Week 13 Preview

Week 13 Previews

Top 25 vs. Top 25

No. 9 UCLA (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) vs. No. 19 USC (7-3, 6-2 Pac-12), 8pm ET, ABC/WatchESPN

Line: UCLA -3, O/U: 61

This is an interesting game to pick.  Both LA teams have looked incredibly flawed at times this season, but we’ve also seen them put together some solid performances.  UCLA has won the last two meetings against USC and if they hope to win the South and keep playoff hopes alive, they’ll need a solid performance against the Trojans.

Brett Hundley has quietly had a solid season with 3,111 total yards and 24 touchdowns and weapons have started to develop around him.  Paul Perkins and running back and Jordan Payton at receiver have come on strong over the past few weeks for the Bruins.  Hundley will lean on Payton in the passing game against a so-so USC pass defense.  If Hundley can get the short passing game on track and get out and run some against SC, the Bruins should be able to put up points on the Trojans 66th ranked defense.

On the other side, USC has good balance offensively and quarterback Cody Kessler, like Hundley doesn’t turn the ball over in the passing game.  Kessler has the most dangerous weapon on the field in receiver Nelson Agholor (82 rec., 1079 yds, 10 TD’s) and gets help from an emerging JuJu Smith.  UCLA’s defense has been up down all season and SC has the tools to take them apart.

Flip a coin.  I’m taking USC to break their two game losing streak to their cross-town rival.  

Jeremy- USC 38, UCLA 34

Nick-USC 34, UCLA 28

No. 15 Arizona (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) @ No. 17 Utah (7-3, 4-3 Pac-12), 3:30pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN

Line: Utah -4, O/U: 54

This game will ultimately come down to how well Utah’s defense can slow down the Arizona offense. The Wildcats struggled for four quarters against Washington last week and pulled the game out at the end because of a Husky turnover. If the ‘Cats fail to move the ball and try and wait until the end to pull this one out it may be too late. Zona gave up 245 yards rushing to UW and if it does that again to as talented of a back as Devonte Booker it may never see the ball this game. Booker has been a stud this season with more than 1,100 yards rushing and and eight scores, but he is going to need some help from the Ute defense to stay in this one. If the Utes allow Anu Solomon and the Arizona offense to get rolling this could be over in a hurry. Solomon is having a great season with more than 3,000 yards passing and 25 tds and combine that with Nick Wilson running the ball this is a dangerous Zona offense. If the Utah defensive line can put pressure on Solomon and slow down Wilson, it will keep the game low scoring and have the best chance to win. I like Utah to take this one and climb back into the Pac-12 South race.

Nick-Utah 27, Zone 21

Jeremy- Utah 26, Arizona 24

No. 23 Nebraska (8-2, 4-2 B1G) vs. No. 25 Minnesota (7-3, 4-2 B1G), 12pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN

Line: Neb -10.5, O/U: 56.5

This game really comes down to the health of Ameer Abdullah.  The Husker offense sputter last week against a very solid Wisconsin defense and the ground game never got on track and Abdullah only managed 69 yards on 18 carries.  Nebraska has been solid at home with an average margin of victory of 22.5ppg.

Minnesota is losers of two of their last three and only 1-2 on the road.  This Gopher team plays hard and doesn’t beat themselves.  They’ve got a very solid ground game led by David Cobb (1350 yards and 11TD’s) and could exploit a Nebraska defense that gave up 581 rushing yards (Melvin Gordon had an NCAA record 408 yards) and a whopping 11 yards per rush to Wisconsin last weekend.  

I like the Huskers at home here in a close, sloppy game with at least 70 combined rushing attempts.

Jeremy- Nebraska 33, Minnesota 28

Nick-Minnesota 27, Nebraska 24

Upset Alert

No. 8 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 SEC) @ Arkansas (5-5, 1-5), 3:30pm ET, CBS

Line: MISS -3.5, O/U: 45.5

Arkansas is riding high after a big win over LSU. Can they keep it going against the Landshark defense? I am going to say one this about this one it is going to be a battle and both teams are going to beat the crap out of each other. I think this comes down to Bo Wallace and the Ole Miss being able to make plays through the air.

