December 29 - January 1 Bowl Games

     We've reached the final weekend of Bowl Games, all leading up to the New Year's Six! This past week has been full of great games, breakout performances and historic moments such as the edible Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot being devoured by the K-State football team following their victory. This post has my predictions of all the final bowl games this weekend along with my College Football Playoff Predictions, enjoy your football watching and Happy New Year celebration!

Bowl Record: 17 - 12

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

#22 Clemson vs Kentucky

    The Tigers had a big resurgence at the end of the year, going undefeated in November and finishing the season 8-4. The Wildcats struggled late in the season, losing 3 of their last 5, but they did upset rival Louisville in the season finale. Both teams have some players in the portal, but most aren't any going to make a major impact in this game. Despite so many people being down on the Tigers, they finished with the 22nd ranked scoring defense, allowing just 19.9 points per game. The most they gave up in November was 23 to Notre Dame and they average 2.5 sacks per game as a team. The Wildcats have some dynamic playmakers on offense, primarily led through their Senior RB Ray Davis, who averages 5.7 yards per carry and has 13 TDs on the ground this season. Defensively, their challenge will be to get in the face of Tigers QB Cade Klubnik. Tigers defense makes the difference though and Clemson wins 28-17.

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

#19 Oregon State vs #16 Notre Dame

    The Beavers were a very fun team to watch this season, but a few close losses along with a season ending beat down to the rival Ducks ended up not being the worst part. This team loses QB DJ Uiagelelei to the Transfer Portal, and lost their alumni Head Coach to Michigan State. Notre Dame lost just 3 tough games to Ohio State, Louisville and Clemson, but their Transfer Portal/Opt-out woes are far greater than the Beavers. Essentially an entire new offense will be taking the field for Marcus Freeman and the Irish as they will be without their QB, RB, multiple wideouts, tight ends and linemen. This always gives a lot of younger players the opportunity to step up and make a name for themselves heading toward next season, but they'll be up against an Oregon State defense that finished with a +7 turnover margin on the season, so ball security will be very important. Sophomore RB, Damien Martinez will likely break loose a few gashes in the run game, but Notre Dame's defense should keep this game to a lower scoring affair. Irish win a tight one down in El Paso 23-17.

Autozone Liberty Bowl

Memphis vs Iowa State

    Iowa State started the season 1-2 with essentially no offense to rely on. They woke up once Big XII Conference play started and actually were in the mix for a bid to the conference championship until a few stumbles against KU and Texas. Regardless, their defense carried them for much of the season and then let the offense begin to fall into place. Memphis was able to win 9 games, primarily in shootouts. If this game becomes high scoring, they may have the firepower to pull away. I think the Cyclones built some big momentum with their snowy win in Farmaggedon, and they win this game to finish with 8 wins on the season 26-21.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

#9 Missouri vs #7 Ohio State

    The Friday nightcap features a really interesting matchup between Missouri and Ohio State. On team has a lot of argument on their talent and abilities for the playoffs, while the other may be one of the biggest surprises from 2023. Ohio State's only blunder is the 6-point loss to Michigan, but they Buckeyes have lost a tremendous amount of talent to the Transfer Portal. A new man will be under center for Ohio State as McCord has left for Syracuse. They do still have Marvin Harrison Jr. to throw to, so Missouri's secondary will have to deal with him one way or another. Looking at the offense of Missouri, they have a gun-slinger and pass-catching duo of their own to attempt to lock down. Brady Cook and Luther Burden III have connected for nearly 1,200 yards this season along with 8 TDs. My X-factor is RB Cody Schrader though, because he rips defenses for an average of 6 yards per carry. The Buckeyes rank 20th in rush defense and held Michigan to just 156 rush yards in the season finale. Mizzou will certainly make this game interesting with a couple of big plays on offense, but I don't think their defense is quite ready for the offensive firepower of the Buckeyes. Ohio State wins the Cotton Bowl 33-24.

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

#11 Ole Miss vs #10 Penn State

    High-flying SEC offense versus a rugged BIG 10 defense, what more could you ask for? The Rebels and Nittany Lions reflect each other in their respective conferences, dominating the lower-caliber opponents as expected, but unable to get over the hump and beat the top teams. Neither team has many players leaving in the Portal, which means they are building for a big season next year, and should be at full strength for this game. Both QBs have been sensational this season, combing for 43 passing TDs and just 6 interceptions (5 for Dart and just 1 for Allar). Penn State utilizes a two-headed rushing attack with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen averaging 4.3 and 5.3 yards per carry respectively. Quinshon Judkins leads the way for Ole Miss as he's racked up 1,052 yards on the ground with 15 rushing TDs. I would love to believe the BIG 10 defense can prevail here, but every time I put my faith in Penn State, I'm let down. Give me the Rebels in a fun Peach Bowl to win 31-28.

TransPerfect Music City Bowl

Auburn vs Maryland

    Maryland will be looking for a new QB after (All-Time BIG 10 Passing Leader) Taulia Tagovailoa has opted-out in hopes of the NFL draft or a potential NCAA waiver for one more season of eligibility. Having watched this team play live in Memorial Stadium against my Huskers, they really didn't have much outside of him. He was sensational at QB and filling his void is more than just a "next man up" scenario. For the Tigers, you really have no idea what to expect. They could play like the team that fell to New Mexico State at home as 26-point favorites, or they could be the team that took Alabama to the wire the following week. I think their defense should be the focal point of this game though, and the Tigers hold the advantage there. Auburn 27, Maryland 14.

Capital One Orange Bowl

#6 Georgia vs #5 Florida State

    The left-out bowl features the two-time reigning champion Bulldogs (who's only blemish is to Bama in the conference championship), and the 13-0, ACC Champion Florida State Seminoles who were left out of the College Football Playoffs despite winning every game on their schedule. To say both of these teams have a statement to make is an understatement. Unfortunately, there are quite a few players opting out of this game, but that doesn't mean the motivation will be missing. This is honestly one of my most anticipated bowl matchups due to the CFP drama. Florida State could easily make the Playoff Committee look like bigger fools if they go in an beat Georgia. Despite Jordan Travis being out with his injury, the Seminole defense was formidable this season, ranking 13th in total defense and 6th in scoring defense. Georgia has been the epitome of consistency apart from their duel with Alabama, and when this offense has been healthy, they easily drop 30+ on opponents. I think Florida State is here to make a statement, so this won't be a total blowout, but I like Georgia to win this game 27-17.

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl

Toledo vs Wyoming

    The Rockets and Cowboys have been interesting teams to watch this season, causing upsets and playing opponents tough all year long. I like this bowl matchup a lot and after a loss in the Conference Championship, the Rockets have a lot of motivation and a tough defense to back it up. Wyoming fell short in their conference race, but dominated their last two opponents giving up just 15 points combined. Give me the Rockets in a close one behind their rushing attack with Peny Boone. Toledeo 28, Wyoming 21.

ReliaQuest Bowl

Wisconsin vs #13 LSU

    The Badgers were up and down all season and now have to take on the the LSU Tigers with all their offensive firepower. However, with Jayden Daniels opting-out for the NFL Draft, there's a big void Brian Kelly needs to fill in that offense. I really don't know what to make of either of these teams, especially LSU without the Heisman winner at the helm. The Tigers have a lot of other talent on that team though and they should be able to handle Luke Fickell and the Badgers as they still build that new program. LSU wins 34-21.

VRBO Fiesta Bowl

#23 Liberty vs #8 Oregon

    The Flames finish undefeated after the lowest strength of schedule in the nation, but they now take on a Ducks team that was one of the most dominant football programs of 2023 as long as they weren't playing Washington. There's not much to say about this game other than the Ducks are going to run wild and put up a lot of points. Dan Lanning has a lot of big plans fore Oregon and they are going to be on a war path next year. A fun farewell game for Bo Nix and Oregon races past Liberty 45-14.

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

#17 Iowa vs #21 Tennessee

    We come to yet another game Iowa should not win, but will. Partly because Tennessee has a number of opt-outs including QB Joe Milton, but also because Tennessee is a team that loves to make crucial mistakes on themselves that Iowa can capitalize on. Don't get me wrong, I wish the Huskers could win games like the Hawkeyes, but they are the worst offense in football and simply wait for others to make a boneheaded play and they do a wonderful job of capitalizing. It shouldn't work in modern day football, but they find a way to do it. Hawkeyes beat the Vols 16-10. As usual, bet the under.

Rose Bowl (CFP Semifinal)

#4 Alabama vs #1 Michigan

    The first of our CFP Semifinals features the Crimson Tide against Big Blue. Bama and Michigan square off for a defensive slug fest with everything on the line. You never want to play Alabama in the Playoffs and they're hot right now. But Michigan has been hear for a month about how scared they are and that's a big time motivator. Despite the Jim Harbaugh distractions, this Wolverine squad has always found a way to win. The key stat to watch is if they can get their ground game going. They've averaged 149.8 yards on the ground in their last 4 games, and Alabama gives up just 124.5 rush yards per game. They're not a team that gets bullied very often and Michigan has made a living the last couple seasons on that style of play. J.J. McCarthy has to win this one with his arm, but I think Alabama is too dangerous in this position. Roll Tide as they beat Michigan 31-27.

Allstate Sugar Bowl (CFP Semifinal)

#3 Texas vs #2 Washington

    From a defensive rock fight to a guns-blazing shootout, we have the Sugar Bowl featuring Texas and Washington. While both teams have playmakers on the defensive side of the ball and can certainly bring the boom with some big hits, this game is all about the offense. Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies lead the nation in passing, while the Longhorns come in scoring 57 and 49 in their last two games. Turnovers are usually the deciding factor in a shootout scenario because it's a great way for opposing teams to steal points. Texas leads that category with +7 while the Huskies are just +1. Sacks are another big factor though, and the Huskies have given up just 11 all year. Michael Penix's ability to escape the pocket helps with that, but Quin Ewers has been hit plenty of times and as a team the Longhorns have given up 26 this season. Look for the Huskies to blitz early and often. The final factor to watch in this game is 3rd down conversions. Washington ranks 10th with a 48.3% conversion rate while the Longhorns rank 68th with 38.5%. Clutch throws and catches will make the difference on third down. If you haven't watched Michael Penix Jr., that's what he's all about. Give me the Huskies in a fantastic 38-33 victory!

Thanks for reading all my bowl predictions and be sure to watch for my post about the College Football Playoffs National Championship coming up. Enjoy the games!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

December 23 - 28 Bowl Games

     Happy Saturday Football Friends! I apologize for the lack of description in this post but due to constant travel along with some personal matters I've elected to just make quick score predictions for this week's games. I'll be sure to have a full analysis and predictions for the New Year's Six and other big bowl games coming up, but I appreciate your understanding as this post is a bit thin. Regardless, I hope you enjoy all the games and have a wonderful Holiday Weekend!

