It’s rivalry week, and we don’t have to wait until Saturday to see the crucial matchups with both the conference title and the College Football Playoff game. Friday’s seven-game slate featuring ranked teams opens with the two most important, featuring a pair of one-loss teams (Texas and Oregon) against in-state rivals trying to keep their CFP hopes alive.
Time: 7:30 pm ET | TV: ABC | Line: Texas -14 | Total: 52.5
Texas’ win clinched a spot in the Big 12 title game and went 11-1, keeping it in the playoff race. Texas Tech (6-5) is tied for fifth in the conference and is only playing the role of spoiler in a dismal season, although the Red Raiders are on a three-game winning streak.
Time: 8:30 pm ET | TV: Fox | Line: Oregon -13.5 | Total: 62.5
Oregon State’s Pac-12 title hopes may have been dashed by last week’s loss to Washington, but OSU can still upset its biggest rival in the final meeting before going to the Big Ten at Oregon. Oregon is 10-1 and will clinch a spot in the Pac-12 title game with a win over the Beavers. That then sets the stage for both a Pac-12 championship and a possible playoff run against Washington. Oregon’s CFP chances go out the window by losing the opposing game.