American Thanksgiving means a lot of football on Thursday and Friday. Most Canadians know about the traditional Thanksgiving day games in Detroit and Dallas, but a lot of people don't know that many rivalry games in NCAA football are saved for Thanksgiving weekend. Many of these games will have bowl implications and Friday's action has a lot of national championship implication. I wanted to take a look at the three big matchups on Friday that involved the Top 3 teams in the BCS.
#2 Auburn Tigers (+4) vs. #9 Alabama Crimson Tide
There's so little to choose from between these two schools. According to the pre-season predictions, Alabama was supposed to be in the position of Auburn and competing for a national championship and Auburn was supposed to be in the position of Alabama having a nice season but being relegated to a New Year's Day bowl game. However, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton has changed everything and will be counted on to lead auburn to victory in their most dangerous regular-season game.
I'm pretty confident in taking Auburn here because even if they lose, I expect the game to be a very close and competitive contest. I think they'll win though and the talk about Cam Newton winning the national championship and the Heisman as a possible ineligible player will continue.
#20 Arizona Wildcats (+19) vs. #1 Oregon Ducks
The Ducks are trying to desperately hold on to one of the top 2 BCS spots for a chance to play for the national championship, but they have a stiff test ahead of them with Arizona coming to town on Friday night. Everyone knows about how strong Oregon's offence is as they average 51 points a game, but a lot of people may fall into the trap of underestimating what Arizona is going to bring to the table.
The Wildcats have averaged 40 points a game in their last four contests and boast a high-ranking defence as well. Arizona is ranked No. 20 nationally in total defense, allowing an average 319.3 yards, and 14th in run defense, allowing 112.9. There's also the idea of Arizona desperately wanting to play spoiler for their fellow Pac-10 member. Oregon ultimately wins, but it will stay within three touchdowns.
#3 Boise State Broncos (-14.5) vs. #19 Nevada Wolfpack
I really thought that Fresno State would give the Broncos a tough test at home last week and give them a scare as Boise tries to sneak its way into the national championship game. After watching a 51-0 beating in its entirety, I'm thoroughly convinced now that the Broncos are for real and would match up well against anyone in a national title game.
They have their toughest test of the season tomorrow night against the Wolfpack as Nevada offers up an offence that's just as dynamic as Boise's. To me though, it's not even about what each other's offences can put up, but rather what their defences look like and that's where Nevada can't hang. Boise State is tops in the country in rushing yards allowed at 72, second in the country at total defence allowing only 229 yards and second in points allowed averaging 11.5 a game. Boise wins again and the debate rages on about the BCS vs. a playoff system.