One of many extra fascinating subplots within the first yr of the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff is how all of those realigned and instantly crowded convention races are factoring into that Playoff image. Certain, Tennessee–Georgia is a large recreation for the 12-team bracket, however so is LSU–Florida. And Arizona State–Kansas State. And Clemson–Pitt. And a lot of different matchups up and down the schedule.
So let’s rank the highest 10 video games of Week 12, beginning with honorable mentions and counting down.
Honorable Point out: UCLA at Washington (Fri.), No. 25 Tulane at Navy, Virginia at No. 8 Notre Dame, Boston Faculty at No. 14 SMU, Nebraska at USC, Cincinnati at Iowa State, No. 18 Washington State at New Mexico
(All level spreads come from BetMGM; click on right here for dwell odds. All kickoff instances are Japanese and on Saturday until in any other case famous.)
10. No. 23 Missouri (7-2) at No. 21 South Carolina (6-3), 4:15 p.m., SEC Community
One in every of solely two ranked matchups this week, although oddly this one gained’t have a lot influence on the SEC or CFP races, regardless of Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz’s message following final week’s wild win over Oklahoma.
Eli Drinkwitz on miraculous win over Oklahoma:
“This retains us within the Playoff hunt.
“That’s proper, I stated it, Playoff hunt!”
pic.twitter.com/CxB1WzfL6y— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 10, 2024
The Athletic’s Playoff projection mannequin offers each groups a lower than 1 % likelihood of profitable the convention or reaching the CFP, however every continues to be battling to remain ranked, which might influence others. The Ole Miss and LSU resumes would profit from a South Carolina victory, whereas Texas A&M is rooting for Mizzou. The one assured winner is Alabama, which beat each of those groups.
Line: South Carolina -14
9. No. 20 Clemson (7-2) at Pitt (7-2), midday, ESPN
Just a few weeks in the past this appeared like it might be a showdown of ACC contenders. Then Clemson misplaced to Louisville and Pitt dropped two in a row, the Panthers crashing out of the CFP rankings within the course of. Now each groups are combating simply to remain within the ACC image, and neither has a Prime-25 win on the resume. Clemson is tied with Miami with one convention loss, but when each groups win out, the Hurricanes would have the tiebreaker. The Tigers can increase their total resume with a rivalry win over presently ranked South Carolina within the regular-season finale however will nonetheless need assistance to make the ACC title recreation. Pitt wants an upset over Clemson to keep away from a three-game skid after a 7-0 begin.
Line: Clemson -11.5
8. No. 13 Boise State (8-1) at San Jose State (6-3), 7 p.m., CBS Sports activities Community
Boise State continues to be on observe to win the Mountain West and declare one of many 5 automated Playoff bids, and working again Ashton Jeanty is on tempo to complete the common season with the second-most dashing yards in a single season, behind solely Barry Sanders in 1988. Jeanty had 209 dashing yards and three touchdowns in final week’s win over Nevada, including to his FBS-leading whole of 23 dashing touchdowns. The Broncos face a San Jose State staff in its first yr beneath Ken Niumatalolo and in second within the Mountain West in yards per recreation allowed. San Jose State is contemporary off a formidable win over Oregon State.
Line: Boise State -14
7. Arizona State (7-2) at No. 16 Kansas State (7-2), 7 p.m., ESPN
Kansas State is forward of No. 17 Colorado within the CFP rankings due to a slim head-to-head win in October, however the Wildcats are a recreation behind the Buffs within the Huge 12 standings after struggling a second league loss in opposition to Houston a few weeks in the past. Even when Ok-State will get the assistance it might want elsewhere to achieve the Huge 12 championship, the remainder of the schedule is a problem: Arizona State, Cincinnati and at Iowa State, all three of which enter this weekend with profitable information.
The Solar Devils count on to get stud working again Cam Skattebo again from harm after he missed the win over UCF. The senior is eighth within the FBS at 125.4 dashing yards per recreation.
Line: Kansas State -7.5
6. No. 22 LSU (6-3) at Florida (4-5), 3:30 p.m., ABC
If you happen to’re questioning why this recreation, between two groups that bought thumped final week, is that this excessive on the listing, it’s as a result of there stays a somewhat believable roadmap by which LSU can nonetheless make the SEC Championship Recreation. However that might require the Tigers to win out the remainder of the common season, beginning with a visit to Gainesville. Florida hopes to have freshman quarterback DJ Lagway again from harm, and LSU is in want of great defensive soul-searching after getting diced up by cell quarterbacks Marcel Reed and Jalen Milroe in back-to-back losses, permitting a mixed 80 factors and 11 dashing touchdowns to Texas A&M and Alabama.
