The staff predicts the week’s action in the Big 12 and the top games of the week
Big 12
West Virginia Mountaineers at Cincinnati Bearcats – Sat. Nov. 9, 11:00 AM, FS1
- Anthony: WVU QB Garrett Greene is banged up and seems the bye week hasn’t done enough to heal him as he’s being called doubtful to play on Saturday. That’s enough to tip the scales to give the win to a solid Bearcats squad
- Austin: The Bearcats defeat the Mountaineers at home in a lower-scoring game than expected.
- Drew: Cincinnati is having a solid second year in the Big 12 and will continue that positive momentum with a win over the Mountaineers.
- Russ: I’ll take Cincinnati to win over the Mountaineers at home.
- Wyatt: The Bearcats take care of business at home, and defeat West Virginia at home.
- CFB 25: The Mountaineers take it in Nippert with a 10-point victory thanks to 4 passing TDs.
Iowa State Cyclones at Kansas Jayhawks – Sat. Nov. 9, 2:30 PM, FS1
- Anthony: There is definitely a possibility this season spirals for the Cyclones after being on the path to the Playoffs before falling in Lubbock last week. This should be a tightly contested game, but ISU bounces back and continues on the path to Arlington
- Austin: It seems like forever ago that Kansas was projected to contend for the Big 12 Title. Now 11 weeks later, the Cyclones are one of the teams to beat. Following a loss in Lubbock a week ago, Iowa State holds off the Jayhawks to get back on track.
- Drew: Iowa State has no margin for error after losing at home to Texas Tech last week and I think they beat Kansas on the road on Saturday.
- Russ: Kansas has played in a slew of close games this season, but I think Iowa State bounces back after its loss last week.
- Wyatt: This game will be closer than expected. Iowa State bounces back this week after dropping their first against Texas Tech last week.
- CFB 25: ISU missed a short FG that would’ve sealed the game; KU drove the length of the field but Jalon Daniels gets sacked and the time runs out on the Jayhawks, falling 35-42.
Colorado Buffaloes at Texas Tech Red Raiders – Sat. Nov. 9, 3:00 PM, FOX
- Anthony: The Red Raiders continue to play spoiler and make it more difficult for Coach Prime and the Buffs to make the Big 12 Championship, getting knocked out of the Top 25 with a loss in Lubbock.
- Austin: Colorado outscores Texas Tech in a track meet.
- Drew: The atmosphere in Lubbock will be fun and I think Texas Tech will score plenty but I do not see the Red Raider defense slowing down Sheduer Sanders and the Buffs. I’ll take Colorado.
- Russ: I expect a lot of points to be put up in this one, with Colorado emerging victorious.
- Wyatt: Colorado wins in a shootout. Sheduer throws for 400 yards and 3 TDs.
- CFB 25: Guns Up wins the shoot out. Tahj Brooks runs wild and TTU wins it 49-35
UCF Knights at Arizona State Sun Devils – Sat. Nov. 9, 6:00 PM, ESPN2
- Anthony: ASU star RB Cam Skattebo suffered an injury and will be less than 100% if he does go on Saturday. I have picked against the Sun Devils often and they keep burning me, but I’m going back to the well again, give me the Knights.
- Austin: Despite the difference in win-loss totals, this game is a complete toss-up. Is Arizona State truly a 6-2 team? Or, is UCF as bad as the 4-5 record depicts? While neither appears to be true, the Sun Devils take this one to earn a seventh win on the season.
- Drew: UCF looked very good last week against Arizona and with Cam Skattebo getting banged up last week against Oklahoma State I have the Knights winning this one.
- Russ: I usually don’t favor teams having to travel across the country, so I’ll roll with Arizona State here.
- Wyatt: I think this game will be a lot closer than how it looks on paper. Arizona State does just enough to get the win at home.
- CFB 25: ASU knocks through the 36-yard FG as time expires for the walk-off winner 27-24
BYU Cougars at Utah Utes – Sat. Nov. 9, 9:15 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: The Utes could salvage some self respect for its lost first season in the Big 12 by taking down the rival it has long believed was beneath them. But Utah fails at that too and BYU keeps rolling
- Austin: BYU continues its impressive season, knocking off the Utes for the second time this decade after years of losses.
