Frogs O’ War Staff Picks: College Football Week 11

Big 12

Houston Cougars at UCF Knights – Fri. Nov. 7, 7:00 PM, FS1

Anthony: Did Houston just move on to basketball season? Cougars were riding high before the home loss to lowly WVU. Even with a viable path to Arlington still possible, Houston’s season begins to spiral and the Knights take advantage in the Bounce House.
Austin: Houston bounces back from an abysmal loss against West Virginia to defeat the UCF Knights on the road.

Caleb: Well, that was an embarrassing week for Houston, dropping one to Scotty Fox and West Virginia. Real times beat the Fox-led Mountaineers by at least 6! Houston is truly better than that and I think they show that on the road against UCF. I do like Myles Montgomery but the rest of UCF’s roster is incredibly unremarkable. Scott Frost may build a team there again at some point but not this year. Cougars return to the win column.
Drew: Houston is the better team and UCF did not look good last week against Baylor but this is the “Space Game” for UCF where crazy upsets have happened in the past. Houston is not invincible and I think UCF pulls off the upset at home.
Russ: Both teams are coming off bad losses, but I still think Houston is the more talented team. Cougars win on the road.

BYU Cougars at Texas Tech Red Raiders – Sat. Nov. 8, 11:00 AM, ABC

Anthony: THE game of the week. I see the Red Raiders showing out big time under the scrutiny of the national spotlight. While it might be a sleepy start as falls roll to their seats following GameDay, Texas Tech bullies BYU down the stretch and wins by double digits.
Austin: Texas Tech being a 10-plus-point favorite doesn’t sit right with me. Nevertheless, the Red Raiders come out on top, but it’s closer than the spread would suggest.
Caleb: Wow, did BYU come all this way to be a two-score dawg on the road against the non-tortilla tossing Red Raiders? You bet! Assuming Behren Morton can remain intact (which is a large ask), I could see Tech using this as a “prove it” game for the second time this season, after doing so in Salt Lake City in week 4. With Gameday being in Lubbock, Bear Bachmeier & co. will be in for a rowdy, hostile crowd that is sure to rattle the freshman and carry the Fighting McGuire’s. Texas Tech wins a big one.
Drew: This is a huge opportunity for Texas Tech to announce their presence as a national contender with a win over a top ten opponent on national television. That stadium will be packed and I think the Red Raiders move into first place in the Big 12 with a win over BYU.
Russ: This is Texas Tech’s best opportunity to make its claim for a spot in the Big 12 title game. The Tortillas fill the air and the Red Raiders beat the undefeated Cougars.

Colorado Buffaloes at West Virginia Mountaineers – Sat. Nov. 8, 11:00 AM, TNT/HBO Max

Anthony: WVU appears to have found a spark with QB Scotty Fox. He did it through the air in defeat vs. TCU and with his feet in a big upset victory over Houston. Back in Morgantown and the Mountaineers get a reeling Buffs squad that has surrendered 50+ points in each of the last two games. WVU by a bunch.
Austin: It feels like Colorado has packed it in for the season. Deion Sanders’ squad is looking forward to next season with Julian Lewis under center. The Mountaineers win a second straight contest versus the Buffaloes.
Caleb: Beam me up Scotty! I like the fire I’ve seen from the Mountaineers since they were medically forced to start Fox at QB. At first I thought it was TCU just being TCU by letting him play lights out at home 2 weeks ago but beating Houston on the road last week was pretty legit. The team around him elevated their play and carried him at times so Rich Rod’s squad may finally be meshing with his leadership. On the contrary, I have no clue how Colorado will play to support 5-star Freshman Julian Lewis in his first start. Give me the Mountaineers to defend Morgantown.
Drew: Colorado is really struggling right now and Scotty Fox Jr. has been impressive at quarterback for West Virginia in the last two games, with five total touchdowns in the last two games. I think West Virginia continues the momentum over from their win against Houston into a win at home over the Buffaloes.
Russ: West Virginia hung 45 points on Houston in a stunner last week. Colorado, meanwhile, is on a massive downswing. Mountaineers win in Morgantown.

