Here’s my quick announcement. This week I will post my final Top CFB Games list. I won’t post anymore as I’m going in a different direction and update some of my content. I’m currently working on something to make things easier with more visuals. I plan on posting something related to the top games next week, but I’ll wait until after Saturday’s games to work on it before Thanksgiving. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to drop by and check out my blogs, following me and liking my stuff, and sending some feedback. It means everything and helps me continue improving.
10) ILLINOIS AT #17 IOWA – 11AM PT/2PM ET [FOX SPORTS 1]
Iowa won the last seven games against Illinois and has an advantage at home. However, they won a hard fought game against Minnesota and Illinois plays that way too. The Fighting Illini are without coach Bret Bielema this week after a positive COVID test, but it shouldn’t affect them from playing competitive. They haven’t allowed a 30-point game in conference play this season and Iowa’s offense doesn’t score many points without defensive help. This is possibly a low-scoring game and it’ll come down to turnovers and special teams.
9) #9 OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS TECH – 5PM PT/8PM ET [FOX]
Oklahoma State’s one win away from claiming a spot in the Big 12 championship and an Iowa State loss this weekend will guarantee it. They can’t overlook Texas Tech though. They were blindsided by coach Matt Wells being fired a couple of weeks ago and they seem intent on taking down the remaining teams competing for a Big 12 title spot. Iowa State was the first victim and Oklahoma State’s the next target on their schedule. The Cowboys’ key is not turning the ball over.
8) #11 BAYLOR AT KANSAS STATE – 2:30PM PT/5:30PM ET [FOX SPORTS 1]
Baylor’s upset over Oklahoma is a major accomplishment. Hopefully they moved on because teams that usually come off big upset wins struggle in road games the next week. They better have great amnesia because they play at Kansas State. No one talked about the Wildcats current four-game winning streak, and that’s fine by them. Coach Chris Klieman has the Cats ready for an upset bid and it is not the right place or time for Baylor to be at this late in the season. The Bears are 0-2 in road games since October and this road game is their most challenging to overcome.
7) LOUISIANA AT LIBERTY – 1PM PT/4PM ET [ESPNU]
This matchup features quarterback Louisiana’s Levi Lewis and Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. They come in with similar stats for scoring offense and defense. They rely heavily on their play-making quarterbacks and defense. However, the only difference is Liberty has home field advantage. All their home wins were by an average of 36 points per game and over scored over 40 points in all of their outings. Louisiana had one road loss by 20 points to Texas and their roads win were by an average of six points per game. They scored over 28 points once last week and the biggest margin of victory was only 14 points. Can Louisiana keep up with Liberty on the road?
6) UAB AT #22 UTSA – 12:30PM PT/3:30PM ET [ESPN+]
UTSA has the toughest matchup of their college football lives. They are playing their best football since joining the FBS program but have struggled against UAB and lost four straight since the Blazers returned to football in 2017. UAB is 4-1 all-time and UTSA’s only win was in 2013 (a year after joining the FBS). Last season, UTSA started 3-0 before UAB ended their short-term momentum. UAB is a tough out and have their eye set on ending the Roadrunners’ momentum again and control the division and hopefully win out.
5) VIRGINIA AT #18 PITTSBURGH – 12:30PM PT/3:30PM ET [ESPN2]
Back in 2019, Virginia won at Pittsburgh for the first time in program history. That led them to a conference championship that year. They’re back at Pittsburgh hoping to repeat for the lead in the division and return to a conference title game. Coach Bronco Mendenhall stated that Virginia is still the last Coastal division winners from 2019 (ACC didn’t have a division in 2020 with Notre Dame in it) and wants to defend their title. In 2019, Pitt was subpar on offense. Now, they are the second most dangerous ACC offense under fourth year quarterback Kenny Pickett. Here’s the kicker, Pitt hasn’t been all bells and whistles at home and losses to Western Michigan and Miami proves it. The same goes for Virginia in road games and they are consistently bad, but they did win back-to-back road games against Miami and Louisville. They are 4-32 against ranked opponents since 2009. It’s obvious that Pitts favored and their upgraded offense will outscore the Cavs to win the division title.