- Drew: I think this will be very close and low scoring with BYU winning on the road.
- Russ: BYU was disrespected in the first CFP rankings, and I think the Cougars send a message with a big win over Utah,
- Wyatt: I think the Utes will keep it close at the beginning, but BYU will eventually run away with the game and win by several scores.
- CFB 25: A thriller in the Holy War! Retzlaff finds Roberts for an 11-yard TD with 20 seconds in regulation to send the game to OT, but miss the overtime FG and the Utes take the win.
Top National Games
Georgia Bulldogs at Ole Miss Rebels – Sat. Nov. 9, 2:30 PM, ABC
- Anthony: Feels like all the national narrative on UGA is that they’ve fallen off a cliff and are not good at football. Kirby Smart likely has some actual disrespect to use to motivate the Dawgs, rather than the fiction he usually has to come up with. While UGA hasn’t looked perfect and Ole Miss is coming off a phenomenal performance, Georgia wins this one.
- Austin: The new SEC is much more difficult to pinpoint than that of the SEC’s past. Unlike recent seasons, there’s a possibility the Bulldogs lose in any week. Although Ole Miss blew out Arkansas on Saturday, they can’t recoup the same magic against Georgia. Bulldogs win.
- Drew: This is a must win game for Ole Miss and Carson Beck has not looked good in recent weeks but I think Kirby will have the Georgia defense firing on all cylinders to pick up a win on the road.
- Russ: Lane Kiffin’s bunch will hang tough, but I think Georgia comes away with the narrow victory in Oxford.
- Wyatt: Ole Miss has looked great against inferior opponents, but not so great against good teams. The Bulldogs win this one in Oxford
- CFB 25: UGA rolls despite the late Ole Miss comeback effort as Carson Beck throws 6 TD passes.
Army Black Knights at North Texas Mean Green – Sat. Nov. 9, 2:30 PM, ESPN2
- Anthony: Can Chandler Morris get the Mean Green back in the AAC race? He’s putting up solid stats, but Army invades Denton and continues undefeated
- Austin: The Black Knights are 8-0 behind a strong rush attack and a stellar defense. Conversely, North Texas is 5-3 due to an exceptional offense. The Mean Green have lost back-to-back high-scoring affairs—they’ll win this one.
- Drew: Army should control time of possession pretty easily and keep the ball out of Chandler Morris’s hands to pick up a win on the road.
- Russ: This is an interesting one, as North Texas fields a putrid defense that will have to contain Army’s potent rushing attack. I think Army’s ball-control offense will keep Chandler Morris and co. off the field long enough for the win.
- Wyatt: I don’t think UNT defense will be able to contain the rushing attack of Army. However, Chandler Morris and the Mean Green will put up points. I think this game will be decided on how many turn overs UNT has. Give me Army in a high scoring game.
- CFB 25: Oh no! On the game-winning drive Chandler Morris throws a pick-six and Army escapes Denton with a 24-13 win
Clemson Tigers at Virginia Tech Hokies – Sat. Nov. 9, 2:30 PM, ESPN
- Anthony: Was very surprised by the Tigers performance last week, perhaps Garrett Riley was fielding interviews for the ECU job or the OU OC spot. Maybe now he’s no longer a candidate and the team can refocus on winning this game in a tough environment. Clemson wins.
- Austin: Clemson stops the spiraling before it gets out of control and knocks off the Hokies on the road.
- Drew: Both teams have fallen short of expectations this season but Clemson is still the more talented team on both sides of the ball. I’ll take the Tigers.
- Russ: After a bad home loss against Louisville, Clemson recovers with a road win against the Hokies.
- Wyatt: Clemson bounces back this week and beats the Hokies on the road.
- CFB 25: Phil Mafah runs for 3 TDs and Clemson sprints to an easy win.
