CFB Playoff Top 25 Week 11 Predictions
This Saturday’s slate of college football games will have some excellent matchups, as well as some trap games that top teams need to be mentally ready for.
Whether a school is attempting to reach the College Football Playoff, defeat a rival, or just wants to beat a quality opponent, here’s a look at top games with final score predictions.
Illinois at #3 Michigan
This is one of the trap games mentioned above. Illinois is absolutely going to be mad after losing to Purdue, at home, in Week 10. That game personified what a trap game can be.
Illinois did not play sharp, missing tackles, not executing up front, and that Purdue team took advantage. Can the role be reversed in Ann Arbor?
Illinois has a solid rushing attack, ranking No. 40 in the country at 183.6 yards per game. Running back Chase Brown leads the way with 1,442 yards and seven touchdowns. For Illinois to escape with a win versus Michigan, Brown probably needs 150 or more rushing yards.
That effort would keep Michigan’s own rushing attack from having as many chances, but Blake Corum and the Wolverines possess a quality passing attack, too. The Wolverines will run for over 200 yards and set up the passing attack.
Look for quarterback J.J. McCarthy to have some clutch throws for big gains. The Illini’s effort to sell out and slow down Corum will be their demise. Michigan survives to play Ohio State next week in their first head-to-head undefeated matchup since 2006.
Michigan 31 Illinois 17
#4 TCU at Baylor
What a year Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs are having. Led by a never say die attitude, this TCU squad comes into the game undefeated at 10-0. Senior quarterback Max Duggan is the best quarterback in the Big 12 with a 25-2 touchdown to interception ratio. Along with his teammates, Duggan will be challenged by Baylor, however.
Head coach Dave Aranda and his Bears won the Big 12 last season. While only sitting with a 6-4 record this season, Baylor has the potential to win this game. To make that happen, the defense will need to rise up. It’s giving up 25.2 points per game so far in 2022.
Baylor needs that one interception, that one special play, and McLane Stadium can then be a true advantage for the home squad. There is one more key.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Shapen needs to step up his game just a little bit more. Anything similar to throwing for less than 200 yards like two of his last four games will not be enough. That’s the concern. Duggan and the Horned Frogs will win a game that comes down to the last drive.
TCU 31 Baylor 27
#5 Tennessee at South Carolina
Williams-Brice Stadium will be rocking, as the Gamecocks fans are some of the most rabid in the country. They will be watching one of the best matchups between two units this weekend in college football.
This game is a great matchup between Tennessee’s No. 2 passing offense, at 348.2 yards per game, and South Carolina’s No. 28 passing defense, allowing 194 yards a game.
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker might be facing a quality defense, but he’s not going to be just shut down. Hooker will still throw for over 250 yards and a couple of scores. The bigger point of emphasis will be the ground game for the Volunteers.
Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small will combine for over 140 yards on the ground against South Carolina’s porous 113th ranked rushing defense. That’s going to keep Tennessee’s offense moving down the field and also not allow South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler with enough time and opportunities to score points.
Tennessee 34 South Carolina 17
#7 Southern California at #16 UCLA
This crosstown rivalry has two ranked opponents and much at stake for the College Football Playoff, bragging rights, and bowl bids.
It’s safe to say that big-time quarterback Caleb Williams is going to throw for a lot of yards. He has elite talent to throw the football to, and unfortunately, he might need to pass more than normal.
Running back Travis Dye went down with a season-ending injury last week, so the Trojans will probably pass even more than normal. That’s going to be interesting, however, as the Bruins possess the No. 35 rushing defense in the country, giving up 125 yards per game. Essentially, even if USC runs less, they need production from that rushing attack so it does not become one-dimensional.
If the Trojans can muster 80, perhaps 100 yards rushing, that should be enough. Here’s why.
The Bruins are susceptible to the pass. At No. 102 in the country, UCLA is allowing 254.4 yards per game through the air. That will be hard for the Bruins to overcome. Williams is going to throw for 375 yards and four touchdowns.
UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a tremendous player, and he’s a part of a rushing attack that is going to give USC fits. The Bruins will run for 190 yards and three touchdowns.
Zach Charbonnet will be the primary ball carrier and go for 125 yards and a score. Thompson-Robinson will get two more rushing touchdowns.
In the end, a late-game drive by Williams does the trick, however, and the Trojans escape the Rose Bowl with a victory.
USC 35 UCLA 31
Boston College at #18 Notre Dame
Which Notre Dame offense shows up? The offense that scored 35 points during the first half versus Navy, or the one that did not score a single point in the second half against the same opponent?
Boston College has been up and down all season, so it’s a game of two teams that are difficult to project. The quarterback situation will be a prime factor for both schools.
Redshirt freshman Emmett Morehead has thrown for 330 yards during each of his last two games. He will need a similar effort against the Irish, even with a suspect offensive line (BC has given up 39 sacks in 10 games).
When the Eagles are on defense, that means they will go against quarterback Drew Pyne. Since becoming the starter earlier in the season, he’s been erratic. Pyne goes through stretches where he throws on time and does a tremendous job, and then he does the opposite and holds the football too long and misses wide open receivers.
What the Irish do not have to worry about is a group of talented running backs. Look for ND to get back on track with a power run game against a BC defense that allows 157 yards per game, No. 83 in the country.
Running backs Audric Estime and Logan Diggs will lead the Irish to a grind-it-out win over Boston College, as the Irish run for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Notre Dame 31 Boston College 20
More final score predictions
#8 Alabama 52 Austin Peay 10
#19 Florida State 45 Louisiana 20
#15 Kansas State 31 West Virginia 21
#23 Oregon State 27 Arizona State 21
#1 Georgia 38 Kentucky 13
#2 Ohio State 51 Maryland 17
#6 LSU 45 UAB 10
#9 Clemson 28 Miami 24
#12 Oregon 31 #10 Utah 27
#11 Penn State 38 Rutgers 17
#13 North Carolina 38 Georgia Tech 17
#14 Ole Miss 35 Arkansas 17
#17 Washington 38 Colorado 10
#22 Oklahoma State 31 Oklahoma 24
Louisville 24 #24 North Carolina State 23
#25 Cincinnati 48 Temple 13
