Front Seven: This weekend's best college football games

The Front Seven can find a good tune for any occasion.

1. Sweet Home Alabama: It is hardly surprising that the Iron Bowl, hosted this time around by No.1 Alabama against archrival No. 16 Auburn, has SEC championship and national playoff implications. But unlike last year when Auburn prevailed on the now legendary 'kick-six' play, the Tigers can only play spoiler. The Crimson Tide need only win on their home field to secure a spot next week in the SEC finale in Atlanta. But even if a Mississippi State loss earlier in the day secures the division for them without taking the field, they'll have motivation enough to give their best effort against the Tigers.

Alabama fans breathed a sigh of relief with the news that standout WR Amari Cooper's knee injury he sustained early in last week's Western Carolina tune-up was not serious. He should be available for QB Jake Sims, giving him the field stretcher he needs to keep the running lanes clear for TB T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry.

The Auburn defense hasn't exactly been airtight, but CB Jonathan Jones is a takeaway threat. The news likely wasn't as good for the Tigers' top pass catcher, WR D'haquille Williams, whose return from a knee injury is unlikely. It will be up to WR Sammie Coates to provide a comparable deep target for QB Nick Marshall as he directs the Auburn spread. Crimson Tide LB Reggie Ragland and S Landon Collins don't figure to yield much on the ground to Marshall or TB Cameron Artis-Payne.

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Alabama Crimson Tide running back T.J. Yeldon (4) runs against Auburn during last season's game.(Photo: John Reed, USA TODAY Sports)

2. Sugar Magnolia: Few suspected prior to the start of the season that the Egg Bowl in the neighboring Magnolia State would figure just as prominently as the Iron Bowl in the playoff picture.

Around mid-October it was looking like both No. 4 Mississippi State and host No. 19 Ole Miss would be in the title hunt. But despite their defining win against Alabama, the Rebels faded down the stretch, due in part to an ill-timed and costly injury to top WR Laquon Treadwell on the critical play in their loss to Auburn. QB Bo Wallace has since made more use of WR Vince Sanders, but the absence of his most reliable target has made it harder for him to overcome mistakes that still plague him.

Bulldogs DE Preston Smith will be trying to force him into a few more. Miss State QB Dak Prescott couldn't quite complete the comeback at Alabama that might have made him the Heisman frontrunner. Though he turned in a productive day next time out against Vanderbilt, the Ole Miss defense more closely resembles that of the Tide with sure tacklers like LB Serderius Bryant and S Cody Prewitt on patrol. But Bulldogs TB Josh Robinson and WR De'Runnya Wilson know how to find holes for Prescott to use.

3. Georgia on My Mind: No. 15 Georgia Tech already has a date with Florida State next week in Charlotte for the ACC championship. By the time No. 9 Georgia takes the field against the Yellow Jackets for Saturday's rivalry game, the Bulldogs, too, will know if their calendar will be booked next week (more on that below).

In any case, Georgia will be going for its 13th win in the series against the Ramblin' Wreck in 14 tries since Mark Richt took over in Athens. The last few weeks have been bitter-sweet for Georgia, which regained the services of suspended star TB Todd Gurley in time for a huge win against Auburn only to lose him late in that contest to a season-ending knee injury.

Though freshman TB Nick Chubb has done the job well, LB Paul Davis and the Tech defensive front will likely want to make Bulldogs' QB Hutson Mason prove he can deliver in the clutch. Yellow Jackets QB Justin Thomas has been sharp at the controls of coach Paul Johnson's option attack. He and RB Zach Laskey will force Bulldogs' LBs Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson to be sound in their gap responsibilities. WR DeAndre Smelter provides enough of an aerial presence to keep opposing secondaries honest.

4. Walking on Sunshine:

Florida State Seminoles cornerback Ronald Darby (top) celebrates after defensive back Jalen Ramsey (bottom) made an interception during the fourth quarter against Miami Hurricanes at Sun Life Stadium.(Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports)

On the surface, No. 2 Florida State would appear to have little to gain and nearly everything to lose as it prepares to host this round of the Sunshine State showdown with Florida. The Gators are just hoping to salvage a difficult season and send outgoing coach Will Muschamp off with one defining victory.