Nick-Ole Miss 17, Arkansas 13

Jeremy- Arkansas 20, Ole Miss 17

No. 16 Wisconsin (8-2, 5-1 B1G) @ Iowa (7-3, 4-2 B1G), 3:30pm ET, ABC/ESPN2

Line: WIS -10, O/U: 51.5

This is just the kind of situation where Iowa pulls out an improbable win and makes a complete mess of the B1G West.  That said, Wisconsin is rolling, winning five straight.  I like the Badgers and their running game against and Iowa defense that’s been shredded by conferences top rushing attacks.

Jeremy- Wisconsin 35, Iowa 24

Nick-Wisconsin 28, Iowa 27

No. 20 Missouri (8-2, 5-1 SEC) @ Tennessee (5-5, 2-4 SEC), 7:30pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN

Line: TENN -3, O/U: 48

Missouri controls its own destiny in the SEC East, but it is going to have to slow down a Vol offense that put up 50 points last weekend against an improving Kentucky team. This is an intriguing game because both teams have been so inconsistent this season and you never know which is going to show up. I like Tennessee riding high from last weekend to pull the upset here.

Nick-Tennessee 37, Mizzou 31

Jeremy- Missouri 38, Tennessee 34

Top 25

No. 1 Alabama (9-1) vs. W. Carolina (7-4), 4pm ET, SEC Network/WatchESPN

The start of a lot of garbage coming out of the SEC this week.  The Tide need to stay healthy and tighten up any areas of concern before heading into the Iron Bowl next week.

Jeremy- Alabama 45, W. Carolina 10

Nick- Alabama 38, W. Carolina 3

No. 2 Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) vs. Colorado (2-8, 0-7 Pac-12), 4:30pm ET, Pac-12 Network

Line: Oregon -32.5, O/U: 72.5

Colorado is improving, but not enough to hang with the Ducks who seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. I think the 32 point spread is assinie so take the Buffs to cover but this will be over before halftime.

Nick-Oregon 45, Colorado 24

Jeremy- Oregon 51, Colorado 28

No. 3 Florida State (10-0, 7-0 ACC) vs. Boston College (6-4, 3-3 ACC), 3:30pm ET, ABC/ESPN2

Line: FSU -17, O/U: 56.5

I like the changes Florida State made up front along the offensive line and I’ll be interested to see how it works in week two.  BC isn’t a great team, but they’re well coaching and have a dynamic rushing attack led by quarterback Tyler Murphy (1011 rushing yards) and Jon Hilliman (620 rushing yards) that can expose a banged up Seminole linebackers.  The Eagles will play FSU close early and Florida State will probably spots BC 14ish points to start the game and comes back in the second half to win by at least two touchdowns.  

Jeremy- Florida State 37, Boston College 21

Nick-Florida State 34, Boston College 24

No. 4 Mississippi State (9-1, 5-1 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt (3-7, 0-6 SEC), 7:30pm ET, SEC Network/WatchESPN

Line: MSU -30.5, O/U: 53

Another outrageous line Mississippi State has only blown out a couple teams this season and I know Vandy is really bad, but not bad enough to lose by 30. Miss St rolls in this one but it is closer than 30 points.

Nick-Mississippi State 45, Vandy 24

Jeremy- Mississippi State 42, Vandy 17

No. 5 TCU, IDLE

Next game- Thursday, Nov. 27th @ Texas

No. 6 Ohio State (9-1, 6-0 B1G) vs. Indiana (3-7, 0-6 B1G), 12pm ET, BTN

Line: OSU -34.5, O/U: 65.5

The Buckeyes should have no trouble rolling against Indiana.

Jeremy- Ohio State 47, Indiana 23

Nick-Ohio State 52, Indiana 35

No. 7 Baylor (8-1, 5-1 XII) vs. Oklahoma State (5-5, 3-4 XII), 7:30pm ET, FOX

Line: BAY -27.5, O/U: 68.5

Baylor has one job in the next two weeks, survive and stay healthy for the Kansas State game. Oklahoma State has really hit the tank after looking like it could be a contender to start the season. Bears roll.

Nick-Baylor 52, Ok St 24

Jeremy- Baylor 47, Ok State 17

No. 10 Georgia (8-2) vs. Charleston Southern (8-3), 12pm ET, SEC Network/WatchESPN

Georgia would be wise to send out their third stringers and keep all their starters healthy.  

