Week 11 provides us with the most exciting slate we’ve had all year. Six top-20 matchups headline this week and some of the issues surrounding the playoff system should sort themselves out this weekend. Let’s take a look at the marquee matchups in the second Saturday of November.
For all the negativity surrounding Bob Stoops’s ball club, the Sooners lost games to a pair of top-10 teams by a combined five points. This is still a pretty good team. Quarterback Trevor Knight has been playing well as of late and a once-powerful run game appears to have reemerged after a month-long slump. Oklahoma comes into this game looking for revenge from last year’s whooping the Bears delivered in Waco. The Sooners will come out swinging; the outcome of this matchup will be determined by Oklahoma’s ability to sustain momentum throughout the game’s entirety.
As far as Baylor is concerned, this game is going to be one crazy, high-scoring affair — just how the Bears like. Explosive plays will be in abundance, but it’ll come down to physicality in this one. The team that wins the battle at the line of scrimmage will be able to set the tone early and dictate the rest of the game. With losses on the offensive line, the Bears’ ability to dominate up front will be nothing short of challenging.
Because of Oklahoma’s toughness on both sides of the ball, the Sooners will get a signature win in Norman this weekend.
Prediction: Oklahoma 45, Baylor 42
10 Notre Dame @ 9 Arizona State
Perhaps the most intriguing game of the day takes place in the Grand Canyon State. A Pac-12 power hosts a Notre Dame team still bitter about a close loss to Florida State a few weeks ago.
There’s not a single defense in the country that can keep up with Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong this year. Against an Irish defense that lost their leader Joe Schmidt, Strong could potentially have another breakout game this Saturday. And let’s not forget about the Sun Devils’ defense, which has graduated from decent to dominant throughout the course of this season.
As for the Irish, they may be catching Arizona State at just the right time. The Sun Devils have run through a brutal five-game series against UCLA, USC, Stanford, Washington, and Utah. Though the Sun Devils are just about as hot as the state they reside, the gauntlet they have had to endure the past two months has to be exhausting.
Despite how tired and worn this Sun Devils team may be, Strong and co. are determined to put themselves in contention for the inaugural college football playoff. A win against the Irish this Saturday would keep their hopes very much alive.
Prediction: Arizona State 24, Notre Dame 20
The game between the Kansas State Wildcats and the TCU Horned Frogs is a toss-up for me. I’ve counted out both teams in just about every big game they’ve played and they continue to prove me wrong.
TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin will play with a lot of intensity following a lackluster performance against West Virginia last week. I expect the junior to bounce back with a Heisman-esque outing this week in Fort Worth. The only concern for Boykin will be his defense. This is the fourth back-and-forth brawl the Horned Frogs will have endured in the past six weeks. Still, TCU’s up-tempo offense has proven it can make up for its defensive mishaps. If Boykin can avoid turnovers and maintain a good rhythm, the Frogs will get through the season’s second “playoff elimination game”.
Prediction: TCU 41, Kansas State 28
Each week the SEC hosts a marquee clash between highly-ranked foes. This week is no different with the fifth-rated Alabama Crimson Tide heading into Death Valley to face a dangerous #16 LSU Tigers team. A win for the Tide keeps their playoff picture clear, whereas a victory for the Tigers could stunt a late-season run at the SEC West. Both teams seem to have hit their stride; expect a hard-fought, high-energy game in Baton Rouge this weekend.
I think we’re in store for another typical SEC-style game — run-heavy and defense-oriented — under the Tiger Stadium lights this Saturday. Like the Ole Miss-LSU game, the outcome will be determined by the mistakes. If LSU has a successful run game and sophomore quarterback Anthony Jennings can protect the football, the Tigers win. If Lane Kiffin opens up the playbook and Tide quarterback Blake Sims connects on the explosive plays, Alabama wins.
It’s a coin-flip. The atmosphere will be electrifying in Baton Rouge — Saturday night, Death Valley, 102,000+ screaming purple and gold fans — it doesn’t get much better than this. With all signs pointing to Les Miles and the legendary ‘hat’, I’m pulling my own “not so fast” and picking Alabama. A Nick Saban-coached team in November will find a way in college football’s most hostile environment.
Prediction: Alabama 17, LSU 14
In years’ past, Oregon football has been known to start the season strong, then lose a midseason game that they have absolutely no right losing. This remained true this year when the Ducks were upset by the Arizona Wildcats in Autzen in the fifth week.
Since suffering his first conference loss, Mariota has had his offense rolling. There are few offenses in the country comparable to the caliber of Oregon’s with a healthy offensive line. Utah will be an interesting matchup for the Ducks, especially since the game will be played in Salt Lake City.
Crazy things have happened this season, but I think the emotion of losing an overtime thriller last week will carry over for the Utes in this game. Ducks will be too much offensively for the fifth straight week.
Prediction: Oregon 35, Utah 20
