2014 College Football Picks: Week 11 Odds and Predictions – Free College Football Picks 11/08/14: Without question, Week 11 of the college football season is going to alter conference title races and the race to be a part of the college football playoff. Six matchups are on tap that will feature top-20 teams playing one another, and the outcomes of the games are going to go a long way in shaping the national title picture going forward. In fact, three of the games this weekend are essentially playoff games themselves with the losers basically being eliminated from the college football playoff conversation. Here is a closer look at all the marquee matchups for a loaded Week 11 slate.
No. 12 Baylor Bears at No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners
Neither side has lived up to expectations coming into this matchup, and the loser can officially kiss its Big 12 and national title hopes goodbye. Last year, the Bears destroyed the Sooners in Waco, but this time around, Oklahoma will be playing Baylor’s top-scoring offense in Norman with a top-10 offense of its own that has improved since quarterback Trevor Knight began using his legs as well as his arm to make plays. Both defenses have struggled at times, but after surrendering a combined 99 points against its two-toughest opponents, there is little doubt that Baylor’s unit is the weaker of the two in this matchup. Throw in the fact that the Sooners have never lost back-to-back home games with Bob Stoops as head coach, and Oklahoma is a safe bet to take care of business in this one.
Prediction: Oklahoma Sooners (-5.5) Cover the Spread
No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at No. 9 Arizona State Sun Devils
While there are no conference title implications riding on this game, it is absolutely an elimination game for both sides when it comes to the college football playoff. There is little doubt that Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson will be the best individual playmaker on the field in this matchup, especially Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly really hasn’t looked right since returning from an injury. However, Notre Dame’s defense has imploded the last couple of weeks, allowing 43 points to North Carolina and 39 points to Navy. The Fighting Irish are favored, but I don’t think Golson can save them yet again on the road against a solid football team like the Sun Devils
Prediction: Arizona State (+2.5) Cover the Spread
No. 7 Kansas State Wildcats at No. 6 TCU Horned Frogs
This game is probably the de facto Big 12 title game, and whichever team emerges with the win will be in great shape to be a part of the college football playoff. TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin has emerged as one of the most exciting players in the country, and he heads an offense ranked second in the country in scoring. However, Kansas State has a solid dual-threat QB of its own in Jake Waters, and in addition to a top-20 scoring offense, the Wildcats also own the 12th-best scoring defense. Kansas State also has a big-play X-factor in receiver Tyler Lockett, and the Wildcats’ balance in all three areas of the game will at least allow them to take this game to the wire.
Prediction: Kansas State Wildcats (+6) Cover the Spread
No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 16 LSU Tigers
Given the remaining schedule, Alabama 100 percent controls its own destiny when it comes to making the college football playoff. However, there is nothing the Tigers would love more than to spoil the title hopes of their rival, and as Ole Miss found out, playing in “Death Valley” rarely ends well of opponents. This game figures to be a low-scoring slugfest between Alabama’s second-ranked defense and LSU’s fourth-ranked unit, and there are question marks on both sides about how the quarterbacks will handle themselves on such a big stage. Honestly, I expect this game to come down to the wire as matchups in this rivalry often have, but armed with the home crowd, the steadily improving Tigers should give the Crimson Tide all they can handle.
Prediction: LSU Tigers (+3) Cover the Spread
No. 14 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 8 Michigan State Spartans
The winner of this game is without question the only Big Ten team that has a prayer at competing for the national title. Last year, it was the Spartans dashing the Buckeyes’ title hopes in the conference title game, but both teams look a lot different heading into this matchup. Instead of a battle of Ohio State’s high-powered offense and Michigan State’s stingy defense, Saturday’s meeting could be a shootout. After all, OSU and MSU rank fourth and fifth in the country in scoring, respectively. That being said, it’s impossible to ignore the play of Buckeyes’ quarterback J.T. Barrett at Penn State a couple of weeks ago when the first-year starter struggled to handle the crowd and Ohio State needed double overtime to escape. The crowd in East Lansing is going to be every bit as raucous, and the Spartans are a far more complete team than the Nittany Lions. Ohio State will really miss Braxton Miller in this one.
Prediction: Michigan State Spartans (-5.5) Cover the Spread
No. 4 Oregon Ducks at No. 17 Utah Utes
Quarterback Marcus Mariota and the Oregon offense just keeps chugging along, and the Ducks are in great position to make the college football playoff. However, a road game against the Utes isn’t going to be a walk in the park. Utah will grind it out on both sides of the ball, and the Utes’ two losses this season have come by one and three points, respectively. Meanwhile, Utah’s defense hasn’t allowed more than 28 points all year despite matchups with ranked opponents UCLA, USC and Arizona State. In the end, Mariota should be able to make enough plays to help the Ducks escape, but it won’t be easy.
Prediction: Utah Utes (+8) Cover the Spread
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