Frogs O’ War Staff Picks: College Football Week 13

Big 12

Kansas Jayhawks at Iowa State Cyclones – Sat. Nov. 22, 11:00 AM, FS1

Anthony: At this point in the season it’s all about motivation for these teams out of contention. With Utah up in its season finale, Kansas must win this one to reach bowl eligibility. Jalon Daniels will make certain his college career continues into the postseason and the Jayhawks get the road win.
Austin: This game feels like a true toss-up. Both teams have underperformed and endured rough Octobers, but I’ll lean toward Iowa State at home after their bounce-back win over TCU.

Caleb: You’re welcome for giving back your swagger, ISU. I think that tips the scales in their favor after a harsh skid in the middle of the season, given both teams are solid enough to stand their ground. Home field advantage wins out & the Cyclones roll.
Drew: Both of these teams have had rough stretches after promising starts to the season, but the Kansas defense does not look great right now. I’ll take Iowa State at home.
Russ: These are two teams that have not lived up to expectations this season. I’ll take Iowa State to win at home.

Baylor Bears at Arizona Wildcats – Sat. Nov. 22, Noon, TNT

Anthony: The wheels have fully fallen off the Baylor wagon. No AD, a lame duck coach, and a season with high expectations down the drain. Bear Down downs the Bears, Arizona kicks Baylor while it is down.
Austin: I’m rolling with the hot team in this one. The Arizona Wildcats are winners of three straight, while the Baylor Bears are 1-3 over their last four contests. Give me Arizona.
Caleb: Arizona has been fun & frisky this year, sneaking into a 7-3 record under the radar. Their losses are more impressive than some of TCU’s wins. I think they defend home turf as Baylor spirals into another chaotic scandal. Maybe they’ll hire Jim Grobe again after this season, we can only hope. Wildcats win.
Drew: Arizona has quietly put together a solid season highlighted by an upset win over Cincinnati last week. Baylor does not have any momentum and I will be very surprised if Dave Aranda is still the coach next season. I’ll take Arizona at home.
Russ: Noah Fifita has quietly played some really good football this season, even without Tet McMillan. Wildcats take out the Bears in Arizona.

Kansas State Wildcats at Utah Utes – Sat. Nov. 22, 3:00 PM, ESPN2

Anthony: The Utah that everyone thought would be joining the Big 12 after dominating the Pac 12 has finally arrived. While maybe too late to get to Arlington the Utes stay alive in the race by eventually bullying past KSU.
Austin: Outside of their two losses, the Utah Utes have looked dominant. Utah defeats Kansas State handily at home.
Caleb: K State got caught in a mud fight with Okie Lite last week and that bodes ill for their game against the Utes. Even if they were just caught looking ahead, you should be able to walk and chew gum against OK State. I think Utah rolls at home in a very tilted affair.
Drew: Even with a bounce back from Kansas State after their horrific start to the season, Utah is the more talented team. I have the Utes here.
Russ: I like the Utes to continue their roll at home against Kansas State. Could the Big 12 title game be decided between in-state rivals Utah and BYU?

Oklahoma State

Cowboys at UCF Knights – Sat. Nov. 22, 3:00 PM, ESPN+

Anthony: In what is likely its best chance to avoid back-to-back winless Big 12 seasons, OK State gets bounced out of the Bounce House. The UCF defense devours the Pokes and storms to an easy win to keep its bowl hopes alive.
Austin: Oklahoma State only lost by eight points last weekend! The Cowboys are getting closer, but not close enough. The UCF Knights come away victorious.
Caleb: Battle at the bottom! I will not watch this game, but I will submit that UCF is a good home team and should beat the worst team in the conference at home. Knights win at the Bounce House.
Drew: UCF is by no means an intimidating opponent, but OSU is the worst team in the Big 12. I have UCF at home winning this one.
Russ: Two more teams that have struggled mightily this year, but Oklahoma State is at the bottom of the barrel. UCF wins here.

BYU Cougars at Cincinnati Bearcats – Sat. Nov. 22, 7:00 PM, FOX

Anthony: How much of what happened in Provo last week was TCU ineptitude and how much was BYU being super legit? I tend to lean towards the Cougars being bona fide studs, a team built on depth and experience yet led by a freshman QB who is balling out of control. Nippert at Night could throw a wrench into things, but the Bearcats have hit the wall and will lose its third straight game, BYU waltzes to the win.
Austin: The Cougars are for real. Watching BYU knock the socks off TCU was something. The 7-3 Bearcats will put up more of a fight, especially at home, but BYU won’t be fazed—Cougars by a touchdown.
Caleb: BYU was humbled by Tech and struck back at TCU squad that lacks a true identity. I think they’re back on the rails at the perfect time, since Cincy is falling off. I’m rooting for Sorsby as a NTX dude, but I think the Cougars are intent on a rematch with Tech in Arlington. BYU wins.
Drew: Bear Bachmeier has been very impressive to watch this season and BYU has plenty of weapons on offense for him to get the ball to. Cincinnati is a solid team but I think BYU wins this one on the road.
Russ: This is the game of the weekend in the Big 12 and I have to roll with BYU here. The Cougars look like the most complete team in the conference.

Arizona State Sun Devils at Colorado Buffaloes – Sat. Nov. 22, 7:00 PM, ESPN2

Anthony: Leavitt in the portal and Dillingham almost certainly finding his way to a big pay day in the SEC or B1G, yet the Sun Devils are somehow ranked and gets this tune up before the Territorial Cup next week. This is certainly a trap game for ASU. I need to try to make some ground up here in the staff standings, so I’ll say the Devils fall into that trap and Coach Prime earns a ranked win in what otherwise has been a lost season in Boulder
Austin: Colorado is in shambles, while the recent news out of Tempe isn’t looking too good either. Nonetheless, the Sun Devils get it done in Boulder.
Caleb: Who needs Leavitt anyway? ASU’s defense holds up on its own and Colorado hasn’t proven that they can stand their ground against much of anyone, outside of the fluke performance from ISU. Devils roast the Buffs in Boulder.
Drew: Both of these teams will have questions about the program heading into the offseason with Sam Leavitt’s future reportedly up in the air and Colorado struggling mightily this season. I think Arizona State is still by far the better team and they get a win on the road here.
Russ: Colorado is in trouble and Arizona State has continued to win, even without Sam Leavitt. Sun Devils defeat the Buffaloes.

Top National Games

Hawaii Warriors at UNLV Rebels – Fri. Nov. 21, 9:30 PM, FS1

Anthony: A Mountain West elimination game, both squads sitting 4-2 in league play looking to earn the right to fight San Diego State in the conference championship. We get some Friday night fireworks in Allegiant Stadium with the Runnin’ Rebels running away with it in the end despite the explosive plays from an exciting Hawaii offense.
Austin: UNLV secures its ninth victory of the season with a big win at home against a better-than-advertised Hawaii squad.
Caleb: UNLV was humbled in back to back games against Boise & New Mexico, but they’ve reeled it back in for two strong wins since. Hawaii has been shaky in big moments this season and lacks the resume that UNLV does. Give me the Rebels at home.
Drew: Micah Alejado can sling it for Hawaii and he has led the Warriors to a solid 2025 season. I have Hawaii knocking off UNLV on the road in this one.
Russ: Two of the top teams in the MWC are set to collide in Sin City. I’ll take the Rebels to edge out the Warriors at home.

Missouri Tigers at Oklahoma Sooners – Sat. Nov. 22, 11:00 AM ABC

Anthony: This one is going to be way closer than Sooner fans are comfortable with; there will be some quiet nervous moments in Memorial Stadium on Saturday, but in the end this OU defense is just way too good for Mizzou to score enough to keep pace all game. Boomer.
Austin: All (re)aboard the Oklahoma Sooners hype-train. After two consecutive quality wins against Tennessee and Alabama, the Sooners pick up yet another signature win versus Mizzou.
Caleb: OU is back in the heart of CFP discussions and Mateer is slinging it again. Mizzou has played well despite the circumstances but that’s not enough against a team like this. OU wins at home.
Drew: Oklahoma has played well down the stretch this season despite a very difficult schedule. I have some concerns about their offense but the Sooner defense has been very impressive and I think OU takes down Missouri at home here.
Russ: Oklahoma took out Alabama and returns home with momentum. Sooners beat the Tigers in Norman.

Louisville Cardinals at SMU Mustangs – Sat. Nov. 22, 11:00 AM ESPN2

Anthony: Despite losing to two bottom-quartile Big 12 teams, SMU looks to be right on track to return to the ACC Championship. Louisville will be without four (4!) running backs, including superstar Isaac Brown and QB Miller Moss is banged up and questionable. Cardinals WR Chris Bell may treat the SMU secondary like Eric McAlister did, but this time the Ponies get the win.
Austin: After starting 7-1, the Louisville Cardinals are reeling with two straight losses. The Cardinals drop another one against SMU.
Caleb: The wings are falling off of Louisville’s ACC ascension this season and they’re about to drop their 3rd straight in Dallas. The peak of their embarrassment will be when the 40 nerds at SMU storm the field again and pull the posts off again, since it’s quite obviously cemented into the ground. Ponies win and the ACC sucks!
Drew: There is a real chance SMU makes it back to the ACC title game again as the rest of the conference has crumbled down the stretch. Louisville has not looked the part in their last two games and I think SMU stays hot with a win here.
Russ: The Mustangs are getting hot and could somehow make a run for the ACC championship. SMU keeps rolling with a win here.

USC Trojans at Oregon Ducks – Sat. Nov. 22, 2:30 PM, CBS

Anthony: Maybe USC can win on the road when the game remains in Pacific Time, either that or Lincoln Riley will have to come up with some new excuse. There’s so much dead weight in the Big Ten, it is hard to know if either of these teams is any good, each losing its only games against real competition. While Autzen may be one of the nation’s toughest venues Indiana went there and smacked around the Ducks and I have the Trojans doing the same, leaving Oregon’s resume paper-thin and perhaps outside looking in when the CFP bracket is released.
Austin: Oregon is headed toward a CFP appearance, and the Trojans aren’t enough to deter the Ducks off their path. Oregon wins a high-scoring affair.
Caleb: Oregon is much better built team for this moment and I trust Lanning to have his Ducks ready to play. Lincoln Riley’s Trojan’s will toss it around the field, no doubt, but the Ducks have transitioned better into the Big 10 than their Pac 12 counterpart. Oregon wins!
Drew: USC has one of the more talented offenses in college football but Oregon is one of the few teams that can match that offensive firepower with Dante Moore under center and Kenyon Sadiq at tight end. I think the Ducks win a high scoring game at home.
Russ: It’s a Pac-12-turned-Big Ten showdown in Eugene as Oregon emerges with a close win over Lincoln Riley’s Trojans.

Pitt Panthers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – Sat. Nov. 22, 6:00 PM, ESPN

Anthony: All that talk from Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi about not caring about the Notre Dame result was sure proven accurate as the Panthers rolled over within minutes. That part about keeping focus on the ACC instead, I find that to be less compelling. Pitt decided to jump on loser mentality and that train will keep on rolling. Haynes King and the Bees lock in a spot in the ACC Championship with the win.
Austin: Whoa, what happened to Pitt last week? The Panthers lost in an ugly fashion to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Georgia Tech almost suffered a similar fate, except against a one-win Boston College squad. The Yellow Jackets earn a much-needed confidence boost and bounce-back victory at home.
Caleb: Georgia Tech was scared straight after not taking BC seriously last week and I expect a different team this week. Pitt has lost all momentum and that will be highlighted by this defeat. Hornets sting the Panthers.
Drew: Georgia Tech’s defense has stumbled in their last two games, allowing over 30 points to Boston College and NC State. I still think Haynes King leads the Yellow Jackets to a victory here over a Pitt team that looked wildly outmatched last week against Notre Dame.
Russ: Georgia Tech has the X-factor in Haynes King. Yellow Jackets win to continue their push to an ACC title game appearance.

Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators – Sat. Nov. 22, 6:30 PM, ABC

Anthony: There was a time when this was the single most important game in the nation every season, now it is being eliminated in the future SEC scheduling scheme. Going forward, UT can be expected to reach the CFP every season and often earn a free ride into conference contention. Vols fans clamoring for a spot in the Playoff this year will not need to worry any longer as The Swamp swallows up Joey Aguilar as Tennessee gets caught sleeping while looking ahead to its huge home showdown vs. Vanderbilt next week
Austin: Florida looked better last week against Ole Miss, but it was most likely a flash in the pan. The Volunteers win.
Caleb: Tennessee has something to compete for and Florida just has their pride. I like Heupel a lot, especially compared to the rest of the SEC, and his team will be fired up after a pallet cleanser against NM state. Florida’s spiral continues, Vols win.
Drew: Florida has continued to struggle and Tennessee is coming off of a pseudo bye week (home game against New Mexico State). I have the Vols winning this one on the road.
Russ: The -3.5 spread is interesting here, but I think Tennessee wins confidently.