South Carolina Gamecocks at Vanderbilt Commodores – Sat. Nov. 9, 3:15 PM, SEC Network
- Anthony: This Vanderbilt season has been unlike anything in program history, but its a brutal stretch to close the regular season that could be three straight losses, starting with the Gamecocks.
- Austin: Let’s go Commodores. Vanderbilt is coming for the title of America’s team and defeats South Carolina to cement their status as such.
- Drew: The South Carolina pass rush is absolutely lethal and I think they get to Diego Pavia enough to pick up a win on the road.
- Russ: Vanderbilt continues its stellar season and wins, despite being a ranked team and a 3-point underdog at home against an unranked foe.
- Wyatt: The Gamecocks just had a huge upset against Texas A&M. I expect there to be a hangover for South Carolina. Give me Vanderbilt to win it at home.
- CFB 25: Game of the year! SC scores a TD on 4th & goal in the final minute to force OT and takes the lead on a Rocket Sanders run before a Diego Pavia scramble TD sends it to 2OT. The teams exchange TDs, but neither can convert the 2-pointer. In the 3OT two-point shootout Vandy stuffs the pitch to Sanders then Pavia takes the QB draw in for the walk-off win.
Alabama Crimson Tide at LSU Tigers – Sat. Nov. 9, 6:30 PM ABC
- Anthony: Baton Rouge will be rocking, but the Tide find a way to take the victory and keep its SEC Championship hopes alive
- Austin: Not what they used to be, nevertheless, Alabama vs. LSU remains a fantastic matchup. No longer a defensive battle, the Tigers outscore the Crimson Tide in a high-scoring game.
- Drew: This is a very important game for Kalen DeBoer who is looking to avoid losing to two major rivals in Tennessee and LSU in his first season. I have DeBoer leading his team to a big road win to keep Alabama’s playoff hopes alive.
- Russ: Alabama is coming off a strong win over Missouri, while LSU fell flat against Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide cannot afford to fall to 3-3 in the SEC, so I think they find a way to escape LSU with a win.
- Wyatt: Alabama wins in very high-scoring and tight football game.
- CFB 25: My oh my. Bama dominates in Baton Rouge, 62-27 with 5 TDs from Jalen Milroe
Oklahoma Sooners at Missouri Tigers – Sat. Nov. 9, 6:45 PM, SEC Network
- Anthony: I keep thinking the Sooners are going to jump up and shock someone in SEC play, but the offense is broken and now OU is staring at a fate of missing bowl eligibility in its first SEC season. Mizzou wins.
- Austin: Missouri. Just because the Sooners scored 59 points on an FCS team doesn’t mean the offense is fixed. The Tigers win a close one.
- Drew: Missouri has not looked right all year and OU’s defense remains very solid. Give me the Sooners on the road.
- Russ: I’ll take Missouri. They have failed me twice this year so that third time is the charm I guess
- Wyatt: I want to pick OU so bad, but I just can’t. They have looked so good, and their win against Maine does not sway me. The Tigers win at home.
- CFB 25: Brady Cook is a turnover machine and the Sooners capitalize to walk away with an easy 45-31 road win.
Washington Huskies at Penn State Nittany Lions – Sat. Nov. 9, 7:00 PM, Peacock
- Anthony: Luckily for James Franklin, this one cannot reasonably be considered a big game nationally, so his Nittany Lions win with ease, continuing to walk into the CFP 5-seed despite not winning a single meaningful game.
- Austin: The Nittany Lions defeat the Huskies handily following a loss at the hands of the Buckeyes last Saturday.
- Drew: Penn State wins this one after a disappointing loss last week.
- Russ: Penn State should take this one. I expect a solid bounce-back performance from the Nittany Lions after a narrow loss to Ohio State.
- Wyatt: Penn State bounces back after this first loss last week against Ohio State.
- CFB 25: Penn State gets a 49-yard field goal in the final minute to take the 17-14 win in a rock fight
Frogs O’ War Pick ‘Em Leaderboard
Make your Week Eleven picks here
Staff Standings
Overall Season Win %
- Russ: 66%
- Austin: 64%
- Wyatt: 64%
- Drew: 63%
- Anthony: 59%
- CFB25: 52%