Line: LSU -4
5. No. 1 Oregon (10-0) at Wisconsin (5-4), 7:30 p.m., NBC
The Geese beat Idaho by 10 and Boise State by 3 on a last-second discipline aim to begin the season. Since then, other than the 1-point win over Ohio State, Oregon’s seven different victories have all been by a minimum of 21 factors — which is why it’s stunning this unfold is barely 13.5. The Badgers, coming off an idle week, have misplaced two in a row, together with a 32-point loss to Iowa.
Oregon has an opportunity to begin 11-0 for under the second time in program historical past and first since 2010 when the Geese reached the nationwide championship and misplaced to Auburn. That was additionally the identical season Wisconsin defeated No. 1 Ohio State.
Line: Oregon -13.5
4. Kansas (3-6) at No. 6 BYU (9-0), 10:15 p.m., ESPN
BYU’s dream season continued with an unimaginable comeback win over Utah within the Holy Warfare rivalry final Saturday, adopted by a three-spot climb up the CFP rankings Tuesday. The Cougars are one in all 4 remaining undefeated groups within the FBS and alone atop the Huge 12 standings. They meet a Kansas staff that has disenchanted this season however appeared a lot improved in current weeks. The Jayhawks, winners of two of their final three, scored 45 factors in a win over then-ranked Iowa State final weekend and might proceed to play spoiler with BYU and Colorado up subsequent.
Line: BYU -2.5
3. Utah (4-5) at No. 17 Colorado (7-2), midday, Fox
A yr after dominating headlines as a 4-8 staff that completed final within the Pac-12, Colorado is a top-20 staff with a Heisman Trophy favourite in two-way star Travis Hunter, in addition to a transparent path to win the Huge 12 and attain the Playoff. The Buffs are nonetheless commanding loads of consideration (together with Deion Sanders co-hosting a brand new discuss present!), however they’ve earned it with their play. It’s created a really perfect state of affairs to date for the Huge 12: unbeaten BYU and media darling Colorado on the prime of the standings, with the potential for a conference-championship conflict and presumably even room for each to achieve the Playoff, if issues break proper.
That begins with the Buffs internet hosting a ten a.m. native time kickoff in opposition to a Utah staff coming off that devastating and contentious rivalry loss to BYU.
Line: Colorado -11.5
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2. No. 3 Texas (8-1) at Arkansas (5-4), midday, ABC
Texas is as much as No. 3 within the CFP rankings largely on the power of a one-loss file. The Longhorns have principally handed the attention check, like final week’s blowout win over Florida, however have zero Prime-25 wins, with their finest victory approaching the street at Vanderbilt. Nonetheless, quarterback Quinn Ewers appeared wholesome and sharp in opposition to the Gators, and Texas controls its personal future within the SEC and can attain the league championship if it wins out, beginning with Saturday’s street journey in opposition to a pesky, humbled and well-rested Arkansas. The Hogs are coming off an idle week following an embarrassing house loss to Ole Miss and count on to have dynamic quarterback Taylen Inexperienced wholesome. A victory for Texas gained’t change the resume criticism, however that gained’t matter if it retains stacking wins.
Line: Texas -12.5
1. No. 7 Tennessee (8-1) at No. 12 Georgia (7-2), 7:30 p.m., ABC
That is an elimination recreation for Georgia, which dropped out of the Playoff discipline in Tuesday’s rankings and would absolutely be cooked with three losses. Nevertheless, a win by the Dawgs — who’re double-digit favorites — drags the Vols right down to the quagmire of two-loss groups in SEC play, setting the desk for some title-game tiebreaker nightmares. Among the many eight groups getting into the weekend with both one or two losses within the SEC standings, there are solely two video games remaining that pit these groups in opposition to each other: this one, and Texas at Texas A&M on Nov. 30. Lots might change earlier than that, however Saturday’s outcome can be impactful.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is questionable, with ESPN’s Pete Thamel reporting that Iamaleava is in concussion protocol after leaving final week’s win in opposition to Mississippi State. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has had his personal non-injury points, throwing 12 interceptions over his previous six video games.
Line: Georgia -9.5
(Picture of Georgia’s Money Jones and Ole Miss’ Jared Ivey: Justin Ford / Getty Pictures)
