College football Week 13: Best sneaky-good games of the week

With the first College Football Playoff rankings released, Week 13 provides an opportunity for teams on the fringes to make their cases to crack the top 25.

The Tuesday release of the 2020 season’s first College Football Playoff rankings offered few surprises for fans, but it once again became clear how much the committee values strength of schedule. Undefeated teams outside of the Power Five like BYU, Coastal Carolina, and Marshall all fell at least four spots from their AP rankings.

Frontrunners like Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, and Ohio State should be on every fan’s radar for the rest of the season, but the weekend slate offers plenty of entertainment value outside of these teams. With the regular season winding down, here are four games that fans should have on their radars for the long weekend.

Louisville at Boston College (-1)

Boston College hasn’t played since a November 14 loss to second-ranked Notre Dame, but the Eagles have shown some life in their first season under head coach Jeff Hafley. The passing offense has been prolific, but Louisville presents some style conflicts. The Cardinals have nearly double BC’s rushing yards through nine games and should be able to keep this one close despite their 3-6 record.

As Phil Jurkovec goes, so does Boston College; look for the transfer quarterback to establish his connection with speedy wideout Zay Flowers early. Ohio State transfer Jaelen Gill should also play a significant role after leading the team in receiving yards against the Irish. On the Louisville side, look for junior quarterback Malik Cunningham to do double duty as a runner and passer, especially considering a recent decision by lead back Javian Hawkins to opt-out.

Maryland at No. 12 Indiana (-11.5)

Indiana suffered its first loss a week ago when a comeback attempt against Ohio State fell short, but head coach Tom Allen’s team will look to get back on track this week against a Maryland team that hasn’t played in three weeks. After a blowout loss to Northwestern in the season opener, the Terrapins have rebounded nicely, winning their last two games.

The quarterbacks will dictate the flow of this game, and Taulia Tagovailoa needs to step up in a big way if he hopes to match Michael Penix Jr., who has gained traction as a darkhorse Heisman candidate with his strong play. The sophomore passed for nearly 500 yards against a talented Buckeyes defense and is flanked by a pair of superb wideouts in Ty Fryfogle and Whop Philyor.

Kent State at Buffalo (-7.5)

Buffalo and Kent State have both raced out to 3-0 starts, and Saturday’s matchup figures to have huge implications in the MAC East, likely putting the winner in the driver’s seat for the rest of the season. Both teams have shown an ability to score in bunches, with the Bulls topping 40 points in every game and the Golden Flashes breaking the 60-point barrier in each of their last two contests.

Running back Jaret Patterson is the man to watch for Buffalo, especially after a 300-yard, four-touchdown outburst against Bowling Green. The junior has over 500 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns through three games and should be a big part of the gameplay on Saturday. Kent State has shown an inability to contain the run this season, but an extremely balanced offense could give the Golden Flashes the edge.

Georgia Southern at Georgia State (+2)

Contrasting offensive styles will be on full display on Saturday when Georgia Southern faces off with Georgia State. While the Eagles are all-in on the ground game, the Panthers boast a balanced attack that should keep the visiting favorite guessing on the defensive end. While Georgia State can score with the best of the Sun Belt, the defense has given up the third-most points in the Sun Belt, putting the Panthers in the East division’s cellar.

Backfield strife has complicated the home stretch for the Eagles, with lead back J.D. King out for the season and replacement Wesley Kennedy III arrested on drug and weapons charges Tuesday, per the local ABC affiliate. Logan Wright figures to become the featured back, while quarterback Shai Werts likely maintains his usual role on the ground. For the Panthers, quarterback Cornelious Brown IV will likely bring some passing flair to a game that should otherwise be bereft of it.

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