College Football Picks for Week 13: B/R Experts' Predictions for Top 5 Games

Twelve weeks. Hundreds of games. They've all led up to this week: Rivalry Week in college football. It's cliche to say you can throw the records out the window this week, but in some cases, it's definitely true. While it's the biggest week of the year because of the longstanding hatred between many of these teams and their fanbases, it's also the biggest week of the year because each one of these games will have an eventual impact on the college football playoff in some way. 

It's go time, kids. Buckle up. Here's a little insight into the top five games of Rivalry Week:

B/R

The first game on the slate will be on Friday, as Baylor travels to TCU to take on the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth. This was the game that everyone had circled on their calendars before the season began, thinking it would feature two unbeaten teams playing the de facto Big 12 title game.

Things haven't played out that way, as TCU has been ravaged by injuries, and Baylor has lost not one, but two quarterbacks for the year. While the Bears still have an outside shot at a playoff berth, it'll be a tall task for third-stringer Chris Johnson to go into hostile territory and take down a still-very-talented TCU team led by Trevone Boykin. Instead of going shopping on Friday, watch this game.

The Florida-Florida State rivalry is one of the most bitter in college football. Traditionally, both teams are vying for a national championship. That might not be the case this season, as the 'Noles have two losses, and one-loss Florida has been the epitome of winning ugly lately. Still, this should be a competitive game. And while remote, the Gators can stake claim to a playoff spot by beating FSU and pulling an upset over Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Stopping Dalvin Cook has been a chore for everyone this season, but facing a pumped-up Florida side in The Swamp is a tall task for anyone. 

Notre Dame and Stanford are not rivals in the traditional sense as some of the other matchups here. But it's one that's featured some great games in the last decade. This year's edition should not disappoint, either.

Irish QB DeShone Kizer leads a team that survived an upset bid from Boston College last week, and he must do a much better job of taking care of the ball. The Cardinal are sill in pursuit for a Pac-12 championship and have remote playoff aspirations, but it's safe to say that whichever team loses this battle is effectively out of contention. That should make for a bunch of fired-up kids, desperate to make a play in what should be a high-scoring affair. 

Bedlam is always a fun game, as bitter rivals Oklahoma and Oklahoma State square off. But this year, the rivalry game carries even more importance, as Oklahoma now sits at No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings. If it wins this game, many believe the Sooners will have a spot in the championship tourney.

But don't forget about the Cowboys! They have the same record as their in-state rivals and could claim the Big 12 title for themselves if they beat Oklahoma and TCU knocks off Baylor. Would that be enough to boost them into the Top Four? We'll have to wait and see. With Sooners QB Baker Mayfield expected to be cleared after getting a concussion last week, OU's offense should be full-go. There should be fireworks in Stillwater on Saturday night.

Finally, we come to The Game, the best rivalry in college football. Ohio State, a team that seems on the verge of imploding, travels to The Big House to face Michigan. Had the Buckeyes not laid an egg last week against Michigan State, this game would be even more significant. Now, it's the Spartans that hold their fate in their hands for a Big Ten title.

But that doesn't mean this game means nothing. Far from it. Should MSU lose to Penn State, the winner of this game will earn a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game to meet Iowa. But beyond all that, each team will want to win because of what it means for each program.

Urban Meyer's Buckeyes want to try to keep control of the conference its owned since his arrival. And Jim Harbaugh's young, hungry Wolverines want to rip the torch out of their opponents hands as they head toward their own reign of dominance. No matter the records, no matter the odds, no matter the storylines. This. Is. Ohio State. Michigan. Get your popcorn, ready!

With two weeks left of expert picks, Adam Kramer holds a very small lead over Barrett Sallee and the rest of the experts. Who can come out on top? Sound off in the comments section and tell us who you think will win this week.