Week 13 Big Ten & SEC Preview: Ohio State Michigan and Florida Florida State Highlight the Weekend
In the thirteenth week of the college football season, members of the Florida Citrus Sports Team Selection Committee are making visits throughout Big Ten and SEC country, meeting with fans across both conferences in advance of the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on January 1.
#8 Ohio State at #10 Michigan – 12:00 p.m. on ABC
The Buckeyes (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) travel to Ann Arbor to take on rival Michigan (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten) in what ESPN has called the greatest North American sports rivalry. The Wolverines come into Saturday on a four game win streak, defeating Penn State 26-16 last week. In the victory over the Nittany Lions, Michigan QB Jake Rudock threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, adding to his total of 2,476 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season. Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott was held to just 33 yards in the Buckeyes loss to Michigan State last week, despite running for more than 100 yards in every other game this season. The loss snapped the Buckeyes 23-game win streak and left them desperate for a win and some help to reach the Big Ten title game.
#18 Ole Miss at #21 Mississippi State – 7:15 p.m. on ESPN 2
The Rebels (8-3, 5-2 SEC) travel to Starkville to face the Bulldogs (8-3, 4-3 SEC) in the 112th edition of the Egg Bowl. For just the sixth time in the game’s history both teams will enter the contest nationally ranked. The matchup will feature two of the league’s top quarterbacks in Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott and Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly. Prescott has thrown for 3,159 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, including 508 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s victory over Arkansas. Kelly currently leads the league in passing with 3,504 yards and 25 touchdowns on the year.
#13 Florida State at # 12 Florida – 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
In a battle of in-state and cross conference rivals, the Gators (10-1, 7-1 SEC) take on the Seminoles (9-2, 6-2 ACC) in the Swamp. Both teams have seen success this season with powerful defense and solid running games. While Florida State is out of contention for the ACC title, Fischer and his staff have placed an emphasis on beating the Gators and winning Florida’s ‘state title.’ The Gators have already clinched the SEC East and will play in the conference title game but a win against a top 15 Florida State team could help the Gators make a case for one of the four College Football Playoff spots.
Texas A&M at LSU – 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network
The Aggies (8-3, 4-3 SEC) face the LSU Tigers (7-3, 4-3 SEC) Saturday night in Baton Rouge. The Tigers are looking to get back on track after dropping three-straight to conference opponents. Despite the losses, LSU’s RB Leonard Fournette still leads the nation with 1582 yards and 17 touchdowns. Texas A&M is coming off a shut-out victory over Vanderbilt that was highlighted with 486 total offensive yards for the Aggies.
Other games this weekend:
Friday, November 27:
Missouri (5-6, 1-6 SEC) at Arkansas (6-5, 4-3 SEC) – 2:30 p.m.
#4 Iowa (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) at Nebraska (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten) – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 28:
#1 Clemson at South Carolina (3-8, 1-7 SEC) – 12:00 p.m.
Maryland (2-9, 0-7 Big Ten) at Rutgers (4-7, 1-6 Big Ten) – 12:00 p.m.
Georgia (8-3, 5-3 SEC) at Georgia Tech – 12:00 p.m.
Louisville at Kentucky (5-6, 2-6 SEC) – at 12:00 p.m.
Indiana (5-6, 1-6 Big Ten) at Purdue (2-9, 1-6 Big Ten) – at 12:00 p.m.
#16 Northwestern (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten) at Illinois (5-6, 2-5 Big Ten) – 3:30 p.m.
#2 Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC) at Auburn (6-5, 2-5 SEC) – 3:30 p.m.
Penn State (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) at #5 Michigan State (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten) – 3:30 p.m.
Wisconsin (8-3, 5-2 Big Ten) at Minnesota (5-6, 2-5 Big Ten) – 3:30 p.m.
Vanderbilt (4-7, 2-5 SEC) at Tennessee (7-4, 4-3 SEC) – 4:00 p.m.