Week 11 CFB Picks

We continue getting closer and closer to the fateful day: the selection of the four teams in the playoff. A potential controversy was extinguished when #4 Texas A&M lost last weekend, elevating unbeaten Washington to the final playoff spot. A lot more shuffling in the rankings can (and probably will) take place between now and the end of the season.

Note: I just realized I did not put a predicted score for Boise State last week, so that game does not count towards my record against the spread.

Last Week: 18-3 (8-12 vs. Spread)
Overall: 132-46 (88-95 vs. Spread)

(#23 Western Michigan beat Kent State 37-21 in Tuesday's MACtion. I forgot to make a prediction, probably because there was some more important event going on Tuesday, I think)

(Home Team Listed Last)

Thursday
#17 North Carolina 40, Duke 24 (7:30 PM, ESPN)
This matchup isn't quite as enticing on the football field as it is on the basketball court, but it might still be an interesting game. These teams are going in opposite directions, as UNC has won three in a row, while 3-6 Duke has lost its last three.
#15 Utah 32, Arizona State 24 (9:30 PM, FS1)
This should be a pretty competitive Thursday night PAC-12 matchup. Both teams are coming off losses, but while Utah's was by seven points to unbeaten Washington two weeks ago, ASU's was its third straight, a 19-point drubbing to Oregon last week.
Friday
Boston College 14, #18 Florida State 38 (7:30 PM, ESPN2)
After falling just short against Clemson, the Seminoles struggled in a 24-20 win over NC State last weekend. Boston College got stomped by Louisville last week and Clemson earlier in the season, and the Eagles will probably get stomped by Florida State as well.
Saturday
#16 West Virginia 38, Texas 42 (Noon, FS1)
Although the Big 12 is basically eliminated from the College Football Playoff, there are some big conference matchups Saturday. One of those is between the one-loss Mountaineers and the Longhorns, who have pulled off two straight wins (against Baylor and Texas Tech).
Baylor 35, #11 Oklahoma 52 (Noon, ABC/ESPN2)
Another key Big 12 battle Saturday is the Bears, coming off their first two losses of the season, going to Norman to take on the lone unbeaten remaining in conference play (both of Oklahoma's losses were non-conference games). Baylor showed last week (a blowout loss to TCU) it was a pretender.
Mississippi State 3, #1 Alabama 38 (Noon, ESPN)
Mississippi State eliminated Texas A&M from postseason contention last weekend, but don't expect the Bulldogs to make it two shocking upsets in a row on Saturday. The Tide have continued rolling, and should keep it rolling this weekend at home.
#10 Penn State 35, Indiana 28 (Noon, ABC/ESPN2)
The Hoosiers have kept it close against some good teams in the Big Ten, so this might be a nail-biter in Bloomington. However, the Nittany Lions, who have built off the Ohio State win with dismantlings of Purdue and Iowa, should get the victory.
Illinois 7, #7 Wisconsin 42 (3:30 PM, ESPN)
Wisconsin, the third best team in the Big Ten, should have absolutely no problem dispatching of 3-6 Illinois on Saturday in Madison. The Badgers are currently in a three way tie for first in the Big Ten West with Nebraska and Minnesota.
#5 Ohio State 55, Maryland 21 (3:30 PM, ESPN)
After scuffling for most of October, the Buckeyes opened November by playing to their potential, destroying Nebraska last Saturday night. They clicked on all sides of the ball after struggling on offense and special teams the prior few weeks, and should be able to blow by Maryland.
#9 Auburn 28, Georgia 17 (3:30 PM, CBS)
The Tigers sit around where the Bulldogs expected to be when this season started. Instead, Georgia is 5-4 and out of the SEC Championship race. This will probably be a dogfight (or, technically, a dog vs. cat fight), but Auburn, like Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vandy, and Florida, will top Georgia.
Texas Tech 57, #13 Oklahoma State 62 (3:30 PM, FS1)
Expect to see lots of scoring in this game. Both teams are among the most offensively prolific in the nation. The Cowboys of Oklahoma State are just behind their in-state rivals atop the Big 12, while the Red Raiders, at 4-5. are looking to get in a bowl.
Pittsburgh 14, #2 Clemson 35 (3:30 PM, ABC)
Pittsburgh is 5-4, with three of those losses coming by one possession. However, the other loss, a 51-28 loss to Miami, was last week. Clemson continued its unbeaten season by rolling over Syracuse 54-0 last week, and they may roll again this Saturday.
Georgia Tech 17, #14 Virginia Tech 38 (3:30 PM, ESPNU)
Georgia Tech lost to North Carolina, a team Virginia Tech crushed earlier this season, by 28 last weekend. Unless the Hokies spontaneously combust like they did a few weeks ago in a 31-17 loss to Syracuse, they should emerge victorious.
Wake Forest 10, #6 Louisville 48 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)
Lamar Jackson's Heisman campaign will more than likely continue this week at home against the Deamon Deacons, who aren't horrible (they're 6-3, and they beat Virginia, which almost beat Louisville the week before, last week), but they're no match for the Cardinals.
#22 Boise State 38, Hawaii 14 (7:00 PM, CBSSN)
The Blue Field Broncos get to take a trip to the island state this weekend, and it should be about as competitive as a vacation. The Rainbow Warriors lost 55-0 to San Diego State last week. It might be a similar result this week, but I'm expecting a somewhat closer outcome.
#24 LSU 21, #25 Arkansas 14 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
One of the week's two ranked battles is an SEC contest between the two worst ranked teams (strictly according to the rankings). It will be a fight to the finish. The Tigers couldn't score on Bama last weekend, but the Tide struggled scoring on them. I think Arkansas will as well.
Ole Miss 21, #8 Texas A&M 38 (7:30 PM, SECN)
The wheels have fallen off the wagon for Ole Miss. A team that was expected to compete for the SEC is now 4-5 and without its senior starting quarterback. Texas A&M is no longer in contention for the playoff, but they should take care of Ole Miss.
#20 USC 34, #4 Washington 38 (7:30 PM, FOX)
This might be the best game on this weekend's slate. Washington has rolled to 9-0, but the 6-3 Trojans should not be overlooked. USC is very talented and on a five-game win streak. I expect the Huskies to win, but it could be really close.
Minnesota 14, #19 Nebraska 32 (7:30 PM, BTN)
Minnesota and Nebraska are both 7-2, but while the Cornhuskers have been tested (their two losses were to Wisconsin and Ohio State), the Golden Gophers haven't faced a top team aside from Penn State, whom they lost to. If Tommy Armstrong Jr. plays, it might be a blowout.
#3 Michigan 42, Iowa 7 (8:00 PM, ABC)
The Wolverines are just tuning up in preparation for November 26 at this point. Of Michigan's nine wins, just one has come by one score (a 14-7 win over Wisconsin). This game probably won't be very close either.
#12 Colorado 40, Arizona 21 (10:00 PM, FS1)
The Buffs are surprisingly in the hunt for the Pac-12. They currently lead the Pac-12 South, and they will probably lead the Pac-12 South after this weekend. Arizona is 2-7, with those two wins coming against Grambling and Hawaii.
California 35, #23 Washington State 52 (10:30 PM, ESPN)
What a great way to finish off the weekend of college football! A game that will surely not end until well after 1:00 AM. The passomistic (I had to fill my pun quota) Cougars will score all over a Cal team that gave up 66 to Washington last week.