But the Seminoles, already slated to play Georgia Tech next week for the ACC title, could actually do themselves some good. A decisive win - something that has been uncommon for them this season - could enhance the playoff committee's perception of them and, ergo, their potential seed.

All that said, however, QB Jameis Winston could struggle early once again as he challenges the Florida defense, which has been the team's strength all season. Among those Winston would do well to avoid are Gators LB Antonio Morrison and DE Dante Fowler as he tries to spring WR Rashad Greene and emerging star TB Dalvin Cook. Freshman Treon Harris will be available to start at QB for the Gators, but Seminoles LB Reggie Northrup and S Jalen Ramsey will look to counter his mobility.

5. I Got You Babe: Well, a famous blue ox is not part of the trophy package as No. 22 Minnesota visits No. 14 Wisconsin in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. But something even bigger is at stake as the winner will claim the Big Ten West and earn a date with Ohio State for the conference crown.

The Badgers, notwithstanding a puzzling slip-up against Northwestern, were expected to be in this position. Only the most optimistic of Golden Gophers fans could have anticipated their team's success this year, and a win in Madison would complete a sweep of their traditional trophy games. A concern for Minnesota was the status of standout TB David Cobb, who left last week's signature win at Nebraska with a slight hamstring injury, but he expects to be ready. If he can go at full speed, he and the Badgers' sensational TB Melvin Gordon will try to produce their own highlight reel.

The Wisconsin offense has a bit more flexibility if rotating QBs Joel Stave and Tanner McEvoy are both able to perform their roles. McEvoy's running ability in particular will keep Gophers LB Damien Wilson alert when he takes the snaps. Minnesota QB Mitch Leidner, with plenty of help from TE Maxx Williams, has done enough to keep the sticks moving and keep Cobb's lanes clear. He must be error-free on the road against S Michael Caputo and the Badgers' secondary.

6. Show Me the Way: The Friday lineup on this holiday weekend has numerous games of interest as well. Of primary interest to playoff watchers will be Arkansas's trip to the Show-Me State to take on No. 17 Missouri. The Tigers cleared one hurdle last week at Tennessee and must now take care of the Razorbacks at home to earn a return trip to the SEC title game. That, however, is a taller order than it appeared just a few weeks ago with Arkansas fresh off back-to-back shutouts of LSU and Ole Miss.

LB Martrell Speight is making an excellent case for All-America recognition as the centerpiece for the Razorbacks' stoppers. Mizzou QB Maty Mauk must find him quickly as he distributes the ball among TB Russell Hansbrough and WRs Bud Sasser and Darius White.

The Arkansas offense isn't quite as far along, and the group might be without starting QB Brandon Allen. He's questionable with an ankle injury, so it might be up to younger brother Austin Allen to direct the attack. Whichever Allen is behind center, Mizzou LBs Kentrell Brothers and Michael Scherer will be primarily concerned with containing TBs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins, who have combined for 1,978 rush yards and 23 TDs.

7. Desert Rose: As No. 12 Arizona hosts No. 13 Arizona State for the Territorial Cup Friday, fans of both archrivals will be keeping an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard to see if even more than the trophy is on the line. The answer will be yes if UCLA stumbles against Stanford in the same time slot. Should the Bruins lose, the winner between the Wildcats and Sun Devils will meet Oregon for the Pac-12 championship in a week.

Arizona QB Anu Solomon (ankle) is questionable after spending the second half of last week's win at Utah on the sidelines. Back-up Jesse Scroggins is a senior who is familiar with coach Rich Rodriguez's scheme in case he is needed, and TB Nick Wilson is a terrific weapon out of the backfield as well. They must all watch out for S Damarious Randall, the big-play man for the Sun Devils' defense. ASU QB Taylor Kelly for his part has more to worry about than Wildcats' LB Scooby Wright.

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There's also veteran S Tra'Mayne Bondurant, who will likely spend much of the day doubling up on Kelly's primary WR Jaelen Strong. All-purpose TB D.J. Foster could be a difference maker for the Sun Devils.

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