Scott Hanson is famous for a number of phrases hosting NFL RedZone channel, amongst them the term Witching Hour – when losses become wins and wins become losses.
I think it is accurate to refer to the month of November as college football’s own “Witching Period”, as dreams become reality and reality becomes a nightmare for many teams during this period.
While many dreams won’t truly become reality until the end of the month, when conference title game matchups are determined, there have been plenty of realities becoming a nightmare already.
Take Iowa, Missouri and Memphis, for example. Just last week, all three teams had a legitimate path to their conference title game, which would have resulted in a solid chance to make the Playoff for all three. Losses have more or less eliminated all three from contention with a few weeks remaining in the regular season.
If you don’t teams view it this way, maybe Eli Drinkwitz’s comments adjacent to the topic can convince you.
A nightmare can also extend throughout the entire year. A good example of this is my results in the head-to-head prediction game.
The current records after Week 11:
K. Becks – 31-24 SU, 20-33-2 ATS
Guests – 35-20 SU, 25-28-2 ATS
I may not have “lost” to Jack, but the gap is still immense. This week, my buddy Michael will make picks for the first time in almost a decade. His hesitation in prior years has been driven in part by the general mediocrity that has plagued his school for the majority of that time.
I suppose he saved all of his effort that could have been dispersed throughout the last decade as well. You’ll see what I mean in a bit.
Let’s take a look at the top games in Week 12, starting with the one Michael cares the most about.
Embed from Getty Images5 Games You Need to Watch This Weekend
#9 Notre Dame at #22 Pittsburgh (Saturday, 12 PM ET – ABC)
After its rocky 0-2 start, Notre Dame is firmly in the Playoff conversation and if it were to beat Pittsburgh this weekend, would be in great position to lock up a spot with two 3-7 teams remaining on the schedule thereafter. The opinion about this is loud on both sides, but I support where the Fighting Irish sit right now and feel their ranking is warranted. It is hardly time to start celebrating, though. In the preseason I had this game circled when looking at the Fighting Irish’s slate as a potential slip up spot. While it was not projected to be a critical issue at the time, as things have unfolded it is clear that Marcus Freeman’s team cannot lose this game and still feel good about a Playoff bid. The same cannot be said of Pittsburgh, which as Pat Narduzzi controversially pointed out already, has multiple doors through which it can enter the Playoff ballroom. Whether that is an indication that the Panthers can play freely or a sign they will be mentally unprepared to handle the expected rigors of this game is unclear.
The Fighting Irish have been on a tear since those two early losses, shoring up its main areas of concern, namely the running game and defense in general. On offense Notre Dame is getting the production we expected out of the run game, posting at least 200 yards on the ground in five of its seven victories. Pittsburgh won’t be intimidated by the gaudy statistics, as its defense can claim dominance as well coming in as the country’s third best run stopping unit, allowing just over 80 rushing yards per game. Assuming there are counteracting forces up front, this one may come down to the play of a couple of freshman quarterbacks. I’ve already waxed poetic about CJ Carr in prior weeks, but some love needs to be shown to Mason Heintschel as well. He has the confidence of someone with far more experience at this level, and while that can sometimes result in misreads, often times it is to the benefit of the Panthers. His ability to buy time could give the Fighting Irish trouble if he can avoid costly turnovers. I like the Fighting Irish in this one, but it’ll be the first time they’ll play within a touchdown of their opponent since the losses.
My Pick: 34-28 Notre Dame (does not cover -12.5 spread)
Michael’s Take: Hmm, let’s see…the Pittsburgh Panthers control their own destiny and can crash the College Football Playoff. GameDay will be outside the stadium ahead of their matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The team is retiring Aaron Donald’s number at halftime in front of at least 66,000 fans. Seems like a big game. Let’s get the thoughts of head coach Pat Narduzzi:
“Absolutely not. It is not an ACC game…I’d gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10…They could put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that.”
Alrighty, then.
Sure, you can parse through the coach speak and understand he’s trying to say an ACC Championship guarantees a Playoff spot. So, is this a trap game for the Panthers? Can it be a trap game when you’re a double-digit underdog?
