College Football Viewing Guide (Week 12)

It’s NovemBERT, so the Fighting Illini are loaded for bear. Except not really, as they’re on a two-game losing streak. They’re what Dan and Ty might call a “half-team,” iffy on offense but overwhelmingly dominant on defense. And I mean dominant: top-10 in points allowed, total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and rushing yards allowed. Terrifying. Or at least it would be if Michigan wasn’t the best in the country in three out of four of those categories. This one’s in the Big House, and you should expect a defensive slogfest in clear, chilly weather.

TCU remains on a hot streak, undefeated, resting on a powerful rushing game anchored by Kendre Miller and a pretty solid passing attack. Max Duggan’s rounded into his own. They just handled Texas in Austin. Nothing can go wrong…right? Well, here come the Bears. It’s a rivalry game, so we throw out the records. Baylor’s looking to bounce back after an abysmal showing last week against Kansas State. Richard Reese still anchors this offense on the ground, and they hold onto the ball well, giving a middling defense a chance to rest. There are plenty of variables that could break into the open here.

It used to be a point of mockery when Texas lost to Kansas. If the Horns fall to the Jayhawks this year, it won’t be, but Austin’s one true team is determined to stave off that fate. Last week, they took one on the chin from TCU in a hard-fought defeat. It was frankly their best defensive performance all year. They have a history of playing up or down to their opponents. That could redound to their favor as they try to halt a skidding Jayhawk squad that’s lost four of its last five. Kansas has no defense to speak of and wins by converting half of their third-down plays and running the ball out of a fast-paced spread. The Big 12’s full of wackiness this year. Could be fun.

This might get fun. Emphasis on might. The Canes are gunning for bowl eligibility. They haven’t done anything especially consistently or well this year, but they’re not awful in any statistical category, and they defend the run better than most. That’s why I think they might hang around with Clemson, which relies on its run game to maintain offensive efficiency and game control. Good news: if this gets out of hand, the other afternoon matchups are interesting, too.

Georgia at Kentucky (3:30p/2:30p, CBS)

NC State at Louisville (3:30p/2:30p, ACCN)

Ohio State at Maryland (3:30p/2:30p, ABC)

The rare late-season Pac-12 game with Playoff implications! Lincoln Riley has the Trojans on top of the conference, and with just a single loss, if things break their way, they could slot into the CFP. First, though, they need to beat rivals UCLA and Notre Dame. This whole year, USC’s remained dominant, with a one-point loss to Utah the only blot on their resume, with a pass-heavy offense that racks up enough points to compensate for a lackluster defense, especially in the secondary.  Dorian Thompson-Robinson has a chance to unleash here, but that isn’t even what the Bruins do best on offense. Zach Charbonnet has been lethal on the ground. Yet UCLA has also struggled on defense as evidenced by last week’s loss to Arizona. This should be a fantastic matchup.

BEDLAM!!! It always requires exclamation points, even when the two teams playing aren’t top tier, or even playing for a conference championship slot. Oklahoma State is what they’ve been for most of the last decade: a zoomy offense that does nothing but score and exhaust their opponents, coupled with a nonexistent defense. This year, Oklahoma could be their mirror image. Well, aside from Oklahoma’s love of the run game… and their two-game losing streak… and their chance to become bowl eligible. Oh, and the game’s in Norman. Let’s get nuts!

Ole Miss at Arkansas (7:30p/6:30p, SECN)

Tennessee at South Carolina (7p/6p, ESPN)

We’ve got our first blockbuster #Pac12AfterDark game of the year here! These teams have both played brutal schedules. A trip to Levi’s Stadium or a New Year’s Six Bowl is not be out of the question. So, this one has stakes. Both the Ducks and the Utes boast elite offenses that can kill you on the ground or through the air. The glaring difference is on defense, where the Utes have a clear upper hand. Oregon has proven itself unable to defend the pass, so Cam Rising, now’s your time to shine.