Bowl Record: 5 - 6

76 Birmingham Bowl

Duke 31, Troy 27

Camellia Bowl

Northern Illinois 26, Arkansas State 21

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

James Madison 23, Air Force 14.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Utah State 34, Georgia State 24

68 Ventures Bowl

South Alabama 38, Eastern Michigan 14

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

Utah 30, Northwestern 10

EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl

San Jose State 37, Coastal Carolina 28

Quick Lane Bowl

Minnesota 20, Bowling Green 17

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Texas State 24, Rice 20

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Kansas 27, UNLV 21

Military Bowl Presented by GoBowling.com

Virginia Tech 30, Tulane 22

Duke's Mayo Bowl

West Virginia 31, North Carolina 20

DIRECTV Holiday Bowl

#15 Louisville 35, USC 28

TaxAct Texas Bowl

#20 Oklahoma State 24, Texas A&M 21

Wasabi Fenway Bowl

#24 SMU 37, Boston College 27

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Rutgers 30, Miami 27

Pop-Tarts Bowl

#25 K-State 23, #18 NC State 21

Valero Alamo Bowl

#14 Arizona 38, #12 Oklahoma 34.

December 16 - 22 Bowl Games

    Welcome to the 2023 Bowl Season football fans! Time for wacky bowl names and wondering who is opting in or out. Regardless of that, we have a lot of great matchups to watch as we work our way to the College Football Playoffs. I've got all the bowl predictions you need below, so read on and enjoy some postseason college football.

Conference Championship Record: 7 - 3

Overall 2023 Season Record: 193 - 61 (75.98% Correct)

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Georgia Southern vs Ohio

    The Eagles just snuck into the post season with a 6-6 record, but did lose their final four games. Their air-raid offense ranks 14th in the nation, and despite Senior QB David Brin's 16 interceptions, he's got 22 TDs and completes around 65% of his passes. For the Bobcats, they'll be looking for some new faces on offense to step up as QB Kurtis Rourke, RBs Sieh Bangura & O'Shaan Allison, WRs Miles Cross and Tyler Walton along with a long list of other players are all in the transfer portal and will not be playing. The starting QB, top two rushers (3 with Rourke) and two of the top wideouts are all going to be missing from an offense that averaged nearly 350 yards per game. Give me Georgia Southern with a big game passing and forcing turnovers against an inexperienced offense. Eagles 27, Bobcats 17.

Cricket Celebration Bowl

Howard vs Florida A&M

    Statistically, the Bison and the Rattlers are very similar stats, but with an impressive 11-1 season, the Rattlers are a heavy favorite in this game. These are not teams I'm very familiar with, but I'll give the nod to Florida A&M. Rattlers 35, Bison 14.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Jacksonville State vs Louisiana

    The Gamecocks enjoyed a strong season in their first on as a Division 1 FBS program. Both them and the Ragin' Cajuns have had a number of close games this season. Louisiana just made a bowl game by winning their final game of the season. There's not a whole lot that separates these two statistically, but the turnover margin could be a big factor. The Gamecocks are +9 while the Ragin' Cajuns are -3, so I'll use that for my key factor of the game. Jacksonville State wins 29-24 with some key turnovers.

Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl

Miami (OH) vs Appalachian State

    Both the Redhawks and the Mountaineers made their conference championship games, but only Miami (OH) came out with the title. App State fell 49-23 to the Trojans of Troy, while the Redhawks put on a defensive clinic to beat the Rockets 23-14. Their ground game is quite a force to slow down as well with Sophomore RB Rashad Amos averaging 5.1 yards per carry and with 12 TDs on the season. Junior QB Joey Aguilar leads the Mountaineer offense with more than 3,500 passing yards and 33 TDs with just 9 picks. He could be under a lot of pressure though as the Redhawks have 34 sacks this season. I think they will cause enough pressure to make life difficult for the Mountaineers. Miami (OH) wins 27-20.

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

New Mexico State vs Fresno State

    The Aggies have just a short road trip to Albuquerque as they get to play a bowl game in their home state. Fresno State comes in at 8-4, but lost their last three games of the season. The Aggies couldn't quite keep pace with Liberty in the Conference USA Championship, but still had a very strong season at 10-4 themselves. A big win on the road at Auburn was the primary highlight for Jerry Kill and his squad. The QB battle is what you'll want to watch for in this one. Mikey Keene for the bulldogs has over 2,500 yards with 21 TDs and 9 picks on the season. On the other side, Diego Pavia leads the Aggies in both passing and rushing as he's totaled nearly 4,000 yards this season and racked up 32 total TDs. He'll be a handful for the Bulldogs to slow down and I like the Aggies to win in their home state. New Mexico State 31, Fresno State 21.

Starco Brands LA Bowl

UCLA vs Boise State

    Another team that doesn't have have to travel far for their bowl game is the Bruins of LA. Down by LAX they'll take on the Broncos of Boise State in Inglewood. Unfortunately, there's not many Broncos left for them to play. Boise State has been hit hard by the transfer portal as their QB and top receiver are both gone. UCLA has their own holes to fix though as Freshman QB Dante Moore left, but most other pieces of their offense remain and QB Ethan Garbers has a good amount of playing time this season already. Bruins need a positive note to end on for Chip Kelly spark things up for next year. UCLA wins 30-21.

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

Cal vs Texas Tech

    The Golden Bears and Red Raiders square off for a late night shootout. Both squads ended up at 6-6 on the season and have many players in the transfer portal, but most of their key players are still here. This is a really fun matchup between two teams that were somewhat sneaky in their respective conferences, but couldn't quite get over the hump. The rushing attack for both teams will be fun to watch as Cal's Sophomore RB Jaydn Ott has 1,260 yards with 11 TDs on the season and Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks has 1,446 with 9 TDs. Texas Tech ranks 122nd in the nation for turnover margin at -8, and despite them being one of my dark horse teams in the Big XII this season, I'm siding with the Golden Bears. Winners of 3 straight to end the season and make a bowl game. They're on a roll and they beat the Red Raiders 34-27.

Famous Toastery Bowl

Western Kentucky vs Old Dominion

    The Hilltoppers and the Monarchs both have a lot of players in the portal, but most starters are still with the team. WKU is led by Senior QB Austin Reed, who has 3,340 passing yards with 31 TDs to 11 picks. Old Dominion is ranked 87th in pass defense, so they have a difficult task ahead slowing down the air raid from Big Red and the Hilltoppers. Combine that with the fact that WKU has given up just 9 sacks all season and you have a big win for the Hilltoppers. WKU 33, Old Dominion 24.

Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl

UTSA vs Marshall

    The Roadrunners had another great season, but fell short of the conference championship after a tough loss to Tulane. Marshall was up and down on their way to a 6-6 record, and with the transfer portal taking not only their QB but multiple other players from both sides of the ball, it's likely to end on a sour note. UTSA QB Frank Harris is fun to watch and I think he'll wrap up his collegiate career with a big night. Roadrunners win 38-20.

Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl

South Florida vs Syracuse

    The Orange look to be on the rise, but a mediocre season following the injury to star QB Garrett Shrader really put a damper on what could have been. A bowl win would point them in the right direction as they take on the Bulls who also have been very hot and cold. USF Freshman QB Byrum Brown does have over 3,000 yards passing with 23 TDs though, so the Syracuse defense will have their hands full. Success for the Orange lives in the ground game though, and Sophomore RB LeQuint Allen should take care of that with his 4.7 yards per carry and 9 TDs. USF ranks 72nd in the nation in rush defense, so he has opportunity for a big day. Orange beat the Bulls 26-10

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl

Georgia Tech vs UCF

    The final game on this slate features the passing attack of Georgia Tech (I'm confused as well) against the rushing attack of UCF. The Yellow Jackets have moved away from the old Triple Option game for a few years, but Sophomore QB Haynes King really made their new offense stand out this year with 2,755 passing to go with a 26 to 15 TD:INT ratio. For the Knights, Senior RB RJ Harvey is the player to watch. He's been a PROBLEM for opposing defenses this season racking up nearly 1,300 yards on the ground with a 6.1 average and 16 TDs, which is tied for 6th in the nation. The Yellow Jackets rank 131st in the nation against the run, so look for Harvey to have a big night. UCF wins with the ground attack 28-17.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. Georgia Southern covers -3.5 against Ohio

    - As mentioned above the Bobcats entire offense (more or less) is in the transfer portal along with some key defensive players. They do rank 7th against the passing attack, but without key weapons on offense they won't be able to score many points. Eagles win by 4 or more to cover.

2. UCLA covers -4.5 against Boise State

    - Similar to Ohio, the Broncos are missing a majority of their offense in the transfer portal. Combined with UCLA looking to open up the offense in preparations for 2024, I expect them to cover the spread with ease.

3. UTSA moneyline over Marshall

    - Covering the -13 spread on this game isn't far out of reach for the Roadrunners, but if you'd like to bet on the safer side you can go with the moneyline. Marshall is hurt by the portal in key positions (this will be a very good betting metric for bowl season if it works) and the Road Runners have an offense that can score quickly. Frank Harris has a big night to cap off his career and UTSA wins.

Thanks for reading my predictions on the first slate of bowl games! Enjoy some post season college football and look for a BIG TIME recruit to flip to Nebraska next week. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

2023 College Football Playoff Rankings - CHAOS

     CHAOS! We finally have a year full of pure CHAOS for the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. With three undefeated Conference Champions, two 1-loss Conference Champions, and two very deserving 1-loss teams who did not win their conference (honorable mention to Oregon because I believe they are in the mix for best teams, but they needed a win Friday night), you have the makings of a pure, unsolicited CHAOS for the CFB Playoffs. This post will be short and sweet, but I break down what I think will happen, what should happen and my overall top 4 teams. Here we go!

What do I think will happen?

    With so many deserving teams, the CFP Selection Committee has to determine the best four teams. The difference between these words has been difficult to separate over the past few years, but is more important than ever here in 2023. Next year, the problem solves itself. The 12-team playoff opens up and losing in your conference championship or not even playing in it has no matter. But here's what I think happens this year. First and foremost, Michigan and Washington are in. The question is who will be #1? Conventional wisdom says Michigan, but Washington has more ranked wins than the Wolverines, and their conference championship game was actually a challenge. Does that reward the Huskies with the #1 overall seed? This is something to consider because of the potential matchups. The real question comes with Florida State. Are they deserving? Yes, 13-0 with a conference championship has been a consistent standard for the committee to put a team in to the playoffs. However, without Jordan Travis at QB, are they one of the 4 best? This is the catch. They have a championship-caliber defense, but so does Iowa (arguably even my Huskers at times). Texas and Alabama both have the firepower on offense to match their defenses. Yes, Tate Rodemaker would be back for the semifinal/bowl game, but is that enough? He's not Jordan Travis and they struggled against an okay but not great Florida team in his lone start. The Playoff Committee would be head hunted by a mob if they leave out the SEC and you can't put them in with out putting in Texas because of the head-to-head win. Ohio State and Georgia are great teams, but don't have enough to be considered this scenario.

