Previews, projected scores for key college games,
A look at this week’s top games: No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 6 Miami
Nov. 11, 8 p.m., ABC
Line: Notre Dame by 3 Nearly three decades have passed since Miami and Notre Dame met as top-10 opponents. This encounter won’t have the same animosity as the famed rivalry of the late 1980s, but it does carry similar weight nationally.
The Fighting Irish (8-1) have won seven in a row to vault into serious national title contention a year after they went 4-8. Notre Dame has been served well by the emergence of QB Brandon Wimbush, the effectiveness of RB Josh Adams (1,191 rushing yards) and its reinvention as a power rushing team.
Miami (8-0) has won 13 in a row since leaving South Bend with a 30-27 loss last season. The Hurricanes validated their strong start with a 28-10 defeat of Virginia Tech last week in which it forced four turnovers.
The last game in the series featuring a pair of top-10 teams was in 1989, when Miami won 29-20 en route to a national title. That’s also the Hurricanes’ last victory in the series; Notre Dame has won four in a row, including last season’s matchup, when neither team was ranked.
Who wins? Notre Dame, 2624 No. 8 Washington at Stanford
Nov. 10, 10:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Line: Washington by 61⁄ 2 After smashing Oregon 38-3, Washington (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) begins a tough push to remain in the playoff picture that includes meetings with Utah and Washington State (and possibly the
Pac-12 title game). RB Bryce Love and Stanford (6-3, 5-2) can still win the Pac-12 North with victories against Washington and California, coupled with a Washington State loss.
Who wins? Washington, 2420
No. 16 Michigan State at No. 11 Ohio State
Nov. 11, noon, Fox
Line: Ohio State by 15 The fate of the Big Ten East hangs in the balance as the Spartans (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) look to build off their upset of Penn State with a victory in Columbus. The Buckeyes (7-2, 5-1) likely saw their playoff hopes end with a shocking 55-24 loss at Iowa. QB J.T. Barrett will try to bounce back from a four-interception outing and give Ohio State the outright division lead.
Who wins? Ohio State, 20-16
No. 24 North Carolina State at Boston College
Nov. 11, noon, ABC/ESPN2
Line: N.C. State by 3 After back-to-back losses, the Wolfpack (6-3, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) still harbor slim conference title hopes that could be dashed by the rested Eagles (5-4, 3-3). Boston College won three in a row heading into its open date, and the emergence of freshman RB A.J. Dillon has helped reinstill the program’s rugged identity. Look for N.C. State to test Boston College with WRs Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers, who are coming off 100-yard days in a loss to Clemson. Who wins? Boston College, 24-21
No. 15 Oklahoma State at No. 23 Iowa State
Nov. 11, noon, ABC/ESPN2
Line: Oklahoma State by 61⁄ 2 The loser of this game will effectively be eliminated from Big 12 title game contention. Oklahoma State (7-2, 4-2) was on the wrong end of a wild Bedlam game against Oklahoma, falling 62-52 despite 228 yards and two TDs from RB Justice Hill. Cowboys WR James Washington (ankle) left that game, and his absence would be costly against Iowa State (6-3, 4-2), which held West Virginia to 20 points in a loss last week.
Who wins? Oklahoma State, 28-24
No. 17 Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech
Nov. 11, 12:20 p.m., ACC Network
Line: Virginia Tech by 3 A week after a 28-10 loss to Miami eliminated them from the ACC’s Coastal Division race, the Hokies (7-2, 3-2 ACC) must visit Atlanta for a tricky game against the Yellow Jackets (4-4, 3-3). QB TaQuon Marshall has handled the triple option in impressive fashion as a first-year starter, and he has helped Georgia Tech go 4-0 at home this season. Who wins? Virginia Tech, 31-28
No. 2 Georgia at No. 10 Auburn
Nov. 11, 3:30 p.m., CBS Line: Georgia by 3 It’s the 121st edition of the Deep South’s oldest rivalry, and Auburn (7-2, 5-1 SEC) might need to end a three-game losing streak against the Bulldogs (9-0, 6-0) to remain in contention for a conference title. The Tigers are coming off a comfortable victory at Texas A&M, while Georgia has clinched the SEC East and would put itself in excellent position if it entered the league title game unbeaten.