Let’s check in with Marcus Freeman, a coach who has made the CFP and looks to be there once again with a win on Saturday, with how he is viewing this game:
“As I was reminded, yesterday, somebody texted me, ‘This is a trap game.’ I said, ‘This is not a trap game. This is a challenge. A real challenge. A great challenge, and so we have to understand the challenge that we have ahead of us on Saturday.’”
Are the Panthers making it a challenge or is it a challenge to his locker room to not blow this like the 2004 team did at home against Pitt? The Irish schedule after this is home vs. Syracuse, then at Stanford. I’m confident enough to chalk those up in the win column.
As much as I would love to sing the praises of true freshman Panthers QB Mason Heintschel, who has completely turned the team around after the benching of Eli Holstein, this game will come down to the one thing Nardoofus does well – defense.
Pitt is No. 3 in the nation in rushing yards allowed (80.9 PPG) and No. 25 in total defense (318.3 PPG). To be fair, these “Sharks” led by linebacker Kyle Louis have seen nothing like Heisman contender RB Jeremiyah Love. He is averaging 8.5 yards per carry in his last three games. If Love falters, there’s also Jadarian Price averaging 6 yards per carry and has 9 TDs on the season. While I believe the Panthers can bottle up that dynamic duo, ND’s own (redshirt) freshman phenom CJ Carr will have to pick up the slack. Will he be ready for the blitz happy scheme of Narduzzi? In Irish’s two losses, Carr was very pedestrian.
I will take the Panthers on the spread but still think the Irish win.
FAMOUS ALUMNI MATCHUP
No professional athletes allowed. I have selected the top three most interesting alumni from each school after finding myself in a Wikipedia rabbit hole. This may decide the game more than anything on the field.
Notre Dame
Steve Bartman: Cost the Chicago Cubs a trip to the 2003 World Series after interfering with a foul ball MANY others in his section were trying to catch. The next year, fans blew up that ball in hopes of removing any curse afflicting the Cubs. Steve has lived in hiding ever since.
Larry Dolan: A nepobaby (Dad sold a patent for anti-theft device for the Model T) who accomplished nothing besides showing other owners you can make oodles of money by never actually investing in the on-the-field product.
Regis Philbin: A true television GIANT, Global Icon And National Treasure. Regis graduated from Notre Dame, joined the Navy and then was on our TV screens from 1955-2020.
Pitt
Jeff Bergman: the modern day voice of our favorite Looney Tunes and Hannah Barbara cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Fred Flintstone.
Bennet Omalu: neuropathologist who was the first to discover and publish findings on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players. Famously played by Will Smith in the film “Concussion.”
Linda Drane Burdick: Chief Assistant State Attorney at the Orange and Osceola County State Attorney’s Office in Orlando, Florida. She was the lead prosecutor on the State of Florida vs. Casey Anthony case.
Verdict
The Irish will win on Saturday and they’re winning the battle of famous alumni, solely on the back of Regis Philbin. Pitt had a chance, but you cannot lose a slam dunk murder case to a deadbeat dad who used to sell bikinis online.
#24 South Florida at Navy (Saturday, 12 PM ET – ESPN2)
I have been hyping up the American Conference for the past few weeks, claiming it to be the most deserving of the singular Playoff at-large bid guaranteed to a G5 league member. And while the conference is still in the driver’s seat for that, the objects in the mirror (hello, James Madison) are indeed closer than they appear. This matchup represents a true opportunity for a change of hands at the very top, with Navy leading the American by way of more league victories but South Florida afforded the opportunity to take control by beating the Midshipmen. As good a season as Navy has had, the Midshipmen are still looking for their first win in the month of November and have been beaten by at least two touchdowns in their last two contests. However, they have yet to lose at home and both of South Florida’s losses this season have come on the road.
Alex Golesh’s squad is marked by its stars, notably quarterback Byrum Brown, but what has made the Bulls the American Conference’s most complete team is the ability for it to rise to the occasion no matter the circumstances. Against Florida, there was question as to whether the offense would be able to move the ball against a bigger Gators defense which could contain Brown’s running ability. The Bulls flipped the script and threw for twice as many yards as they ran for, something they’ve done only four times this season. In a tough Friday night environment at North Texas, the Bulls’ conference-worst pass defense picked off Drew Mestemaker a season-high three times, allowing the game to be opened up in favor of South Florida early in the third quarter en route to a comfortable victory. Navy will want to play keepaway from the South Florida offense, but in this game a script flip may not be necessary. The Bulls’ strength on defense is stopping the run and they have athletic linebackers that can play pursuit well against the Midshipmen’s scheme. I don’t expect that the keepaway approach will work well enough to pull off an upset and South Florida will stay on track towards a Playoff bid.
