CFB Preview: Week 13 Games That Have Experts Torn
With this being the last Saturday of the college football regular season, I am pumped for some close games. And although we are almost guaranteed to see some nail-biters and upsets, many football experts are aligned with who’s expected to come out on top. However there are two games that have many experts and football fans alike puzzled on who will come out on top. These are the games that are striking my curiosity to have on as the primary games to watch this Saturday, 11/27/2021.
Florida State at Florida
First up, we have the Florida State Seminoles versus the Florida Gators on ESPN at 9:00am Pacific. This is a match-up we missed last season due to COVID-19, but is back this year to wrap up the season. Both teams have a 5-6 record, and with the popularity of both programs, the winner can expect to go to a low-level bowl game, but of course for the loser, this will be the last game.
Despite one team slated to play their last game, both teams have star power on defense that are likely to continue playing and go early in the NFL draft. Expect for Florida Cornerback, Kaiir Elam, and Defensive Lineman, Zach Carter, to make the day challenging for Florida State Quarterback, Jordan Travis. Travis has of course been doing a great job taking care of the ball these last two week in victories over Miami at Boston College, but he is bound to take a few sacks given Florida’s size up front. Florida Quarterback, Emory Jones, will also have his work cut out for himself looking out for Florida State Defensive End, Jermaine Johnson. Of course Jones has the ability to scramble and should be able to get some positive yardage, rather than just taking a bunch of sacks.
I expect for both teams to feel that a victory is always within reach throughout the game with a couple big plays. But in the end, the Florida Gator should rally as they typically do in this match-up, and win 35 to 21.
Northwestern at Illinois
Next up, we have the last game of the season for the Northwestern Wildcats and the Illinois Fighting Illini at 12:30pm Pacific on the Big Ten Network.
Neither team’s record reflects that they had a good season, but the Fighting Illini have had some triumphant moments, heading to Penn State and Minnesota, and coming out victorious. Meanwhile, the Wildcats have struggled all season long, with a lone conference win against Rutgers early in the season.
Although this is a game that Northwestern has emerged the winner every year since 2014, this is a way better Fighting Illini team that doesn’t give up, and a Wildcat team that accepted their fate early on.
Given that this is a rivalry game, we can of course expect the Wildcats to make things challenging for the Fighting Illini. Especially with Wildcats star Safety Brandon Joseph in the game ready to force Brandon Peters to throw some more interceptions.
In the end, I expect this is the year that Illinois pulls out another close win this season, flipping the script in this rivalry and winning the game 24 to 17.