What do I think will happen? They bump out Florida State because of their lack of offense in the last couple games and the committee does not believe they are one of the BEST teams without Jordan Travis. They break their own precedent and put in Texas and Alabama.

1. Michigan

2. Washington

3. Texas

4. Alabama

What should happen?

    The deserving and best argument again make this very difficult. Florida State could easily be overlooked because of their QB injuries, but they have had a tremendous season and I've been saying from the onset of the season, they are one of the best four teams. They had a more impressive win against LSU than Alabama did and won a variety of close games both on the road and at home, just like Washington. Michigan looked fairly dominant all season, but had lackluster competition apart from Ohio State and Penn State. Texas' win over Alabama on the road in Tuscaloosa cannot and should not be overlooked. However, Alabama and Texas are playing some of the best football in the country right now. Georgia and Ohio State are both quality teams and could easily be favored in a game against Florida State, Texas or Washington, maybe even Michigan (at least for UGA).

What should happen?

1. Washington

2. Michigan

3. Florida State

4. Texas

Who are my four best teams?

1. Washington

2. Michigan

3. Texas

4. Alabama

I HATE leaving Florida State out, but without Jordan Travis, they are not one of the four best. They are more than deserving of a spot, but I think this is the best slate of 4 teams to get great games in all the semifinals and the finals. Thanks for reading my thoughts on the College Football Playoff Rankings. Anxious to see what happens today!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Conference Championship Predictions

     Happy Championship Week! Somehow, some way, another college football regular season has come to a close as we look to crown the various conference champions, some for the final time as conference realignment will make this week look very different next year. There's a lot to break down ahead of the big games this weekend, most of which could cause some big shake ups in the final College Football Playoff Rankings. However, before we get to this week's games, I'll give my thoughts on the disappointing Husker game that took place just a week ago as the Hawkeyes won yet again on a walk-off field goal. I'll do a full season recap once we get out of bowl season, but some other teams still have football to play!

    The Huskers and the Hawkeyes battled on a chilly Black Friday morning, and despite numerous chances for the Huskers to walk away with a victory, they once again gave the game up to the Hawkeyes in the final moments. Neither team honestly looked like they wanted to win the game as questionable play calls and poorly timed turnovers made up a majority of the fourth quarter. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories broken down below.

GOOD - Phalen Sanford & the Blackshirts. Overall, the defense played very well apart from that one gashing run with just seconds left. Unfortunately a missed tackle led to the Hawkeyes getting into field goal range. Apart from that though, the defense was fantastic. They had 3 tackles for loss, a sack and 7 passes deflected while forcing 7 Iowa punts and blocking 2 field goals. Giving up just 13 points in this one and an average of 18.3 on the season, you should be winning a majority of your games. I also want to give a specific shoutout to Husker DB Phalen Sanford. The senior former walk-on who started his career at Hastings College was sensational throughout the game and a lot of his impact won't show up in the stat sheet. In addition to his constant efforts on special teams throughout the year, Sanford recorded 9 total tackles against the Hawkeyes and made some big time stops at the line of scrimmage. Some of his best plays came when Iowa tried to stretch the run game out to the edge and he did a wonderful job of sealing them back inside by beating the block of the pulling lineman and letting the running back fall back into the arms of his Blackshirt teammates chasing him down. A true overlooked hero on the defense and special teams this year, but to me his contributions did not go unnoticed!

EXPECTED - Solid game from Chubba Purdy and the field position battle. Making his second start of the season, Purdy had played about how I would expect. There were some very unfortunate and frustrating turnovers, but the offense looked much smoother under his control. Most of his passes were accurate and in a good place of his receivers to make a play. More importantly, when he didn't have anyone open and was under pressure, he made the smart decision multiple times to throw the ball out of bounds and move onto the next play. This is not something we have seen from the other QBs in the room and although the offense didn't perform up to a desired standard, I have a hard time believing their wouldn't be more turnovers with someone else under center. The other expected aspect of this game was the importance of field position. With two horrible offensive attacks against two of the best defenses in the country, penalties, turnovers and special teams were going to truly decide the outcome and playing smart with field position needed to be a priority.

BAD - Timeouts and not using Emmett Johnson. Looking big picture, this category could start being called just BAD Coaching decisions as Matt Rhule has a lot of blame to shoulder for these final three games. One of the few bright spots in the Husker offense has been Emmett Johnson. I'm sure the ware and tear of a long season has to factor into some of this, but after a career high of 17 carries against Maryland, Wisconsin was followed up with 13 and then just 11 against Iowa. I understand that the Hawkeye defense is not an easy one to move on, but giving your best weapons the ball is how you win football games. I think he could've done some more damage if given more than 11 carries. The bigger issue lies with the use of timeouts throughout not only this game, but the entirety of the season. I'll have to go back and find some stats, but I'd argue that close to every game this season had the Huskers taking an unnecessary timeout on offense to prevent a delay of game penalty. Also, another (very crucial 2nd half timeout) was used for the same reason after Nebraska lined up for what looked to be the attempt of a 60 yard field goal into the wind. Tristian Alvano didn't even run out onto the field for this because he was as confused as the fans on why this would even be a thing. Matt Rhule said it was going to potentially be a fake 60 yard field goal and somehow everyone has just been okay with that answer. No one should ever believe a fake 60 yard field goal into the wind will be a thing, and wasting a timeout just to punt and pin the opponent deep inside the 10 is idiotic when you know it's going to be a close game late in the 4th and saving your timeouts might be useful. I really hope to see better management of that next year.

    Overall the Husker season went exactly as I thought: 4-5 wins and I accurately predicted them at the beginning of the year apart from flipping Illinois and Iowa. It was certainly a frustrating season at times, especially the last month, knowing how simple it would be for the Huskers to win some of those games, only to lose them at the end. We'll see how the offseason goes and what year two brings. Luckily, Defensive Coordinator Tony White will be staying put for now as the Huskers restructured his contract this week. Smart decision!

Rivalry Week Record: 21 - 6

Overall Record: 186 - 61

Conference Championship Predictions:

New Mexico State vs. #24 Liberty (Conference USA Championship)

    The Aggies are looking to pull another upset as Liberty is heavily favored in this game, coming in at 12-0. Both teams have dynamic offenses, but New Mexico State's offensive production all relies on star QB Diego Pavia. The Junior has nearly 2,800 passing yards with 23 TDs and just 8 picks, while also leading the team in rushing with 806 yards and 5 TDs. Liberty's offense has a few more weapons with the Sophomore/Junior/Junior trio of Kaidon Salter at QB (2,431 passing yards with 29 TDs and 5 picks), Quinton Cooley at RB (1,251 rushing yards with 13 TDs) and CJ Daniels at WR (831 yards with 9 TDs). This one could be a shoot out, but I like the Flames to take it home. Liberty wins 40-28.

#5 Oregon vs. #3 Washington (PAC-12 Championship) ($)

    The final chapter of the PAC-12 is written tonight as the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies rematch for the final crown and a likely spot in the College Football Playoffs. The Ducks fell to the Huskies by 3 on the road in mid-October, but are favored by 9.5 in the rematch. They've been playing arguably the best football in the nation since that loss. We've got two presumed Heisman finalists battling in this game with Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. The stats speak for themselves with both of these players, but the leadership on the field and helping will these teams to every victory is really what matters. Both offenses are going to bring their weapons, which means we need to look at the defensive side of the ball to see who will win. In the first matchup, Oregon actually won most every big stat on defense that you need, but being stopped 0/3 on 4th down was a big difference maker. Since that loss though, the ducks have racked up 13 sacks, and will look to create more pressure on Michael Penix Jr. and slow down the dynamic passing attack. This should be another fantastic matchup and I honestly wouldn't be upset with both teams going into the playoffs. That only has a chance if Oregon wins though, and my number one rule in College Football is that you NEVER want to play a team twice in one season. The Ducks win the final PAC 12 Championship with a phenomenal game over the Huskies 34-24.

#18 Oklahoma State vs. #7 Texas (Big XII Championship)

    Somehow, the Pokes found their way into the Big XII Championship. It took a double-digit comeback and overtime against BYU to make it happen, but now they square off against the Texas Longhorns who are looking to make a major Playoff argument with a big win. They will need to slowdown star RB Ollie Gordon III, and that's no easy task. Gordon averages 6.4 yards per carry and has 20 TDs on the ground this season. Texas ranks 5th in rush defense, and while they've been tested a few times this season, they continue to come out on top and have put up a few dominant performances. There's the added drama of the Longhorn carcass that was found outside of an Oklahoma State Fraternity this morning, an investigation is still going. I've been waiting for Texas to stumble again all year long, but they seem to be very poised this year. Oklahoma State has been very volatile and it's tough to trust them this season. I hate wanting Texas to win, but it gives the Playoff Committee more of a challenge, and that sparks chaos. Hook 'Em as Texas walks out of the Big XII as a Champion with a 33-21 victory.

Miami (OH) vs. Toledo (MAC Championship)

    The Rockets are looking to defend their 2022 Title as they take on the Redhawks of Miami (OH). They won by 4 in the first meeting of the season, on the road with a 21-17 victory. This game gives me some fits because I want to follow my rule of never wanting to play a team twice in the same year, but I also think the experience of this game plays a big factor in the matchup. The Rockets have a dynamic ground game behind RB Peny Boone, and with his 7.4 yard per carry average, they gash opposing defenses. Miami (OH) will need to slow him down again as he rushed for just 73 against them the first time. Asking to do that twice in a year is tough, just like beating the same team is. You could go either direction on this game, but I'll take the Rockets and test my rule. Toledo wins the MAC 26-21.

Boise State vs. UNLV (Mountain West Championship)

    The Broncos and the Rebels meet after a very crowded 3-way tie atop the Mountain West. Boise State struggled early in the season, but found some rhythm with key wins against San Jose State and Wyoming. They're led by Sophomore RB Ashton Jeanty, who has 1,109 yards with 13 TDs on the ground this season. UNLV has been a dominant force up until the last few weeks, winning a close one against Air Force and falling to San Jose State in the final regular season game. Junior WR Ricky White is their best player with 1,300 yards and 7 TDs. Boise State ranks 117th in pass defense in the nation, so he should have a big day and help UNLV win the Mountain West crown. Rebels 38, Broncos 30.

#1 Georgia vs. #8 Alabama (SEC Championship)

    Can the Tide do the most chaotic thing possible and upset Georgia in front of the College Football Playoff Committee? This SEC Championship carries a tremendous amount of weight as Bama looks to get back into the Playoffs after escaping Auburn with a sensational 30+ 4th and Goal conversion last weekend. The Bulldogs had a couple headaches of their own with the Ramblin' Wreck, but managed an 8 point win to finish off another perfect season. They are looking for their 30th straight win, but there's Nick Saban standing in the way. They've done it before, but Jalen Milroe and the Bama offense are still hot. My biggest factor to watch is the pressure on Georgia QB Carson Beck. He hasn't been under much pressure this season, but that isn't likely to be the case with Alabama. I think they're going to dial up a lot of pressure on the young QB and force him into mistakes. The Playoff Committee would have a very difficult decision to make if Bama wins, and I have a hard time not picking them in this game. I think Nick Saban is ready for some revenge and they beat Georgia 39-37. Roll Tide!