My Pick: 35-24 South Florida (covers -10 spread)
Michael’s Take: A pair of polar opposites in offensive philosophies. South Florida is gonna spread you out and run a high octane offense. Navy is, well…Navy, and looking to grind opponents into dust.
Last week, the Bulls just beat down UTSA 55–23, where QB Byrum Brown was 14/15 passing for 239 yards, 109 rushing yards and a score on the ground. The Midshipmen were taken to the woodshed by Notre Dame in a 49-10 loss.
USF’s offense is averaging nearly 500 yards a game, and it’s top 15 nationally in yards per play. Brown’s dual-threat ability forces defenses to spy, and once that happens, someone like Keshaun Singleton is torching a safety 40 yards downfield.
I don’t expect Navy to be able to contain the big play attack, nor will they be able to crawl out a hole should USF scores often and early like they did last week.
The Bulls keep charging toward the AAC title and maybe crash the CFP party with the Pitt Panthers. I would even buy some points up to the 17-20 range.
FAMOUS ALUMNI MATCHUP
South Florida
Terry Bollea: Better known as Hulk Hogan. He dropped out at USF, but this is a rough alumni section without athletes. Wrestling star of the 80s and 90s. In modern times he’s remembered for being an unabashed racist in a sex tape. Sure, he and the “Anti-Christ” Peter Thiel sued Gawker for releasing the tape and won $140M. But that didn’t stop WWE fans from booing him out of the arena in his last appearance.
Gallagher: Yes, that Gallagher. Apparently, if you went to USF, you got to become a pop icon of the 80s. His signature routine involved the “Sledge-O-Matic”, a large mallet-like tool which he used to smash various items, most notably watermelons. For more than 30 years, he played between 100 and 200 shows a year, destroying tens of thousands of melons
Jason Pierre-Paul: I know I said no athletes (shoutout Courtney Williams) but I am using this as an opportunity to bash Adam Schefter. Ooooo Adam, you’re so cool. Agents feed you information to parrot and you make millions. Are you really an “insider” when you just post the NFL transaction page two minutes before it’s posted? Anyways, the one-time Schefty tried to do journalism that didn’t involve carrying the water for NFL owners, he posted x-rays of JPP’s mangled hand following a fireworks accident. JPP sued ESPN and Schefter. They settled out of court.
Navy
Alan Shepard: First American in Space. He piloted his Freedom 7 Mercury capsule for a 15-minute suborbital flight with no communication glitches. He also saw action in WWII before becoming an astronaut.
John Geisse: Creator of Target. Whenever I see that little dog on their trucks, it always puts a smile on my face. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. He left the service in 1947 as a lieutenant commander.
Jimmy Carter: 39th President of United States. Was first involved with the Navy’s fledgling nuclear submarine program. An accident with the experimental reactor at Atomic Energy of Canada’s Chalk River Laboratories caused a partial meltdown. Carter was ordered to lead a U.S. maintenance tasked with shutdown of the reactor.
Verdict
Navy in a blowout. The opposite of what we will see Saturday.
#11 Oklahoma at #4 Alabama (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ABC)
These two blueblood programs may have fan bases with expectations of playing for a national title each year, but few had both the Sooners and Crimson Tide truly competing for a Playoff spot given the immense competition expected in the SEC this season. Oklahoma is on the tail end of the most grueling stretch that any team in the country has had to face this season, playing four ranked teams in five weeks, three of which were road or neutral site contests. Despite a 2-2 stretch in the past month, the Sooners’ Playoff prospects still look solid if they can beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is unbeaten at home this season and has an argument for being the most complete team in the SEC, so the task at hand for Brent Venables & Co. is a tall one.
