For the second consecutive week, there’s a top-10 matchup on Saturday that carries huge ramifications for the College Football Playoff. While the Texas Longhorns vs Georgia Bulldogs is the most talked-about game on the Week 12 college football schedule, there are a few other ranked matchups that fans should watch closely.
Let’s dive into our college football predictions for Week 12, delivering a few picks for the best college football games today.
(10) Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 34, (24) Pitt Panthers –23
It is a new era for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish offense. While there is nothing new about Jeremiyah Love playing like an All-American—averaging 150.4 scrimmage yards per game over the last five games—it is the quarterback play that deserves attention. CJ Carr enters Saturday ranked 10th in the nation in ESPN QBR (83.3), and he has been outstanding in his last two games. Facing a Pitt Panthers defense that ranks 71st nationally in passer rating allowed (132.66), Notre Dame is simply too well-rounded for Pittsburgh to handle across all four quarters. Additionally, with freshman Mason Heintschel still prone to throwing costly interceptions, the Fighting Irish should win this matchup with relative ease.
(4) Alabama Crimson Tide 24, (12) Oklahoma Sooners 17
It is now or never for John Mateer and the Oklahoma Sooners. Playoff hopes are at stake for Saturday’s trip to Tuscaloosa, and the Sooners should feel pretty good about Mateer’s health coming off the bye week. Oklahoma also has reason to be confident in its run defense (82.4 rush ypg allowed, 4th in FBS) against an Alabama Crimson Tide offense that ranks 119th nationally (111.9 yards per game) in rushing. If Alabama cannot run the football, Kalen DeBoer will need to find ways to get the ball out of Ty Simpson’s hands quickly. Fortunately for the Crimson Tide, Simpson can do that and can extend plays with his athleticism. In the end, the more talented and better-coached team is expected to find a way to victory, with Simpson making throws that Mateer cannot in the fourth quarter.
Duke Blue Devils – 34, (14) Virginia Cavaliers – 27
It’s difficult to have any faith in the Virginia Cavaliers right now. In October, after beating Louisville in OT, Virginia came out of a soft three-game stretch against Washington State, North Cacrolina and Cal with a point differential of only +13. Once Chandler Morris went down, it all came undone in the loss at home to Wake Forest. If Morris (concussion) plays on Saturday, maybe the Cavaliers find a way to win at Duke with the veteran quarterback leading the way. We’re just skeptical of Virginia beating the Blue Devils. Darian Mensah (24-4 TD-INT) is coming off a two-interception game, but he was an excellent prior to that. Virginia ranks 62 in yards per attempt allowed (6.87). Stopping Mensah and Nate Sheppard is just a task we don’t believe the Cavaliers defense is up for.
(19) USC Trojans 28, (20) Iowa Hawkeyes 27
After a heartbreaking loss at home to Oregon last week, the Iowa Hawkeyes now find themselves in Southern California against another College Football Playoff hopeful. What’s concerning about Iowa’s performance last week is the relative ease with which Oregon ran the football. That’s a bit of an issue given how well King Miller has been running the football lately. What Iowa can do is try to force Jayden Maiava into some mistakes; the 6-foot-4 quarterback will take some gambles, giving the Hawkeyes’ defense chances at interceptions or pass deflections. If Iowa can force the Trojans to play their style of football, it’s worth noting that USC has allowed 208 rushing yards per game in its last three games. In a close game, we believe the quarterback and coaching edge push the Trojans to a
(5) Georgia Bulldogs – 21 , (11) Texas Longhorns – 17
The Arch Manning Heisman buzz is back again, as are the Texas Longhorns’ College Football Playoff hopes. We see that coming to an end on Saturday night in Athens. One thing working in the Longhorns’ favor is that the Georgia Bulldogs have been slow starters this season, ranking 36th in points per first half (16.6) and 57th in points per first quarter (6.0).
We don’t trust the Longhorns’ ability to run the football against a Bulldogs front seven allowing just a 3.13 yards-per-carry average and 100.1 rushing yards per game this season. That puts more pressure on Manning’s shoulders. What Georgia hasn’t had much of this fall is a pass rush, and Manning behind a clean pocket will give Texas a chance. We just don’t see the young quarterback being ready for everything Kirby Smart will throw at him, especially without a ground game to help him out. Georgia wins and snuffs out the Longhorns’ playoff chances.