SMU vs. #22 Tulane (American Conference Championship) ($)

    The Mustangs and the Green Wave meet in what could be the highest scoring game of the weekend. SMU ranks 4th in the nation, averaging over 41 points per game. The Green Wave rank 17th in scoring defense, but I think it could be all offense in this one. The QB battle will be fun to watch as Preston Stone and Michael Pratt both have tremendous receivers to throw to. Tulane has been the team to beat the last couple years in this conference, and are looking for another New Year's Six Bowl, but I think this one goes to the Ponies. Too much offense and SMU wins this 45-38.

Appalachian State vs. Troy (Sun Belt Conference Championship)

    Not a whole lot to look at here other than the QBs, but watch out for the sneaky App State defense. They made some big plays in the upset, overtime win against James Madison and will cause havoc in the backfield. Troy brings a very balanced attack to the game though as Junior RB Kimani Vidal has been grinding all season for nearly 1,400 yards and 9 TDs. Look to him in the red zone and look for Troy to pull away late with the ground game. Trojans win 28-20.

#2 Michigan vs. #16 Iowa (BIG 10 Championship)

    The Hawkeyes will look to keep this one close as their offense isn't likely to do much against the Wolverine defense. They're a disciplined team though, and the lack of penalties and dumb plays always keeps them in the game. JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum should be ready to roll in this one, and I think Harbaugh puts a statement down in his first game back from suspension. Not sure this one will be very pretty by the end of it, but it's BIG 10 Football and the Wolverines win 35-7.

#14 Louisville vs. #4 Florida State (ACC Championship)

    The final game of the night features the ACC matchup of Louisville and Florida State. Jeff Brohm has been fantastic in his first year with the Cardinals, going 10-2 and taking the team to their first ACC Championship. They take on the unbeaten Seminoles who may be looking at a third string QB as Tate Rodemaker is questionable with a possible concussion. The Cardinals fell to rival Kentucky last week, so they're fired up, but FSU has Playoff hopes with a win, and can't afford a loss with so many teams on their heels. FSU defense makes some plays and the 'Noles win this one 23-14.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. Oregon Moneyline over Washington

    I always say you never want to play a team twice, and this is a game where it really rings true. Since their first meeting, Washington has had a number of close games where they had to gut it out and get the win. Oregon has been DOMINANT and rolling through opponents. Look for the Ducks to make a statement in this game.

2. SMU vs. Tulane - Over in total points (47.5)

    As mentioned before, the Ponies score 41.8 on their own, with Michael Pratt in the mix for Tulane, this game should hit the over and I like the Ponies to win it as well.

Thanks for reading my Conference Championship Predictions and enjoy the football this weekend!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Rivalry Week Predictions

      Happy Thanksgiving Football Fans! Today and this weekend is my favorite time of year as we have great food to eat, time with family and friends, and some of the best football we could ask for. There are some great NFL games to watch today, and College Football had the Egg Bowl last night and a full slate that starts today. This post will have my predictions on all the games you won't want to miss this weekend, but first let's give a quick recap of the tough loss in Madison for the Huskers last weekend.

    The Huskers yet again found a way to let the game slip away after they failed to do anything on offense following their big 4th quarter. The Huskers haven't scored in overtime since 2014 and despite a solid performance from Chubba Purdy who made his first start of the season. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD breakdown below.

GOOD - Chubba Purdy. For a QB who has been sitting in the third string spot all season, battling injuries and taking very few practice reps, Purdy looked very good in his first start of 2023. He opened the game up with a Taylor Martinez type 55 yard TD run, then had a 58 yard pass to Jaylen Lloyd. He finished the game 15/24 (62.5%) for 169 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception on the last play of overtime that I don't blame him for. He also led the game in rushing with 102 and that aforementioned TD. There were a few throws that definitely made me nervous, but on the final drive in regulation for the Huskers he got them down into the red zone, but poor play calling didn't help him much after that. Excited to see what he can do against Iowa!

EXPECTED - Offense falling flat. On the first two drives, Nebraska racked up 151 yards with two big play touchdowns. Throughout the rest of the game and in overtime, the Huskers amassed just 213 total yards and 0 points. Emmett Johnson and Anthony Grant split touches, with 13 and 12 respectively, but neither were used to the level they should be. A few dropped passes and very poor blocking on the perimeter led to the offense stalling out quite quickly after the first quarter.

BAD - Game/Clock Management. Against Maryland, the Huskers could have won the game with a field goal and tried to go for a touchdown. Against Wisconsin, the Huskers could have won with a touchdown and went for a field goal. Chubba Purdy ran the ball down inside the Badger 30 yard line with about 90 seconds left and the Huskers didn't use one of their 3 timeouts until about 20 seconds left in the game. Absolutely HORRIBLE game and clock management by Matt Rhule over the last couple weeks, and I'll throw it back to the game management in Minnesota because we saw this issue at the beginning of the season. This is an issue that needs to be fixed immediately because the Huskers have loss 3 games due to poor game/clock management and that's all on Matt Rhule.

Week 12 Record: 17 - 5

Overall Record: 165 - 55

Rivalry Week Predictions:

UTSA at #23 Tulane

    The Roadrunners and the Green Wave square off in an American Conference duel with major implications on post season opportunities. Both teams are sitting at 7-0 in conference and the winner guarantees their spot in the conference title game. SMU is likely to await the winner as long as they take care of business against Navy. For the Roadrunners, they've won 7 straight and are averaging 34.1 points per game in that span. They're led by Senior QB, Frank Harris. He has yet to throw a pick in the month of November and only has 6 all season. His counterpart, Michael Pratt for Tulane, missed a few games early in the year, but has over 2,000 yards himself along with a 19 to 4 TD:INT ratio. It should be a good duel between these two, and the protection they have is the key factor to watch. UTSA ranks 5th in the nation with 39 sacks so far this season and Tulane isn't far behind with 30. Both teams also rank close with 20 sacks given up by UTSA and 19 sacks given up by Tulane. This should be a fun one to watch, but I'll take Tulane playing at home in a close one. I love the Roadrunners, but the Green Wave holds them off for a 31-28 victory.

Texas Tech at #7 Texas

    Despite numerous close calls, the Longhorns still have just 1 loss on the year from the Red River Rivalry. Texas will seal a Big XII Championship appearance in their final season as a conference member with a win, but don't discount the Red Raiders too quickly. Texas Tech as won 3 straight games, all 3 points or less. They've lost a few one score games, but would love nothing more than to knock off the rival Longhorns. I've been very high on this team for a few reasons. They've bought in well to 2nd year Head Coach Joey McGuire, and they have a powerful ground game with Tahj Brooks. Texas ranks 5th in rush defense on the year, allowing just 82 yards per game. Brooks has a big challenge ahead of him and will need some helpful breaks to win this game. The Red Raiders are -6 with turnovers this year, so they need a clean game of football to win this. Rivalry games are different though, and a win against Texas would be big for Texas Tech as they look to step into one of those top spots of the conference next year. I've been waiting for Texas to lose but I may have to wait one more week. I hope I'm wrong, but Texas gets revenge for last year with a 33-21 victory.

#16 Oregon State at #6 Oregon (The Civil War)

    The Beavers and Ducks meet for the final time (scheduled) as PAC-12 opponents. Oregon joins my Huskers in the BIG 10 next year and the Beavers will remain in what I have dubbed the 2-PAC with Washington State. This is one of the biggest games of the weekend as there's not just bragging rights on the line, but also Oregon's shot at the College Football Playoffs. The Beavers are going to ground and pound with Damien Martinez, hoping to lead to a deadly play action attack for DJ Uaigalelei. Their defense is not easy to move on as they rank 29th in total defense. The Ducks rank 16th (right behind Nebraska) and this unit often gets overlooked because of the tremendous success of the offense. Bo Nix is my Heisman favorite and he has this offense looking like the best in the nation. Their lowest point total this season was 33 in the loss against Washington, however, the Beavers actually rank 2nd in red zone efficiency scoring on 97.5% red zone drives. I'm excited to watch this game and I've got Oregon winning 31-27 behind a Heisman caliber performance from Bo Nix.

Texas A&M at #14 LSU ($)

    The Tigers have a Heisman player of their own in Jayden Daniels, who is arguably the best competition to Bo Nix. Texas A&M has been stout on defense for most of this season, but LSU's offense is not an easy one to slow down. Daniels has just under 3,600 yards passing with 35 TDs and just 4 picks. He's also added another 1,014 yards and 10 TDs on the ground as the Tigers' leading rusher. I think they will have too much offense for the Aggies to keep up with and the Tigers take care of this one 33-21.

#8 Alabama at Auburn (The Iron Bowl) ($)

    The Tide are ROLLIN' since that Week 2 loss to Texas at home, and could find their way into another playoff birth with a couple more wins. It starts against their arch rival, the Auburn Tigers. An Auburn team that lost at home last week to New Mexico State as a 26 point favorite (and made me miss a very nice payout on my sports bet). Not that I'm a vengeful person or anything, but I do think Bama should put up 50 in this game. Jalen Milroe should have another big day and start building his Heisman case for next year. Roll Tide as they prep for Georgia in the SEC Championship with a 40-14 tune up game against Auburn.

#15 Arizona at Arizona State (Duel in the Dessert: Battle for the Territorial Cup)

    The Wildcats have been my team to watch this season and with 5 straight wins (4 against ranked opponents), they are a dangerous team. Head Coach Jedd Fisch really has this team playing well and it all runs through redshirt freshman QB, Noah Fifita. He took over mid-season and has posted nearly 2,000 passing yards with 18 TDs and just 4 picks since. His favorite target is 6'5 Sophomore Tetairoa McMillan who has 976 yards and 9 TDs for the Wildcats. The Sun Devils have struggled in their first season under Kenny Dillingham, but they've had a few flashes with a big win against UCLA a couple weeks ago. It's a rivalry, so they'll play tough, but Beardown and give me the Wildcats in a 34-20 victory.

Washington State at #4 Washington (The Apple Cup)

    The Cougars are in serious danger of not going bowling after starting 4-0 this season, and they only way they can get to the post season is by upsetting their arch rivals on the road who are ranked #4 in the nation. The Huskies finally broke into the top 4 after jumping Florida State after their win against Oregon State on the road. Michael Penix Jr. is also in the Heisman conversations, and he'll look to put up big numbers against a Wazzu defense that ranks 94th in total defense. He'll be slinging it like usual, but also watch for Junior RB Dillon Johnson to have a big game for the Huskies. He was just 11 yards short of his 3rd straight 100+ yard game, so I think he runs wild in this one. Washington inches closer to they playoffs and wins the final Apple Cup as they are also moving to the BIG 10 and leaving Wazzu behind in the 2-PAC. Huskies 38, Cougars 20.

