Week 13 Preview

Week 13 doesn’t have the greatest slate of games, but there are a few good ones. Two are in the Pac-12 with 19USC going to 9UCLA and 15Arizona going to 17Utah. There are also a couple of major games in the SEC. 8Ole Miss visits Fayetteville to play an Arkansas team that has a lot of momentum and is hungry for a bowl game. 20Missouri goes to Neyland to try to continue their road winning streak. There are a lot of trap games this weekend, will the top teams be able to get up for these games?

Notable Games
8Ole Miss at Arkansas Arkansas beat 17LSU 17-0 nothing last weekend. I don’t have a reason to say that except that I love to say that. The Hogs got their first SEC win in a very long time and I think that win flipped a switch. This team has been so close in so many games this season but has been unable to finish games. They finished against LSU. They proved to themselves, the coaches and the fans that they can finish an SEC game in the 4th quarter, and think there is no turning back now. Ole Miss is a very good team with a very good defense, but they are missing their top WR and they had trouble with an LSU team that was a lot like this Arkansas team. In Fayetteville it feels like it has been business as usual. The Razorbacks know what kind of team they are, and I think they have a great chance to get this win on Senior Day. These seniors have been through it all. A couple players were even on the roster for the Sugar Bowl team. These seniors have been through 3 head coaches and a lot of heartache. A win on Senior Day would mean a lot. It would also mean the Hogs would be bowl eligible. The Razorbacks need this win.

19USC at 9UCLA This year’s Battle for LA should be a good one. Both of these teams have been pretty good this season, but I have to give the edge to UCLA. I think they are the better all around team in this game. But USC has a good chance to pull the upset. When it comes to rivalry games, all bets are off. Both teams know what a win in this game means. Rivalry games are fun to watch because both teams bring their best. It will come down to who wants it more, and I think UCLA will be that team. I think the difference in the game will come from the defense or special teams. I am picking UCLA by a TD.

12Kansas State at West Virginia (Thurs) This is an interesting matchup. Kansas State got manhandled by TCU two weeks ago and West Virginia has lost their last two games. Both teams are coming off a bye week and should be well rested. I think the Wildcats have the upper hand tonight, but I think it will be a close game. I is going to be a cold one in Morgantown, with sub 20 degree weather and some snow. These teams like to score, but the conditions might hinder the offenses a little. This game is going to come down to the team with the better defense, and I think that is Kansas State. I am picking Kansas State by a TD.

15Arizona at 17Utah I expect this game to come down to the very end. I’d be a little surprised if it didn’t go to OT. These teams have each had their share of last second wins this season and I think that will continue in this matchup. I think Utah will get this big home win. This should be a great game. I’m expecting a low-scoring game with a lot of FGs. The Ute’s star kicker, Andy Phillips, will be the reason they win this game. I am picking Utah by a FG.

20Missouri at Tennessee This is an extremely important game for Missouri. They need this win to stay at the top of the SEC East standings. Both teams are coming in with momentum. Tennessee has an OT win over South Carolina and a big win over Kentucky. Missouri went to Kyle Field last weekend and came out with a win. Luckily for the Tigers, this is another road game. Mizzou has been great on the road, winning their last 9 road games (7 of which were SEC games). I think that streak will continue this weekend. But this Tennessee team is dangerous. I think it will be close because of Missouri’s not-so-great offense, but the Tiger defense will get the win. I am picking Missouri by 3-7 points.

25Minnesota at 23Nebraska Both of these teams are coming off of tough losses. Minnesota fought hard against Ohio State and made it a close one. Nebraska was literally run out of the stadium by Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon. I think Ameer Abdullah will have a much better game than he did last week. Minnesota is a very good team and should not be underrated. I think Nebraska is the better 4th quarter team and will find a way to pull ahead. I am picking Nebraska by 7-14 points.

24Louisville at Notre Dame Even though Louisville is the ranked team in this game, I think Notre Dame has the advantage. The Fighting Irish are coming off two losses, and last week’s was a heartbreaker. Northwestern ended up beating Notre Dame 43-40 in OT. Louisville is coming off a bye week. I think Notre Dame is the better team if they hold on to the ball. Turnovers have plagued ND all season and will be costly if they commit them in this game. But if they continue to struggle with INTs and fumbles, they won’t win this game. Louisville is a talented team, but I don’t think they are good enough to play with Notre Dame for 4 quarters. I am picking Notre Dame by a TD.

Top 25
Western Carolina at 1Alabama
Colorado at 2Oregon
Boston College at 3Florida State
Vanderbilt at 4Mississippi State
Indiana at 6Ohio State
Oklahoma State at 7Baylor
Charleston Southern at 10Georgia
Rutgers at 11Michigan State
12Kansas State 26 West Virginia 20 (Thurs)
Washington State at 13Arizona State
Samford at 14Auburn
16Wisconsin at Iowa
Kansas at 21Oklahoma
Georgia State at 22Clemson

Other Games
Akron 30 Massachusetts 6 (Tues)
Northern Illinois 21 Ohio 14 (Tues)
Toledo 27 Bowling Green 20 (Wed)
Kent State at Buffalo canceled because of snow
North Carolina 45 Duke 20 (Thurs)
Texas State 45 Arkansas State 27 (Thurs)
UTEP at Rice (Fri)
Air Force at San Diego State (Fri)
San Jose State at Utah State (Fri)
UNLV at Hawaii
Marshall at UAB
Penn State at Illinois
New Mexico at Colorado State
Maryland at Michigan
Stanford at California
Appalachian State at Louisiana-Lafayette
Miami(FL) at Virginia
Boise State at Wyoming
Fresno State at Nevada
Oregon State at Washington