FAVORITE TEAMS

AAC: 1-1, OVERALL: 7-12

USF (4-4) vs. Temple– lost 17-7

• USF’s defense played much better after a week off, but their offense couldn’t solve their way past Temple’s defense. Don’t get me wrong, quarterback Jordan McCloud produced the numbers downfield, but Temple’s run defense made sure that USF stayed one dimensional. The next game is against Cincinnati and USF has two extra days to prepare for their defense and Cincy quarterback Desmond Ridder.

 

TULSA (2-7) vs. UCF– won 34-31

• This was by far Tulsa’s biggest win of the season. After one heartbreaking loss after another due to kicking woes, kicker Jacob Rainey finally came through with his first ever game-winning field goal of the season after so many tries against other top teams. Despite Tulsa’s defense allowing four touchdowns, they kept the team in the game and came up with two turnovers. As I said before, Tulsa’s performance doesn’t reflect their record because they compete every game. They host Houston to cap off their last home game of the season.

 

ACC: 1-1, OVERALL: 14-5

VIRGINIA (6-3) vs. Georgia Tech– won 33-28

• Quarterback Bryce Perkins and Virginia continue their offensive stride over no-slouched Georgia Tech. The game was equal throughout and Georgia Tech failed to surrender. They nearly ended Virginia’s Coastal division title opportunity. Now that Virginia escaped an upset, they host Liberty before settling the score for that division title with Virginia Tech and hopes to end their one and a half decade losing streak against them.

 

#19 WAKE FOREST (7-1) at Virginia Tech– lost 36-17

• Wake Forest stayed with Virginia Tech but didn’t score no more than seven points in the second half. Tech’s defense forced turnovers and their new quarterback, Hendon Hooker, accounted for 311 total yards to help win the game. The loss likely knocks Wake Forest out of the committee’s Top 25 and also eliminates them from the Atlantic division. What’s worse is they head to Memorial Stadium to face Top 4 Clemson. There’s no guarantee that Wake Forest will win on the road, so they must see what UNC did to slow down and stay with the Tigers to have any shot at a climactic upset.

 

BIG TEN: 1-0, OVERALL: 16-2

#14 MICHIGAN (7-2)– BYE

#17 MINNESOTA (8-0) vs. #4 Penn State– won 31-26

• From start to finish, the Gophers had Penn State’s number. Penn State did come within a redzone of defeating Minnesota before the game-ending turnover. Quarterback Tanner Morgan and defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. gets the praise for their performance that helped the Gophers succeed in their own climactic upset this season. But now they must move on quickly from that win and face Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, the place where most top teams’ dreams end.

 

BIG 12: 0-2, OVERALL: 11-7

#16 KANSAS STATE (6-2) at Texas– lost 27-24

• Kansas State failed to get past Texas, which likely ends their Big 12 conference title opportunity since Texas, Oklahoma State, and Baylor hold the tiebreaker. Their next game’s against West Virginia and this is a likely win for them being at home.

 

IOWA STATE (5-3) at #9 Oklahoma– lost 42-41

• Iowa State didn’t lie down after a 35-14 deficit at halftime. They came out in the second half and bullied Oklahoma while allowing only one touchdown for the rest of the game. They came within a two-point conversion of upsetting Oklahoma to end their playoff and conference title run. Iowa State’s loss likely eliminates them from Big 12 title contention. They host Texas and hopes to end the Longhorn’s Big 12 title run too.

 

C-USA: 0-2, OVERALL: 9-11

FIU (5-4) at FAU– lost 37-7

• FIU struggled to score and stop FIU’s offense. It was bad from the start and ended the same too. They’re now 5-5 still trying for their sixth win to be considered for bowl-eligibility. They host Miami (FL), but it’s not possible that they’ll win that game unless the Hurricanes come out flat.

