FAVORITE TEAMS

10) OKLAHOMA AT WEST VIRGINIA – 9AM PT/12PM ET [FOX SPORTS 1]

Oklahoma is 9-0 in this matchup since West Virginia joined the Big 12. The Mountaineers had four opportunities to defeat Oklahoma throughout that span. The Sooners haven’t looked good this season and could be stuck at five for a bit. They’re also traveling to a hostile environment in Morgantown and this is the Mountaineers best chance to cap their first win over them. I hope I’m wrong, but it’s not looking pretty for Sooner nation.

MY PICK: WEST VIRGINIA

9) LIBERTY AT UCONN – 9AM PT/12PM ET [CBS SPORTS NETWORK]

This matchup appearing in the Top 10 is an ode to both Liberty coach Hugh Freeze and UConn coach Jim Mora. Liberty got a big win against an SEC opponent while Jim Mora’s Huskies are up five wins this season for the first time since 2015. This is only the second meeting between these teams since 2005, but this will be the first time they face each other at the FBS level and as Independent squads. Liberty could run away with this, but let’s hope they don’t have a hangover from the Arkansas win because the Huskies are pesky enough to hang around.

MY PICK: LIBERTY

8) #25 WASHINGTON AT #6 OREGON -4PM PT/7PM ET [FOX]

Oregon is untouchable in the Pac-12 and has a playoff opportunity. However, Washington lurks in the Top 5 of the Pac-12 standings after taking care of Oregon State. The last three meetings were decided by 10 points or less and the Ducks won those last three. It could happen again because Washington has proven they are a hard out, but Oregon is the better squad overall and has yet to score under 40 since losing to Georgia back in Week 1.

MY PICK: OREGON

7) PURDUE AT #21 ILLINOIS – 9AM PT/12PM ET [ESPN2]

Illinois’s loss to Michigan Stat reopened the door for four other Big Ten West teams for the division title. The Fighting Illini’s playoff conversation is over, but their Big Ten championship aspirations and maybe a New Year’s Six Bowl game is still on the table. They need to recover fast because Purdue comes to town despite losing two in a row to Wisconsin and Iowa. They are a hard out with quarterback Aidan O’Connell running the show. Illinois finds a way to capitalize on the redzone struggles they had last week to win and stay in control of the Big Ten West division.

MY PICK: ILLINOIS

6) #15 UNC AT WAKE FOREST – 4:30PM PT/7:30PM ET [ESPN2]

The Tarheels came out and took advantage of the Coastal division while six other teams scramble for answers. This win gives them the outright Coastal division title. Freshmen quarterback Drake Maye is playing elite and is Top 4 in the nation nearly every major passing category. Wake Forest lucked out on the Atlantic division and got booted out of the Top 25. What’s worse is their last two losses were under their usual scoring average (from 41.4 in 7 games to 21 points in the last 2). Wake should bounce back because UNC’s defense is sus. The last two meetings went into the 50s and it could happen again. UNC closed out five games decided by seven points or less. Expect a Tarheels win with similar results.

MY PICK: NORTH CAROLINA

5) EAST CAROLINA AT CINCINNATI – 5PM PT/8PM ET [ESPN2 ON FRIDAY]

East Carolina hangs around the Top 5 in the AAC standings and are still alive for the second spot if anyone can believe that. Cincinnati, however, lost to UCF two weeks ago and are in need of help from Tulane to defeat UCF to reclaim the second spot. Here’s the simple scenario: if UCF loses to Tulane, this matchup decides who’s potentially in the Top 2. Cincinnati has leverage at home, but they haven’t steamrolled any AAC team at home this season. This becomes a problem because ECU’s a good offensive team with an improved defense. If it stays close in the fourth quarter, East Carolina could upset the Bearcats. I will take the Pirates because they also had some rest during the bye week.