The Crimson Tide have been far from dominant in many games this season, highlighting that despite the success this is still a team that is learning and in need of weekly improvement to maintain its current position. Generally, the better that the run game has looked, the better Alabama has looked as a whole. It could be very tough sledding in that area against this Oklahoma defense, which is exceptional at stopping the run this season. If the Crimson Tide is unable to get things going on the ground, it is likely that Ty Simpson will need to put on the Superman cape once again to dig his team out of any hole it digs itself. Simpson has been good at this act in 2025, in a way that some (including myself) thought John Mateer might be for Oklahoma. Unfortunately, I just haven’t seen enough consistency from Mateer since he returned from the hand injury to be convinced that Oklahoma will be the one with the “wow” moments in this game. Ty Simpson can, though, and will ensure that Alabama survive yet another close game.
My Pick: 24-20 Alabama (does not cover -6 spread)
Michael’s Take: Alabama’s back baybay!!! But did they ever really leave? Head coach Kalen DeBoer has risen from the dead, which means losing one game if you’re in Tuscaloosa. Since the Florida State upset, the Tide has rolled on Georgia, Vandy, Mizzou and LSU. Defense is keeping Bama in games. They’re allowing 303.2 yards per game in total defense this season, which is good for No. 10 in the nation. Streaky QB Ty Simpson looks like the number one overall pick or the second coming of AJ McCarron. Like all games of football, and the best safe sex practice – the key is protection. When Simpson has time, he cooks. When he doesn’t, DeBoer should start updating his resume.
Oklahoma is also back after a suspect start to SEC play last season. It is 8–2 and its investment in defensive minded head coach Brent Venables is finally paying off. At 14.1 points allowed per game, they’re No. 7 nationally. Four sacks in the win over Tennessee, six on South Carolina – when that pass rush gets home, everything else clicks. The Sooners are creeping back into the CFP conversation now that QB John Mateer has settled in after overcoming early injuries.
It would be more intriguing if this was in Oklahoma, but these Bama fans will make the difference. Tide for the win and the spread.
FAMOUS ALUMNI MATCHUP
Oklahoma
Ed Harris: An IMDB page for the ages. He received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Apollo 13, The Truman Show, and The Hours. My favorite work of his is as The Man in Black from Westworld.
Gladys West: Do you rely on GPS when travelling? Then give thanks to Gladys. She’s the mathematician known her work on the development of satellite geodesy models that are essential to GPS.
Rick Rescorla: As the director of security Morgan Stanley at the World Trade Center, Rescorla anticipated attacks on the towers and implemented evacuation procedures that were credited with saving thousands of lives. He died on 9/11, going back to help evacuate more people in the South Tower.
Alabama
Harper Lee: Novelist whose 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and became a classic of modern American literature. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” – Atticus Finch
Bernie Madoff: He spent one year at Alabama, but I can only assume that’s where he got the idea for largest known Ponzi scheme in history, worth an estimated $65 billion.
Rece Davis: Well, now you know why GameDay loves Alabama and the SEC so much. Somehow, he gives off a worse vibe than Bernie Madoff.
Verdict
Tough choice here. A 9/11 hero or a couple of Bama scumbags. Oklahoma wins this shootout at the OK Corral.
Florida at #7 Mississippi (Saturday, 7 PM ET – ESPN)
Social media has dubbed this one the Lane Kiffin Bowl, a nod to the plethora of rumors surrounding the current head man in Oxford and his potential flirtations with Florida. Whether or not there is any truth to these rumors, the decibel level from them is enough to give the Rebels permanent hearing damage. How that affects this game will be interesting, as it has been mentioned here in the past that Coach Kiffin’s teams are typically good for at least one letdown game per season. While that hasn’t happened yet in 2025, fueling a serious Playoff candidacy, the conditions feel right for it this weekend. Tumultuous is an apt description of Florida’s 2025 regular season campaign, but the Gators are far from hapless despite what last weekend’s result against Kentucky may suggest. Florida can hang onto hope of bowl eligibility with a win, but also help maintain the perfect temperature for the pot of uncertainty that its program and Kiffin have helped create.
