Bold College Football Predictions: Surprises in Notre Dame, Texas

We’ve reached the second-to-last weekend of the college football regular season, and everything is on the line for the teams they’ve been building for months.

Whether it’s a spot in the College Football Playoff or a spot in conference championship games, there’s pressure to perform. This pressure can lead to unlikely results.

Some of the surprise candidates include Ohio State, Arizona State, Texas and Notre Dame. Will these be the surprises that happen or will they happen somewhere else in the country on Saturday?

That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Dan Wolken give their bold predictions for Week 14 of the college football season:

Alabama finds offense and beats Auburn again

Last season, Alabama needed Jalen Milroe’s touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond on fourth-and-31 against Auburn with less than a minute left to pull out an improbable win and its fourth straight win in the series. Speaking of unlikely, these are Alabama’s chances of making the playoffs after last week’s pathetic performance against Oklahoma, and they quickly figured out that Milroe runs the ball to quarterback keepers and throws the ball exclusively to Ryan Williams as a whole Offensive program doesn’t work to cut it.

Auburn has its own pride to play for, as well as bowl eligibility, and is riding high after its four-overtime home win over Texas A&M last week. The Tigers’ trash talk was deeper and bolder, especially after watching the Sooners dismantle their hated rivals, but in this case, Alabama will do what it always does: find a way to win and the Auburn toilet paper. Keep fans where they belong (the bathroom) and let them sit at home during the offseason. – Scooby Axson

WHAT TO WATCH: The Texas-Texas rivalry takes center stage in the top games of Week 14

WEEKEND FORECAST: Expert picks for every Top 25 game in Week 14

Colorado somehow makes it to the Big 12 title game

Pretty much anyone can win the Big 12 before the regular season finale, but which two teams will make it to the conference title game? One of them will be Coach Prime.

Despite the tough loss to Kansas, Colorado still has a chance to reach the Big 12 Championship game, although it needs some help. The Buffaloes can only watch on Saturday after defeating Oklahoma State on Friday. They face a loss from either Arizona State, Brigham Young and Iowa State or a chaos scenario with a BYU loss and a Texas Tech win against West Virginia. It’s a lot of math, but Saturday benefits Colorado and solidifies it as one of the teams playing for the conference crown – and a playoff spot – next Saturday at AT&T Stadium. – Jordan Mendoza

Arizona spoils Arizona State’s chance at the Big 12 title

Arizona upsets Arizona State and ends the year on a high note, while likely knocking the Sun Devils out of the running for the Big 12 title game and a playoff spot. The Wildcats have won two straight in the series, including 59-23 a year ago. However, this would be a big surprise: While Arizona State is climbing in the playoff rankings, the Wildcats have lost six of seven games, with their only win coming against Houston. – Paul Myerberg

Texas A&M travels to Texas to reach the SEC title game

You take one of the hottest rivalries in college football and let it go dormant for 13 years because one school decided not to play in the same league as the other. Then that other school joins the same league and their first meeting takes place, with a spot in the conference championship on the line. This is the scenario for Texas A&M hosting Texas after the Aggies forfeited the Longhorns and the Big 12 in favor of the SEC. The atmosphere in College Station should be electric. Texas looked vulnerable on the road in its two conference games. The Aggies took advantage of the home crowd to secure a memorable win that would give them bragging rights for at least a year. – Erick Smith

Tough day for Clemson with the loss at South Carolina and the win at Miami

It’s going to be a tough Saturday for Clemson fans. The day will start badly if the Tigers lose to arch-rival South Carolina.

But then it gets even worse. Regardless of the outcome of the Palmetto Showdown, the Tigers could still be playing for the ACC title if Miami falls at Syracuse later this afternoon. But the Clemson faithful will be disappointed again, and in the most excruciating way, when the Hurricanes pull off an error-filled affair in the Dome in the final minutes as Cam Ward leads a game-winning drive. –Eddie Timanus

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Bold College Football Predictions: Surprises in Notre Dame, Texas

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