Bold Predictions for Week 14 - 2024 College Football

We may be back. Last week’s bold predictions column went 2-of-3, as Ohio State and Arizona State both delivered. Colorado -- not so much. 

This week is the most anticipated in any college football regular season: Rivalry week. This season’s highlight game is a rivalry renewed, as Texas travels to Kyle Field to play Texas A&M for the first time since 2011. That game, plus classics like Ohio State-Michigan and Alabama-Auburn, make up a fun slate that is sure to deliver.

Heading into the week, so many games hold so many implications. Whether conference championships are on the line or a playoff berth can crumble, some teams have even more than rivalries to play for this week. Let’s dig into this week’s bold predictions.

Georgia Tech Plays One-Possession Game On Friday Night

One of this week’s most overlooked games is in Athens on Friday night as Georgia Tech takes on Georgia. The Bulldogs are favored by 19 points, but I’m predicting that the pesky Yellow Jackets take this one down to the wire. 

The two-quarterback system with Haynes King and Aaron Philo has gotten the job done in recent weeks, as Georgia Tech upset Miami two weeks ago and has now won two straight. I’m not predicting that Tech will win this one, but I do think it ends up being a one-possession game.

South Carolina Thrashes Clemson, Sneaks Into CFP

With all of the talk around three-loss SEC teams after last week’s chaos, a team that already had three losses in South Carolina was a big winner. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has been an animal, and the Gamecocks have won five straight.

Their next test will be a tough one, as they travel to take on rival Clemson, but this team has been one of the hottest teams in football as of late. I like South Carolina to take care of business, and with a dominant win and more rivalry-week chaos, it sneaks into the playoff as the final team.

Arizona Further Muddies Big 12 Race

Arizona State was the big winner last week after upsetting BYU, but it now finds itself as the front-runner rather than the underdog as we enter rivalry week. Arizona, on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to play for. Even if it wins, it won’t make a bowl game at 5-7.

Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan reflects on his career in Tucson:

"It's been a blessing. Despite the season not going the way we planned it to go, shoot, I don't regret any decision I made…I'm here because I'm supposed to be here.”

(🎥 via @AZATHLETICS) pic.twitter.com/upqXwqEiAl

— AZ Band Cat Sports (@AZBandCatSports) November 25, 2024

As bad as they have been, the Wildcats still have the nation’s best receiver in Tetairoa McMillan. They still have a feisty quarterback in Noah Fifita, and they have absolutely nothing to gain. They’ll be playing solely for the love of the game, while the Sun Devils will have everything to lose. Give me Arizona in the upset of the week.

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