Every week, I will preview the best games of the college football week and give some predictions for some of the top games. I will keep track of the predictions below, and update my record each week in the College Football Preview Blog.
Week 11 Record
Straight Up = 3-5
Against the Spread = 5 wins, 3 losses
Season Record
Straight Up = 6-7
Against the Spread = 8 wins, 4 losses, 1 push
MACtion Review
(1) Buffalo defeated Ball State 51-48 in OT in the best MAC game of the season so far. Buffalo trailed 45-31 with about 5 mins left in the 4th Quarter, scoring two times in four minutes to force overtime. Ball State choked hard, but still covered the +3.5, so good way to start the college football week.
(2) Bowling Green beat Western Michigan 31-13. Connor Bazelak might be too good for the MAC, but Bowling Green fans won’t complain. They move into first place in their division of the MAC, and control their own destiny to reach the MAC championship game.
(3) Toledo defeated Central Michigan 37-10. Toledo remains 1 game back of Bowling Green with two weeks remaining. This game was over at halftime. Ugly result in an ugly season for the Chippewas.
(4) Miami (OH) defeated Kent State 34-7. Kent State is terrible and are still winless with two games left to play. Miami (OH) is 5-1 in conference, and beat Ohio, so they also control their own destiny to reach the MAC championship game.
(5) Northern Illinois beat Akron 29-16. NIU is starting to figure it out once again, and reached bowl eligibility. Weird season for NIU after upsetting Notre Dame. NIU runs the ball so well, once again having another 100 yard rusher against Akron. Things can get weird if NIU beats Miami (OH) next week.
(6) Ohio defeated Eastern Michigan 35-10 in Athens. Ohio QB Parker Navarro threw for 277 yards, ran for 106 yards, and accounted for 4 TDs. Pretty good day. Ohio has a tough game next week versus Toledo, while Eastern Michigan needs to defeat Buffalo or Western Michigan to go bowling.
Thursday Review
(1) East Carolina beat Tulsa 38-31 in a 4th Quarter comeback. ECU scored 2 TDs in the last 5:30, even missing the extra point down 31-30 (college kickers, sigh). ECU will be bowling come Christmas time. Katin Houser threw 3 picks, but once again helped secure the W for the Pirates. I wonder if he is the answer at QB come 2025.
Friday Preview
North Texas (+1) v. UTSA – UTSA looked the part last week versus Memphis, while North Texas has lost three in a row versus Memphis, Tulane, and Army. I see this as a bounce back spot for Chandler Morris and North Texas. North Texas wins 38-31.
Houston v. Arizona (-1.5) – Arizona has been arguably the biggest disappointment in college football this year. There is no way this team should be 3-6 overall and 1-5 in conference. Noah Fifita is too good to be having the year he is having. Houston is in a rebuilding year under Willie Fritz. Arizona needs to win out to go bowling, so I expect a good effort and performance at home tonight to end their five game losing streak. Arizona wins 24-13.
Saturday Preview
Hawaii (-2.5) v. Utah State– Hawaii is one of the better 4-6 teams in the country, and have a ton of offensive weapons at Brayden Schager’s disposal. Utah State is one of the worst MW teams, and struggles to score the ball offensively. Hawaii should be able to roll, but the early start time scares me a little bit. Hawaii wins a close game 24-20.
South Florida v. Charlotte (+2.5) – Charlotte fans should riot if Deshawn Purdie is not the starting QB on Saturday. He is the future of the program, and should get the nod against a mediocre USF team. The USF QB is still unknown, so I will take Charlotte in the upset at home. Charlotte wins 23-21.
Baylor (-1.5) v. West Virginia – Sawyer Robertson and Baylor’s offensive has been humming the past three weeks. If a few bounces went the way of the Bears, they could easily have defeated both BYU and Colorado. As a result, I think they are a lot better than there 5-4 record. WVU is also playing well, and has looked better offensively with Nico Marchiol running the offense. Baylor wins 38-35.
Tennessee v. Georgia (-9.5) – Georgia got destroyed by Ole Miss last week for the first time I can remember in the last few years. Georgia’s offense is sputtering, while Tennessee has one of the best defenses in the country. I expect a low scoring battle. Nico Iamaleava is questionable for this game, while Georgia RB Trevor Etienne has already been ruled out. Because of question mark around Nico, Georgia wins 24-10.
Kansas (+2.5) v. BYU – BYU got so lucky (again) against Utah, and somehow remain undefeated with three games left. Vegas likes Kansas for some reason this week. Maybe Devin Neal and Jalon Daniels shock another Big 12 team this week. BYU’s luck is due to run out soon. Kansas wins 33-30.
Let us know what other Saturday Games you are looking forward to in the comments. The slate looks fantastic this weekend. Can’t wait until Saturday!
