Sports USA TODAY Sports college football staff picks for Week 13

Thanksgiving weekend typically is the time where team are crafting their final cases for inclusion into the College Football Playoff or playing for conference championships or bragging rights with rivals.

The season, of course, is different. There's still three weeks to go after Saturday, meaning the weekend has a new feel. Those in-state showdowns of non-conference opponents are gone. Some of the bigger games of the season have been pushed later.

There's still much to savor during the holiday.

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Opinion: Phil Mickelson is confident he can make a run at the Masters — if he fixes his putting

Three-time Masters champ Phil Mickelson, sitting at 5-under, can envision another green jacket -- if he's able to improve his putting at Augusta.“I’m striking the ball exceptional, and I’m putting horrific,” the 50-year-old Mickelson said after firing a 2-under-par 70 in his second round after a 3-under 69 in the opening round that stretched across Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. At 5-under, he is tied for 19th, four strokes behind a quartet of leaders, including Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas.

USA TODAY Sports ' Week 13 NFL picks : Will Steelers get back on track against Chargers? The pick 'em polls will be open for a few more weeks , but it might be time for USA TODAY Sports ' panel of NFL experts to start mulling concession speeches to Lorenzo Reyes, who comes off a 13 -2 Week 12

Week 10 in college football brings two matchups in the top 10 that will shake the College Football Playoff race. USA TODAY Sports . This is the kind of weekend college football fans would have missed out on had the No. 13 Indiana looks to improve to 3-0 when it hosts No. 25 Michigan which

There's the Iron Bowl, where No. 1 Alabama hosts No. 19 Auburn. It's the last ranked opponent on the schedule for the Crimson Tide before a potential showdown in the SEC title game with Florida. The Tigers would like nothing better than to spoil the season of their biggest rival.

No. 2 Notre Dame travels to No. 23 North Carolina in what is its toughest challenge before a likely appearance in the ACC championship game. The Irish need only win two of their final three games to secure their spot. But the Tar Heels are eager to earn a signature win in Mack Brown's second season.

© John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports Alabama running back Najee Harris carries the ball while being tackled by Auburn linebacker Zakoby McClain during their game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

PLAYOFF ANALYSIS: Winners and losers from the first ranking release

The Masters: Tee times, TV and streaming info for Sunday's final round at Augusta National

All the information you need to get ready for the final round of the 2020 Masters.The world's No. 1-ranked golfer took a commanding lead Saturday in the third round, shooting his second 7-under 65 in the tournament to hit 16 under overall. He eagled the par-5 second hole, then birdied No. 3 and No. 4 before adding three more birdies later in the third round. When the day was complete, Johnson had tied Jordan Spieth's record for lowest Masters' score through 54 holes, which Spieth set during his 2015 victory.

USA TODAY Sports staff picks all the matchups. After 14 weeks , the College Football Playoff field emerged with Alabama and Oklahoma heading to the Orange Bowl and Clemson and Notre Dame facing off in the Cotton Bowl.

The Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of head coaches at FBS schools. The panel is chosen by random draw, conference by conference plus independents, from a pool of coaches who have indicated to the

TIDE ON TOP: Alabama leads first College Football Playoff committee ranking

The third game matching ranked opponents has big ramifications in the Big 12. No. 15 Iowa State can all but secure a spot in its first conference title game with a win at No. 21 Texas. The Longhorns also would be in prime position to reach Arlington, Texas, by knocking off the Cyclones.

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