Welcome back to another week of Touchdowns & Tailgates! I can’t believe it’s already week 11. There are only a few more weeks left in the regular season and for many schools, the next few weeks will be the deciding factor on whether they can make a national championship run, conference championship run, or in Michigan State’s case, a 4-win season… On that note let’s take a look at week 11’s biggest matchups!
#4 Washington vs. #20 USC
Holy smokes! I remember just 5 weeks ago ranting about how much of a stud Jake Browning kid was, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted he would rack up the stats he did these past 5 weeks. Browning is now in Heisman talks and if he keeps it up he is going to lead Washington all the way to the CFP. While Washington has been plowing through their way to an undefeated season thus far, USC has had a story of two tales. In their first 4 games, the Trojans went just 1-3 and it looked like their season was going to be an absolute shit show. But since then, the Trojans have caught fire rattling off 5 straight wins and scoring 40+ points in four of those wins. Washington has been great this year, but USC is riding the hot hand right now, and everyone knows that with college football a little momentum can go a LONG way.
Prediction: Washington stomps out USC’s win streak. The Huskies gone eat.
#24 LSU vs. #25 Arkansas
In the “Battle For the Boot” we have a pretty even matchup in my eyes. LSU started the season off 2-2 but has gone 3-1 since with their only loss being a hard fought 10-0 loss to #1 Alabama. Leonard Fournette is healthy now, and if he plays like he did against Ole Miss, you might as well just call 911, because Arkansas’ defense will be the victim of a brutal massacre. Arkansas has hovered between decent and great all year, and each week is a new story. One week they get molly whopped by Auburn and the next week they have a beautiful win over Florida who was 6-1 entering last week. The biggest key to their success has been Sophomore RB Rawleigh Williams III, who has rushed for 120+ yards in all but one of their wins this season. If Arkansas wants to win, they need to get RW3 going. I’m sure if this game becomes a rushing duel between Fournette & RW3 nobody is going to complain!
Prediction: Fournette will have a huge day and LSU will come home with “The Boot”
#11 Oklahoma vs. Baylor
With so many games with such huge ramifications it was a tough decision on which game I’d write about, but with how big of a game this is for Oklahoma’s future, I knew it had to be this game. The story with Oklahoma is simple, they were nowhere near ready for the season and they showed it by going 1-2 to start the year. Since then Baker Mayfield has put the team on his back and led the Sooners to six straight wins, scoring 27 touchdowns along the way. Baylor has done the opposite of what Oklahoma has, and after starting their season 6-0 with high hopes for a CFP berth, they’ve now lost two in a row and are not ranked in the top-25 right now. Regardless, Seth Russell has the skills to break out at any point in a game with both his arm and his legs, and Baylor boasts the best rushing offense in the Big 12. Oklahoma is playing some great ball, but Baylor has all the tools there to upset the Sooners.
Prediction: Oklahoma and Baylor go back and forth in a Big 12 shootout but Oklahoma comes out on top.
Quick Hits:
Auburn big over Georgia- Auburn is quietly sneaking up the polls and this game will help that out.
Alabama rolls over Mississippi State- Nice win over Texas A&M but The Tide are WAY better and are going to smoke Mississippi State on Saturday.
Michigan big over Iowa- This talk of Iowa upsetting Michigan is cute, I’ll give you that.
Clemson escapes a Pitt upset- I really like Pitt this year. They’re going to give Clemson a run for their money.
UPSET: Texas Tech over Oklahoma State- I figure I need at least one upset this week and I think if any team is going to do it, it is Texas Tech winning in a shootout with OK State.