Who wins? Georgia, 17-13
Florida State at No. 4 Clemson
Nov. 11, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Line: Clemson by 16 The winner of this game ultimately claimed the ACC Atlantic Division title each of the last eight years, and often it is the league’s most consequential game. The latter will still be true if the host Tigers (8-1, 6-1 ACC) win, but a season of struggles for the Seminoles (3-5, 3-4) has taken some of the shine off this game. Florida State RB Cam Akers is coming off a 199-yard outing against Syracuse.
Who wins? Clemson, 34-13
Iowa at No. 3 Wisconsin
Nov. 11, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Line: Wisconsin by 121⁄ 2 Though it’s felt like a formality for almost a month, the host Badgers (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) still have to clinch the Big Ten West. That would happen this week with a victory against the Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-3), who crushed Ohio State 55-24. Nate Stanley threw five TD passes in that game as Iowa scored 50 points against a Big Ten opponent for the first time since 2008. Who wins? Wisconsin, 2014
SMU at Navy
Nov. 11, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Line: Navy by 41⁄ 2 Both teams are in the midst of difficult stretches. The visiting Mustangs (6-3, 3-2 American), who remain in West Division contention, are coming off a loss to Central Florida and must visit Memphis next week. Navy (5-3, 3-3) has dropped three in a row entering its home finale and still has meetings with Notre Dame, Houston and Army. Who wins? Navy, 35-31
No. 14 Southern California at Colorado
Nov. 11, 4 p.m., Fox Line: Southern California by 131⁄ 2
The Trojans (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12) are 11-0 all-time against Colorado (5-5, 2-5) and have won the last six games by an average of 20.3 points. With another victory this weekend, Southern California would clinch its second Pac-12 South title in three years. Who wins? Southern California, 45-20
No. 20 Washington State at Utah
Nov. 11, 5:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network
Line: Washington State by 1 QB Luke Falk and the visiting Cougars (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) are 1-2 away from Pullman this season. To stay in the hunt for the North Division crown, they’ll need to win on the road against the Utes (5-4, 2-4), who ended a fourgame skid Friday with a rout of UCLA. Who wins? Washington State, 31-17
No. 1 Alabama at No. 18 Mississippi State
Nov. 11, 7 p.m., ESPN
Line: Alabama by 141⁄ 2 The Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0 SEC) swept aside Louisiana State 24-10, but likely lost LBs Shaun Dion Hamilton and Mack Wilson for the rest of the season. Despite the depth issues, Alabama is still in good shape in the SEC West and can clinch the division with a victory and an Auburn loss to Georgia. Mississippi State (7-2, 3-2) has a fourgame winning streak but has lost its last nine meetings with Alabama. Who wins? Alabama, 34-10
No. 9 TCU at No. 7 Oklahoma
Nov. 11, 8 p.m., Fox
Line: Oklahoma by 7 The winner of this game will take sole possession of first place in the Big 12 and also enter the second half of November as the conference’s best playoff hope. The Horned Frogs (8-1, 5-1 Big 12) have already beaten Oklahoma State on the road, and they rebounded from their loss to Iowa State with a 24-7 triumph against Texas. Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1), which got 598 yards and five TDs from QB Baker Mayfield last week against Oklahoma State, must prepare for TCU’s exceptional defense.
Who wins? TCU, 27-24
Boise State at Colorado State
Nov. 11, 10:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Line: Boise State by 51⁄ 2 While the visiting Broncos (7-2, 5-0 Mountain West) can’t clinch a division title this week, they can take a big step toward securing a spot in the league title game when they visit Colorado State (6-4, 4-2). QB Brett Rypien threw for 258 yards and two TDs in last week’s rout of Nevada. Who wins? Boise State, 31-21