Jeremy- Georgia 46, Charleston Southern 17

Nick-Georgia 42, Charleston Southern 14

No. 11 Michigan State (8-2, 5-1 B1G) vs. Rutgers (6-4, 2-4 B1G), 12pm ET, BTN

Line: MSU -22.5, O/U: 57.5

Michigan State is still in the running for a big bowl game, but not the playoff so it is still going to be playing hard. Rutgers has been up and down this season and is going to be overmatched, but I like them to cover the three touchdowns.

Nick-Michigan State 38, Rutgers 27

Jeremy- Michigan State 40, Rutgers 20

No. 12 Kansas State 26, West Virginia 20

Line: WVU -2.5, O/U: 58

The Wildcats were able to hold off a competitive West Virginia in Morgantown on Thursday night., despite only totaling one rushing yard.  Jake Waters  was solid through the air, with a season high, 400-passing yards.  

No. 13 Arizona State (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) vs. Washington State (3-7, 2-5 Pac-12), 1pm ET, Pac-12 Network

Line: ASU -16, O/U: 70.5

Get ready for a track meet in this one. The Sun Devils need to survive and advance to keep their Pac-12 South title hopes alive. I really think this one is going to be a high scoring affair with the Devils squeaking one out.

Nick-Arizona State 42, Washington State 41

Jeremy- Arizona State 37, Washington State 23

No. 14 Auburn (7-3) vs. Samford (7-3), 7pm ET, ESPNU/WatchESPN

Bleeck…

Jeremy- Auburn 48, Samford 17

Nick-Auburn 51, Samford 10

No. 18 Georgia Tech, IDLE

Next game- Saturday, Nov. 29th @ Georgia

No. 21 Oklahoma (7-3, 4-3 XII) vs. Kansas (3-7, 1-6), 12pm ET, FOX Sports 1

Line: OU -25, O/U: 53

The Jayhawks were oh so close last weekend to the upset of the season. They just haven’t learned how to close games and that is what bad teams do. The Sooners are without Trevor Knight again this week but they don’t need him to beat KU.

Nick-Oklahoma 31, Kansas 28

Jeremy- Oklahoma 34, Kansas 24

No. 22 Clemson (7-3) vs. Georgia State (1-9), 3:30pm ET, GamePlan/ESPN3

Line: CLEM -40.5, O/U: 57

Clemson needs an opponent like this coming off a tough loss to Georgia Tech last week.  Clemson needs a good win here to get healthy with rival, South Carolina on deck.

Jeremy- Clemson 43, Georgia State 10

Nick-Clemson 34, Georgia State 3

No. 24 Louisville (7-3) @ Notre Dame (7-3), 3:30pm ET, NBC

Line: ND -3.5, O/U: 53

Notre Dame is ready and willing to turn the ball over to any of its opponents lately and with a pesky Louisville defense that could be the downfall of the Irish again this weekend. I like Louisville to go into South Bend and turn the Irish over at least three times handing them their second consecutive home loss.

Nick-Louisville 27, Notre Dame 21

Jeremy- Notre Dame 24, Louisville 21

Best of the Rest

North Carolina 45, Duke 20

Line: DUKE -5.5, O/U: 65

The Tar Heels could do no wrong on Thursday night against the Blue Devils.  UNC rolled up 592 yards of offense while jumping out to a 28-7 first half lead.  This game should have been even more of a blowout, but three UNC turnovers on drives where the Tar Heels were going in to score allowed Duke to make it look more reasonable than it was.  The win gets UNC bowl eligible and knocks Duke out of the ACC Coastal running.

Boise State (8-2, 5-1 MW) @ Wyoming (4-6, 2-4 MW), 10:15pm ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN

Line: BSU -12, O/U: 56

The total homer in me really wants to pick the Pokes to come up with a big upset here, but with the amount of injuries they have suffered this season and the lack of offense I don’t think it can happen. The UW defense will keep this close, but Boise will pull away in the fourth quarter.