 

NORTH TEXAS (4-5) at Louisiana Tech– lost 52-17

• North Texas suffers their sixth loss against Louisiana Tech. They also lost Mason Fine for the rest of that game to a concussion. If he’s unable to return for the next game at Rice, this may be the Owls’ upset opportunity. North Texas awaits to see how he’s doing during the week, but they need two wins to be considered for bowl-eligibility.

 

INDEPENDENT: 1-0, OVERALL: 4-6

ARMY (3-6) vs. UMass– won 63-7

• Army wins easily over UMass and their next game against VMI should be no different. They get a week off after that game before going to Honolulu and then enjoy another week off before heading to Philadelphia for their season-ending rivalry game against Navy. If Navy plays in the AAC conference title game, Army has leverage with a week off to watch them play prior.

 

MAC: 2-0, OVERALL: 11-8

MIAMI (OH) (4-4) at Ohio– won 24-21

• Miami (OH) won a close but ugly game with their missed tackles against Ohio’s turnovers. It took their defense to keep the Redhawks conference title hopes alive with stops against Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke later in the game. They’re now in control of the East division with tiebreakers over them and Buffalo. Their next two games should be no-brainers before the last game on the road against an improved Ball State team.

 

WESTERN MICHIGAN (5-4) vs. Ball State– won 35-31

• Running back Levante Bellamy and quarterback Jon Wassink went ham on the ground against Ball State’s run defense for a combined 288 yards and four touchdowns to win the most important game of the season. Not only are they bowl-eligible, but they’re in control of the West division with tiebreakers over them and Central Michigan, although they lost to Toledo earlier this season. Their last two games are on the road against Ohio and Northern Illinois. Let’s see what happens.

 

MWC: 1-0, OVERALL: 13-6

NEVADA (5-4) at San Diego State– won 17-13

• Nevada nets their biggest win of the season to make bowl-eligibility while still alive for the West division title. Nevada’s defense did such a great job slowing down San Diego State’s offense. Now they rest for a week before heading to the Central Valley to face Fresno State, who’ll be desperate to make bowl-eligibility too.

 

AIR FORCE (7-2)– BYE

• Due to the death of defensive end Nahje Flowers, the Air Force-New Mexico game’s been re-scheduled for November 23rd instead of this weekend. My heart goes out to him and his family and friends.

 

PAC-12: 0-1, OVERALL: 13-5

ARIZONA STATE (5-3) vs. USC– lost 31-26

• Arizona State struggled badly in the first half. Then they found their form and was in comeback mode in the second half, but failed to finish their drive when new quarterback Joey Yellen threw a game-ending interception. Arizona State now has three-straight losses, and the next game’s at Oregon State. This one’s a tricky game that the Sun Devils must not overlook and underestimate.

 

#7 OREGON (8-1)– BYE

 

SEC: 0-1, OVERALL: 12-5

MISSOURI (5-3) at #6 Georgia– lost 27-0

• Mizzou hasn’t solved much of anything coming off their bye week and they also end their season road trips at 0-4 (losses to Wyoming, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Georgia). Throughout that span, they were outscored 114-52. Hopefully coming home will raise some spirit into these Tigers to play motivating football. With Florida coming to Columbia, all that’s left to finish their remaining schedule on a high note is pride while trying for their third straight win against the Gators.

 

#11 AUBURN (7-2)– BYE

 

SUN BELT: 1-0, OVERALL: 12-5

ARKANSAS STATE (5-4)– BYE

#20 APPALACHIAN STATE (7-1) at South Carolina– won 20-15

• Appalachian State made their 2019 statement by upsetting not only North Carolina, but also upset struggling South Carolina and becoming the first Sun Belt team to achieve it. With renewed hope of a Sun Belt title appearance after Georgia Southern’s and Georgia State’s loss, Appalachian State heads to Georgia State with what could be their last chance of owning the East division again.

 

TOP 10 UNDERRATED TEAMS AS OF NOVEMBER 10TH