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PICKS, PICKS, PICKS - Week 13

From Dwayne, Willie and Donny, we want to wish everyone a safe, joyous and Happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for all of the readers of our website, listeners of the IN THE ZONE Sports Show on the Big Game Christian Sports Network, and all of our loved ones and friends who support us.

We are also thankful for good football this weekend. Those who play on campus have reached the last week of the regular season (except the Big 12) and there are quite a few matchups that have major implications on not only conference championships, but the College Football Playoff. Here are the reasons to watch games in these conferences:

American – In the East Division, Temple and South Florida head into the weekend with 6-1 records. The Owls pummeled the Bulls, 46-30 in October and if Temple beats East Carolina Saturday night, then it’s the school in Philadelphia headed to the championship game. An Owls loss and a South Florida win at home vs. Central Florida will put USF in the title game. Navy has clinched the West.

ACC – The Coastal Division will be decided between North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The two teams played earlier in the season with the Hokies winning in Chapel Hill. V-Tech controls their own destiny to Charlotte with a win vs. Virginia. UNC needs a win Friday vs. N.C. State, plus a Hokies loss to claim the division. A Tar Heel loss will give VT the berth in the championship before they take the field vs. Virginia on Saturday. Clemson won the Atlantic Division with last week’s win at Wake Forest.

B1G – Michigan wins the East Division with a win over Ohio State. If Ohio State wins, they’ll need Penn State to lose to Michigan State to win the East. If neither of these happen, the Nittany Lions go to Indianapolis. A Wisconsin win over Minnesota not only claims Paul Bunyan’s axe, but sends the Badgers to the title game in Indianapolis with the West Division championship. If Nebraska beats Iowa Friday and Minnesota beats Wisconsin, then the Cornhuskers will represent the West Division.

MAC – The winner of Toledo vs. Western Michigan will win the West Division and face Ohio in Detroit for the league title.

Pac-12 – In the North, it’s simple. The winner of the Apple Cup in Pullman, Wash. between Washington and Washington State will be the division champ. The South is a little more difficult, but only if Colorado can’t beat Utah. A Buffaloes win sends CU to Santa Clara. If Utah wins, USC will win the division by virtue of their win over Colorado earlier in the season.

In the FCS ranks, it’s Grambling vs. Southern in the 43rd edition of the Bayou Classic in New Orleans. The Tigers and Jaguars are both 8-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play and the winner will face Alcorn State in the league title game, Saturday, December 3 in Houston. The FCS playoffs also get underway this week as the 24-team field will matriculate down to the title game in Frisco, TX on Saturday, January 7. The North Dakota State Bison are aiming for their sixth consecutive championship.

Switching over to the pros, each game on Thanksgiving has important ramifications in both leagues. The winner of Minnesota at Detroit will be in first place in the NFC North, Washington looks to attempt to make a race of the NFC East as they battle Dallas who is going for a 10-game win streak and the Steelers and Colts want to make a push at a Wild Card spot in the AFC. Sunday’s action has the Falcons hosting the disappointing Cardinals, the Panthers in Oakland to face the AFC West leading Raiders and the other two teams in the West with 7-3 records square off in Denver as the Chiefs and Broncos renew acquaintances.

Enjoy your turkey, dressing, desserts and our picks for the week. Once again, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!