#5 Florida State at Florida (Sunshine Showdown)

    The 'Noles have lost star QB Jordan Travis for the season after a brutal leg injury last week, so the reigns are passed to Junior Tate Rodemaker. He'll make his first start on the road, in the Swamp, against a nasty Florida Team that nearly knocked off Missouri last week. The Gators have not had a stellar season, and Billy Napier's seat is certainly getting warm. However, ending Florida State's 17-game win streak and playoff hopes all in one day could cool things down a bit. They've lost 4 straight, but have battled well in each of those games, typically losing them late in the game. Ex-Badger QB Graham Mertz has renewed his career int he swamp, throwing for 2,903 yards with a fantastic 20:3 TD to INT ratio. He's got a number of weapons around him, and this team can put up more points than you think. Tate Rodemaker will need to play well, but the Seminole defense is my key factor. They need to pressure Graham Mertz and try to force turnovers. Mizzou was gashed by big plays last week, so look for them to get out to space quick. This could be a close one, but I still like Florida State to remain unbeaten. Seminoles win a tight one on the road and finish a perfect regular season with a 27-24 victory.

#24 Clemson at South Carolina

    The Tigers are back in the rankings after knocking off North Carolina last week, and now they turn their sights onto their rival South Carolina. The Gamecocks pulled off a 1 point victory to upset Clemson last year, but other than that this series has been dominated by the Tigers over the past decade. Both squads ar riding a 3-game win streak, but the Gamecocks are still in need of 1 more to go bowling. Statistically, the two QBs are very similar, but Rattler has more yards. This is when I start looking at some hidden stats and one thing I found that could be a factor in this game is penalties. South Carolina averages 7.5 penalties and almost 60 yards per game, which is double Clemson. In a rivalry game where things get chippy, penalties will be a big factor and I like Clemson to keep their cool. Tigers win on the road 26-21.

North Carolina at #22 NC State

    The Tar Heels' season has fallen apart since mid-October, but a win against their in-state rival to get to 9 wins is always a strong way to finish. The Wolfpack are riding a 4-game win streak, especially since Brennan Armstrong has been playing better. He's taken back over the starting reigns from MJ Morris and has 6 TDs (3 passing and 3 rushing) over the past two games. North Carolina's offense is all run through Drake Maye, who has nearly 3,400 yards with 22 TDs and just 7 picks. Unfortunately, his defense doesn't help much as they give up 26 points per game on average. A healthy ground attack behind Sophomore RB Omarion Hampton will keep them in it, but the Wolfpack defense will force turnovers, so give me NC State at home with a 30-24 victory.

Indiana at Purdue (Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket)

    The Boilermakers have struggled in their first season with Head Coach Troy Walters, but could end on a high note beating the rival Hoosiers for The Old Oaken Bucket, one of the oldest rivalry trophies in College Football. Both teams have lost 8 games this season, so it's really about bragging rights and the trophy. Indiana has been close in their last few games, but can never quite get over the hump. Purdue put up 49 on the Gophers two weeks ago, but typically scores around 14 in most games. The Boilermakers have won the last two in this series, but I think Indiana gets the win this year 31-21.

San Jose State at UNLV

    The Spartans may be 6-5, but they are in the mix for a trip to the Mountain West Championship if they knock off the conference leading Rebels of UNLV. If the Spartans win, there will be a 3-way tie atop the conference between these two teams and whoever wins the Air Force/Boise State matchup. Both of those teams have beaten the Spartans, but they would have the win over UNLV and the Rebels have beat Air Force but not played Boise State. Certainly would be some interesting chaos to sort out, but unfortunately for San Jose State, UNLV is looking to dominate this game. They don't necessarily stand out in any major categories, but they're a very well coached and consistent team. Rebels win and move onto the Mountain West Championship with a 34-17 performance.

Northwestern at Illinois

    Somehow, the Wildcats are bowl eligible after just winning 1 game last season and firing Pat Fitzgerald amid a hazing issue just a few weeks before the season. Illinois can become bowl eligible with a win at home. The crazy thing about both of these teams is that they easily could be 5-0 in their last 5 games, but couldn't quite finish them off and had some close losses. Classic BIG 10 West finish and this is a tricky game to predict. I'll give it to the home team because it seems every other BIG 10 West team will get to a bowl before Nebraska does. Illini 30, Wildcats 24.

Wisconsin at Minnesota (Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe)

    Speaking of BIG 10 teams achieving bowl eligibility, the Gophers can book their post-season ticket, but it requires one more win against the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin earned their 6th win against the Huskers last week, but Minnesota has dropped 3 straight and have a tough task ahead of them. Despite Wisconsin not being a very dangerous team this year, the Gophers have struggled to close out games. Tanner Mordecai woke up last week against the Huskers, coming back from injury and throwing for 160 and a TD while adding another 51 on the ground. Minnesota will struggle with him and I think the Badgers take the Axe. On Wisconsin as they win 16-7.

Virginia Tech at Virginia (Battle for the Commonwealth Cup)

    The Hokies have been up and down this season, but are 1 win away from a bowl game. Virginia only has 3 wins on the season, but one of those was a road win against #10 North Carolina, and they nearly pulled another upset on #10 Louisville a couple weeks ago. I have not been able to predict the Hokies very well this season but I think they have a big game in this one. Sophomore QB Kyron Drones is the man to watch. He's thrown 12 TDs with just 3 picks, and should have a big day in this rivalry. Virginia Tech wins 30-21.

#2 Ohio State at #3 Michigan (The Game)

    For the final time, the BIG 10 East division will be decided by the winner of Ohio State and Michigan. These bitter rivals are looking to not only solidify their own spot in the BIG 10 Championship and the College Football Playoff, but also knock the other out of consideration. Ohio State has arguably the most talented receiver in the country with Marvin Harrison Jr., and with him averaging 17.6 yards per catch, he'll be looking to gash the formidable Michigan defense. The Wolverines may still have a few signals memorized that the Buckeyes have, but I expect this to be a closer game than the previous two. Offensively, Michigan is going to pound the rock, so Ohio State's defense will be tested. They've stuffed everyone they've played, but the team as a whole often starts slow. I'm not quite sure what direction this game will go, but it will be a grueling game and one turnover could cost a team the game. Michigan has dominated opponents all year and tend to start more quickly than the Buckeyes. Playing at home I think they win and head to another BIG 10 Championship. Wolverines 23, Buckeyes 21.

Iowa at Nebraska (The Heroes Game)

    The Huskers need one win to book a bowl trip, and it comes down to the battle against Iowa in Farmaggedon. The Hawkeyes have already secured their spot in the BIG 10 Championship, and are looking for their 10th win of the season as they come to Lincoln. Nebraska has essentially pissed away victories in the last three games, but if you remember back to the beginning of the season, my prediction for the Huskers was 4-5 wins with a victory over Iowa. They snuck in a win against Illinois that I didn't expect, but other than that I've been spot on. Chubba Purdy will make his second start and he looks like the best chance for the Huskers to pull out a victory. He played great against Wisconsin, especially when throwing the ball. Not that any forward pass is a high bar between these two teams, but he was fairly accurate last week and that will be needed against a formidable Iowa defense. Neither team has an offense that can move the ball very well, but both teams do have top 15 total defenses, so this is pure, unadulterated BIG 10 West Football. Double digit points for either team is a stretch, and this game closes out as the lowest ever combined point total in college football betting history.  If I could bet on this game (thanks Nebraska laws), I would take the under. With little points expected in this game, the small mistakes become very big. Iowa is great at taking advantage of those and Nebraska is great at making them. Look for penalties and turnovers to bog down the loser of this game. And for the love of all things holy in the world, FEED EMMETT JOHNSON! Hopefully the Huskers can flip the script on that because I have them winning this game 12-6 at home in Memorial. GO BIG RED, BEAT IOWA!

Quick Hit Predictions:

TCU at #13 Oklahoma - Frogs might not go bowling after a trip to the natty last year, tough rebuild in Ft. Worth. Sooners win, but need some help from BYU to go to the Big XII Championship. OU 34, TCU 17.

James Madison at Coastal Carolina - The Dukes fell in overtime to App State last week and have also decided not to take legal action against the NCAA to let them into a bowl. They finish their season with a win to get to 11-1 and we'll see them in the post season in 2024. James Madison 37, Coastal 23.

Air Force at Boise State - Winner goes to the Mountain West Championship game, and with the Falcons on a 3 game slide, the Broncos have an edge. All run game in this one, but Boise State wins 26-20.

Kentucky at #10 Lousiville - The Cardinals are set to play Florida State in the ACC Championship and Jeff Brohm is looking fantastic in his first year back home. They beat Kentucky 33-21.

BYU at #20 Oklahoma State - The Cougars need 1 more win to become bowl eligible, but with a Big XII Championship Game appearance on the line Mike Gundy will have this squad ready. Ollie Gordon II runs wild and the Pokes win it 36-28.

Iowa State at #19 Kansas State - The Powercats need some help if they want a shot at repeating their title, but should handle business against the Cyclones. Big TCU and BYU fans in Manhattan this weekend. K-State 28, ISU 10. The actual Farmmaggedon!

#1 Georgia at Georgia Tech ($) - The Ramblin' Wreck have pulled off a few upsets this season, but this would be the biggest one yet. The Yellow Jackets haven't won since 2016 though, and the last few have been pretty ugly. UGA rolls GT with a 38-10 tune up game ahead of Bama.

#18 Notre Dame at Stanford - The Irish and the Trees meet up on the Farm as ND looks to finish strong with a 9-3 record that should send them to a solid bowl game. Irish win 41-14.

Cal at UCLA - With Chip Kelly potentially on the chopping block, a win here could go a long way to giving him more time in LA. The Golden Bears are itching for a bowl game though and this one should be close. Give me Cal in the road upset 28-23.

Colorado at Utah - Coach Prime will finish out his first season against the Utes in Salt Lake City. The Buffs have had a lot of close games, but giving up 54 sacks in one season along with your QB having no pocket awareness at all does not win you many games, no matter what the Prime Effect looks like. Utes route the Buffaloes who will likely have some stories during the offseason. Utah 33, Colorado 14.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. LSU covers -11.5 against Texas A&M. The Aggies have a tough defense, but Jayden Daniels and the Bayou Bengals offense is electric. They average 46.8 points per game and while they may get a few stops, the Aggies don't have the fire power to keep up. LSU can cover 12 in this game.

2. Bama covers -13 against Auburn. I get nervous putting money down on rivalries, especially in-state ones where there's a lot of bad blood, but just looking at the stats I feel confident in this one. Bama averages 36.5 points per game and runs the ball very effectively. Auburn ranks 80th against the run and gave up 213 on the ground the New Mexico State at home last week. Bama wins by two TDs easy.

