The college football landscape is heating up as Week 12 unfolds, with numerous power conference races still wide open. In the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the competition is extremely tight, with only one game separating the teams placed from first to sixth. This could lead to a chaotic finish, potentially resulting in an eight-way tie at the top of the standings come the end of the regular season. Similarly, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is quite close, with just a one-game difference between the first and fourth place teams. In the Big Ten, both No. 5 Indiana and No. 1 Oregon fend off competition from No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State, both of whom are chasing for the lead.
In the Big 12, BYU and Colorado are in strong positions to secure spots in the upcoming championship game. However, the outcomes of three crucial games on Saturday could drastically change the dynamics within the conference. The highlights include:
— No. 7 BYU facing a Kansas team that has found its rhythm lately, diminishing expectations for a straightforward victory.
— No. 18 Colorado hosting a hard-fighting Utah team that, despite having lost five consecutive games, has been competitive until the final whistle.
— No. 20 Kansas State squaring off against Arizona State in a match featuring two of the four teams tied for third place.
BYU aims for its first 10-0 start since 2001, having navigated through several nail-biting finishes. Coach Kalani Sitake has emphasized the seriousness of the upcoming matchup against Kansas, dubbing it “Super Bowl X.” He expressed confidence in playing at home, but acknowledged the talent of their opponents, while emphasizing the need for their team to perform at their peak level.
Here are the predictions for the key matchups, incorporating the rankings and betting lines:
No. 1 Oregon (favored by 14 points) will face Wisconsin, and last week’s performance against Maryland showed that Oregon might not find it easy. The Badgers have been tough defensively, allowing only two lengthy plays in their season. Prediction: Oregon wins 35-17.
No. 2 Ohio State takes on Northwestern (underdog by 29.5 points), holding a remarkable record of 39 wins in their last 41 encounters – with most of those victories being by large margins. Prediction: Ohio State wins 39-10.
No. 3 Texas (favored by 13.5 points) goes against Arkansas, with significant players returning from injuries. The historical roots of this rivalry add an interesting layer to this SEC matchup. Prediction: Texas wins 37-21.
No. 4 Penn State (favored by 28.5 points) plays at Purdue, where motivation may play a pivotal role; the Boilermakers seem to have hit a wall. The participation of Penn State’s key running back Nick Singleton remains uncertain after an early exit from his previous game. Prediction: Penn State wins 49-6.
In a highly anticipated game, No. 6 Tennessee (underdog by 9.5 points) goes to No. 11 Georgia. With significant implications for both the College Football Playoff and the SEC title, this matchup promises to be intense. Prediction: Georgia wins 27-21.
BYU will match up against Kansas (underdog by 3 points), with both teams showing recent strong performances but BYU’s luck in close games could give them an edge. Prediction: Kansas wins 28-27.
No. 8 Notre Dame (favored by 22.5 points) is set to take on Virginia. The Fighting Irish have shown substantial defensive strength, having not allowed more than 14 points in recent games. Meanwhile, Virginia seeks to build momentum after an upset win over Pittsburgh. Prediction: Notre Dame wins 31-10.
No. 13 Boise State (favored by 13.5 points) faces San Jose State, eager to secure style points to bolster their playoff aspirations. Prediction: Boise State wins 42-24.
No. 14 SMU (favored by 16.5 points) will battle Boston College, striving to maintain their perfect record in the conference. A quarterback switch for BC adds an interesting twist. Prediction: SMU wins 36-17.
No. 15 Texas A&M (favored by 39.5 points) is up against New Mexico State. Despite losing a key running back for the season, the Aggies are expected to perform strongly. Prediction: Texas A&M wins 52-10.
No. 17 Clemson (favored by 10 points) travels to Pittsburgh, knowing they must win to have any hope for the ACC title game, which could depend on the outcomes of other teams as well. Prediction: Clemson wins 33-21.
Utah (underdog by 10 points) will meet No. 18 Colorado in a highly competitive game. While the Utes struggle offensively, their defense remains formidable. Prediction: Colorado wins 24-17.
In a matchup involving No. 19 Washington State (favored by 12.5 points) against New Mexico, the Cougars bring a strong scoring average. Prediction: Washington State wins 45-27.
Arizona State (underdog by 9 points) visits No. 20 Kansas State, with uncertainty surrounding a key player’s injury. Prediction: Kansas State wins 31-26.
No. 21 LSU (favored by 4.5 points) faces Florida in a situation where playing on the road might help ease pressure from irate fans after a tough loss. Prediction: LSU wins 33-24.
No. 22 Louisville (favored by 19.5 points) is set to square off against Stanford, aiming to continue a winning streak that relies heavily on strong defensive performances. Prediction: Louisville wins 40-20.
The matchup between No. 24 Missouri and No. 23 South Carolina (favored by 12.5 points) appears to focus more on bowl eligibility than playoff contention. Prediction: South Carolina wins 28-14.
Finally, No. 25 Tulane (favored by 6.5 points) will clash with Navy in hopes of cementing their position for the upcoming conference title game. Prediction: Tulane wins 34-27.
Reviewing the predictions from the previous week reveals an impressive record of 15 correct straight-up predictions out of 19 games and 8 against the spread. Overall, the season’s tally stands at 166 wins with 43 losses straight-up and 106 wins against the spread compared to 102 losses.