Offsides College Football's Top 25+5: The Rivalry Weekend Showdown!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! With the turkey coma setting in, your host and Kalen are here to dive straight into the most crucial week of the season: Rivalry Weekend! This is where conference title hopes are made, playoff dreams are shattered, and the chaos of the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture reaches its peak.

The Biggest Rivalry Matchups

This episode focuses heavily on making predictions for the games that will directly impact the final Top 25 and the CFP selections.

• The Game: Ohio State at Michigan

  • An intense debate over who prevails in this historic rivalry. The host predicts an end to Michigan's win streak, highlighting Ohio State's methodical focus, deep running back corps, and strong defense.

  • Prediction: Ohio State wins by 7-10 points.

• Alabama at Auburn (The Iron Bowl):

  • Kalen sees a "perfect storm for an upset," arguing that Alabama is susceptible, has everything to lose, and faces a tough road environment. The host likes Alabama's focus under DeBoer.

  • Predictions: Kalen takes Auburn in a close upset; Host takes Alabama by 6.

• Texas A&M at Texas:

  • Texas needs this win for a possible CFP bid. The hosts weigh Texas A&M's speed against Texas's defense.

  • Prediction: Texas wins by 3.

• Oregon at Washington:

  • A historically difficult matchup for Oregon. The hosts debate whether the rivalry atmosphere gives Washington the edge or if Oregon's consistency will prevail.

  • Prediction: Oregon wins by 3 (Host); Washington (Kalen).

• Georgia at Georgia Tech:

  • After Georgia Tech’s unexpected collapse last week, the hosts discuss whether they can rebound for a rivalry upset or if Georgia's methodical approach secures their path to the SEC Championship.

Playoff Picture & Bold Predictions

With no Swami present, the hosts make their gut picks on who will be in or out when the dust settles:

• CFP Locks: The hosts agree that Ohio State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oregon are currently the most solid contenders, provided they win out.

• The SEC Mess: The Iron Bowl result is critical. A Bama loss creates massive upheaval, potentially boosting the chances for teams like Oklahoma (currently ranked 8th).

• The Gap: The hosts agree there is a definite gap in quality between Ohio State/Indiana and the rest of the Top 25, citing their dominant scorelines all season.

➕ Plus Five & Final Thoughts

• Quick picks for the "Plus Five" bonus games, including Wake Forest at Duke, Florida State at Florida, and the "battle of the bottom" between Maryland and Michigan State.

• A special shout-out to the Navy Midshipmen as they take on Memphis!

Don't forget to put in your picks on the Trim Radio Offsides page! Tune in next week when the Swami returns to break down the conference championships and the final CFP rankings. Happy Thanksgiving!