3. Georgia covers -24 against Georgia Tech. Again, this week was tough to make bets on with all the rivalry games, but the Yellow Jackets rank 104th in scoring defense, giving up 30.5 points per game and the Bulldogs are healthy and rolling. The'll put up big points in this one.

Thanks for reading my Rivalry Week Predictions and enjoy all the great football this holiday weekend. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 12 Predictions

     Happy Saturday Football Fans! It's late November and we're just one week out from my favorite sports weekend of the year. Rivalry week will come soon enough, but we've got a great slate of Week 12 games to get through first. Some conference championships could set more of a clear picture this weekend and there's a few upset potential games you should watch out for. I've got a breakdown and analysis of the Huskers' loss against Maryland last week along with my picks of the week to make some money. Lots to cover in this post, so let's get into it!

    The Husker offense yet again found a way to make their own defense play against two teams as they accounted for 5 turnovers and just 10 points behind 269 total yards. A majority (183) of those total yards came on the ground, but a complete nightmare of the passing game continues to negatively impact this team. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD break down of the game below.

GOOD - Emmett Johnson. I said it last week and all during the game, FEED THIS MAN! Emmett has been a lone bright spot for an offense that has given us little hope this season. Again, there are a LOT of injuries to this unit, but Johnson continues to run hard and led the game with 84 yards. Easily could've gone for over 100 if Satterfield would give him the ball. The offense and their unnecessary passes really limits what can be done on the ground. I love throwing the ball as much as the next coach, but when you're averaging almost 5 yards per carry as a team and your lead back is gashing the defense, RUN THE DAMN BALL! Quick tip of the cap to the offensive line too. I rag on them a lot, but they did a tremendous job in this game opening rush lanes for multiple ball carriers and gave up just 1 sack and 5 tackles for loss. Probably their best game thus far.

EXPECTED - Solid Blackshirts performance. With 5 turnovers and a 2/9 (22%) third down conversion rate, the Terps should have DOMINATED this game against the Huskers. They have a high-powered offense that could easily put up 30+ in a game with those stats. However, they were up against the Blackshirts of Nebraska, who forced 3 turnovers themselves and had consistent pressure on the QB, landing just 1 sack but 8 total tackles for loss and knocking down 7 balls. Another stellar performance by the defense has been wasted by the offense's inability to get out of their own way. No matter how many times they're asked to make a stand, the defense rises to the challenge (usually with their backs against the end zone) and gives the offense another opportunity to right the ship. I also want to shoutout Tristan Alvano in this section. I fully expect him to drill every kick when he steps on the field and I haven't had confidence in a Husker Kicker like that since Drew Brown when I was in college.

BAD - Husker Quarterbacks. I hate picking on specific players in this category, but the QB room at Nebraska is absolutely terrible. The Huskers still can't find a guy to lead this offense and the most basic functions of the position are some of the biggest challenges. I have never seen a game where 3 different QBs from the same team throw an interception. All 5 turnovers came from the three QBs, Heinrich Haarberg, Jeff Sims and Chuba Purdy. There were multiple late throws that nearly got guys killed and resulted in incompletions rather than big gains. Multiple handoffs that looked like a fumble was coming and just an overall lack of awareness. Recruiting and the portal are the only way to move forward, but that's next year's problem. I think Purdy looked the best, but that's not a high bar and his throws are easy to read. The stat I'll leave you with is that this group of 3 combined for 10 completions to Husker players, and 4 completions to Maryland players.

Week 11 Record: 18 - 7

Overall Record: 148 - 50

Week 12 Predictions:

#10 Louisville at Miami

    The Cardinals hit the road to take on the Hurricanes in a big time trap game. Miami battled Florida State well, losing by 7 to the 'Noles. The Cardinals had to battle back after giving up a first half lead against Virginia, winning 31-24. Miami has had some ups and downs this season, but one thing that has been fairly consistent is their defense. They rank 19th in total defense and give up just 20.7 points per game on average. If they can force some turnovers in this game their offense could be set up with good field position and make this upset a reality. I like the Hurricanes at home to upset Louisville 33-28.

Appalachian State at James Madison

    The Dukes get to host College Gameday this weekend, following the NCAA's announcement earlier in the week, rejecting the petition from the university trying to gain permission to participate in postseason play. They host the Mountaineers who are no stranger to upsets, and could easily spoil the Dukes' perfect season. First and foremost, it's just bad for the sport to prevent a team like James Madison from participating not only in their conference championship, but for a New Year's Six Bowl. This game will feature a dynamic QB battle as both Joey Aguilar (App State) and Jordan McCloud (JMU) are posting 26:7 TD to INT ratios with 2,657 and 2,800 pass yards respectively. My key to watch is 3rd down. App State gives up 40% of third down conversions while the Dukes give up just 33%. I'll take James Madison to keep winning and keep shoving it in the face of the NCAA. Dukes 31, Mountaineers 27.

#22 Utah at #17 Arizona

    A duel in the dessert features a couple of second tier PAC-12 teams as the Utes and the Wildcats square off. Arizona has an outside chance at sneaking into the conference championship game still, but I doubt Oregon and Washington will be giving up their spots. Regardless, both teams could use a ranked win to boost their bowl resumes and build momentum for next season. It's very difficult for me to go against Utah with how well coached they are, but I've really enjoyed watching Arizona play and this offense is spicy. They have a lot of speed on the outisde but will kill you by one thousand cuts in the run game as well. Wildcats keep winning 28-23.

#1 Georgia at #18 Tennessee ($)

    The Bulldogs look to be back at full strength now, and showed that last week hanging 52 on Ole Miss. The Vols were originally thought of as one of the few challengers for Georgia this season, but their 36-7 demolishing by Mizzou last week has me questioning them a lot. Tennessee has had a few close games, but this won't be one of them. Georgia's offense is back at full strength and they win this game 40-10.

Illinois at #16 Iowa ($)

    The Illini are looking to play spoiler as the Hawkeyes could lock up the BIG 10 West Division with a win today. By now you should know there's little to expect in terms of points or even offense for that matter in a game like this. Iowa has lost star defensive back and punt returner, Cooper DeJean, for the rest of the season. He was one of their primary sources of offense (despite not playing on that side of the ball) and leaves a big hole in their secondary as well. Illinois has pulled out some crazy, last minute wins the past couple of weeks, and seemed to have found their offense, scoring an average of 30 points per game in their last 4 contests. There won't be much scoring in this one though, and we could easily see both teams not hit double digits. Hawkeyes win at home because that's just how it goes. Although I'm rooting a little extra for Illinois so the Nebraska/Iowa game next week is a little more intriguing. Iowa 9, Illinois 7.

#20 North Carolina at Clemson

    Two ACC teams who are trending in different directions. The Tar Heels still have an outside chance of making the conference championship, but the Virginia and Georgia Tech losses really hurt their season. They do rank 3rd in turnover margin with +11, so Clemson needs to be sure to hold onto the rock. The Tigers seem to be back on the rise, winning back to back games against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. A lot of that success can be tied to the strong performances of RB Phil Mafah. The Junior has a 5.7 yard per carry average, and should be a workhorse in this one. Tigers beat the Tar Heels 33-28

UCLA at USC (Battle for LA)

    The Trojans' season has spiraled out of control as thye're 7-4 and no where near the PAC-12 Championship or Playoffs. The Bruins on the other hand announced they do not plan on bringing Chip Kelley back after the season. They've fallen short of expectations as well, sitting at 6-4 and having lost their last two games. Their offense has disappeared completely, but their defense is still making life difficult for others. USC is the opposite, we know they're going to put up points, but managing that offense and slowing down Caleb Williams is no simple task. I'll take the home team for this one. Fight On USC as they win the battle of LA 37-28.

NC State at Virginia Tech

    The Wolfpack and Hokies meet for an intriguing ACC matchup where defense is king. NC State has held both of their previous 2 opponents to just 6 points. Virginia Tech just demolished Boston College last week, so this game is a tricky one to predict. Games in Blacksburg don't tend to end up well for opposing teams though, give me Virginia Tech with some old school Beamer Ball and win it on with Special Teams 20-14.

UNLV at Air Force

    The Rebels are 8-2 in their first season under Barry Odom and are looking to lock in their spot for the Mountain West Conference Championship. Air Force is at the top of the conference with them, but has suffered bad back to back losses to Army and Hawai'i. I watched the Rebels a bit last weekend in their game against Wyoming, and they put on a clinic of good football. They held the Cowboys to just 3/11 on third downs and dominated time of possession by 7 minutes. Air Force is a run first team that loves to control the ball. They typically keep their third downs very manageable, so we'll see which defense can force the mistakes. The key player to watch in this game is UNLV Quarterback, Jayden Maiava. He's smart with the ball and leads this offense well. Tricky game on the road, but the Rebels are hot and the Falcons have cooled down. UNLV takes the top spot in the Mountain West 27-17.

#23 Oklahoma State at Houston

    The Cowboys followed up their big win in BEDLAM with an absolute dud last week as they were throttled by UCF 45-3. This team has been so hot and cold this season, and now have to fend off a few other Big XII foes in order to keep their spot in the conference championship secure. Houston has been up in down their first year in the conference, but still have a shot at a bowl game if they win out. One big issue for them has been their rush defense, which does not bode well when Ollie Gordon II comes to town. The Cougars rank 95th in the nation and I'm not sure that will be enough to stop him. Gordon averages 6.7 yards per carry and was locked down in Florida last week, so he'll be looking for a breakout day. Pokes bounce back and keep the Cougars from bowling in a close one 34-31.

UCF at Texas Tech ($)

    The Golden Knights and the Red Raiders both had big victories over ranked teams last week. As mentioned, UCF thumped Oklahoma State 45-3, and Tech took down the Jayhawks (on the road) 16-13. They haven't fully lived up to what I thought they might be this season, but I have been saying all year how dangerous this Texas Tech team is. Remember they nearly upset Oregon back in Week 2. Both these teams are 1 win away from bowl eligibility and this should be a close one. UCF absolutely locked down the run game last week, holding Ollie Gordon II to just 25 yards. Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks has had just 3 games where he didn't cross the century mark this season, so I expect a good battle between the Knights run defense and the Red Raiders rushing attack with Brooks. Tech has a solid defense of their own too, and I think that's the difference maker in this game. They played well against Kansas and a big win at home to secure a bowl game would be great for this program. Plus, they're handing out shirts with the possum on them for students, so you know they're going to win. Wreck 'Em as the Red Raiders win 35-33 at home.

#21 Kansas State at #25 Kansas (Sunflower Showdown)

    We've got an instate rivalry between ranked teams as the Wildcats and Jayhawks clash in Lawrence. A bit of an up and down year for both teams, winning some big games and losing some head scratchers. Kansas has learned to live without star QB Jalon Daniels, but Jason Bean has done well in the roll, throwing for over 1,400 yards with a 10:4 TD to INT ratio. K-State has a few close losses on the season, but are still in the hunt to defend their conference title from last year. They have dominated this series as of late, winning every meeting since 2008. The Jayhawks have come close a few times, and will today, but that defense at K-State is no joke. Give me the Wildcats in a hard fought victory against their rival. K-State 27, Kansas 17.