4) SMU AT #5 CINCINNATI – 12:30PM PT/3:30PM ET [ESPN]
Cincinnati finally plays a true game that doesn’t have to involve…”style points”. We must see if Cincinnati can compete the entire game against SMU’s offense with a side of competitiveness on defense. Probably around three of the last five games haven’t been that great for Cincy, but they’re undefeated and winning anyway possible to stay in the playoff hunt. SMU, however, is still alive for the second spot in the conference title game. They must ruin Cincy’s playoff run and hope East Carolina finishes them off too. The Mustangs’ winning formula is outscoring their opponents without turnovers. Their two losses involved turnovers and this is an obstacle they must overcome to do it. Can SMU keep up to create an upset bid? They were in every close game on the road and lost the last two. It’s possible SMU comes up short again and Cincy clinches the second spot in the AAC championship.
3) #10 WAKE FOREST AT CLEMSON – 9AM PT/12PM ET [ESPN]
Is it possible to see Wake Forest ranked and Clemson not? I guess so in 2021. Clemson hasn’t been great this year while Wake Forest is. It doesn’t mean the Tigers won’t have competitive fire in Death Valley. They are aware of Wake Forest’s conference title situation and the Tigers aim to spoil it. Wake Forest has the best potent offense in the ACC and one of the best in the nation, but Clemson still has the stingiest defense in the nation coupled with experience led by linebackers James Skalski and Braylon Spector. Wake Forest dealt with the second toughest ACC defense in NC State. Now they face the best defense in the conference in Clemson. Is it possible they can do it again? Don’t count out Clemson at home since they found a way to score around 35 points per game in the last three games after averaging 15.2 points in six previous FBS matchups.
2) #7 MICHIGAN STATE AT #4 OHIO STATE – 9AM PT/12PM ET [ABC]
The true test for Ohio State starts this weekend and this game decides the leader of the East division. Coach Mel Tucker also faces Ryan Day and Ohio State for the first time since taking over as Michigan State’s coach. The magic and perseverance of his transfers and talent paid off, and now the Spartans are in the Top 10 with one win away from leading the East. Young quarterback Payton Thorne, running back Kenneth Walker, and receivers Jayden Reed and Jalen Nailor helped spark a major turnaround on offense. Ohio State had a shaky September with a loss to Oregon. After Tulsa, they went on a complete massacre through most of their schedule. Quarterback CJ Stroud’s weekly development helped impact the team overall. His supporting casts, running back TreVeyon Henderson and the three-headed monster receivers, helped make the offense look unstoppable. Michigan State is 5-7 all-time at Columbus as a ranked team, but they need help from their defense to shut down CJ and break down the offensive line. If Michigan State fails, Ohio State keeps rolling with only Michigan to deal with.
1) #3 OREGON AT #23 UTAH – 4:30PM PT/7:30PM ET [ABC]
Something about Oregon and Utah clashing in cross-division Pac-12 matchups is very interesting and might as well become a rivalry. It should be considered Game of the Week because someone’s winning their side of the division while the other must survive next week to clinch it. Oregon is hot on the playoff trail and hopes to end the conference’s 4-year drought. Their offense has heavy reliance on the ground but quarterback Anthony Brown creates opportunities with both his legs and his arm. But what got Oregon here was their defense led by defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux and linebacker Noah Sewell. Utah started slow with a 1-2. Since then, they went on a 6-1 run with three-straight wins thanks to young quarterback Cam Rising and an improved run game. Utah relies a lot on defense and special teams, but an improved offense week-by-week is a good sign. Oregon and Utah are playing for their separate division titles, but only one will clinch it. It’ll be close but unfortunately for Utah, they must clinch it next week because Kayvon is playing and Oregon’s chances of winning are high when he’s involved.
The Wolf's Cave 
Leave a comment