. As this was written on Tuesday, rankings used are the AP poll’s, not the College Football Playoff committee’s. However, they are similar.

Best option: No. 18 Clemson at No. 24 Georgia Tech

Spread: Clemson -3
Read: Shakin’ the Southland, From the Rumble Seat

This just might have major bowl ramifications; if FSU wins out, it’s a virtual lock for the Playoff, which means the Orange Bowl will have to pick a replacement for its ACC representative. Both of these two have just two losses on the season, and while neither’s a likely pick to win its division, the luxury of avoiding an ACC Championship loss might keep the victor high enough in the rankings to merit a look from the committee.

Plan B: Virginia Tech at No. 19 Duke

Speaking of winning a division in the ACC, Duke’s in stellar position in the Coastal at 8-1 (4-1). Tech has been maddeningly inconsistent all year and has to win two of its last three games to even qualify for a bowl. One of the hallmarks of David Cutcliffe’s rebuilding job at Duke is that his Blue Devils generally don’t lose games like these; the last time they dropped a game to a team that finished with a losing record was in 2011, to 6-7 Wake Forest.

Keep it in mind: South Carolina at Florida

Believe it or not, Florida’s still technically alive in the SEC East race, though it needs everything to break its way. Elimination from the SEC race will probably seal Will Muschamp’s fate, and if that’s the case, who better than the ol’ ball coach himself, Steve Spurrier, to deliver the killshot? Also, we’re setting the over/under on fans that beg Spurrier to come back to Gainesville at “all of them.”

In case of emergency: No. 8 Ohio State at Minnesota

Minnesota did just dumptruck Iowa, and the Gophers are still tied with Nebraska and Wisconsin atop the Big Ten West at 4-1. Is the big upset coming? No, lord no. Don’t believe that. If you dream, you only give Urban Meyer and company something precious to crush.

Best option: No. 1 Mississippi State at No. 5 Alabama

Spread: Alabama -7.5
Read: For Whom The Cowbell Tolls and Roll Bama Roll

Plan B: No. 11 Nebraska at No. 22 Wisconsin

Keep it in mind: Georgia Southern at Navy

Yes, there are other ranked games going on. But we urge you to consider this game. It’s only the No. 1 rushing team in the nation at the No. 2 rushing team in the nation. GSU and Navy combine to rush for over 700 yards per game, and if there’s any reason why they can’t do that this week, it’s that each team’s defense sees this stuff in practice so often. But goodness, if you enjoy triple option football, this should be borderline pornographic.

In case of emergency: No. 5 TCU at Kansas

You’re a monster.

Best option: No. 2 Florida State at Miami

Spread: FSU -1.5
Read: Tomahawk Nation and State of the U

Plan B: No. 9 Auburn at No. 16 Georgia

Hey, it’s a former conference title contender that just took a rough loss last week and is now staring down a major potential letdown game! Auburn’s got to regroup after a disastrous showing at home against Texas A&M, and if Georgia takes the Tigers down, that’ll just about do it for any major bowl considerations.

Keep it in mind: No. 12 Michigan State at Maryland

Hey, it’s a former conference title contender that just took a rough loss last week and is now staring down a major potential letdown game! Michigan State’s got to regroup after a disastrous showing at home against Ohio State, and if Maryland takes the Spartans down, that’ll just about do it for any major bowl considerations.

In case of emergency: No. 20 LSU at Arkansas

Hey, it’s a former conference title contender that just took a rough loss last week and is now staring down a major potential letdown game! LSU’s got to regroup after a late collapse at home against Alabama, and if Arkansas takes the Tigers down, that’ll just about do it for any major bowl considerations.