MY PICK: EAST CAROLINA

4) #22 UCF AT #17 TULANE – 12:30PM PT/3:30PM ET [ESPN2]

Some probably don’t care about this matchup as much as the SEC matchups or the Texas/TCU matchup. There’s a good reason to check out this game. UCF and Tulane battle for the top spot in the AAC while the loser could drop out of the Top 3 in a snap. UCF in coach Gus Malzahn’s second season improved and are primed for an AAC title appearance. Tulane continues to stave off competition in each AAC matchup for the top spot in the conference. They look balanced on both sides of the ball and are competitively sound for the first time in coach Willie Fritz’s tenure. They are looking for their first conference title appearance in program history and championship since 1998 in C-USA.

There will be a massive shift in the conference standings after today, but Tulane’s loss opens doors to about four teams behind them. Tulane looks like the best AAC team, but so is UCF. UCF will keep the game close and put the pressure on, but the Green Wave should overcome it and eventually run away with it.

MY PICK: TULANE

3) #9 ALABAMA AT #11 OLE MISS – 12PM PT/3PM ET [CBS]

Alabama’s in a pinch right now and could see their division title hopes fade after the LSU/Arkansas game. Ole Miss has an opportunity for the second spot in the SEC West and hopes that LSU loses prior to this matchup or in two weeks at Texas A&M. Alabama travels for their second straight game to the Grove in Mississippi and must bounce back quickly. Bryce Young is the heart and soul of the squad and will do whatever it takes to keep the Tides’ hopes alive. Ole Miss has nothing to lose, and this could finally be coach Lane Kiffin’s opportunity to end Nick Saban’s season with more than two losses for the first time since 2010. The team has some solid balance, but let’s see how their defense fares against Bryce Young and company.

The Rebels have homefield advantage and have a battered and beaten Tide that’s traveling for the second straight week. The Rebels rested during the bye and should be fully prepared for this matchup. They must put the final nail in the coffin to ensure Alabama’s SEC West hopes and any sort of miraculous attempts at a playoff spot is completely over. It’s unclear if Alabama still has the motivation, but never underestimate them. Alabama could also end Ole Miss’s season with a win and just hope and pray Arkansas and Texas A&M ends LSU’s division title opportunity. Alabama should be favored to win but let’s see where their motivation and inspiration is at.

MY PICK: OLE MISS

2) #7 LSU AT ARKANSAS – 9AM PT/12PM ET [ESPN]

All eyes are on this matchup. Why? Because LSU upset Alabama to get one step closer to an SEC West title. However, they’re not done yet. A win puts them in control their own destiny and will need an Ole Miss loss to clinch the SEC West. Wouldn’t that be something for coach Brian Kelly’s first season as a head coach? However, they must re-cooperate after their massive celebration and prepare for quarterback KJ Jefferson and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Yes, they lost to Liberty last week, but they’re still at home for two more games and have time to make up for lost ground. They must attack the defense while avoiding turnovers at all costs. A lot will be put on the quarterback, but the defense must come through too. Honestly, this game could swing both ways.

The last two meetings were decided by a field goal. LSU picked things up at the right time, but they must prove they are the team to beat in the SEC West. Arkansas will put LSU on upset alert for sure.

MY PICK: LSU

1) #4 TCU AT #18 TEXAS – 4:30PM PT/7:30PM ET [ABC]

TCU is still running hot and returns to the Top 4 for the first time since 2017. Their offense, statistically, looks similar to the 2015 version that was led by quarterback Trevone Boykin. The combination of offensive-minded coach Sonny Dykes and quarterback Max Duggan made this team a dangerous formula. However, Texas is the last team that TCU wants to run into. The Longhorn offense is sound under the three-headed monster of Quinn Ewers, Bijan Robinson, and Xavier Worthy. They’re stacked across the board and any of them could punish an opposing defense. With all the compliments for both offenses, there are less compliments for both defenses. They’re will allow some plays, yards, and scores. But statistically, Texas’s defense is more competent than TCU’s. Also, they’re at home and have hundreds of thousands of fans behind them.

TCU has met with some physicality before against Kansas State, but unfortunately, they haven’t faced an offense like Texas. The Longhorns will grind them out with Robinson and Roschon Johnson and Quinn Ewers will punish the defense with top-flight receivers. Texas’s defense will find ways to slow down TCU and cut through their big plays in crucial moments. Unless TCU can hurt another quarterback, Austin, Texas will be a place where TCU’s playoff hopes ends.

MY PICK: TEXAS