Kansas Jayhawks at Arizona Wildcats – Sat. Nov. 8, 2:30 PM, ESPN2

Anthony: I have no faith in either of these teams and expect some sloppiness to go with the fireworks we should get from the Noah Fifita-Jalon Daniels showdown. Give me the Wildcats to earn bowl eligibility with the win while KU will struggle to find that 6th win over a challenging close to the season
Austin: Arizona is much less volatile than Kansas, having only recorded one loss by more than a score this season. The Wildcats win in Tucson.
Caleb: This is a sneaky fun QB battle that probably won’t get the spotlight that it deserves. I put these teams on equal footing as far as talent and credibility goes, but I think Kansas has the coaching advantage and obviously Arizona has home field advantage. What wins out with that level of a playing field? Well, I take a look at the schedule and find this to be more of a trap game for Arizona. They’re looking ahead at Cincy next week and figure themselves the David to their Goliath, that grabs a little attention. Kansas is looking at their schedule and estimating that this game is their best shot at bowl eligibility, with a bye week before Ames and then Utah at home. Give me the Jayhawks to play in the moment and topple the Wildcats at home.
Drew: I think Arizona is better than what their record indicates as their three losses have come against three of the better teams in the Big 12. On the other side, Kansas is struggling to get stops, letting up over 40 points to Kansas State and Texas Tech and letting Oklahoma State reach 20 points for just the third time this season. I have the Wildcats winning this one at home.
Russ: I’m expecting a lot of points to be scored in this one. After a lopsided win over Colorado, Arizona doubles up with a win against the Jayhawks.

Top National Games

Tulane Green Wave at Memphis Tigers – Fri. Nov. 7, 8:00 PM ESPN

Anthony: The Memphis loss to UAB will go down as one of the most confounding events of the season. The Tigers take advantage big step forward in the jumbled American race with a convincing victory over Tulane
Austin: Memphis wins. Sans the UAB upset, the Tigers have looked terrific this season. Tulane is no slouch, but Memphis’ offense is too much for the Green Wave to handle.
Caleb: Memphis has supplanted USF as the fun and frisky AAC team of the year. Tulane seemed destined for more after landing Jay Retzlaf in an awkward transfer portal sweepstakes, after his magical run at BYU was derailed by his choice to indulge in pre-marital relations. Memphis has the wind under their sails and I expect them to roll at home against the Golden Wave en route to an AAC title later this season.
Drew: This should be a fun Friday night game between two teams in the mix for the fifth conference champion auto-bid to the playoffs. Tulane suffered a disappointing loss on the road to UTSA last week but I think they bounce back on the road and take down Memphis here.
Russ: Memphis controls its own destiny as the potential G5 hero of this year’s playoff bracket. Tigers win over the Green Wave at home.

Texas A&M Aggies at Missouri Tigers – Sat. Nov. 8, 2:30 PM ABC

Anthony: What a story it would be if true freshman Matt Zollers stepped in at QB for Mizzou and took down a Top-5 Aggies squad. Unfortunately life is not a fairy tale and A&M continues undefeated.
Austin: This is the game the undefeated Texas A&M Aggies lose. The Missouri Tigers end Texas A&M’s win streak in Columbia.
Caleb: A&M is rolling and Mizzou is missing their QB1. They kept it close against Vandy two weeks ago after losing Pribula partway through the matchup, but A&M is a different beast this year. Elko has this squad playing up to their potential and I don’t see Mizzou mustering anything that could knock them off of that. Give me the Aggies in a rout.
Drew: If Missouri’s quarterback situation was more stable I think I would have the Tigers here but with Beau Pribula’s injury I think A&M’s offense will score too quickly for Missouri to keep up. I’ll take the Aggies on the road.
Russ: Texas A&M has been good to me this year and I’ll stick with the Aggies for another win here.

Oregon Ducks at Iowa Hawkeyes – Sat. Nov. 8, 2:30 PM, CBS

Anthony: Nothing Iowa does moves me. The Moores Dante & Dakorien demolish the Hawkeyes as the Ducks continue to fly under the radar in the Top 10.
Austin: This is an easy one. Sure, Iowa is 6-2, but Oregon is much too explosive for the Hawkeyes. Oregons wins handily.
Caleb: Now that Penn State has fallen off a cliff, Oregon doesn’t have that reputable of a strength of schedule. The only other team worth a darn was Indiana and they beat the Ducks by two possessions. Each of these teams had their bye weeks leading up to this so I expect it to be highly focused, which favors the Iowa defense. I think Kirk Ferentz coaches well as the underdog and will have something up his sleeve for Dan Lanning’s Ducks. Give me the Hawkeyes to win at home.
Drew: Kinnick Stadium is where top ten teams go to die and I think the Hawkeyes pull off an upset here to shake up the college football playoff picture. Oregon did not look dominant against Wisconsin in their last game and Iowa’s offense looks solid for the first time in a while. I have the Hawkeyes winning this one.
Russ: Despite not looking super efficient against Wisconsin, I think Oregon bounces back and establishes dominance against Iowa.

