Under the Radar Games: Week 13

It's the penultimate week of November, and this time of year's made for the big-time matchups.  Even so, here are five that could play a significant role in ensuring the "big-time" nature of the final few weeks.

1. Rutgers at UCF.  Rutgers gave Louisville a run for its money earlier this year, beat Arkansas (though the Razorbacks are truly dreadful this year in the SEC), and came oh-so-close to beating Fresno State to start the season.  UCF needed a rally to beat pathetic Temple!  A loss to Rutgers wouldn't take UCF out of the BCS driver's seat, but it would almost certainly ensure that the American champ will be low-enough ranked to allow #16 to be the non-AQ champion threshold (personally, I don't think that matters...a 12-0 Fresno or 13-0 Northern Illinois should be able to clear the "truly automatic...at least for the highest one" #12 spot).

2. UNLV at Air Force.  No conference championship or BCS implications here.  But a fairly long bowl drought may come to an end.  UNLV hasn't been to a bowl since 2000, but if they can pull off a road win against winless-in-conference Air Force, then the Rebels will once again be bowl eligible. 

3. Duke at Wake Forest.  Not really that far off the radar, but I've included it here nonetheless.  With Duke ranked in the Coaches and Harris polls, I'm guessing the Blue Devils missed out on its first-ever BCS ranking to Minnesota by a razor-thin margin.  I think that can be rectified if Duke prevails against a rather poor Wake Forest team.  It would tie a school-record 9 wins and most importantly, it keeps Duke in the driver's seat for the ACC Championship Game.  Nice choice for an ESPN2 Noon game! 
Now here's the true under-the-radar part: Duke would clinch at least a share of the Division with this win.  Let me repeat that: Duke Football would have an ACC Coastal Division co-Championship (and an outright one if it also beats UNC)!  I say put Cutcliffe up there for National Coach of the Year consideration, along with Art Briles and Gus Malzahn!

4. East Carolina at NC State.  Could the Pirates knock off UNC and NC State in the same season?  How big would that be for that program!  If they succeed, as does Duke, then I would absolutely love to see a way for the Pirates and the Blue Devils to meet up in a bowl game - possibly the Belk Bowl - for a "best of NC" showdown.  That would require some crafty bowl negotiating, perhaps a little to much to be realistic, but a man can surely dream.

5. Utah at Washington State.  Despite impressive upsets of Stanford and USC, these two teams are badly in need of this win in order to become bowl eligible.  For Utah, it's a must-win; the Utes have already reached 6 losses and can afford no more.  Washington State hasn't been to a bowl in a decade, and they are now "this" close.  At home in Pullman for Senior Day, this could truly be a memorable moment (and a disastrous one for Utah, which would be missing out on a bowl for the 2nd straight year).