Sup! Somehow we are currently in the thick of the twelfth week of the beauty that is college football. Hopes have been dashed. Miracle seasons are in full swing. We’ve had highs and lows, and with two weeks left before conference championship games are played and conference champions are subsequently crowned, there are plenty more opportunities for highs to get higher, lows to get lower and everything in between. So buckle in friends, here’s a look at our week 12 college football preview.
-Shawn
All games on Saturday unless noted. All times ET.
GAME OF THE WEEK (24) Michigan (+7.5) at (5) Wisconsin (Noon, FOX)
Okay, so this is the game of week by default because of two reasons. A) my Wisconsin Badgers are the keepers of their own destinies when it comes to their first CFP birth. And B) It’s the only match-up of two ranked teams. A lot of feelings on this one. Probably too many to lay on you at this point. Realistically speaking, this is going to be a classic Big Ten match-up where points will NOT be on the menu, (Vegas has the O/U at 39). Both defenses have been stellar all season and expect no less on Saturday at Camp Randall. Michigan’s Freshman quarterback, Brandon Peters, will face a defense (and crowd) that are trying to spoil the hopes of the SEC or ACC having two spots in the CFP. The words “nervous” and “wreck” come to mind.
Prediction: (5) Wisconsin wins 20-13
(15) UCF (-13.5) at Temple (Noon, ESPNU/WatchESPN)
Where do I even begin in terms of my favorite team from Orlando, FL. The dream season is in full swing. McKenzie Milton is having a stellar season (2720 yds, 22 TDs). The UCF offense is putting up video game numbers all season. The idea of a New Year’s Day bowl berth are very realistic. UCF coach Scott Frost is going to have a lot of phone calls in the off-season. Enter the Temple Owls.(Joe, calm the fuck down. I literally just mentioned Temple.) We’ve seen it time and time again. A team well on their way to a dream finish, and those pesky mid-November games just completely slip them up. This won’t be the case on Saturday as UCF’s offense is too much for the Temple defense.
Prediction: (15) UCF wins 48-31
Navy (+18) at (8) Notre Dame (3:30pm, NBC)
I don’t want to say I called the Notre Dame downfall, but I did. Now I didn’t necessarily call the embarrassment of the Irish. Miami is really good and they proved that to Brian Kelly and the Notre Dame faithful last weekend. Navy is on the opposite trajectory as they became bowl eligible after beating SMU a week ago. This is a team that will run the ball for all 60 minutes if they can. A week ago, they ran the ball an astounding 72 times for 559 yards, and won the TOP battle by 17 minutes. Talk about a confidence booster. And that confidence will fare well as the Midshipmen make the trip to West Bend for what is the 91st time. Whelp, here goes nothing.
Prediction: Navy wins 27-21
Kentucky (+21.5) at (7) Georgia (3:30pm, ESPN/WatchESPN)
Georgia has it’s sights set on December 4th. On that day, they will play either Alabama or Auburn. This much is certain. If the Bulldogs are able to win out, they can basically punch their ticket to the CFP. On the opposite side of the ball, the Kentucky Wildcats very much are capable of a 10-win season, and a potential New Year’s Day bowl. The hopes of a 10-win season fall onto the very strong and capable shoulder of 223-pound sophomore Benny Snell (if that’s not an SEC running back name, I don’t know what is.) As with every game the rest of the way for most of the Top 6 teams in the CFP rankings, this one is crucial. This game will come down to how pissed off Mark Richt has the Dawgs.
Prediction: Kentucky wins 31-30
UCLA (+16) at (11) USC (8:00pm, ABC/WatchESPN)
At the beginning of the season, this game has the makings of two of the Heisman frontrunners facing off in a late season tilt that could have very well decided the Pac-12 South. Well, it’s mid-November and that is very much not the case. That being said, this will be a showdown of two elite college football quarterbacks and two teams that very much don’t like each other. The 88th year of this crosstown match-up features two potential first round picks next spring. When Josh Rosen is healthy, the UCLA offense is one of the best in the nation. When Sam Darnold is playing like he is supposed to, he is arguably the best quarterback in the country. This game is going to be a showcase of two fantastic QBs who will, come next fall, be playing on Sunday. Enjoy them while we got ’em college football fans.
Prediction: (11) USC wins 38-28
Well, this weekend doesn’t have nearly as much excitement as last weekend. That doesn’t mean great things can’t happen. That’s why College Football is better.
#TeamNobody