Auburn Tigers at Vanderbilt Commodores – Sat.

Nov. 8, 3:00 PM, SEC Network

Anthony: All Auburn needed to be an improved team is get rid of Hugh Freeze. The Tigers roll into Nashville and knock the ‘Dores off its hinges and out of the Top 25.
Austin: Nothing is going right for Auburn. The upstart Vanderbilt Commodores handle the Tigers with relative ease.
Caleb: As Hugh Freeze checks another alienated fanbase off of his college football bingo card, the Tigers find themselves without a coach. The last thing you want as a team, when Diego Pavia’s awkward frame and 12 years of eligibility are barreling your way, is to be missing a unifying voice at the helm. I think enemy territory spells disaster for this team and Vanderbilt rolls by double digits. Theo Von and Pavia’s mom will get a nice steak dinner to celebrate.
Drew: One of the more telling statistics for Auburn football this season is that they have a total of six passing touchdowns this season despite having Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton at wide receiver. I have Vanderbilt winning this one at home by a comfortable margin.
Russ: Auburn is another reeling program after firing coach Hugh Freeze. Vanderbilt wins big.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Virginia Cavaliers – Sat. Nov. 8, 6:00 PM, ACC Network

Anthony: Wake has been a pesky cockroach, jumping up and taking down some teams with high hopes, but UVA and Chandler Morris stays ready for the trap, stomping out the Demon Deacons at home.
Austin: Virginia just wins. It doesn’t matter how; Chandler Morris doesn’t need to throw for 300 yards like he did at UNT—the Cavaliers just win. Virginia secures the home victory.
Caleb: Good for Wake Forest knocking off the Methodist Ponies two weeks ago, bad for them to get curb-stomped by 35 against a hapless FSU team last week. Virginia is in the driver’s seat of their ACC destiny with these last 3 games, and with Chandler Morris at the helm all they have to do is not slip up. Surely Chandler Morris would not slip up, at least not this week. Cavaliers win at home against Tim Duncan’s alma mater.
Drew: Virginia just keeps winning and the Cavaliers now find themselves in the driver’s seat of the ACC as the only team in the ACC without a conference loss. Wake Forest did not look good last week against FSU and I think UVA stays hot with a win at home here.
Russ: The Chandler Morris-led Cavaliers are somehow leading the ACC with a month to go. I don’t see Virginia slipping up at home here.

LSU Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide – Sat. Nov. 8, 6:30 PM, ABC

Anthony: The Brian Kelly firing probably had to happen as the fan base was ready to revolt, and the team was too talented to lose that much, but not sure LSU pulls in a new coach that delivers to the expectations in Baton Rouge. Bama is playing much better ball right now and will score a ton to skate to an easy win at home
Austin: This is always a fun game, but I don’t have much faith in the Tigers. Although it could be close, the battle-tested Crimson Tide wins by a touchdown.
Caleb: It’s hard to put into words how I assess the current state of LSU football but I think that gif of a ragged Elmo doll with his arm extended, surrounded by flames encapsulates it the best. Nussmeier is the Luka Doncic of college football, not because of his talent level but because he’s surprisingly chubby for a guy that’s paid millions of dollars to play sports. On the contrary, Ty Simpson has vaulted himself into Heisman conversations all around and led Alabama to the “we’re back” stage of their college football life cycle. That said, I think the Tide rolls as they so eloquently greet each other. Somewhere Brian Kelly is sleeping on a pile of money.
Drew: This game has the potential to get ugly as Ty Simpson is playing very well for Alabama and the Tigers continue to struggle mightily on offense. I have the Tide picking up a double digit win at home over LSU.
Russ: LSU is in a free fall and Alabama is gaining steam. Give me the Tide.