College football is a sport built on rivalries. Without them, there would be much less intrigue and less reason for fans to paint their face in the beloved team colors. Normally, rivalry games are fun for the players and the fans and make for great games to watch, no matter where you are in the country.

Last weekend, though, when South Carolina and Clemson met in their own rivalry game, things got ugly. South Carolina quarterback Syvelle Newton got knocked down and Clemson celebrated – a pretty typical thing to do – but in a heated game like that one, it sparked a brawl. In the end, both teams were officially removed from any bowl considerations.

There are two big rivalry games this weekend: Notre Dame at USC and Georgia Tech at Georgia. All four coaches have spoken to their teams about maintaining composure, knowing that any questionable hit will be flagged as a personal foul by officials nervously trying to avoid another brawl. When Georgia hosts Georgia Tech, the Bulldogs are not even going to congregate on the huge “G” in the middle of their field, something they are famous for doing. Let’s hope that the games are tough and exciting, and that the only fists we see are pumping in celebration.

NOTRE DAME AT (1) USC

The Trojans have been ranked no. 1 in the country all season, and now they must prove they deserve it. Two bitter rivalry games await them in as many weeks: this game against Notre Dame and next week against UCLA. The Trojans know that even in a worst-case scenario, they will be heading to the Rose Bowl, but if they do end up playing in Pasadena instead of Miami, they will consider the season a failure.

The Trojans have won 20 straight home games against the Irish, and have trounced them the last two times. This will probably be another USC blowout, but Notre Dame could well eke out a single-digit victory.

There’s no doubt that the Trojans will put up a lot of points in this game: USC averages 37 points a game and has the seventh-ranked offense in the country. Heisman hopeful Matt Leinart has completed 65.7% of his passes for 2,348 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, and he’ll be facing one of the weakest pass defenses around. With running backs LenDale White and Reggie Bush also having excellent seasons, there will be no rest for the Notre Dame defense all day long.

Yet the Irish do have a chance at an upset. They have faced two top-10 teams this year – Michigan and Tennessee – and beat them both. Quarterback Brady Quinn and the offense are erratic, but head coach Tyrone Willingham knows how to get his team pumped up for challenging games. Freshman running back Darius Walker, who is in the midst of a fine season with 679 yards, played a big role in the wins over Michigan and Tennessee.

The Notre Dame defense will struggle against the pass, but they have proven capable of shutting down a rushing attack. If the Irish can keep it close into the fourth quarter and prevent USC from amassing significant rushing yards, they could sneak by. Then again, the game could be out of reach before the half.

GEORGIA TECH AT (8) GEORGIA

This rivalry hails back to 1893, with the Bulldogs owning a 55-36-5 record, including victories in the last three meetings. This is always an interesting game because many of the players on both teams have known each other for years, with some relationships going all the way back to high school. Last year’s game got a bit ugly; eight penalties for personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct marred the affair.

The Yellow Jackets have managed only 20 points per game and lost to every ranked team they played this year. Quarterback Reggie Ball has a miserable 49.6% completion rate, and his 17 interceptions eclipse his 14 touchdowns. On the bright side, running back P.J Daniels is averaging nearly 100 yards a game, and has scored five of his team’s six rushing touchdowns. The problem is Georgia Tech gets behind in so many games they have to stop running and start passing.

Georgia should win this game easily, but the wildcard may be the Georgia Tech defense. They are not statistically anything but middle-of-the-road in the ACC, but the Yellow Jackets can occasionally play strong defense. The Bulldogs lack a power running game, relying instead on quarterback David Greene and the passing game. If they cannot establish a running attack early, this will allow Georgia Tech to put a pass rush together; if Greene struggles to find his receivers, then this could end up being a wild contest.