Florida at #9 Missouri ($)

    The Gators are spiraling with 3 straight losses and are in danger of missing a bowl game unless they can beat Mizzou on the road or Florida State at home next week. Neither of those games favor Florida, especially when they rank 75th in total defense and the Tigers boast the 26th best offense in the nation. Every week I've given high praise to Luther Burden III and his talents at Wide Receiver for the Tigers, and he absolutely deserves them. But this game will be driven on the ground by Missouri, and that's where Senior RB Cody Schrader shines. He's averaging 5.7 yards per carry and has 11 TDs on the ground this season. With the Gators giving up 160 yards per game on average to the rushing attack, he should have a big day. I don't want to take away from what ex-Badger Graham Mertz has done this season, throwing for over 2,700 yards with an 18:2 TD to INT ratio, but he doesn't have the defense to help him win this game. Tigers big at home 30-20.

#7 Texas at Iowa State

    It's upset alert time! The Longhorns have been living dangerously with 3 one-score victories in their last 4 games. Iowa State is right in the conference championship mix with a 5-2 record and have been very hot in the back half the season, losing by 7 to Kansas as their only loss in the last 5 weeks. These late November night games in Ames always seem to bring out the worst in opponents, and upsets around this time of year not what you want if you're Texas. Quin Ewers and the offense looked good in his return, but the defense blew a 20 point lead in the 4th quarter, so the Cyclones will have their opportunities. Freshman QB Rocco Becht is the key factor in this one. If he can make smart throws and keep control of the game without turnovers, Iowa State has a good chance to pull this upset. Texas will lose at some point to knock them out of playoff considerations, but it won't be today. A tight one in Ames, Iowa, but the Horns walk away with a 34-31 victory.

#5 Washington at #11 Oregon State

    The Huskies and the Beavers meet for a PAC-12 showdown that has major implications on not only the conference, but the CFB Playoffs. Washington has been another team living dangerously with close wins, and now they face a defense that has 18 total takeaways so far this season. The Huskies will look to air raid as usual, and Michael Penix Jr. will look to continue his Heisman campaign. He's thrown for over 3,500 yard and 28 TDs this season, but does have 7 picks. On the other side, DJ Uiagalelei has revived his career in Corvallis, throwing for nearly 2,300 on the season with 20 TDs and 4 picks while adding another 6 TDs on the ground. This will be a big road test for the Huskies as they look to finish a perfect 12-0, and it should be another close one. It's damn near impossible to slow down this offense though, and I think Penix has another Heisman-caliber game to win it for Washington 29-21.

Nebraska at Wisconsin (Battle for the Freedom Trophy) ($)

    The Husker Volleyball team broke their losing streak against Wisconsin earlier this year so now it's time for football to end their drought, right? The Badgers have not looked great in their first year under Luke Fickell, especially as they've lost the last 3 games in a row and 4 of their last 5. Focus should be on the ground game for both teams as the forward pass typically spells disaster this season. Nebraska hasn't announced who will be starting, but I'm leaning toward giving Purdy the reigns. He looked good in that final drive against Maryland, and honestly, it can't get any worse. The Blackshirts will do what they do and shouldn't have too many issues against a very one dimensional Wisconsin team. Star RB Braelon Allen has not had the impressive season we expected and the rock has been shared with his teammates more. For the Huskers, all offense should run through Emmett Johnson. He's been dominant in the last few weeks and is the only reliable source of offense. Look for him to have a big night and give the Huskers a boost. Expect plenty of dumb turnovers though, because Nebraska loves to do that and lose the game. I had this as a loss in the beginning of the year, so I'll stick with that pick but I hope the Huskers can prove me wrong. I think it comes down to Iowa as Wisconsin gets the bowl bid today over the Huskers in a 14-10 victory. Please Huskers, make me wrong today!

Quick Hit Predictions:

#3 Michigan at Maryland - Wolverines should roll this game now that the drama has settled down with Harbaugh accepting his suspension. They've shown they can win without him on the sidelines and they do it against the Terps 40-17.

#14 Oklahoma at BYU - A sneaky game with upset potential, but I don't trust BYU all the way. They're too hot and cold for me so give me the Sooners on the road. Oklahoma 37, BYU 28.

Wake Forest at #19 Notre Dame - Sam Hartman gets to square off against his old team and he should put on a show against this defense. Irish win big 38-10.

#6 Oregon at Arizona State - A dangerous road game against a team that's been close to pulling some upsets already and loves to play fast on defense. I think the Ducks are up for the challenge though and they are on a mission to prove they're Playoff worthy. Oregon big 42-14.

Minnesota at #2 Ohio State - Minnesota is spiraling and the Buckeyes have Maserati Marv. This one shouldn't concern anyone much. Buckeyes dominate 38-7.

Boise State at Utah State - A fun Mountain West game where the winner gets bowl eligibility. Both squads are very similar, but I like the offense and QB play from the Aggies. Utah State beats the Broncos for the first time since 2015 by a score of 31-24.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. BIG 10 Unders.

    Fear it, run from it, this bet arrives all the same. I simplified it to just the Iowa and Nebraska games this week, but I don't see either of these getting many points. Iowa/Illinois stays under 30 and Nebraska/Wisconsin stays under 37. No Minnesota or Purdue to mess things up!

2. Georgia & Missouri cover the spread.

    The SEC East has been a mess outside of these two teams and although Georgia is on the road, I like their chances to cover 10.5 against the Vols. They dropped 52 on the Rebels last week and their offense is healthy with all its weapons. Missouri also has a 10.5 spread against the Gators, but they're at home and demolished Tennessee 36-7 last week after playing Georgia close. The Gators defense gives up 27.4 points per game, so look for the Tigers to have a big night.

Maryland @ Nebraska with my best buddy Michael Ferguson

Thanks for reading my Week 12 Predictions and enjoy your College Football Saturday! GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 11 Predictions

    Good morning football fans and welcome to another weekend of November College Football! There are a few big games this weekend and a lot of potential for shakeups across different conferences including the BIG 10. This week's post recaps my thoughts on the Huskers' loss to Michigan State last week and previews all the big games of the week. Let's get right into it!

    Despite all the momentum for the Huskers, the road trip to East Lansing ended in an extremely frustrating 20-17 loss to the Spartans. A few leaks in pass defense, questionable officiating and horrendous offensive output with 3 turnovers leads to the 5-4 Huskers still fighting for bowl eligibility. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories broken down below.

GOOD - Emmett Johnson. While the numbers don't jump off the page for Johnson and the Husker offense, he's one of the few bright spots in my opinion. His rushing total dipped down to just 57 yards on 13 carries after topping 75 the last two games, but he's still averaging over 5 yards per carry on the season and *knocks on wood* is the only ball carrier who has yet to fumble for the Huskers. Definitely need to give some props to the true freshman and hope he continues to run hard.

EXPECTED - Frustrations with the BIG 10 Officials/Replay. I'm not one to blame the outcome of games on the officiating, but I do feel last week's game was heavily influenced by bad and/or missed calls. The reviewed touchdown clearly shows the ball on the ground. The missed pass interference call when the Michigan State defender threw his entire body into Malachi Coleman with the ball floating over head and the clock not stopping on the first down catch while the chains were moving on the final drive followed by the "fumble" from Haarberg with his arm moving forward. Again, the Huskers can't expect to win games with the poor offensive output and turnovers, but officiating like that is unacceptable for any level of football.

BAD - Nebraska's passing game. Apparently the concept of the forward pass as a useful tool and strategy for an offense seems to be more of a disadvantage for the Huskers. I know Haarberg's options are limited with numerous injuries to the wide receiver room, but the passing offense is extremely difficult to watch. Haarberg is unable to keep his head up and eyes downfield when moving in or out of the pocket, missing a lot of open targets. His telegraphed throws are always into heavy traffic and the drops by the wideouts on his decent throws are not good for his confidence. This is probably an issue that moves the needle in 2024, so get comfortable being uncomfortable with that ball in the air.

Week 10 Record: 16 - 7

Overall Record: 130 - 44

Week 11 Predictions:

#3 Michigan at #10 Penn State

    

    The Wolverines and Nittany Lions meet for a top 10 matchup, but that's not the headline here. The main story of this game is if Jim Harbaugh will be allowed into the stadium at Happy Valley to coach his team. On Friday afternoon the BIG 10 issued a suspension allowing to Harbaugh coach during the week but not at games over the next three weeks. The University has issued a counter measure with a temporary restraining order in an attempt to block the suspension on Friday night. Separate of all this drama, there is a football game that will kick off at 11 AM central time, so let's look to that. Michigan has been dominant all season long. Penn State's only blemish is the loss in the horseshoe against the Buckeyes. Can their offense step up to the challenge? This will likely be a defensive slugfest if we can get to the football. Penn State probably has the best chance to beat Michigan, but they never seem to finish the deal. The Wolverines have yet to be tested this year (for obvious, sign-stealing reasons), but I think they hold on to win outside all the noise. Michigan 24, Penn State 17.

Texas Tech at #16 Kansas

    The Red Raiders travel to Lawrence with an opportunity to shake things up in the Big XII conference standings. The Longhorns and Pokes sit atop the conference, but Kansas (and many others are right on their heels. While Tech isn't quite in the mix unless there's quite a few tumbles, they would love nothing more than to knock off a ranked KU squad. The air-raid era in Lubbock seems to have morphed into a more balanced attack as Senior RB, Tahj Brooks has more than 1,000 yards to his name this season with 7 rushing TDs as well. Kansas runs the ball quite well on their own, averaging just under 200 yards per game and ranking 19th in the nation. This may not be one of the classic Big XII shootouts of old, but it will certainly be a good game. Rock Chalk as the Jayhawks beat the Red Raiders 27-21.

#21 Arizona at Colorado

    The red hot Wildcats head to Boulder to take on the spiraling Prime Time Buffs. With a 4-2 conference record, Arizona is not completely out of the PAC-12 race. They would need some more help, but you never know what's going to happen in college football. For this game, there should be a lot of speed to watch for. Colorado has struggled to protect Shedeur Sanders this season, allowing 46 sacks which ranks second to last in the nation. Arizona has 23 sacks on the year thus far, so look for them to add pressure and keep Shedeur Sanders uncomfortable. Defensively for the Buffs, they need to find a way to slow down Arizona's offense. They've put up nearly 800 yards of offense in their last two games, against two of the better defenses in the PAC-12 conference. Freshman QB Noah Fifita is the player to watch, along his favorite target, 6'5 Sophomore Wide Receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who has 753 yards and 7 TDs so far this season. Travis Hunter will likely follow him around the field, so we've got a best on best matchup you won't want to miss there. If you haven't watched Arizona football yet, tune into this game. Wildcats win on the road 34-28.