Nick-Boise State 34, Wyoming 17

Jeremy- Boise State 30, Wyoming 23

Northwestern (4-6, 2-4 B1G) @ Purdue (3-7, 1-5 B1G), 12pm ET, ESPNU/WatchESPN

Line: O/U: 50.5

Both teams have shown some good things this season and Northwestern is coming off a really nice win against Notre Dame.  I think this is a close matchup on the road at Purdue, but Wildcats should squeak it out.

Jeremy- Northwestern 23, Purdue 20

Nick-Northwestern 30, Purdue 24

Maryland (6-4, 3-3 B1G) @ Michigan (5-5, 3-3 B1G), 3:30pm ET, BTN

Line: Mich -5, O/U: 42

Michigan doesn’t have much to hang its hat on this season and big changes are certainly coming at the end of the season but Brady Hoke can at least go out with a bowl team.  The Wolverines have Ohio State to finish the season, so a bowl berth rides on a win here.

Jeremy- Michigan 20, Maryland 17

Nick-Michigan 31, Maryland 20

Stanford (5-5, 3-4 Pac-12) @ Cal (5-5, 3-5 Pac-12), 4pm ET, FOX Sports 1

Line: Stanford -5.5, O/U: 56

Interesting contrast in styles here with Stanford’s beat the crap out of you and Cal’s run around you and put up tons of points. I think Stanford takes the air out of the ball and keeps Cal’s offense off the field.

Nick-Stanford 27, Cal 17

Jeremy- Stanford 31, Cal 27

Miami (6-4, 3-3 ACC) @ Virginia (4-6, 2-4 ACC), 7pm ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN

Line: MIA -6, O/U: 48.5

This is an interesting ACC Coastal matchup for me.  At a glance, I think you take Miami here no questions asked.  However, Miami has struggled on the road going 1-3 so far with their only win coming at VaTech in a game were the Hokies literally handed Miami the game.  Virginia, on the other hand, has been solid at home going 4-2 in Charlottesville with a one-point loss to UNC and an eight-point loss to UCLA.  I’m going upset here and taking UVA to keep their bowl hopes alive.

Jeremy- Virginia 27, Miami 26

Nick-Miami 37, Virginia 27

Oregon State (5-5, 2-5 Pac-12) @ Washington (6-5, 2-5 Pac-12), 10:30pm ET, Pac-12 Network

Line: UW -6, O/U: 53.5

Washington lost a heartbreaker last week with some untimely turnovers. I think it turns it around this week back home on the shores of Lake Union at shuts down Sean Mannion and the OSU offense.

Nick-Washington 34, Oregon State 17

Jeremy- Washington 31, OSU 23

Players to Watch

Tyler Murphy, QB, Boston College

The BC quarterback will need a record day if they Eagles are going to go into Doak Campbell and beat the undefeated Seminoles.  That might sound a little crazy but remember back to early September when BC took down USC in Chestnut Hill.   Granted, that was at home and winning on the road against FSU is a taller order but Murphy is a dynamic running and BC has the toughness and physicality to give a thin FSU defense trouble.  

Josh Dobbs, QB, Tennessee

The Volunteers have looked like a completely different team with Dobbs at the helm.  In his first two starts, Tennessee put up 45 points against South Carolina and 50 points on Kentucky, both wins.  Dobbs will need to keep that going this week against the number one team in the East, the Missouri Tigers.  Mizzou has a solid defense and can really put pressure on the quarterback.  With Dobbs’ ability to get out and run, look for Butch Jones to get him moving early and often, trying to keep the Tigers pass rushers at bay.  A win here would get Tennessee bowl eligible for the first time since 2010.

Everette Golson, QB, Notre Dame

Golson has been a turnover machine this season and it has taken a huge toll of the Irish.  Once a contender for the playoff, Notre Dame has lost two straight and three of their last four.  In that stretch, Golson has turned the ball over 10 times, throwing eight INT’s and fumbling twice.  The Irish still have a lot to play for but given their next two opponents (Louisville and at USC), there’s little room for error.  If Golson can’t get things turned around a 7-5 finish isn’t out of the question.  

Leonard Williams, DE, Southern Cal

UCLA can be overmatched up front and if Williams can lead the charge and get pressure in the face of Bruins quarterback, Brett Hundley, SC has good chance of forcing turnovers and getting a big win in a heated rivalry.  A win here would end UCLA’s bid for a South title and keep the Trojans clinging to first place in the division.