Mississippi’s commitment to the run game (second most attempts in the SEC) can be the key to overpowering a Florida team that has been offensively deficient for most of the season. In fact, the magic number in this game appears to be 30. The Gators have yet to score 30 points against an FBS opponent this season, while the Rebels average more than 37 points per contest. One thing that Florida has been good at doing is keeping things close, though the offensive inadequacies (and play-calling) has plagued it in tight spots where production is necessary. Things haven’t really gotten any better since the dismissal of Billy Napier, further fueling the Kiffin to Gainesville rumors. Lane Kiffin’s squad doesn’t always run away with games but has shown mental fortitude in critical situations and proven the capability to handle high pressure. That will be important given all the external noise outside the field of play. I think that the Gators will be up for this game and don’t expect another blowout, but they won’t make enough of the chances that they have to knock off the Rebels at The Sip. Whether it’s a decider in Kiffin’s future plans is anyone’s guess.
My Pick: 30-19 Mississippi (does not cover -14 spread)
Michael’s Take: Happy Lane Kiffin Bowl to those that celebrate! Seems like ole Lane might be on the move again and potentially chomping at the bit to be the next ball coach in Gainesville, or at the very least a fatter payday from Ole Miss.
No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels looking to get one step closer to the College Football Playoff. As usual, Lane has the offense humming. Rebels enter the weekend averaging 36.2 points and 476.8 yards per game, good for No. 20 nationally. They’ve scored 30-plus points in seven of nine games. The defense, often overlooked, allows just 323.1 yards per contest and ranks among the SEC’s top five in stop-rate, ending nearly 76 percent of opponents’ drives without points.
I’ve seen more alive Gators on “Swamp People” than what’s happening at UF. QB DJ Lagway is back under center after being benched. Maybe he’ll carry his teammates and impress his new coach. Probably not, though.
Give me Ole Miss by 20-25, plus a bet on Lane Kiffin or Pitt OC Kade Bell as next Gators head coach.
FAMOUS ALUMNI BOWL
Florida
Pam Bondi / Marco Rubio: Ew, no.
Chris Malachowsky: Co-founder of NVIDIA, the company behind high-end AI and data center chips. So, thanks for all the AI slop we’re living through.
Stephen Stills: Musician best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and Manassas. Some Stephen Stills written bangers include “For What It’s Worth,” “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” and “Love the One You’re With.”
Ole Miss
Leigh Anne Tuohy: She was guardian and adopted mother of the football player Michael Oher. Their story was featured in the book and movie “The Blind Side” and later in courtrooms.
James Meredith: In 1962(!!!), James was the first black student admitted to the racially segregated University of Mississippi after the intervention of the federal government. His admission ignited the Ole Miss riot of 1962 where Meredith’s life was threatened, and 31,000 American servicemen were required to quell the violence – the largest ever invocation of the Insurrection Act of 1807.
Leonard McCoy: Dr. Leonard H. McCoy, aka “Bones”. In 2266, McCoy was posted as chief medical officer of the USS Enterprise under Captain James T. Kirk.
Verdict
Take your pick. Modern day racists? Or racists of the past? I’m ruling this a tie because no one deserves to win. Apologies to Stephen Stills and Bones.
#10 Texas at #5 Georgia (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET – ABC)
What was at one time pegged as a potential first of multiple rounds between these two teams has turned into a battle for survival. The Bulldogs are just a single game out of the SEC lead, though a loss this weekend would effectively end Georgia’s chances of making it back to Atlanta this season. Additionally, it would put the Bulldogs on the ropes in terms of at-large eligibility with a game against Georgia Tech to end the regular season looming. Texas, meanwhile, is already leaning on those ropes. The Longhorns cannot afford another loss if they intend to be Playoff bound. Viewed another way, Steve Sarkisian’s group is already in Playoff mode, with a do-or-die mentality being more than just a mental crutch. The results for both have been difficult to decipher. For Georgia, a lack of overwhelming talent buoyed by Kirby Smart’s tactical genius has landed the program in a season-long dogfight that they are for the most part winning. For Texas, hype vs. reality has resulted in some unmet expectations, but with enough glimpses to suggest the Longhorns can be the team most of us thought they would be this season.
Texas’s ability to win this game lies within the trenches, where they’ll need to stop Georgia’s run game and also establish one of its own on the offensive side. The former seems very plausible, with the Longhorns boasting the SEC’s best run defense. Georgia has been solid at running the ball this season, but has really only faced one decent run-stopping opponent in Auburn, and the results weren’t exceptional. The latter (Texas establishing the run on offense) is the bigger worry for fans in burnt orange. Steve Sarkisian’s offensive line is paid handsomely but hasn’t necessarily lived up to its billing this season. There is talent at running back (Quintrevion Wisner has been solid when healthy), but not always room to operate. If the Bulldogs can contain the run, Texas may be too one-dimensional offensively to win. It should be close, though, because Georgia isn’t going to have a ton of running room, either. I expect a one possession game but Coach Smart will get the best of Coach Sarkisian for the third time in the last 13 months.
My Pick: 27-23 Georgia (does not cover -6 spread)
Michael’s Take: This one is easy. I am tired of hearing, seeing and reading about Arch Manning. Look at that highlight tape – what kind of competition is this? If his name was Arch Mann he’d be a backup at Kent State. Steve Starkisian knows Arch ain’t it, or else he wouldn’t be playing footsies WITH THE TENNESEE TITANS. Dawgs are gonna eat and then people will begin wondering about how Arch fits in the 2028 NFL Draft.
UGA by at least 17. Manning throws three picks.
FAMOUS ALUMNI MATCHUP
Texas
Angus G. Wynne: Creator of Six Flags theme park. Who doesn’t love roller coasters (me), dancing old men or learning that Travis Kelce has interests outside football and banging Taylor Swift?
Walter Cronkite: Legendary newscaster. Broke the news of JFK’s assassination. His reporting on the Tet Offensive is often credited for turning the public opinion against the Vietnam War.
Glen Powell: Did you know Texas is an acting school? I had no idea. Matthew McConaughey, Owen Wilson, Renée Zellweger, Mark Duplass and Robert Rodríguez are all Longhorns. It’s recency bias but I love Chad Powers.
Georgia
Kyle Chandler: Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. Coach Taylor won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2011.
Maxine Clark: Founder of Build-A-Bear. She was inspired to form the DIY stuffed animal store after a friend’s child couldn’t find the beanie baby she was looking for.
Crawford Long: American surgeon and pharmacist best known for his first use of inhaled sulfuric ether as an anesthetic.
Verdict
Horns down once again. Imagine a world without Build-A-Bear or anesthesia. Sounds like hell.
Embed from Getty Images5 Games to Keep an Eye On This Weekend
#19 Virginia at Duke (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ESPN2)
Last week’s loss was generally regarded as a long time coming for the Cavaliers, but injury was added to the insult of failing to score a single touchdown against Wake Forest. Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris was knocked out of the game with a head injury and his status is uncertain for this weekend’s game. They’ll need him in order to keep pace with a Duke offense that leads the ACC in passing yards per contest.
#16 Georgia Tech at Boston College (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ACC Network)
There is no room for error at the top of the ACC, where four teams (including the Yellow Jackets) are currently tied for first place. On the surface, this game doesn’t look like it should be any trouble for Georgia Tech. Boston College has yet to beat an FBS opponent this season and boasts a terrible defense, but it’s Senior Day for the Eagles and the weather is expected to be ugly, which could tighten things up between these two.
#21 Iowa at #17 Southern Cal (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – Big Ten Network)
After an emotional game against Oregon last Saturday, the Hawkeyes must regroup for a long trip out West to face the surging Trojans. Oregon proved that Iowa can be controlled in the trenches, so Lincoln Riley will probably put together a game plan that features a heavy dose of the run. Iowa is good enough to beat a team the likes of Southern Cal, but whether the Hawkeyes can shake off the disappointment of last week remains a question as big as any heading into this one.
Appalachian State at James Madison (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ESPN+)
Featuring this game is primarily about an opportunity to check out the Dukes, which have quietly emerged as a legitimate threat to grab the G5’s auto bid to the CFP. However, despite the sub-.500 record the Mountaineers are no pushover. Their last three games have been decided by a touchdown or less (all losses) and App State leads the Sun Belt in passing offense. Sometimes it is difficult to trust a “shutdown” defense from the G5, which is James Madison’s strength.
#13 Utah at Baylor (Saturday, 7 PM ET – ESPN2)
A shootout could ensue against two of the Big 12’s top three offenses. On paper Utah’s defense defends the pass better than most teams in the country and the Utes are probably being undervalued when it comes to Playoff candidacy. However, Baylor will know that, too and has generally fared better at Waco than away from it this season.