#18 Utah at #5 Washington

    Sticking in the PAC-12, we see if the Huskies can turn around for another big game following the USC shootout without having a hangover. Following the Oregon, they nearly fell and dropped one to Arizona State. The Utes are likely a tougher opponent compared to the Sun Devils, so any slip ups against them could be very costly for the Huskies. Lucky for them, they have a man named Michael Penix Jr. slinging the ball, and complimented by RB Dillon Johnson who is coming off an INSANE 256 yard, 4 TD performance against the trojans. Utah's defense is rugged and they love to slow the game down with pressure and negative players. However, I don't think they have the offensive firepower to keep pace with Washington. The Utes are always dangerous for an upset, but give me the Huskies 30-17.

#13 Tennessee at #14 Missouri

    Not that it matters too much with Georgia all but securing their spot in the SEC Championship game again, but we do have an intriguing matchup of top 15 teams in the SEC East. The Vols travel to Columbia to take on the Tigers of Mizzou. They put up a strong fight against the Bulldogs, but fell to them as all typically do. I would expect to see some fireworks in this game though, both teams average in the low 30s per game for points, and with dynamic players such as Luther Burden III (Mizzou Wideout) and Jaylen Wright (Tennessee RB). The QB battle will be the deciding factor though, as neither Joe Milton (Tennessee) and Brady Cook (Missouri) are two of the best gunlingers in the nation. This is a tricky game to predict, but I'll give the nod to the home team as Mizzou. Tigers win at home 28-24.

Miami vs #4 Florida State

    The 'Noles and 'Canes renew their rivalry in Tallahassee for a big ACC November showdown. FSU looks to remain perfect on the season behind Heisman-hopeful QB Jordan Travis. He's been torching defenses all season long with his favorite target, ex-Michigan State receiver Keon Coleman who has 538 yards and 9 TDs on the year. Miami started their season hot with the big win over A&M, but since their blunder against Georgia Tech, they've lost 3 of their last five and their two wins were slim in overtime. Their defense has been okay but not great over these few weeks, however, they still rank 19th in the nation in total defense. The offense hasn't produced much of anything though, and that will be the issue today. The focus will be on Jordan Travis and the Florida State offense, but this game will be won because of the FSU defense because they rank 7th in opponent third down conversions, allowing just 28%. Dominant win for FSU all around. Seminoles 38, Hurricanes 17.

#15 Oklahoma State at UCF

    The Pokes won the last ever (scheduled) BEDLAM game last week and sit atop the Big XII standings along with Texas. They control their own destiny to play for a conference championship by winning out, and now travel to conference newbie UCF. The Knights (as I predicted) finally got their first Big XII win over Cincy last week and could very well be upset minded with the Pokes in town. Lots of potential for a hangover game for the Cowboys after a crazy BEDLAM game. They may be sleepy for a bit, but star RB Ollie Gordon II will takeover and have another big game. Pokes run away late on the back of Gordon for a 30-17 win.

Rutgers at #22 Iowa ($)

    The first every game to have a total point mark under 30 takes place in Iowa as the Scarlet Knights look to be the team to score double digits on this defense. We know the Hawkeye offense isn't going to produce anything significant, but turnovers and special teams are the key in this game. It's still a bit of a mystery when you look at Rutgers because they've had a great start to the season, held Ohio State down in the first half, but then were overpowered in the second half. Iowa's defense won't let them do much, but scoring double digit points might win you the game in this one. It's impossible to pick against Iowa when I know other teams will make mistakes though. I'll be cheering for Rutgers but I'll take the Hawkeyes at home. Smash that under if you're betting. Iowa 13, Rutgers 9.

Minnesota at Purdue ($)

    The Gophers dropped a close one to Illinois at home last week, moving them out of the first place spot for the BIG 10 West. They have the tie breaker with Iowa, so if they keep pace and the Hawkeyes drop one then Indianapolis is still in reach. They travel to West Lafayette today to take on the Boilermakers who have struggled to put things together under first year Head Coach Ryan Walters. They've lost 4 straight since beating Illinois 44-19 back in September, and they have scored a combined 48 in those 4 games. Hudson Card and the offense need to find a way to put up points, but that won't be easy against the Gophers. Classic BIG 10 matchup, so you know the drill, first team to 20 wins the game and I've got the Gophers. Minnesota 24, Purdue 10.

#9 Ole Miss at #2 Georgia

    The Rebels travel to Athens to take on the DAWGS between the hedges in an SEC battle with championship appearance implications. Ole Miss needs some help with Bama losing, but they could put a dent in the the Dawgs armor with a big road upset. Jaxon Dart and Quinshon Judkins have been sensational for Ole Miss, leading them to be the 11th best offense in the nation. They've got a tough task ahead though as Georgia's defense gives up just over 15 points per game. Bulldog QB Carson Beck has quietly had a very strong season in his first year starting, and this could turn into a bit of a shootout down in Athens. It's impossible to go against the Dawgs at home though. I'd love to see some chaos, but give me Georgia with another arms-length victory 34-24.

West Virginia at #17 Oklahoma

    The Mountaineers are right in the mix of the Big XII Conference race, sitting at 4-2, just like Oklahoma. The Sooners have spiraled after their win in the Red River Rivalry against Texas, narrowly beating UCF at home and then dropping back to back games against Kansas and Oklahoma State. They need a big bounce back performance today, but need to be ready to play because although they've lost a couple close ones, the Mountaineers have scored at least 34 points in each of their last 4 games. Sooner QB Dillon Gabriel has thrown a pick in each of the last 3 games, so turnovers have contributed to the struggle as well. The defenses are the key factor here, especially with forcing turnovers and field position. Oklahoma gives up just 29% of third down conversions and they're playing at home. Boomer Sooner in this one but, it's closer than you think. Oklahoma 33, West Virginia 28.

Duke at #24 North Carolina

    Just a few weeks ago this was looking to be like one of the basketball matchups between these schools with high rankings and conference championship implications. A few injuries to key player and upset losses have changed the narratives, but these basketball blue bloods meet on the gridiron today for what should be an entertaining game. The Blue Devils rely on their defense to slow things down and force turnovers for their offense. They have a +2 turnover margin on the season, but the Tar Heels actually rank 3rd in the nation with +12. Drake Maye and the UNC offense lost a couple of upsets in October, but not from a lack of points. They put up just shy of 40 points per game on average, and they do it again today as they beat Duke 35-28.

USC at #6 Oregon

    The gauntlet of games continues to stack up against the Trojans as they now travel to Autzen Stadium to take on the Ducks. Bo Nix and the Oregon squad are looking to get back to the PAC-12 Championship with hopes of getting a chance to face off against Washington again. We have another stellar QB battle out west as Nix and Caleb Williams duke it out. The Trojans were going punch for punch last week against the Huskies until the fumble right before the half. Oregon's defense has quietly been dominating every opponent, and they have a +8 turnover margin. USC was torched by the run last week and fired Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch following the loss. I don't think that is going to help them much and Bo Nix lights them up for a big game in PAC-12 after dark. This will be another fun one to watch and you'll see why I think Oregon makes the Playoffs this year. Ducks beat the Trojans 35-21.

Maryland at Nebraska

    The Terps roll into Lincoln for a morning kickoff in Memorial Stadium. The Veteran's Day honors and celebrations are set and we've got a BIG 10 matchup that determines which team secures a bowl spot first. Husker Nation would love nothing more than seeing their team get bowl eligible today, especially at home. Unfortunately, this Husker offense does not make their fans very happy. The Huskers rank 131st in the nation with a -12 turnover margin. The Husker offense is the true opponent today as Maryland will look to pick up some of the multiple fumbles we can all expect watching this game. For the Terps, star QB Tualia Tagovailoa is looking to get their team back on track after 4 straight losses following their 5-0 start. He's thrown for nearly 2,500 yards with a 21:7 TD to INT ratio. The Husker secondary has been giving up some tough pass completions at the wrong time, they will be tested probably more than they have been since Colorado in this game. Tagovailoa is very dangerous when given time in the pocket, and the Terps only allow about 2 sacks per game. Pressure from the Blackshirts will be key in this one, because scoring double-digits in this game might be enough to hold the Huskers down. I really want to see the Huskers achieve bowl eligibility today, but I can't trust the offense to put up enough points. Tough day in Lincoln as the Huskers fall 21-13 at home. Prove me wrong please!

Quick Hit Predictions:

#8 Alabama at Kentucky - The Tide are back atop the SEC West and clinches their spot in Atlanta with a win today on the road. Wildcats QB Devin Leary and RB Ray Davis lead this offense for Kentucky, and are great players to watch. The Tide Roll behind their defense though, and they clinch the SEC West with a 31-14 victory.

Virginia Tech at Boston College - The Hokies and Golden Eagles meet for an undercard ACC matchup, but this game has some spice to it. Virginia Tech is just 2 wins away from bowl eligibility, and they have to win at least one road game to get there. BC continues to win the close games, and they do it again at home. Boston College 23, Virginia Tech 20.

Georgia Tech at Clemson - Bowl eligibility on the line as the Tigers host the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech as pulled some big upsets this season, but Clemson has momentum back. Dabo said it and while I'm not buying much stock, I'll buy it for this game. Tigers find off the Yellow Jackets with defense at home 28-17.

Northwestern at Wisconsin ($) - The Wildcats and Badgers meet for a BIG 10 West showdown at Camp Randall. Both teams come in frustrated after the Wildcats lost late to Iowa in Wrigley and Wisconsin fell on the road to Indiana. It's really hard to know who is going to step up in this game as Northwestern has been very surprising this year and the Badgers have been flat in Luke Fickell's first year. Give me the Badgers at home 20-14.

Michiagan State at #1 Ohio State - Sparty knocked my Huskers last week, but now travel to the Horseshoe to take on the top ranked Buckeyes. Ohio State continues to dominate the second half of games after sluggish starts, but this one shouldn't have many issues. Buckeyes 38, Spartans 10.

Florida at #19 LSU - The Gators and Tigers meet in Death Valley tonight for a bit of a lackluster SEC fight. Neither team has lived up to hype this year, and the Gators are still in need of a victory for bowl eligibility. Jayden Daniels was taken out of the Bama game last week due to a concussion, so he may be out. This makes this game a bit closer, but I don't trust Florida to finish this game. Tigers win at home 30-24.

Mississippi State at Texas A&M - The Aggies can secure a post season with a win at home after a tough month where they've lost 3 of their last 4 games. The Bulldogs have flopped in their last two games and I think the Aggies' defense takes control in this one. Gig 'em for a 27-17 victory.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. BIG 10 Unders

• The only games I had marked this week were the BIG 10 matchups of Iowa/Rutgers (28.5), Minnesota/Purdue (46.5) and Northwestern/Wisconsin (42.5). I've been burned every time I try this parlay, but it's always close. I trust the BIG 10 in November and I think today is the day. Bet the under and enjoy some BIG 10 West football.

Thanks for reading my Week 11 Predictions and enjoy your College Football Saturday! GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando